Hello folks,
What is exactly a CLAMP mine laying system?
This is a box like device which is attached to the rear of M1 Abrams tanks
Once I got a information that it was a device that was to used with mine plow equipped tanks, and this device job was to drop on the floor some signal emitters so the other vehicles would follow these signal and would be running one a safe track.
This could be a good idea but this is just the opposite of what this CLAMP is described as a mine laying device.
What is true about this CLAMP???
TIA
Aldo

Actually it is CLAMS or Cleared Lane Marking System. The plow or mine roller tank has one of these boxes at the back of his tank. As the tank clears a lane through the mine field, the driver actuates the CLAMS and it drops a chem* (chemical) light on a little stand. The light then shows subsequent tanks where the cleared lane is.

Don't know what a CLAMP is.

*Chem lights are those little plastic wand lights that glow without heat or battery power when the wand is snapped and a small capsule inside breaks. It causes the light stick to glow due to the chemical reaction. They come in various colors and intensities.

It's actually CLAMS...Cleared LAne Marking System. It would drop weighted flags at intervals along a path cleared of mines. It didn't lay mines at all.

Damn Sabot...you're fast!

Thank you for the answer, I got this name CLAMP from Verlinden´s war machines no.6, now the equipment has a clear purpose,
There is another question for experts like you guys. Is there any problem in installing a system like that on a vehicle that also has a APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) mounted on the rear
The conversion kit instructions says that you can put this CLAMS device or the other APU, but physically and function wise they are not conflicting systems
Is correct to have both devices on the same tank? I guess it’s ok. But I´d like an expert opinion
TIA
Aldo

Neither device interferes with the other, so it is possible to have both on the same tank. Although the tank with a CLAMS (CLAMPS is probably a typo) would definitely be on a tank with either the mine plow or mine roller. These are fairly dated pieces of equipment, the external APU fell out of favor by the end of the Gulf War and the CLAMS isn't used that much since it is not all that effective.

Considering I´m building a M1A1 with mine plow at 1991 Gulf war , adding to the model these two devices would be correct. Isn’t it?
Aldo

First of all , welcome to the site . I built the Trumpter M1A1 with mine roller and added the CLAMS device as well . I say add the CLAMS it looks cool to me ! This tank ( the one I built ) had a good run in Rivet Review a few months back .

As far as I know, the CLAMS system was field tested in ODS, they were developed (and built?) by Isreal, and were not found to be very usefull. To my Knowledge they are no longer used in mine clearing, though they may still be around in inventory or at training sites.

I do belive the CLAMS had the ability to drop mines as well as flags, or was being looked into to do so, or something along those lines. Basically the idea was that the manuever force would breach a mine field, run through, and then a mine-armes M1 would go back through and re-mine the field to help deny the lane to any follow on enemy forces... #:-) sooooooo, anyhow.....

The CLAMS and APU are independant of eachother. I built a hypothetical M1A2 with the APU, CLAMS and a Miniart Studios mineroller set. I had no problems getting the parts into their respective places onthe rear of the M1...the Apu is offset to the right rear of the M1 and the CLAMS attaches on a bar over the exhaust. Too bad it is not a real setup!

Do you have any idea how the CLAMS box should be attached to the back of the M1? I also found it highly unlikely that it would be installed immediately behind the exhaust grille as in DML kit. But I only have photos of CLAMS installed on M60, not on M1, so I have no idea how it was attached to it

Rgds,
Pawel

I just found a link to TM 9-2590-508-10, OPERATORS MANUAL FOR CLEAR LANE MARKING SYSTEM (CLAMS) MARKING SYSTEM, MINEFIELD (NSN 2590-01-205-3082) ADAPTER ASSEMBLY, M1 S TANK (2590-01-249-9722) MOUNTING KIT, (CLAMS), M60 SERIES TANKS (2590-01-208-3411)

I guess it should answer all our questions regarding this device, but... it is not accessible for public download I guess we need to ask Sabot to take a look at it and tell us (some scan maybe?...) how this device should be attached to M1 tank

Rob, here is the direct link:
https://www.logsa.army.mil/etms/data/C/066386.pdf

Regards,
Pawel