4. I have seen some reason pictures of .50 cal machine guns mounted on top of the main gun in Iraq. This is not TUSK yet, but what is it?

1. I think you are referring to the mount for the (training) .50 cal. which was attached to the gun shield. .50 cal tracer was used as a sub caliber main gun live fire simulator to save ammunition and maximize training time. At no time did any M1 variant have a searchlight...TIS from day one. You can just see it here on the gun shield

[
Got a story about that later model Telfare Device, a ARNG LTC, a M60A3 and a Report of Survey...

John

Stefan,
Sorry to divert the thread but here it goes...

Disclaimer: I have worked with and went to war with some outstanding ARNG Soldiers, NCOs and Officers. The guy below was a knucklehead before he was a member of the ARNG...

It was right before I came to work for you/D/10 Cav in 1988. We had a TR supporting a ARNG run gunnery. As usual, we provided M60A3s and technical assistance in the way of TCEs, if needed, but the ARNG guys declined our guys. Well, they started with subcal gunnery. Somehow, they decided to clamp the Telfares to the rear thermal shroud instead of the proper place on the bore evacuator. after noticing the wrong placement during a maintenance visit, my guys tried to correct them, but were told "we know what we are doing, get off of my range" Well, I went out to Cedar Creek Range and tried to speak with the OIC (I was the acting troop commander atthe time) and was basically told to "pound sand, we will do what we want" by LTC Knucklehead. Famous last words. I thought, "we will see when you try to give those tanks back" and wrote up statements. When turn-in time came, we did a quick report of survey on several thermal shrouds, mantlet covers and a couple other odds and ends,got a signature from the troop commander, who when told the story, was hot enough to, well, you know, then passed it to Henry E. Hodge the Third, who promtly signed the ROS and handed to LTC Knucklehead. who yelled, screamed and pouted but in the end, paid for the replacement parts. Fun times in the 12th Cav during the late 1980's. Things picked up in the fall, when I got to D/10 Cav but you already know that story...

John

Good evening!

I guess I simply continue with my questions:

5. I understand that the AIM program is completely rebuilding the M1A1 to brand new conditions. Does it also include any new tools/equipment or is that then only part of the later SA program?
6. The M1A1 delivered to Australia are supposed to the simple AIM tanks plus some aussi extras. When I look at the tank I can see a metal box added to the right side of the gunner's primary sight which is supposed to be a GPS antenna. Is taht correct? If so, why is it on board and why there on the sight?
7. an I say that the M1A2SEP is being made by upgrading existing M1A2 or is it based on older vehicles?
8. Now that the M1A1D is gone out of service, is the same thing planed for the M1A2 (not SEP) or will it stay?

Thanks!