do tanks and other armored vehicles have keys for ignitions or are they start buttons? I am envisioning a scout party coming up on an abandoned tank, could they comandeer it or was it out of the question. I have never been inside a tank before so it is probably not a bad question when you think about it.
I have never been on the inside of a tank either, but I can’t imagine that they would install some kind of key security. Can you picture it… enemy approching !!! Damn, where did I put those keys…
Most U.S. Tanks have a master Power switch and a push to start button. During WWII alot of vehicles were comandeered by opposing sides which leads me to believe that they had the same set up. Although it would be funny to have units prepare for combat just to report they had lost there keys.
When I was in the Army we had padlocks on the hatchs. The jeeps used chains to lock the steering wheels. Not a stupid question at all.
Well, the PE set for the Tamiya King Tiger has a part for a padlock for the turret hatch, so apparently the Germans were similar to 13b20’s more recent experiences
In my 10 years on Tanks, The only security on them was a padlock on the loaders hatch, All you had to do was hit the perascope hatch on the drivers hatch,then reach in and open the hatch.
Now mind you this was from 1963 to 1973. The new Tanks ,I can’t speak for them, But would doubt if they would have any kind of keyed ignition.
All the US military vehicles I say had master power switches and push button starters, all were locked by pad locks when in the motor pool or when parked both on and off base.
No stupid questions only stupid answers is my philoshy
funny practical joke… locking the crew inside with a lock[:p]
Yes that would be funny, Unfortunatly, the Joke would be on you, Only the loaders hatch has a place for a lock on the outside,all other hatches are secured from the inside. But this does show you have a devious mind…You fit in here nicely[:D]
Switches or Buttons and Padlocks. [:)]
Vehicles were padlocked in the motor pool. For the HMMVWs, we had a steel cable that wrapped around the steering wheel and somewhere else (I don’t remember where). Anyone could come in and start the vehicle with the switch (located left of the steering wheel). It could be driven, but if you needed to turn the steering wheel, the cable wouldn’t let you turn much at all. Gosh that brings back memories of going down to the motor pool to start the vehicles and let them run, the smell of the diesel.
The M551 Sheridan had a lock for the drivers compartment and the loader’s hatch. If I recall correctly, the commander’s hatch we locked from the inside.
In regards to the Bradley & M113, I honestly don’t remember. I didn’t spend enough time on them to remember.
The Connex Containers were always padlocked. [;)]
Once out in the field, the vehicles were never locked. Well unless we came in at night and the motor pool was locked for some reason. Then we would park the vehicles outside the motor pool, lock the vehicles and go home for the night. [;)]
One thing you never wanted to do was lose those keys. What a painful process the superiors would make of that.
It’s been a few years but if I remember right the M113 had a lock on the drivers hatch, all the others locked from the inside(the drivers hatch could also be locked from inside so you could keep the bad guy’s out in combat). M151’s, 2 1/2 t’s and 5 t’s had chains welded to the floor and were looped thru the steering wheel and were locked. Only time we ever locked a vehicle in the field was a M113 that the female personnal slept in at night. They locked themselves in.
lol… you guys never cease to amaze me on the things I should be taking pictures of. No matter how trivial! No keys other than the padlocks to secure your hatch/steering wheel. Jon you are correct on the 113. The Bradley is the same and the M1Abrams has a padlock that secures the hatch on top of the turret. Just remember if your doing a model of a HMMVW and there is no figure in the drivers seat, the steering wheel should be cabled and secure. In the field your Hummer can disappear and come back all dirty if you do not secure that cable. Even if you only turn your back for a few mins. I’m talking from experiance.
Smart girls!
Glenn
I used to be a tank driver (Centurions). Nope, no key. There again, there was always someone on guard, or around the tanks. We never left them alone, ever.
Like mom says,no such thing as a stupid question.Your question seems to have been answered.My experience on AFVs was as previously mentioned,one hatch locked ,master power switch and a start button