I have to say, the M60A3, obviously, but M-113’s were fun as well. Especially to swim a 113 across Cowhouse Creek at Ft. Hood. And if you need to climb a steep grade, use those low range gears!
The first time I got into serious mud, I learned to take the side skirts off of the M-113. The mud gums up and the tracks won’t move unless the skirts are removed.
Knocking down trees? I’ll take the Destroyer from Detroit, the M60.
Just some thoughts. I hope maybe someone else would like to share some as well.
Stalwart truck. Easily the most fun I’ve had driving a vehicle. The steering wheel is not just power-assisted, but totally power driven: If you start the wheel spinning, the motor will continue the wheel spinning until you grab it to stop it, just like a roulette wheel. So as I’m driving along on a muddy hill or trail, I’m spinning the wheel every which way as I’m driving sideways. Great fun.
Second place, again, on ‘fun’ factor: Chieftain. You have two great big tillers to steer, two huge pedals, both of which have in effect two settings: Full on and full off, and a motorcycle-style semi-automatic gear change, which is done using your left foot. Lift the lever with your toe, go up a gear (with a massive lurch, as there’s no noticeable clutch), press down with your foot, go down a gear. Great craic.
Obviously in terms of ‘ease to drive’, the M1 is at the top of the list. Not quite as much fun as the other two though.
I’ve been inside of M113, M2A2 and on top of M1A1, but never had an opportunity to drive one, so I can’t really comment on this matter. My ride was pair of my combat boots. [:D]
Rob,I can’t lay claim to tanks or apc’s , but I can to the ultimate dog,The Gamma goat !!! It’s not fast or pretty.But I’m sure it was the loudest & shortest turn radius.And it floated too. Semper fi, Rudedog
When I was in the A.F. the 113 was a fun drive but if you wanted to get somewhere fast with armor and some firepower it would have to be the M-706 with the govenor disabled. On a road we could get up to about 60 (although some claim 80) with a 13 man Quick Reaction Team.
Only driven M3A2’s and M1114s on regular basis. 1114s I drove when I wasnt gunning and those things are so heavy the steering on it is horrible, and they accelerate real slow. Brads are real fun if your not on a hardball. Love fishtailing those suckers in the mud.
Out of all the AFVs I have driven (M1A1, M2A2, M113A2, M981A2 FIST-V, M7 B-FIST, M88A1…) the funnest ride was the Abrams. The smoothest was the M88A1, it rides like a Cadillac, smoootthhh.
Like Rob, I think the M48A5 had a lot of gitty up go and I liked that tank. The 60’s were dogs but had a lot of torque. In transition training from 60’s to M1’s I drove some but never got to ring it out the M1. As a TC I spent more time in the turret. While in Kuwait I drove a T62(what a dog) and a BMP. I was impressed with the BMP. It would pop a wheele lifting the first couple of roadwheels. Quick, fast, light weight, and manouverable. A ton of fun to drive. Greg
I must admit to feeling like an outsider, being that the closest I’ve come to military service was hanging out in Col. Bubby’s Surplus for hours in Galveston. Steve
