Any thoughts On a "New" Recovery / Engineering Vehicle Based on the M1 Chassis?

This is more of a Survey kind of thing. I'd love to see something like:

That one looks like the recovery vehicle they tested during REFORGER 88. It is still based on the M88 chassis and not the M1 chassis. Very cool, but cancelled.

The Pic is the old M51 from 'Nam.........

Those recovery vehicles are MASSIVE...

Thinking about it I might change my christmaslist... #:-)(Oops this was way ,sorry)

Is the Grizzley the same as an M-88 type vehicle (a-1, a-2)? Didn't know they had a name.

The m88 is based on the M48/60 Chassis....The Grizzly was to be Based on the M1 chassis

COOL!!!!!! That one looks like a plan!!!!

That's more like it. I just remembered the side mounted boom that looked like it could swing to the side. Someone did a conversion of this in the old Military Modeler magazine. I can try to look for the old issue if you are interested.

Rob,

That would be great!!!!

I saw a new Abrams based engineer vehicle in Iraq during the war just north of Karbala Gap as we (3ID) were moving through. I wish I could have snapped a picture of it. It looked like an Abrams w/o turret. It had a raised area (about 12") where the turret would have been and a M1A1 commander's cupola and a mine plow on front. It was from an engineer Bn from Germany attached to V Corps. I haven't seen one since.

This is the Abrams based recovery vehicle that was tested in 1988. The build article is 11 pages long and from the old Military Modeler magazine of July 1989. I labeled the photos as a "Grizzly" but this is not a Grizzly.

M1 ARV/AEV:
OK the Abrams ARV has been canceled due to the acceptance of the M88A2 HERCULES, which should not be confused with the M88A1E1. The Army feels that the upgraded M88 in its current form will serve till 2010. BUT the DOD/First Army has accepted
and issued a contract for an M1 based AEV to replaced the M728 which has been removed from service. The AEV "GRIZZLY" has a multi-plane earth plow, and a bucket/scoop fixture
on the end of the crane located on the right front. The plow is very similar to the "v" shaped ones that are used at international airports. Low in the middle high on the sides which form the "v". This attachment can be swiveled to act as a straight blade, a excavating blade, or a ditching blade. It has teeth on its lower edge.
For referance you can go to Janes.com or Military.com and search the Equipment section.

Here are pics of the Grizzly AEV. The Abrams based AVLB is called the Wolverine. It uses a stacked 3 part bridge, that does not open like the M60 AVLB, for conceilment reasons. [img]https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showphoto.php?photo=8652&password=&sort=8&cat=500&page=1
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showphoto.php?photo=8653&password=&sort=8&cat=500&page=1

with all this nice discussion i think i have to start my AFV M88 Vietnam version right away . Good looking vehicles all these and looking strong also !!!

At this Point the Grizzly Program HAS BEEN placed on HOLD
http://www.wood.army.mil/TSM/grizzly.htm

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/grizzly.htm

MATT,
Thanx for the links. I had the FAS link but not the other. Wish I could figure out the picture posting thing. Life would be easier.

I spent some time working as a crewmember on a M88A1, it was by far my favorite vehicle! I haven't built one yet but it will happen before winter's over. Rob, Thanks for the Abrams version photos!

Hey all-
Just realized that there was an article a few years back in Finescale Modeler magazine that had a few pictures of a scratchbuilt Grizzly in 1/35. The model was current (at the time) and showed the various upgrades made. If any one is interested, I have it in my collection and would post the article.
Kyle

well, maybe I can help a touch. It seems that we are all talking about 4 or so different vehicles.

First, as has been pointed out, many if not ALL of the M1 series variants have been either cancelled/scaled back/stalled or delayed. Mianly because the army is not sure it will need such heavy equipment in the "medium" and "light" future. Don't need a M1 series 70+ ton rated bridge for tupperware tanks...

anyhow, there are/were ( I am not using alpha numeric designations to try to help keep it simple):

M1Armored Recovery Vehicle. 80's - 90's concept vehicle. Cancelled. Replaced by M88A2

M1 Combat Engineer Vehicle (called the Grizzly). Final future fate is still undecided. Has the nice big bulldozer with teeth on the front and the big scoop arm on the side. This is the vehicle, for the most part, featured in a past issue of Fine Scale Modeler.

M1 "panther" remote controlled mine clearing vehicle. This is most likely what HeavyArty saw. Plated over turret well with a commander coupola, mine roller or plow in front. Should have been a tall "radio mast" at the butt end.

Finally, the M1 series bridgelayer...again, fate undecided/unknown. Not sure if any are even under evaluation or assigned to the troopies.

Hey, I like my future tank to be small, fast, and plastic...er, well, no I don't . I like them BIG,and HEAVY, and TERRIBLE! I like to see the little children weep as the massive steal creatures relentlessly pass by their homes, to hear the women lament and swoon in fear...well, ok, I really do! #:-)

But anyway, looks like th main problem facing the M1 Series is that it MAY ( I really stress the may here) be obsolete due to size/weight. Airforce can't afford new planes with better capabilities I guess. Apparently the future army has to be Fed Ex transportable...ok, ok, I'm here all week...tip you waiters and have a good night. :-)

[quote]well, maybe I can help a touch. It seems that we are all talking about 4 or so different vehicles.

Yes we are confusing the issue by contributors not knowing the correct nomenclature.

anyhow, there are/were ( I am not using alpha numeric designations to try to help keep it simple):
M1Armored Recovery Vehicle. 80's - 90's concept vehicle. Cancelled. Replaced by M88A2
M1 Combat Engineer Vehicle (called the Grizzly). Final future fate is still undecided. Has the nice big bulldozer with teeth on the front and the big scoop arm on the side. This is the vehicle, for the most part, featured in a past issue of Fine Scale Mode.

the article in FSM was an ARV not an AEV

M1 "panther" remote controlled mine clearing vehicle. This is most likely what HeavyArty saw. Plated over turret well with a commander coupola, mine roller or plow in front. Should have been a tall "radio mast" at the butt end.
Finally, the M1 series bridgelayer...again, fate undecided/unknown. Not sure if any are even under evaluation or assigned to the troopies.

currently being evaluated : Even the Light Combat Brigade concept does not eliminate the Abrams Tank from service ,and current wieght AVLB bridges are 60T not 70T

But anyway, looks like th main problem facing the M1 Series is that it MAY ( I really stress the may here) be obsolete due to size/weight. Airforce can't afford new planes with better capabilities I guess. Apparently the future army has to be Fed Ex transportable...ok, ok, I'm here all week...tip you waiters and have a good night. :-)

Based on past operations thus far, the airforce has only airlifted Vehicles upto the weight of the M977 HEMTT. ALL ARMOR tamk transport has been via SHIP

Ehhhmm....



Airforce link news

My second and third flights on a C-5 Galaxy were with an Abrams (mine) in the belly. My first flight was a return PCS trip from Germany to the states. We flew from Ft. Hood to Ft. Lewis (Yakima) and back again to test MG Shinseki's concept of a rapid deployment heavy tank team. The team consisted of a tank platoon, Bradley platoon, command tank, fueler and cargo HEMTT, and a maintenance and medic contact vehicle (M113A2).

IIRC, after the Black Hawk Down incident, a tank/mech team from the 24th ID was deployed by C-5 from Ft. Stewart to Somalia.

Hey Rotor...are lifting on me again?

And the article in FSM WAS a AEV...it was based on the prototype Grizzly, with the big toothed blade and the nice big scoop arm on the side. Hard to do recovery with a big A## shovel. I will get the month/year on the FSM issue today.

And they have been airlifting tanks.

And the M1 series Bridge system had better be more than 60Ton capable or it is already unusable...The M1A1HA and M1A2 are combat loaded to 64ton...the main reason they had to "remake" the M88 to A2 Hercules standards.

nothing but love...(really) #:-)