My Tank, Erlangen Germany, 1977

[Cool Hand Fluke]

I got the honer if naming my tank "Communist killer" While stationed in Germany in 1977. The only rule we were instructed with was that what ever name we gave our tank must start with the letter C. I couldn't resist this name since we were only 50 miles or so for the Czechoslovakian border, or what was called at that time the "iron curtain".

[birdman]

Very cool picture. People forget that the cold war was a war. One big tense stand off.

[CaptainRobin]

M48 or M60? Been so long since they were retired there isn't enough for me to tell. I remember those ODs, wore them for a few years before they came out with the BDUs. Cap with the unit crest, always bumping your head on something in vehicles and the holdfasts digging into your forehead. I was an engineer, but ran with you guys and the infantry. REFORGER was always an interesting time. I was wearing Old Ironsides when I retired in '98. Cool photo, brings back memories...

Robin

[Dogsoldier]

That should be a m60a1.I did some time on those also b4 going to m1a1s

[Cool Hand Fluke]

Yes, it's the M60A1. 105 mm main gun. I left Germany in November 1978, probably 2 years before the Abrams replaced the old M60A1. It's a good thing we never had to use the M60A1 in battle, it was a death trap. The Israels found a major flaw in the design. The OHT hydraulic fluid (cherry juice) was extremely flammable, any rupture of the hydraulic lines in the turret caused instant fire and would incinerate the crew. These lines were under high pressure, any rupture would put super flammable vapor spray inside the tank. Instant BBQ. Glad we now have the Abrams.

[TerryC]

M60A1?? You shure?? Looks like a "universal translater" to me... anything that 105 gun sends to the "enemy" is immediately understood... in any language!! NICE!! TTC

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Terry and guys, I prefer to be looking down on those mobile targets.

Don Jose de La Mancha