Drew, remember, unlike an M-16 rifle or M998 HMMWV, M1A2s are high dollar items that are tracked by serial number and distributed accordingly. While that actual platoon, company or battalion the tank will go to is unknown, the manufacturers (and the Army) know which division is going to get the M1A2 that is rolling down the assembly line. So, an M1A2 going to a unit in the states will get one delivered in sand. One going to Korea or Germany will get it in NATO 3 color scheme. They are delivered in the scheme that their division is geared towards. This isn't a difficult chore, much easier than auto manufacturers trying to match what model/color/options on a new car is going to the Jones' in Peoria, IL.
BTW, another visual reference between an M1A1 and M1A2 is the upgraded commander's weapon station (CWS). The vision blocks, .50 cal & mount and cupola are different.
No, battalions are getting pure fleets of either M1A2s or M1A1Ds. I'm just saying that the tanks on the assembly line now already have a home, going to one of the divisions so they know what color to paint it. It isn't too much of a logistical nightmare if they did mix the fleet. 98% of the tanks are interchangeable, just the M1A2 or M1A1D-specific parts would be the difference.
All,
The M1A2 is not as wide spread yet as you think. Due to budget constraints, fielding was slowed down. 4 ID has them, 1 CAV is just now fielding, 2 ID in Korea was due to field last year. 3 ID des not have them yet. I don,t believe 1AD and 1ID have them yet. Whole Battalions are being replaced as a set. Logistics is not a problem, as Sabot stated 98% of parts are the same. Fire control is actually easier, gunner and commander can now search for and designate targets. Turret also has an automatic lock on and slew feature that makes it like a video game. Lay the cross hairs, point and shoot.
As for the ditribution of sand to camo vehicles, all III Corps is sand, the rest of the army is camo. That makes 1CAV, 3 ID, 3 ACR, and 4 ID as sand. 1AD, 1 ID, 2 ACR, 2 ID, 10 MTN, 82 ABN, 101 ABN, and 25 ID as camo. Still looks about 30% sand, 70% camo.
Thanks a ton guys, I find this stuff very interesting. Not being a military man I don't totaly understand the unit makeup and breakdown of the Army. Is there a web site anyone knows of where I can learn more about the organization of the Army? Basicaly all the stuff you guys are talking about. Thanks again for the info.
Quoted TextDrew, if you want, I can spit out a quick wire diagram organizational chart. Can you access MS PowerPoint slides?Thanks a ton guys, I find this stuff very interesting. Not being a military man I don't totaly understand the unit makeup and breakdown of the Army. Is there a web site anyone knows of where I can learn more about the organization of the Army? Basicaly all the stuff you guys are talking about. Thanks again for the info.
Drew, if you want, I can spit out a quick wire diagram organizational chart. Can you access MS PowerPoint slides?
Sabot,
I have been in RLS on Armorama for a while & finally got off of my butt and enlisted... My rumor mill has it that the 2d Cavalry Regiment (we dropped the Armored part in Oct-Nov 00 for the term "Interim" & dropped "Interim" in May of 02, when the Stryker was named) is a done deal as long as the Stryker lives...
Yea, DJ & I go back a ways at Ft Knox. He hired me to be a tank platoon leader in D Troop, 10th Cavalry, way back in 1988. I have several stories that will have to wait but when the talk shifts to the days when giants roamed the earth, he was one of them as the type of BC that he was became extinct in the PC days of the 1990's.
John
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