Photos from the old days

Unread post by **rickf** » November 18th, 2013, 8:42 pm

I keep getting drawn back to that pic of the submarine and wondering, how did it get that far into the water? Did it float and then sink there? It sure as hell did not drive that far out. I will bet that underwater escape from the vehicle was NOT in the manual!!!

salt6 · Unread post by **salt6** » November 19th, 2013, 12:01 am

rickf wrote:I keep getting drawn back to that pic of the submarine and wondering, how did it get that far into the water? Did it float and then sink there? It sure as hell did not drive that far out. I will bet that underwater escape from the vehicle was NOT in the manual!!!

Rick,

We use to swim in the river all the time with our tracks. Wasn't authorized but was lot of fun on a hot day.

Unread post by **rickf** » November 19th, 2013, 7:39 am

Let me guess, that one was not all that waterproof? someone left out the drain plug?
ABANDON SHIP, SHE'S GOING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

salt6 · Unread post by **salt6** » November 19th, 2013, 7:52 pm

rickf wrote:Let me guess, that one was not all that waterproof? someone left out the drain plug?
ABANDON SHIP, SHE'S GOING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, they tried to back it up on an underwater sandbar and got it nose down and swamped it.

WC Matt · Unread post by **WC Matt** » November 20th, 2013, 8:40 am

The real tragedy is that they didn't have enough life boats for all on board........... So some got their clothes wet when they walked to shore

Matt

Unread post by **rickf** » November 20th, 2013, 10:43 am

I don't think you were "walking" ashore from there. If I remember they were a bit higher than six feet and that one is flush with the top.

WC Matt · Unread post by **WC Matt** » November 20th, 2013, 3:21 pm

I think to the top of the hull they were right at seven foot. Add a little extra for the stuff mounted up there (TC's cupola etc.) . My comment was made in jest...
Matt

Horst · Unread post by **Horst** » November 20th, 2013, 5:07 pm

Isn't that last picture a M113? The ones we had did swim. We crossed rivers in that thing, scary but worked.

Mr. Recovery · Unread post by **Mr. Recovery** » November 20th, 2013, 6:48 pm

Horst wrote:Isn't that last picture a M113? The ones we had did swim. We crossed rivers in that thing, scary but worked.

Horst, yes they did swim quite well if everything was in order, we swam them every year for training at the Grafenwohr training site, I don't have photos of the 113 but here's some of the 114s in 1963

Unread post by **rickf** » November 20th, 2013, 7:19 pm

Ain't no way in hell I would be in that thing while swimming! 98% of the very heavy vehicle is under water, one oop's and water comes in a hatch and you have a submarine with screen doors! And it is not going to give much warning either, Splash, OH S***! Glub........................
I am thinking that if it is loaded with troops and that happens not everyone is going to get out.

Mr. Recovery · Unread post by **Mr. Recovery** » November 20th, 2013, 8:05 pm

That's why all the hatches were open when swimming, all but the "screen door" that is.

whiterabbit · Unread post by **whiterabbit** » November 20th, 2013, 9:05 pm

I used to hate it when they would swim those things! We'd hook the wrecker cable to 'em before they'd go in the drink cause one outt'a 10 would go to the bottom even with the bilge pumps going! The Bradleys weren't too bad but the worst? Those ACEs would go to the bottom in the blink of the eye! Who thought it was a good idea to float a freak'n bulldozer?

Graf! Only place in the world where you'd have 4 seasons in one day.

WC Matt · Unread post by **WC Matt** » November 20th, 2013, 9:19 pm

Mr. Recovery wrote:Horst, yes they did swim quite well if everything was in order, we swam them every year for training at the Grafenwohr training site, I don't have photos of the 113 but here's some of the 114s in 1963

Is that you Mr. Recovery in your M1961 "Ridgeway" cap?

Matt

Mr. Recovery · Unread post by **Mr. Recovery** » November 20th, 2013, 10:18 pm

WC Matt wrote:
Mr. Recovery wrote:Horst, yes they did swim quite well if everything was in order, we swam them every year for training at the Grafenwohr training site, I don't have photos of the 113 but here's some of the 114s in 1963

Is that you Mr. Recovery in your M1961 "Ridgeway" cap?

Matt

NO, as the M-88 Recovery mechanic on duty I was standing by and taking pictures!

This is me in 1961 with that good looking hat!

krink762 · Unread post by **krink762** » December 4th, 2013, 10:31 am

Great pix's, don't see to many of the 114's, they all ended up as targets at Graf, did float the 113 and then the Bradley at Ft Hood what a trip that was in the Bradley, had a set up kinda like the tanks on D-day with rubber/canvas that comes up from behind the skirts with poles to hold it up and the driver is actually below the water line

Photos from the old days

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