Professional Documents
Culture Documents
00
January 1996
Museum
Ordnance
Promoting the preservation and colfection of information and artifacts of military ordnance from around the world.
Jane's
INFORMATION GROUP
1340 Braddock Place, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314-1651
The
Museum Ordnance
Curator's
Features
Column
On The Cover
Living in the past. Like many times before,
American soldiers find themselves fighting
this year's war with last year's weapons.
Makeshift protection for security duty.
Museum Ordnance
ISS1\' 1083-9577
Volume 6, Number 1
January 1996
Jeffrey D. McKaughan
Editor
Adam Geibel
Associate Editor
January 1996
12
16
17
31
Departments
Curator's Column
Bookshelf G-2
10
Book Reviews
SHADOW WAR
The CIA's Secret War in Laos
GERMANYSPANTHERTANK
The Quest for Combat Supremacy
11
15
The Ordnance Museum Foundation
26
Miniature Ordnance:
Commanders Model CA.1 Schneider WWI French Tank
By Steve Zaloga
27
Classified Ads
31
Museum Ordnance is published sixtimes per year by Darlington Productions, Inc. , P.O. Box 5884, Darlington,
MD 21034. (410) 4575400. AU righls are reserved. Copyright 1996. No part of this publication may be copied or
reproduced without the expressed wrillen permission of the publisher.
This publication serves the interests and needs of the U.S.Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Aberdeen, MD.
Subscriptions: One-year (six issues) is $17.00 (Maryland residents add 5% sales tax). AU foreign subscriptions :
$20.00 surface, $30.00 airmail. Payment must be in U.S. fund s. Make aU checks or money orders payable to Museum
Ordnance.
Museum Ord,uJnce is not responsible for unsolicited manu scripls, artwork or photos sent to the office. Material
will be returned to the author only if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions and views expressed
by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, the publisher, or the editor.
Haven't We
Learned Anything
In The Last
Thirty Years?
Adam Geibel
In response to Viet Cong ambushes on
supply convoys. the US Army In Viet
nam used field expedient armor to pro
tect their trucks. This included sand
bag-lined cab floors and beds to counter
landmines. Th Irty years later US forces
are committed across the globe. from
Haiti to Somalia. with essentially the
same unarmored rear echelon vehicles
that they went to Vietnam with.
Interestingly enough. these photos
from Haiti show that the US Army is
responding the same way. with the
same technology. While the workman
ship displayed on the lOth Mountain
DiVision truck appears to be of the
highest quality. the real answer lays
beyond field expediency.
In an era where mine protected
vehicles - Including those specifically
designed for convoy and resupply use.
are already available. using thirty year
old technology to protect American sol
:diers is criminally stupid.
The armored 'capsule' sits in the bed oJ the truck, necessitating that the tail gate
remain lowered to use the rear door. The armor plate is supported with vertical
struts fixed in the bed walls, where the wooden stake bodies are usually mounted.
Note method oj attaching anti-grenade screen to armor plate.
An uparmored 10th Mounta in Division five-ton truck, taken in Haiti 1994. There are
fiveftring ports left. right and rear. Note anti-grenade screen over troop compart
ment
Museum Ordnance
Publisher's Note: In March. 1995. at IDEX '95 in Abu Dhabi the South
Africans demonstrated the protection and survivability of their Casspir
Mk. II. For five con sec uti ve days the Casspir was paraded in front of the
viewing stand before being driven out into the firing range (top photo).
There it was dri ven over a landmine and towed back showing the damage
(middle photo). It was then taken to arevetrnent where within 25 minutes
it was repaired and driven back under its own power (bottom photo). The
same vehicle withstood this abuse for five straight days!
I spoke with a Canadian businessman who volunteered to sit in the
vehicle as a passenger during the demonstration that these photos were
taken from. Although a rough ride, he and the orthers were not injured
other than being "shaken up."
Why is the U.S. Army still bolting together make-shift protection for
troops in security and patrol operations? While troops in the field are
doing what it takes to ensure their safety. off-the-shelf equipment is
available from a number of sources that could do a better job.
"No More Task Force Smiths'" needs to be taken a little more
seriously!
January 1996
Museum Ordnance
More Syrian
Use of German
Armor
LTC. Richard A. Williams
January 1996
To the left oj the gun mantlet on the StuG III are two penetrations. one entry
and one exit hole. Apparently. ammunition "cooking oJj inside the tank during the
ensuing fire caused the exit hole. The entry hit marked the rear oj the fighting
compartment with shrapnel. Two more (Israeli) rounds penetrated to the right oj
the mantlet.
Museum Ordnance
January 1996
Curat or's
COIUIllD
rContiru.Ledfrom Page 3)
by
Tom.Laemlein
10
Back again for another round of news and notes on AFV-related resources
and entertainment. The most significant development of the fall has to be
Edward R. Hamilton's Superstore Catalog (Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller,
Falls Village, CT 06031-5000). Incredible! Hamilton is now offering most
of the SchilTer line of hardbound books at significantly reduced prices (Le.:
Rommel In the Desert, by Kuhn - $24.50, A History of the Panzer Troops,
by Haupt - $17.46). Even better news is his pricing on some of Hunnicutts
Presidio releases: Sherman at $64.95, Abrams and Patton at $42.00. I've
counted over 20 well-priced books of direct interest to armor fans in this
catalog. so I strongly suggest you get a copy and make some cost-effective
additions to your library.
Veteran armor author George Forty has two releases this fall. The first,
Tanks: World War Two Fighting Armor ($29.95) was mentioned in my last
column and is yet to arrive in bookstores. The second: Tank Action: From
the Great War to the Gulf ($39.95) has arrived, but Without much fanfare.
That's unfortunate, because It's an outstanding work, with detailed, well
illustrated accounts of various tank actions throughout the 20th century.
My copy came from Zenith Books (1-800-826-6600).
Panther fans have two new books to choose from well-establlshed authors.
The first, Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest For Combat Supremacy, by
Thomas Jentz ($45.00 Schiffer) is a highly detailed account, primarily of
Panther deVelopment and production. A solid book with excellent drawings
by H.L. Doyle. (see book review in this issue.) The other volume is Panther,
by Uwe Feist and Bruce Culver ($75.00 Ryton Publications). Fans were
lukewarm on their expensive 1992 publication of TIger, so I hope this
Panther edition (272 pages. over 500 photos and illustrations) breaks some
new ground. Of course, Ryton books are beautifully published.
Motorbooks has released The Imperial War Museum Book of the Desert War
1940-1942, a well-illustrated, but general history of that campaign from a
British perspective. Motorbooks has also published Mussolini's Soldiers,
by Rex Tyre ($29.95). It's a good start. well-illustrated, but lacks the details
on Italian armor and artillery that many of us are looking for.
Last column I mentioned Across The Rhine. a WWII tank simulator for the
simulator (and generally failed), Steel Panthers updates older "board game"
view of outstanding graphics (plus video footage and digital sound effects)
Steel Panthers Is easy to learn (the computer does all the math) and fun!
. tail - including al
,~_.~~~_iiii~:lmost every major ve
"
hicle from the combat
ant nations of WWII. These
t~:;;;~~~~~~~~~L~~peoPle
have done their home
;!"
work. The battle-builder al
lows you to create your own
~........ engagements (try Italians vs.
Museum Ordnance
==
SHADOW WAR
GERMANrSPANTHERTANK
The Quest for Combat Supremacy
Thomas Jentz, drawings by Hilary Doyle
156 Pages, 140 Photos, 16 sets of drawings plus
35 other drawings, 20 charts and graphs
1995
ISBN 0-88740-812-5
Schiffer Publishing Company
77 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
$45.00
Review by Frank De Sisto
Quite simply, this new book rendered
nearly every other book ever written on
the Panther obsolete. For the first time
the complete genesis of the Panther
series is correctly presented.
To do this the author has con
sulted with only original source docu
ments and inspected nearly every
available surviving vehicle on public
display. Aside from constantly citing
documents used throughout the text,
the author explains how the use of
parts stock numbers helped to identity
various models of the Panther. All of
this is presented in chronological order
to show what changes were made and
when they occurred.
January 1996
11
Armored
Combat
of the
Nigerian
Civil War
1967-1970
David Spencer
12
Museum Ordnance
-~"
~
, .;,
.,
Map from The Brothers' War. by John de st. JOrTe.Houghton Mifflin Company.
1972. An excellent book covering much ofthefrghting and the political intrigue
sUrTounding this civil war.
January 1996
Armor Modeling
and
Preservation Society...
AMPS
Darlington, MD 21034
13
14
Museum Ordnance
erty.
Would this be considered friendly
fire??
January 1996
_.....,.~tIt
[f
PORTRAYAL PRESS
P.O. Box 1190-D
Andover. NJ 07821
15
HM M WV
A nice left side view of the SOV HMMWV showing the turret ring with a .50 caliber
machine gun. two 7.62 CPMC. one mounted on the left side by the rear door and
the other on the rightfront comer ofthe dashboard. the smoke grenade tubes. and
the ce ntral tire inflation system.
LEFT: The underside ofthe heavy weap
ons ring mount. A number of weapons
ranging from three-barrel gat/ing guns.
30mm cannons and 40mm grenade
launchers can be mounted.
16
Museum Ordnance
The
Common
Chassis
Revisited
The U.S. Army's
Advanced Field
Artillery System
"Crusader"
Lawrence D. Bacon and
Dr. Asher H. Sharoni
January 1996
M1 82 GUN MOUNT
(MODIFIED M178)
MICROCLIMATE
COOLING SYSTEM
(MCS)
M284 CANNON
(MODI FIED M185)
REMOTELY
OPERATED
TRAVEL LOCK
AUTOMATIC FIRE
CONTROL SYSTEM (AFCS)
SEGREGATED
HYDRAULIC
COMPARTMENT
DRIVER'S NIGHT
VI SION DEVICE
SECURE VOICE
AND DIGITAL
COMMUNICATIONS
The M109A6
Memorandum OJ Understanding
(JBMOU) endorsed by France. Germany.
17
Ml COMMON CHASSIS
As a cost-effective and affordable alter
native to the Crusader. the authors
propose a "system of systems" com
prised of an Advanced Field Artillery
System and a companion Future Ar
mored Resupply Vehicle. both com
monly based on the readily available.
battle proven and reliable Ml chaSSiS.
built by General Dynamics Land Sys
tems.
AFAS/Ml would be a self-propelled
howitzer equipped with the 155 mm
L52 conventional gun coupled with an
automatic Ammunition Handling Sys
tem to provide the required lethality.
survivability and range with a much
less manpower intensive gun.
FARV/M!. AFAS/Ml's companion
18
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
OVERVIEW
Museum Ordnance
, --
- - - --
- - - - M1 COMMON CHASSIS
PRINCIPLE FEATURES
-Improved overall survivability
-4 man crew
-Improved ballistic armor
-Segregated/consolidated crew compartment
-Compartmentalized fuel & ammunition
-Ammunition handling system (Autoloader)
-High mobility & agility
-NBC protection & Environmental regenerative life support
-Advanced hydropneumatic suspension
-Cruising range of 275 miles (minimum)
-Gross weight of 55 tons (maximum)
M1 BASED
MODIFIED CHASSIS
January 1996
level.
Compartmentalized ammuni
tion storage and "blow-off' panels will
be provided In both vehicles to further
enhance survivability.
AMMUNITION HANDLING SYSTEM
19
M1 COMMON CHASSIS
FUTURE ARMORED RESUPPLY
VEHICLE OVERVIEW
PRINCIPLE FEATURES
-Improved overall surv ivabili ty
3 man crew
-Improved ballistic arm o r
.Seg regated/consolidated crew compartment
-C ompartmenlalrzed fuel & ammunition
-Ammunition hand ling system (Fully automated)
CONSOLIDATED CREW
COMPARTMENT
20
PERFOR.c\1A.i.'ICE ATTRIBUTED
TO THE M 1 CHASSIS
Museum Ordnance
M1 COMMON CHASSIS
ANTI -AIR
MISSILES
ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
(VERTICAL REMOVAIJINSTL)
REMOTELY OPERATED
BARREL CLAMP
1-
....
MARCH FUEL TANKS
(AS REQUIRED)
DRIVE SPROCKETS
MULTIPURPOSE
FRONT RESUPPLY PORT
TENS lONER
SPROCKETS
COMPUTER CONTROLLED
VARIABLE HEIGHT
HYDROPNEUMATIC SUSPENSION
(UPGRADE)
OPTIONAL
SIDE ARMOR
FWD PRIMARY
MAGAZINE (47 SPCS)
ELECTRONIC &
EQUIPMENT
STORAGE
GROWTH
AREAS
CREW
STATION
(PLAN VIEW)
ACCESS
- :g~~~\~ES - -
- - - -
-----------,
LOAD PORT
L:::::"
I - -----H~~~~~_r~
~~ ----
PROJECTILEIMACS
TRANSFER UNIT
___ __ . _ _ _ __ _
ACCESS
PORTS(2)
_ _
BOTH SIDES
___ . _
- -- - - - -_._-
REAR SECONDARY
(M8~GSApZCISN)E
PAYLOAD
SPECIALIST
INSTRUMENT
PANEL
l[-- '
EOUIPMENT
BAY
FWD & REAR MA GAZINE
INSTA LLATION AND
REMOVAL TffRU FRONT
January 1996
.<'
WASTE
ELIMINATION
SYSTEM
PROJECTILEIMACS
SWING RAMMER
21
ANTI-AIR
lO i -
I 1'-- '11; r~
{tiL ( c::=:=J
I .:.'"
c==:J
- - -----
!I
,
L-~-=_--_
1
--- -----
J~l____ I
oCJO------- -- --
OPTIONAL
SIDE ARMOR
PROTECTION
r=-==:r"===: =::n::='==:::C==~:1
1_.---------322
(81 79
------------1.~.
IN.
mm)
REAR VIEW
- ---- -..-.-. T
B OOM DOOR S
FRONT VIEW
I:
,"'""""'' "'"' ' i -" T
- - - -- - .. .- - .- -
PRIMARY
""'''""'='"
'
- - - -- -
INTERMAGAZINE _
ELEVATOR
_ _ ~ ~ -=
/ 1I
~
:
REPLENISHMENT BOOM
INTEGRAL WITH MAGAZINE
(SHOWN EXl ENDED
IN PHANTHOM)
EQUIPMENT
BAY
- - - - ---- .- - - -- ..1_
--
- - - - --- --
'
MULTI-PURPOSE
BOOM
HAND-OFF
POSITION
SE CO NDARY MAGAZINE
(80 SPAC ES)
RAT IO NS ,SUPPLlES,WATER,
SHELLS & MACS
II
.- - 1\=
68.25IN. p734 mm)
22
Museum Ordnance
~ -~'c
_
_.Ll.CJ_f,jV{i~~
~~~~~~=======~======~
HEMTT TO FARV/M1
PAVLOAD MAV BE
UPLOADED THROUGH
BOOM FOR GROUND LEVEL
OPERATIONS
FARV/M1 TO AFAS/M1
will be fielded.
Implementation ofa modified avail
able tank chassis will substantially re
duce development costs and technical
risks, shorten the development cycle,
greatly reduce the logistic burden and
preserve the industrial base for pro
duction ofM 1 tanks and other armored
vehicles. A "Common Chassis" concept
for a family of armored vehicles is a
valid approach and worth pursuing
today more than ever before.
The Ml chassis is capable of miti
gating the shock of firing and cross
country speeds due to its advanced
torsion bar suspension system
(HydlOpneumatic suspension will be
discussed later). AFAS/Ml would have
a cruising range of at least 465 km
while that of the M1 tank is 440 km. To
preserve fuel and extend engine life,
AFAS/Ml will be equipped with an on
board Auxiliary Power System (APS).
Standardization, interoperability and
commonalitybetweenAFAS/FARV/Ml
and with the M 1 tank fleet, would be
signiflcantly enhanced due to the em
ployment of a common chassis.
Selection of the M1 chassis as the
preferred alternative for the Crusader
is further invigorated by the fact that
two years after terminating the next
generation Armored System Modem
ization (ASM), Block-III Tank program,
the U.S. Army decided to predicate its
future ground armored combat strength
on the Ml Abrams (MIA2 and lank
January 1996
REPLENISHMENT OPERATION
23
Send Check
WWII
Of
Money Order
~IIJJrl'l\UY
10:
.JOtJllNl\1.
Tech Intell
Volume Two
During World War II, the United States Army d eployed small teams of
ordnance personnel throughout the European and Pacific theaters of
operation. The task of these teams was to report on each type of enemy
ordnance and equipment as they would encounter it in the field.
Their reports and summaries were sometimes the first information
available on a vehicle, gun, tank, or other system. Each report was
usually accompanied by several photographs and a description of the
subject. These reports were not compiled in a rear area motor pool but
right on the front lines.
Darlington Productions has put together a selection of these reports in
Volume 2 of TECH INTELL. This soft-cover book is 132 pages long with
129 photos and illustrations. Formatted with the look of the original
reports, these reports have not been altered or edi ted and appear as they
did in 1944/45.
Included in Volume 2 are reports on: PzKpf.Wg II Model L Tank
2crnHalf-TrackArmoredCadSd .Kfz.)250/9 2crnPanzerflakTank
PzKpfw38(t) 7.5 cm Stu K. 42. Mounted on Pz.Kpfw IV Chassis' 3.7
24
Title
Qty Each
$13.95
Sub Total
Darlington Productions
P.O. Box 5884
Darlington, MD 21034
Total
..-J
Museum Ordnance
An indepth photo study of the U.S. Army's primary ARV. More than 80 photos and line drawings detail the exterior
More than 60 photos, illustrations, and drawings depict these WWII tanks.
EI Salvador fought their internal guerrilla war with a variety of armored vehicles, some purchased, most, however,
were designed and built within the country. Tracked and wheeled vehicles alike are shown in this Special filled with
Postage:
u.s.:
Foreign:
II
$7.95 each
II
January 1996
Darlington Productions
25
Fellow Members:
Since this is the first column I have written, I believe it is appropriate to thank the Board of Trustees for their confidence in
me; particularly former chairman Ron Lehman. While Ron has stepped down as Chairman, he is still very active in the
Foundation as Secretary.
lOINT MEETING WITH CORPS, MUSEUM STAFF, AND ASSOCIATION
The Foundation had a loint meeting with the Museum and Ordnance Corps representative in October and reviewed our
progress and current activities. We plan to have quarterly loint meetings to keep communications open and build on our
combined knowledge and talents.
I recenlly met with Mr. Ted Reno, Executive Secretary for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Association to discuss joint
programs focused on the improvement to the museum and believe we will have a number of successful joint programs in the
near future
PUBLICATION - "TIGER WITHOUT A HOME"
The initial joint program between the Foundation and Association is the publication and distribution of a new book: "Tiger
Without a Home." This book chronicles the history of the Aberdeen German Tiger I Tank currenlly on loan in Germany.
The author, Richard Cox, has generously offered first edition publishing rights to the Foundation. We will issue a Pre
ARTIFACTS RESTORATION
One of the topics discussed at the meeting was the re-painting and external repairs to the museum artifacts. While the bulk
of the funds for this program are supplied by the Government for environmental reasons (Ref: "The Curator's Column" in
Museum Ordnance, September 1995), the Foundation has been asked to pay for the paint. We have agreed to do this for two
reasons: It is a tangible contribution to our basic mission - preservation of the artifacts, and it will strengthen our relation
ships with the army. We believe we will be able to get funds for this program from members and companies and will initiate
a program to make you aware of what you can do to participate in this restoration effort that is planned to begin in 1996.
The Ordnance Museum Foundation, Inc., would like to recognize the following members for supporting the Foundation at
the Company Commander level; Col. Richard Butt Jr., Richard Cox, Richard Hunnicutt, Michael Johnson, Jacques
There are a number of other initiatives that the Foundation is developing and we will keep you informed as they get firmed
up. We will provide a complete summary at our Annual Open Meeting on December 9, 1995. We hope to see you at the
meeting.
Rich Carnegie
26
Museum Ordnance
Miniature Ordnance
January 1996
27
28
Museum Ordnance
MUSEUM ORDNANCE
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Good STuff
fROM JAqUARl
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