I’m about to paint the gun cleaning rods of my M-18 and it suddenly occurred to me that should it be wood or steel? What about the german cleaning rods?
On modern U.S. vehicles (M-60, M-1), they’re painted either olive drab/green or desert tan. I’ve been painting my WWII German rods panzer grey just for color contrast. I’ve seen other modelers do them as unfinished wood. However, armies hate the idea of anything unpainted.
I’m sure more experienced members of this forum will have more historically correct information.
Gun cleaning rods are not painted. German ones were wooden with metal ends to screw together. The ones we used on the M60 and M1 series tanks were a dark, natural metal color. The whole idea with a gun cleaning rod is to get all the dirt and debris (you know, cleaning it) out of the tube.
A painted rod would add paint chips to the inside of your barrel. You’d be punching the tube forever and never get the paint chips out of there.
Guess my memory is faulty. Thanks for the correction. As an 11B10, my experience with cleaning rods was limited to M-14, M-16, M-60 (Pig), 81mm mortars and the Ma Deuce. Once commissioned, I didn’t deal with scrubbing out 105mm tank guns or 155mm howitzers. I’ll slink off quietly, now.
As an armor officer, you’re also part of the 4 man tank crew. If you don’t do it, your crew is shorthanded and daily task become more difficult. I spent many days punching the gun tube and being short, more than my fair amount of time under the tank on the washrack.
I was a mech infantry guy for most of my career. Did a branch transfer to FA as a field grade staff puke. Most of my motor pool time involved M-113’s and M-577’s. Not much call for cannon cleaning rods there. However, it seemed to me that working BII issue for a mech heavy brigade, the cleaning rods for our armored battalion were OD-painted/colored metal sections. Cleaning rods for small arms and 81mm and 4.2" mortars were parkerized metal (grey/green).
I’ll go back and repaint the cleaning rods on my Panzer IVH wood tan rather than panzer greay.
As Bde and DIVARTY S4, I was always wet down completely at the wash rack. Super-soakers have nothing on wash rack water hoses. Good times.
Not to derail the topic, just want to say… nice to meet you there MAJ Mike.
From one former 11B to another. (Oh, and I like mortars (11C) too!) [B]
My pleasure. Montgomery said, “… with good infantry, all things are possible.” Infantyr is the key, all other branches are just support.
I’ve spent the last 27+ years and counting in, on, around and under tanks, never seen US tank gun tube cleaning rods painted. They were always that dull dark metal color, similar to over sized M16 cleaning rods. The way they get used, it’s not like they rust; they were always covered in whatever type of bore cleaner the EPA let the Army use.
Good to see you Kevin. I start terminal leave on April 1st and my retirement date is July 1st. I’ll be hanging my hat up with 27 yrs, 10 months and a handful of days. Then I’ll have to get a real job.
Happy retirement to you Rob! Memories to keep and more models to build.
Thanks for your service Rob. But get the grammar correct. You’re leaving the “real” job.
Rob - The army will be loosing one true professional soldier. My heartfelt congratulations out to you on your retirement! Thank you for being there and I am absolutely honored to be able to call you my friend. Enjoy your new career whatever that may be and welcome to the world that the rest of us are slugging it out in. 
Job well done Sir and I salute you! I will NEVER forget your ‘open house’ up at Devens!
Thank You!
Even tho it’s been 20 some years since… “I am the Infantry, FOLLOW ME!”
Yep. The tankers always wanted us around to pull security while they slept. We always wanted them to go first and find the Sagger teams for us.
Good times.