Changed my direction for a M3 Bradley in plain green since I don't want to have to mess with showing empty ammo can holders on the back of the bustle.

I've found some small pictures of an M3 at OP Tennessee in the Eaglehorse area but I can't see the rear of the turret. We were told the troops on the border were on higher alert status than the rest of us but I don't know if this translates to being combat loaded? Anybody got any details/pictures?

Thanks,
Paul

We kept our tanks uploaded with main gun ammo. Crates of small arms ammo were stored in the motorpool in sandbagged conexes. On the border, they may have carried the ammo, or at least empty ammo cans to make it look like it was fully uploaded.

I know of course which border you mean, but the OTHER East German border, the one that surrounded West Berlin, had combat units loaded for bear on a rotational basis. Some units were always combat ready. (the party units) The CSC's of the infantry battalions were responsible for wall patrols, and were always combat loadewd as well.

Hey Paul,

I was in 1 Plt, C Trp, 1st Sqdn, 11 ACR, OP Alpha and surrounding area (7 sisters) from 88 to 93. For the M3 CFV in the 11 ACR at that time the standard was combat load of main weapon system ammo 24x7, 365. We were on 2 hour recall alert status. From the time the siren was sounded on the kasern we had one hours to be in column formation ready to roll at the gate on the RCO's command. So that meant all 25mm box place holders in the vehicle were full. If I recall correctly that would be all the shelving on the left and under the floor plates in the back and towards the driver. We would draw a small amount of 762 from the arms room, like 600 rnds for the coax. then you had all your small arms weapons and ammo. This was meant to get us to an ammo resupply point about 6 to 10 miles from our Kaserne (Downs Barracks) in Fulda. This was called an ASP and held our TOW missiles, much more 25mm, cases or grenades, 105 (120) rounds for the tanks, M2 ammo, cratering charges, dynamite, mines, and det cord for the scouts and deteonators/cheese charges for the prepositioned road cratering triplexes...

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are going to model an M3 during the cold war in Germany and want it to look as if it was called out for the real thing (read Clancy "Red Storm Rising"), the ass end would be full to the hilt with ammo and explosives. To the point that, if you had two scouts in the back (we often had 1 scout in the back but most crews were 3 pers) they were sitting/lying in all of it. M3 factoid; best sleeping position was on the trim vane on the front pulled out flat...LoL

As for the 762 can holders on bustle rack; for the real thing all holders full. Peace time a few would be full, with 762 cans that contained sausage and german bread, or 762 cleaning kit, 25mm cleaning accessories like GMD and other crap, the PRC 77 fit in that spot fairly well. Often they (762 can holders) would be covered up by a tarp because we kept our tarps in the bustle rack with duffel bags and ruck sacks hanging off the back of the bustle rack.

Sorry, went off on a tangent. I will see if I have any photos to scan or put up somewhere. Give me a few days (read weekend)....
Ah the mammories...
L8r
Pete

Good info all around. Thanks.

Paul