It was a mistake, but solved now.

alright mate =] are you going to build the kit =]
because hbobby fan do the conversion or the whole kit


cheers =]

yes, I will do it

the hf is a M48 AVLB, I guess.

M48 AVLB ARMORED VEHICLE LAUNCHED BRIDGE
HF018

The Hobby Fan kit is very nice.....an M48A5 AVLB.

There has been comments based upon measurement comparisons that the bridge deck is too narrow........close enough for me.....the kit is very well detailed.

It needs some minor upgrades to bring it up the last version used.

Hi Jason,

Could you give me the link to the comparison article? I have the HobbyFan kit and would be interested in correcting it.

Thanks in advance,
Angel

Like an entirely new hull, running gear, tracks, etc. The M60 AVLB uses an M60 hull. The M48 AVLB was replaced w/M60AVLBs in the late 70's.

The M48 AVLB was used well into the 1980s, as late as 1988. Late M48 AVLBs used the same tracks as late M60 series vehicles.

Ok, so they were used a little longer. Still not the same hull though. It will require a quite a bit more than "minor upgrades to bring it up the last version used."

Brave Rifles DJ!

We still had AVLB's in 1/3 in 1985. I was in HHT and D Co, and I can't remember which unit had them. I remember they used them as wash racks for a long time. Left in 1989 and they were still there then. I also remember they were painted a solid green color.

Jim

Howdy. I'm new here but thought I might input some related historical details.

I was @ Schweinfurt with the 1/10FA 1977-81. Agreed the other Bn was the 2/39FA.
Keep in mind there were two Kasernen there. The arty was a Ledward. The only 'armor' there was the A-Cav 2/7th cav. They had M551s when I got there but those were replaced with M 60A1s >I think< (no armor expert for all I spent 3 years @ Ft. Knox).

The arty spent about 4 months in the field a year on average but that was being increased. The A-cav spent 280(+/-) days in the field in 79 I think it was. Graf, Wielflecken, Hohenfels, border duty, alert roll outs... Guys used to try to get thrown in the stockade to avoid it until there BN-CO started getting them out to go to the field. Then they had an incident of mutiny.

So they started giving us arty guys border patrol. That could actually get interesting those days. Cold nights, old mines would go off sometimes.
Anyway, they were giving us arty boys cross training in infantry tactics. The arty unit resistance expectation in conventional warfare was 0, zero, zilch. It was understood we'd never get a gun out of the park. The 'ideal' was "for small groups and individuals to create isolated pockets of resistance for 24 hours." That was from the S-2.

Another difference was the fo arrangement. Originally, fo's were detached 13E (FDC) and selected 13B (gun bunnies). While I was there, they established 13F as a seperate MOS.

Back to your armor, those guys were at "Conn barracks." All I know is they had M60A1 at least. I don't know about later varients.

As for Schweinfurrt being quite a place- You could leisurely stroll across the kaserne in 10 minutes but it was the most built up Kaserne in the area. Had the biggest PX & commissary, western store (only one outside of Wurzburg IIRC), and a ski shop/sporting goods store. The local community was large enough to absorb the GI personnal without too much animosity. I recall Kitzigen (DIVARTY HQ) as feeling particularly sullen and resentful (not w/out some reason I grant.) The moral of soldiers there suffered accordingly.

I know this veers off topic but though you might be interested in the history considering some of the discussion.
C|:-)

If this helps I turned in my Company's 5 AVLBs while in @ID in Korea in 2005. I had two that were on M48 Chassis. both were 3 tone CARC. The 5th (float vehicle) was one tone green

Hello Guys!

As already mentioned the M104 Wolverine is only deployed in the US, based on M1A2 hulls, I believe only around 40+ of originally 100+ were funded and built.
The USMC M1 AVLB variant is their own invention and funding, just like the Assault Breaching Vehicle M1, since they already have the scissor bridge capable of handling 70 tons.
Like in Korea all AVLB in Europe (Germany mostly) are M48 and M60 and some hulls where completely refurbished during the late 90's I believe, by a German factory. There were definitely still some M48 AVLB around in 2006/06, all tracks had the CARC camo.
There is a very good, still up to date, article in the Concord/ Pub.: 7808 ASSAULT: Journal of Armored & Heliborne Warfare Vol. 8
on the 54th Engineers in Germany.

Cheers
Christopherjavascript:PasteSmiley(':-)--%3C')

Howdy Chris, there is no USMC M1 AVLB variant. The current AVLBs are built on M60A2 hulls and have the bulge below the rear grille doors. They also launch 70 ton capable bridges. The USMC did fund/field the ABV (Assault Breacher Vehicle) based on the M1 chassis. Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Heh Mike!

I know that the Corps is / was testing the British system, that‘s the pic in Frenchy‘s reply, mounted on an older M1 hull.
Having funds or introducing them in to service yet I don‘t know, but this program is run like the ABV separately by the Corps, and has nothing to do with the Army‘s M104/ German Leguan system. I read in some article that the choice for testing the British system was made to handle the 70 tons bridges you just mentioned, already in the Corps inventory.
Did not realize the the USMC AVLB‘s are mounted on M60A2 hulls, well I never took a close look at them anyway, interesting and good to know!

Cheers
Christopher

I was on the AVLB"S in Vietnam

AVLB?

M48A5, M60A2, M104 Wolverine, Tiguan, Bieber...

I want them all, But I'll settle for any of them

I can't ever remember seeing the M60 or M48 bridge layer. Doesn't mean there wasn't one. Things you have to remember about most any country close to the ocean; the rivers get pretty wide once your with ten miles of the beach. Much more than thirty miles west, and you didn't need one. Plus tanks were running out of operating room, but with a hand full of exceptions. Up towards the DMZ, you saw tanks all the way to Khe Sanh. South of there, and there was no armor till you got down by the Que Son Valley. Pretty dry in there, with maybe one river. My guess would have been II-Corps and south.

In my A.O. we had several streams to cross. We had blue crossings marked on the maps. Yet if there was a road (usually dirt, or if lucky gravel)you'd see a bridge built by combat engineers. They kept these bridges in pretty good condition, and seemed to be constantly repairing one due to mines. No AVB's out there. When you got to the coast line (mostly Highway One) you saw bridges that were new construction, or the older iron frame type. Still you'd run into a pontoon bridge every now and then. Usually right beside it was a blown up bridge. Needless to say Combat Engineers were always busy. I never ever saw a CAV troop with a bridge layer. Perhaps the 5th Mech or 69th Armor?

Just some thoughts
gary

Is there a ribbon for thread resurrection ???? 6 and a half years is a long time to lay dormant!