Just a point of interest to those modelling the Abrams. I have only built the Tamiya version and so I can not comment on the other manufacturers, but Tamiya is incorrect in stating that part D21 is only to be used for Marine versions. This is the square part that goes on the exhaust.

I have heard it explained that this part is for mounting the wading stack over the exhaust. That may even be correct. BUT, it is an Army item too, and is seen, as I have pointed out in other threads, in many photos of OIF. But til now I did not know what the part was for.

I have spoken with a 3rd ID vet and he tells me that it is used for mounting the Exhaust Deflector Shield. The deflector shield is used whenever they have to tow another vehicle. The tow bars are not that long and the hot exhaust would melt the headlights of the towed vehicle. So, in OIF, at least in his company, every fourth vehicle carried tow bars and most, if not all vehicles had part D21 attached (the Sgt told me that his part fell off not long after crossing the border). So, not all photos will show it attached.

Secondly, I believe that you can see the actual exhaust deflector in many photos (I will clarify with the Sgt the next time I talk to him) hanging off the side of the turret. It looks like an angled duct and has two large handles on it. It is usually right next to the locally produced jerry can holder that 3rd ID vehicles had attached to the turret. At first I thought these were additional storage bins, but now I believe that vehicles were carrying them for the reason stated above.

So, the point is, you can use part D21 if you want. I think it adds interest to the back end of the tank. And for anybody showing a tow operation they will need this and scratch a deflector shield too, besides the tow bars themselves.

** The best example is Cajone Eh, which was the M1 knocked out during the Thunder Run into Baghdad. It is also pictured in the recent book titled 'Thunder Run.' The tow bars are clearly mounted on the back deck and part D21 is there. Also, this same tank is in the Concord book about the war and the part is still there.

Sorry, but I disagree. I have been in and around Army Abrams for the last 11 years and never have I seen one with the mounting plate for an exhaust deflector on it. Nor have I seen one used when towing another Abrams. The tanks are pretty close together when they are being towed, but the exhaust vents point the exhaust down and away from the towed tank. I have never seen the towed tank headlights or any other part melt from the exhaust. Sorry to disagree, but those are my experiences. I have only seen the mounting plate on USMC vehicles. I never saw a 3ID tank with them either. If you could show some of the photos you refer to, it would be interresting to see. But, I have never seen it.

Not necessarily 3rd ID but here's some army tracks with the deflector.

I see the deflector. I never saw one in 3ID though. It mounts differently than the plate for USMC wading stack. Looks like the tankers have more to worry about than melting headlights in that series of photos.

Very interesting photos, Rob. But, that deflector is different than the one I am describing. I will talk to the Sgt I know, and see if he will allow me to use a photo he took at the end of OIF of his platoon towing one of their own tanks. It is a great shot and shows what I am talking about.

For those that have the Concord book called Special Ops, Vol 27 'Victory in Baghdad,' look on page 19. The mounting plate is clearly there, and the bumper code says 1-64. That's 64th Armor of the 3rd ID. That was the only tank knocked out in the Thunder Run outside of Baghdad. It is not a Marine tank.

Isn't this an Army tank?


http://tanxheaven.com/m1a1aim/m1a1aim3.htm

It has the mounting plate I am talking about.

Bob

Gino,

Never say never.








Pawel

We had at least one per company during my stint as an armor battalion maintenance officer and Abrams company commander in the First Cavalry Division.

We had at least two different types of exhaust deflectors. One reminded me of a WW2 wading trunk and the other type was a simple angled shield.

The wadding trunk one sounds like what comes with the DML USMC M1A1 kit.

I've seen the simple Angled Shield on the M1IP's that my National Guard unit had. I don't think they had the additional bracket that is show in Pawels pics since that modifcation is part of the Heavy Common updates?

The local Guard unit here had some too... just slipped on .....not sure exactly how. I'll keep an eye out for the next gunnery training and try to get a pic.....

The angled sheet type could fit right over the grates of the grill doors. No bolts or hardware required. They just hooked on.

The other type were sort of like the ones that come with the DML USMC M1A1 kit, but were different. They did bolt on to the frame, although I believe they only used four bolts at the corners and did not use all the mounting holes seen in those photos.

It different from the wading trunks in that it was not very high. It just pointed the exhaust skyward as opposed to elevating the exhaust port above water level.

Thanks Pawel, you saved me some work.

I will still try to ask the Sgt's permission to show his photo of the angled deflector shield. As I stated earlier, I think the deflector was hung off the turret side when not in use. I will clarify that point when I speak with him.

I'm taking my OIF Abrams (Creeping Death) to a local show here in Oregon tomorrow. It's in my gallery if anybody is interested in seeing it. We'll see how it does. I am also taking the burned out T-34 diorama.

Have a great day everybody.

Hello All,
A Devil Dog here. There are two types of exhaust deflectors that the Marine Corps uses, one is the exhaust elbow that comes with the fording kit, and this part bolts to a square bracket that goes around the exhaust grill effectively sealing it. The other is an exhaust elbow that is used for towing a tank, we adopted this from the Army. We also mount this elbow on the rear of our tanks so that the infantry can walk behine the tank and not get fried. Another little item that we had mounted on all the right rear of the tanks was the infantry phone.

Semper FI
Andy

One of the few advantages of new Academy M1A1 model is that they remembered to include this item. Not that it is difficult to scratch build...

Pawel

At a model show a couple of years back the local guard unit brought out an M1. It had a deflector on it, IIRC of plain galvanized metal sheet. The crew said that they mounted it when travelling on open roads, in order to prevent the asphalt from melting.

My two cents...

Olaf

Okay, here is the deflector shield. This is in Iraq soon after Baghdad fell and they were out on patrol when a vehicle broke down.



Sorry about the photo, but the file size was too big to upload, and I edited it and now it is too tiny, I guess. You might get a better look at it by going to my photos and clicking on the photo to enlarge it abit.

Anyway, I did confirm that what they did when this was not in use was use this as a stowage bin. Just as it is attached to the grille, it was hung off the side of the turret and items placed in the open top. You can see this in many photos of 3rd ID vehicles, especially in the Concord book.

Bob

Bob,
This is the same version that the Marine Corps uses and we store it in the same place when it isn't in use. The secondary use of this item is to protect infantry walking behind the vehicle in an Urban enviornment. There are many other uses as well.

Semper FI
Andy