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Tank farm – Building C. This is actually a naval gun that was adapted for use in a tank!. –. This was not the world’s best idea. On a ship, there is a lot more room to load the gun and absorb recoil. Another one. The coaxial machine gun, used as a target spotter before the days of lasers.
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This is actually a naval gun that was adapted for use in a tank! –
This was not the world’s best idea. On a ship, there is a lot more room to load the gun and absorb recoil.
Another one. The coaxial machine gun, used as a target spotter before the days of lasers.
IS-3M heavy tank, Soviet, 1945+ Acquisition and restoration This vehicle was acquired from Egypt by the Budge Collection, which is based in the United Kingdom. It was used by the Egyptians as static artillery to fire on the Israeli army from the embankment across the Suez canal. It was brought to England, where it was renovated and made operable at the Budge shops. A private British collector then purchased it and stored it outside at the Alvis test track in Coventry, England. It was puchased from this individual and brought to the Ranch in 1997. This vehicle runs and drives, but will be completely restored at some point in the future.
History of the vehicle The introduction of the IS-3 heavy tank by the Soviet army in 1945 was an intimidating milestone in the postwar arms race. While NATO strategists were divided about the value of the heavy tank on the battlefield, the Soviets viewed them as an important part of their military strategy. Designed to destroy enemy armor at long range, the IS-3 had an innovative hull design and a 122mm gun. Lacking a comparable heavy tank, both the United States and the United Kingdom were compelled to develop programs of their own, resulting in the M-103 and the Conqueror. Approximately eighteen hundred IS-3s were manufactured between 1945 and 1951. Because the vehicle was rushed into production it subsequenty required a costly rebuilding program between 1948 and 1952 to correct the defects. A further modernization program was initiated in 1960, with the improved and upgraded vehicles designated as IS-3Ms. During the 1970s, Soviet heavy tank units were phased out and replaced by T-62 main battle tank (MBT) units. This decision was based on a number of factors. Firstly, a new generation of NATO tank guns, such as the British 105mm L7, could easily penetrate the thick well-sloped armor on the IS-3M at normal combat ranges. Secondly, the introduction of the Soviet T-62 equipped with a long range, hard hitting 115mm gun rendered the firepower advantage of the heavy tank redundant. Subsequently many IS-3Ms were deployed to the eastern border of the USSR facing Red China, where some still remain buried as pillboxes to this day. A limited number of IS-3Ms were also provided to Soviet allies, such as Egypt, who used the vehicle during the six day war against the Israeli army in 1967. They experienced poor results, however, because the Israelis were equipped with American built M-48 Patton tanks and British built Centurion tanks. Characteristics Manufacturer Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant First year of manufacture 1945 Combat weight 51 tons (46 267 kg) Crew 4 Length 22’4” (6.81m) Width 10’6” (3.2m) Height 8’11” (2.7m) Fording depth 24” (0.6m) Maximum road speed 23 mph (37 km/hr) Maximum road fuel range 94 miles (151 km) Maximum armor thickness 8” (200mm) Steering Clutch brake Suspension Torsion bar Engine V-54K-IS (520 hp) Transmission Manual 2 speed transfer case Armament 122mm main gun One 7.62mm MG One 12.7mm MG Ammunition 122mm – 28 rounds 7.62mm MG – 1 500 rounds 12.7mm MG – 250 rounds
Leaving the U of buildings A, B, C. Building D is behind us.
Our tour guide, in coveralls. Jacques has three full-time employees to do the restoration work.
M60A2 main battle tank History of this vehicle This vehicle, serial #4825, was rebuilt in 1978 at Anniston army depot and has only 35 miles on the odometer. I traded the US Army Center of Military History a fully restored World War II German Dermag D10 halftrack for this vehicle. The halftrack is now in the Patton museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and this vehicle is preserved as the only complete, operational example of the late model army rebuilt M60A2s. A curious note is that this tank would have brought a price of only $2500 for scrap. The current CFE treaty requires that these vehicles and their components be extensively cut up, which raises the cost of scrapping, while reducing any potential gain from the sale of surplus parts. In the summer of 1971 I was fortunate enough to be invited by the manager of the Detroit Tank Plant to drive a “combat loaded” M60A2 at the TACOM test track in Detroit. Operating this tank with the powered cupola, stabilization and commander’s target designating capability was a real thrill. I feel privileged to have been able to preserve this significant piece of US technical history. I contracted with the US army to get the vehicle into drivable condition and loaded it on a railcar at Anniston, Alabama. It was shipped by rail to San Jose, where FMC Corporation generously let me unload it at their facility and then truck it up to the ranch. The outside of the vehicle has been repainted, while the inside has only been partially refurbished and some missing components replaced. The laser rangefinder is missing critical parts and is inoperable. As with the original vehicle, the stabilization system is difficult to keep running, and at this time it does not function properly.
Characteristics Year of manufacture 1974 Manufacturer Chrysler Corp Detroit tank plant Combat weight 55 tons Crew 4 Length gun forward 24 ft 1 ins Width 12 ft 11 ins Height over cupola periscope 10 ft 10 ins Armor thickness ½ ins (rear floor) to 11.5 ins (gun shield) Maximum road speed 30 MPH Maximum fuel range 280 miles Engine Continental AVDS-1790 2AV-12 air cooled, turbocharged, 4 cycle Diesel, 750 HP at 2400 RPM Transmission Allison CD-850-6A crossdrive, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse Steering Regenerative, including neutral steer capability Suspension Torsion bar with three shock absorbers per side Weapons … w/launcher M162, One .30 cal … machine gun, One .50 cal MG85 anti-… cupola mount Provision for two .45 cal M3A1 submachine guns Rate of fire, main gun 4 rounds per minute Ammunition 46 rounds main gun, 5500 rounds .30 cal, 1080 rounds .50 cal, 360 rounds .45 cal 8 hand grenades, 8 M226 smoke grenade canisters Maximum velocity, HEAT-T ammunition 2240 ft per second Fording depth without preparation 4 ft Gun elevation and depression +20 degrees to –10.0 degrees Gun stabilization Vertical and horizontal, turret and cupola independently stabilized Fire control Laser rangefinder, ballistic computer (including wind correction), night vision, azimuth indicator and elevation quadrant. Shillelagh missile guidance system incorporating infrared tracking and course correction. Searchlight AN/VSS 2.2kW Xenon visible or infrared Communication VRC12 series FM tactical radio, including intercom The M60A2 was, until the introduction of the current model M1A2 in 1995, the most sophisticated main battle tank ever fielded. It was developed starting in 1964 as a way of incorporating the Shillelagh missile system into an M60 type vehicle while awaiting the development of the MBT70. A number of features were pioneered in this vehicle; it was the first US tank with a laser rangefinder, independent two axis stabilization and sight integration for both main gun and cupola, and a ballistic computer with wind correction. In addition it incorporated, along with the Sheridan light tank, the Shillelagh missile system, which was the first system capable of launching a guided missile as well as firing conventional rounds from the same tube, and the first tank with consumable case ammunition. The unusual turret was designed to reduce frontal area, especially when dug in hull down. Following a prolonged development period of nearly 9 years, 540 M60A2s were built between 1973 and 1975. The tank looked funny to the soldiers, required quite a bit of careful adjustment daily, and was never very popular with the troops. It was withdrawn from service in 1978, having never fired a round in combat. Starting in 1994, the US army began scrapping the vehicles, and at this point only a handful remain in museums.
The view from across the valley at Palo Alto’s Foothills park. Photo from July, 2007.
