Just found this on usmc.mil :

The device appears clearly on the original Hi-Res picture that can be found here :
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20041012193312

It looks like a clumsy mine roller system but if not, what is it for
Frenchy

They look like spare road wheels threaded through a tow cable. But, as to puppouse they've got me stumped.
tom

yeah, looks like that to me too.

maybe they fell off [?] lol

Yeah....it's called 'unnecessary ballast'....

Tread.

I wonder if possibly they are used like the dog bone attatchment on the standard mine plow. It is used to detonate mines etc in betweenthe tracks. this is just a guess mind you.

looks like extra road wheels to me.

Looks like a home made Dog Bone to me! made out of spare road wheels.
But somthing else that I noticed in the 2nd pic was where did the Track Pads go? Maybe a speed issue?

I have never seen this vehicle w/ a mine plow. BUT, if they do deploy mine plows, can this be just a representation for training purposes? I know that the Army uses old tires mounted to the front to simulate plow tanks during training.

At first it made me think about a anti-theft device to prevent the spare wheels from being stolen . I'm not sure that the wheels would turn if the aav start to move : it seems that they would rather be jammed between the ground and the aav bottom because of the cable length...

Frenchy

My thoughts exactly....
Strange issue, but a very sharp vision from you Frenchy

Most likely wore out and they don't have any replacements or replacement track to change it out with.

I definetely wouldn't think it to be an ad hoc mine plow for a couple of reasons:

1) The width of this "mine plow" is too small; they are more likely to hit a mine with their tracks than those wheels.

2.) Any anti-tank mine packs a wollup. If that thing were to set one off, the explosive or concussive blast would not be absorbed by the road wheels enough to prevent catastrophic damage. The crew may survive, but not necessarily due to anything the "plow" had done. Also, it would be a fair bet to say, that any AT mine hit would score a mobility kill - that is, one that prevents the vehicle from moving. Therefore, as a sitting duck, you have bigger issues than just running over that mine.

However, upon closer examination, I did notice that the tow cable is attached to both eye holes, so it is possible that there are more road wheels that are not being shown, but that would mean that there would need to be 10-14 road wheels on one vehicle (there are 12 road wheels on each side of one AAV). Is that not a lot of road wheels for one vehicle just to prevent a mine. The expense of a crews life aside, to me that just seems a waste of valuable parts, when others could be used in its place.

Jeff

Maybe they might be a deterrent to keep anybody from thinking of laying down to plant a bomb under it as it rolls over. They would be afraid of getting caught in the wheels or cable, other wise there seems to be plenty of room to do such a thing in between the tracks.

If these are over in Iraq, this seems real possible. It would have no effect for a land mine, but a person it would.

I agree if they stay in the upright position, they're going to jam under th ehull. They won't protect the track from a mine, they aren't in line with them. Maybe they are supposed ti tip over and increase the dust raised to help obscure the tracks following?

Maybe the TC just got married and didn't have any tin cans to tie to his track.

Pretty weird set up.

According to the USMC web site, the pic in question was taken in Kuwait during training with the 31st MEU. More than likely what happened is that the road wheels were removed for repairs/maintenance to be done and were secured to the towing shackles with the vehicle's tow cable. Without seeing the other side of the vehicle you really can't tell. There are other pics in the series but all the pics were taken in Kuwait.

Road wheels are not repaired. They are replaced. The most you'd take off at one time would be two off of the same road wheel arm under normal conditions.

One of those road wheels, the one on the far right, is used, the other three are new. These road wheels would not be carried here as spares, they would get damaged/wore just by normal travel. Besides, most vehicles would carry a road wheel, maybe two as a spare, but certainly not four. Even an M88 that carried spare road wheels to supply to damaged vehicles only carried two.

Most likely they are there to replicate some sort of operational device like a mine plow or mine roller during training.

if that were a mine clearing object, it would be a rather poorly planned one, as the mines would be blowing right beneath the vehicle...

I find this thread very interesting that with all the experts where, no one can answer definitively. He have so many smart people who an tell you the exact torque setting a certain bolt at the back of the engine compartment should be set, the exact measurements of a return roller, etc.

Looks like this pic has stumped the combined efforts of the whole forum!!!