Pictures Of My Ex-TOW Launch M151A2

[glcaines]

I've had this 1979 M151A2 since January of 2023. It is an Ex-TOW Launch A2. It is totally un-cut, but it has a lot of holes in the sheet metal due to the TOW launcher previously attached. It had been in storage for decades, straight from the Army and fortunately stored indoors in a warehouse. I'm not sure how it escaped being cut, but the theory is that since it was previously a TOW launch 1/4 ton, it slipped between the cracks by the government. The last U.S. Army inspection tags were all dated early 90s. It runs and drives great. Albeit the tires are date-coded 1978, they were new tires when the A2 was stored. I had to clean the fuel tank, but unfortunately to remove the fuel tank, the ROPS had to be removed and scrapped. I intended to paint the 1/4 ton in Merdc Winter Verdant, so I have painted the entire truck with FS34079 Forest Green as a start. Now, I might just leave the jeep in the dark green and forget the MERDC Winter Verdant. The top, doors, etc. were all in 100% perfect condition.

[m38inmaine]

Nice.

[m3a1]

There is a product that is called CAPLUGS (can be found on eBay and elsewhere) that are dead ringers, if no the same thing as the plugs from the factory. Come in all sizes. Fill those holes, Mister!

[Horst]

Excellent!

Just wonder how a TOW launcher and ROPS were compatible...

[rickf]

I was wondering the same thing. You would only be able to fire in a small arc forward since the ROPS tubing would interfere with traversing in any other direction. The ROPS would also prevent proper sighting and physical operation of the gun. I know you say this was straight from the govt. but I think the reason it survived is it was in some museum and they took some liberties with additional equipment. Do you have the original TOW data plates?

[glcaines]

The Army removed the TOW launcher and converted the A2 back to a standard A2 and then added the ROPS. ROPS is totally incompatible with a TOW launcher or recoilless rifle. The TOW Launcher placard was the only one on the A2 when I got it.

TOW Placard.jpg

[rickf]

Ok, But it does not make sense why they would do that. Standard A2's were a dime a dozen, they were stored at every base for years in full readiness so there would be no need to take a unit that was a front line unit up to and long after standard M151's had all been retired and convert it back to a standard A2. The TOW is still in use today so that vehicle would not have been taken out of service until it timed out and at that point it would have been demilled or donated to a museum but the military would not have spent any time on converting it. The TOW would have been removed for security reasons unless special arrangements were made otherwise. I may be wrong but being around the military and military equipment for 50 plus years I have never seen then convert back to a common vehicle they would have in stock. Maybe Dave P will chime in on this one since he has a special perspective on this.

In the end it is all moot point since what you have now is a very nice looking A2. And whether it was or was not a TOW in the past makes no difference in value anyway unless you have all of the TOW equipment. Enjoy what you have.

[m3a1]

I'd like to add that the data plate presents an interesting tidbit on the matter of two points of contention between military and civilian use of the words - 'TRUCK' and 'JEEP". But there it is.

[Hambone]

I had a similar situation with my ambulance, it didn't leave the base until the 90's, they were using it as a runabout on the base, they had removed the ambulance stuff and added front half rops along with a hardtop mounted with a few sheet metal screws. It left the base on a scrap contract, then stored in a garage for 20 years before i acquired it. This is what it looked like when it left the base, still has original data plate.

IMG_0124.JPG