I have a question: Hanging stuff off the sides.
I've seen the cool Legend Productions stuff with rucks and whatnot, but how prevalent was this, and what usually was stowed outside?
YAT-YAS!!!
I did 1992 - 2012 on AAVs, all 20-years split between Alpha, Echo 3D AABn, AVTB and AAS Bn.
I had to look up the NSN for the interior paint to find the color. "Pastel Green" sounded funny to me too.
I got to put rounds down range with the old turret one time, it was an M85 .50cal - the Ma-Deuce has nothing on the M85's rate of fire. The feed system was ridiculous though.
I plan on doing "my" tractors through my years.
I'm building/kit bashing one of the quirks we had at AVTB. It was an LVTP7 with RAM/RS suspension, bow plane and UGWS. We wound up stripping her of all useful parts and sticking her at Edson Range as an embark/debark training aide for recruits. The LVT we removed/exchanged from Edson Range was an LVTPX12 (what became the LVTP7), I kept the data plate from that one too. We got her "floatable" then she was shipped to FL and destroyed in some surface to air missile test.
I was 3rd AABN Charlie Company my whole time in. I always saw them taking test runs of the EFV across the jetty. I wish that vehicle worked out. The new wheeled one they're working is disappointing to me.
I too want to build up my vehicles, but I'm waiting till I get better at building.
Dug through my files to pull out images of loads on the AAVs during OIF I. Couple shots provide a good idea of the color variations of AAVs that were assembled for the assault into Iraq.
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/deattilio/library/Amtracs/OIF%20I
When we returned stateside and began training ops, it was done with what was brought back from Iraq. Prior to Iraq most of the battalion had been equipped with the RAM/RS whereas all the MPF vessels were loaded with “straight-legs.” While in Iraq after the operation, it was decided to back-load the MPF vessels with the RAM/RS vehicles and return the “straight-legs” stateside so they could get inducted to the RAM/RS mod line. Made for some interesting color schemes roaming around Camp Pendleton. I even had an AAV with two RPG holes through her bow in my platoon. She ran like a champ, just couldn’t do any water ops.
A shot of what was on the ramp when I arrived in late 1992. The battalion had tractors that had deployed to Iraq for Iraqi Freedom. There are some greens, some tans and some camos. AAVs were still receiving the EAAK and bowplane mods.
Depended on how many people we were carrying. Normally, we kept all our own stuff on the inside. If we were carrying grunts, we had them loop the straps of their packs on the cargo racks, hanging them from the sides. Their MRE boxes were thrown in the cargo racks on the side. Aside from that, we'd also put spare road wheels there and strap spare track blocks to the top of the vehicle. All serialized gear stayed with their respective marine.
All that being said, in country, I personally operated with grunts on board only once.
More often than not, we were used as a mobile armored heavy machine gun platform.
Edit: thinking back, my track personally had a tire strapped over the bow so we could ram stuff and we had a few strands of concertina wire strapped to our intake plenum for snap VCPs
It doesn't look like much room inside. What did you guys bring? I can't see you guys hauling full size rucks around.
YAT-YAS!
As for those deck plates, I would love to see pics of a seafoam/paste green one. Ive never seen anything, even in older pics of the LVTPs, other than forest green decks and hatch interiors (including rear ramp).
Also Gonzalo, be aware that Hobbyboss, though providing a overall nice kit, left a LOT of details off, and the interior is mostly the older PRC equipped AAV (Desert Storm and before). You have to do some updating to the interior (the eduard etch set helps some), add some SINCGARS, GPS domes, etc. Antenna location/fit might be different than the instructions as well (i cant remember exactly). The exterior hatches for the Driver and TC are missing any hatch handles both on the outside and inside.
as for the gear on the outside, the legends sets are great, however note that there are 2 sets! One is an earlier one that has a late ALICE/MOLLE mix, while the other has ILBE items. So depending on which deployment you want to model, and what units, you are going to have to choose appropriately.
Quoted TextIt doesn't look like much room inside. What did you guys bring? I can't see you guys hauling full size rucks around.
H.P.
I don't remember seeing any GPS domes on any vehicles either stateside or in country during my time in. The only thing we had was the EPLRS antennas which we never used or even mounted for that reason. In fact, there were many tracks which didn't even have the EPLRS box inside, which for reference went underneath the TC seat, if I remember correctly.
Quoted TextIt doesn't look like much room inside. What did you guys bring? I can't see you guys hauling full size rucks around.
H.P.
Quoted Text
I don't remember seeing any GPS domes on any vehicles either stateside or in country during my time in. The only thing we had was the EPLRS antennas which we never used or even mounted for that reason. In fact, there were many tracks which didn't even have the EPLRS box inside, which for reference went underneath the TC seat, if I remember correctly.
Best shot I have in my stash to illustrate location of the GPS antennas. One is located just forward of the driver's station and another aft-port of turret.
The AAVs we off loaded from MPF vessels in Kuwait (2003) did not have these mods. We actually mod'ed several up in Kuwait. I "liberated" an antenna from another tractor to mount on mine. I removed the search light electrical receptacle from the turret and mounted my "new" GPS antenna directly over that hole.
Pic is from 29-Palms. Was second one to go on its side. Coming down hill, on wet pavement around corner - was low speed as it was next to the ramp and in sight of the flag pole. No damage, each was righted and drove back to the ramp.
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