Fort Lewis Army Museum Tank Park Pictures

[Torplexed]

Having driven by it for years, I decided to pay a visit to the Fort Lewis Army Museum. It's not the Bovington Tank Museum or the IWM, but it's the closest I'm gonna get in this moss-covered corner of the world. :) It's a bit of work to visit since as a civilian you have to "hurry up and wait" for a visitors pass to get on the base.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Fort_Lewis_Army_Musuem.jpg

It's not a US Army base without a venerable Sherman. Luckily, the nearest Tigers are locked up in a zoo up in Seattle.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M4_Sherman.jpg

M-24 Chaffee Light Tank. All the tanks are in the open, so they take a beating from the incessant North Pacific damp.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M-24_Chaffee.jpg

Something of a rare bird, the super-heavy M 103 tank from the 1950s. Only 300 were made and I think they were considered something of an under-powered failure.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M_103_Tank.jpg

The M42 "Duster" self-propelled AA mount. Useful against ground targets too.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M_4A21_Duster.jpg

M-55 Howitzer of Vietnam War vintage.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M_55_Howitzer.jpg

Nike Missile System. There are some bases for this missile in the area that are in a state of decay. So is this missile for that matter. :O:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Nike_Missle.jpg

M8 "Greyhound" Armored Car.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Greyhound_Armored_Car.jpg

Don't know what this is, but I want one. :)

http://pyxis.homestead.com/I_want_one.jpg

The only non domestic tanks on display look like ex-Iraqi ones.
I believe this is a Type 59 of Chinese manufacture.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/T-54_Tank.jpg

A BMP armored personnel carrier I think, probably ex-Iraqi too.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/BMP-1.jpg

S21 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled artillery piece.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/S21_Gvozdika_122mm_SPA.jpg

M-60 Patton tank from the Vietnam War era.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M-60_Patton.jpg

Sheridan Light tank.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M551_Sheridan.jpg

And, the diminutive M5 Stuart. I took the picture from ground level to make it look bigger. :)

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M5_Stuart.jpg

[Torplexed]

By the way, if anyone could identify this vehicle for me, I'd appreciate it. I think it's a MTLB, but I'm not sure.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/MTLB.jpg

[Catfish]

Thanks for the pictures :up:

The car you want is probably a Volkswagen Beetle chassis with another body, front axle looks like it :hmmm:

[Aktungbby]

Don't know what this is, but I want one. :)
http://pyxis.homestead.com/I_want_one.jpg That looks a lot like a FAV fast attack vehicle used by SEALs and could carry a tow missile... I want one too! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/US_Navy_020413-N-5362A-013_U.S._Navy_SEALs_%28SEa%2C_Air%2C_Land%29_opera te_Desert_Patrol_Vehicles_%28DPV%29_while_preparin g_for_an_upcoming_mission.jpg/1024px-US_Navy_020413-N-5362A-013_U.S._Navy_SEALs_%28SEa%2C_Air%2C_Land%29_opera te_Desert_Patrol_Vehicles_%28DPV%29_while_preparin g_for_an_upcoming_mission.jpg As one who grew up on the RAT Patrol show:yeah::

The original tests used commercial dune buggies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_buggy) modified to carry weapons such as TOW missiles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW) and recoilless rifles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoilless_rifle). The recoilless rifles still had enough recoil to flip the lightweight dune buggies and were abandoned. The TOW missiles had much greater success, but they violated existing Army TOW doctrine. The Army had determined that a TOW needed a 3-man team to operate it. The DPVs could only carry a two-man crew and they seemed perfectly capable of operating the TOW, but this would have meant revising Army doctrine and possibly changing TOW deployment throughout the Army. :wah: Fort Benning (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Benning) decided to offer a "superior" DPV design that allowed a third crewman. This design was rejected by the HTLD team and was never produced.
The basic weapons on a DPV consist of a heavy .50 caliber (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG)M2 Browning (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning) machine gun, two lighter 7.62×51mm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62%C3%9751mm_NATO)M60 machine guns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M60_machine_gun), and two M136 AT4 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT4) anti-armor weapons. In some cases, the driver's M60 or the gunner's M2 is replaced with a 40 mm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_mm_grenade)Mk 19 grenade launcher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_19_grenade_launcher). Other light machine guns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_machine_gun) such as the M240 machine gun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun) or 5.56×45mm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56%C3%9745mm_NATO)M249 SAW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M249_light_machine_gun) can also be mounted.

[Torplexed]

That looks a lot like a FAV fast attack vehicle used by SEALs and could carry a tow missile... I want one too! As one who grew up on the RAT Patrol show:yeah::




I think this one was the XR 311 Experimental High Mobility Vehicle or something like that. I know it had an "X" in it.

Probably did better service as a recruiting tool than as a recon vehicle. :O:

[Aktungbby]

MY favorite comic book character http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/e/e9/Jeb_Stuart_01.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120905115126< 'Jeb Stuart' was based on this!https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b6/Hauntedtank.jpg/250px-Hauntedtank.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hauntedtank.jpg)http://pyxis.homestead.com/M5_Stuart.jpg

[Torplexed]

MY favorite comic book character < 'Jeb Stuart' was based on this!

The Stuart always struck me as a funky, almost toy-like looking tank. :O: All those square angles and shot traps. It was good to see an actual living example, though.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M5.jpg

[Aktungbby]

I think this one was the XR 311 Experimental High Mobility Vehicle or something like that. I know it had an "X" in it.

Probably did better service as a recruiting tool than as a recon vehicle. :O: 'XR 311' still brings up my link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Patrol_Vehicle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Patrol_Vehicle) Catfish is right on! It was based on the VW Kübelwagon rear-wheel drive: Recruiting tool? NOPE! The first U.S. forces to enter Kuwait City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_City) were United States Navy SEALs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs) in DPVs. I'd need an ice pack 'Kabooti' seat https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server4200/w4jv/products/463/images/1883/v4_kabooti_ice_gel_insert_overhead_view__55602.145 2292517.356.300.png?c=2 for my Kübelwagon'd cahones bouncing around in that !:shucks:

[Torplexed]

'XR 311' still brings up my link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Patrol_Vehicle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Patrol_Vehicle) Catfish is right on! It was based on the VW Kübelwagon rear-wheel drive: The first U.S. forces to enter Kuwait City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_City) were United States Navy SEALs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs) in DPVs. I'd need an ice pack 'Kabooti' seat for my Kübelwagon'd cahones bouncing around in that !:shucks:


I'll go with that then.

Speaking of Iraq, they have Saddam's Head on display inside the museum if anyone wants to speak to him. :)

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Saddams_Head.jpg

[Eichhörnchen]

Do you mind if I use that 'Sherman' photo as a reference for a painting sometime?

[Rockstar]

But did you have one of these!

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/e8/af/ec/e8afec5e9dba3c71eac3ab63fb8569b8.jpg

[Torplexed]

Do you mind if I use that 'Sherman' photo as a reference for a painting sometime?

No problem. :cool: I don't think the US Army would mind either.

Here's a few additional pictures if you need more visual reference. Just try to leave out the rust and the bent bits. :D


http://pyxis.homestead.com/Sherman_Front.jpg

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Sherman_side.jpg

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Sherman_back.jpg

[Aktungbby]

But did you have one of these!

NOPE! Still got mine::D
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4OIAAOSwHF1XHFXF/s-l1600.jpg

[Rockstar]

I went to high school in the Panama Canal Zone and back then the U.S. Army would once a year come to school and give us rides in M113 APCs. Things could haul butt, fly over hills and land ever so soft.

http://military-vehicle-photos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/5066.jpg


Then these would land in the football field and take on passengers for a trip across the bay and up the Chagres River high speed low level.

http://www.minihelicopter.net/UH1Huey/UH-1%20Huey.jpg


They probabaly dont do stuff like that anymore.

[Torplexed]

But did you have one of these!

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/e8/af/ec/e8afec5e9dba3c71eac3ab63fb8569b8.jpg


Haha. I did actually have one of those as a kid until I broke the thermos throwing it as a demo charge. :)

Hey, they did have the GI Joe-Bob Hope Action Figure on museum display. I don't know if Kung-Fu grip was included.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Bob_Hope_Action_Figure.jpg

[Schroeder]

By the way, if anyone could identify this vehicle for me, I'd appreciate it. I think it's a MTLB, but I'm not sure.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/MTLB.jpg
I believe you are right:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MT-LB

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.:salute:

[Torplexed]

I believe you are right:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MT-LB

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.:salute:

Thanks for verifying. I guess that just leaves this sad looking relic with four flat tires as my remaining mystery vehicle. I'm pretty sure it's of Soviet manufacture.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Unkown_APC.jpg

[Rockstar]

BRDM-2 amphib scout car is my guess

[Torplexed]

BRDM-2 amphib scout car is my guess

Sure seems to match. I think you nailed it. Thanks. :cool:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/brdm02l.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Nice pictures. Seawolf Park used to have an old Patton, but when we started the Cavalla restoration effort, a lot of the old subvets decided anything non-Navy had to go....:06:

I did crawl down into it, man, that was super tight. Subs have nothing on tanks for claustrophobia.

[Torplexed]

Nice pictures. Seawolf Park used to have an old Patton, but when we started the Cavalla restoration effort, a lot of the old subvets decided anything non-Navy had to go....:06:

I did crawl down into it, man, that was super tight. Subs have nothing on tanks for claustrophobia.

Speaking of Texas, one of the vehicles on display was a M728 combat engineer tank based on a M60 Patton chassis. A vehicle that will probably always be far more famous (or infamous) for rooting out the Branch Davidians at Waco, Texas than rooting out the Viet Cong in Vietnam. :O:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/M728.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Jimbuna]

Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

DITTO :sunny:

[Oberon]

Thanks for verifying. I guess that just leaves this sad looking relic with four flat tires as my remaining mystery vehicle. I'm pretty sure it's of Soviet manufacture.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Unkown_APC.jpg

Bolshevik Recce Death Machine! :up:

That Sherman is an M4A1 apparently, I've gotten so used to the slab sides of the A2s and A3s that I'd forgotten how much the A1s curved at the top.