Hi All,
Just wanted to know if drivers of M113's during the two Baghdad thunder runs drove buttoned up or open. I tried adapting a figure to sit in the drivers position but couldn't get him low enough in the seat just to 'peek' over the rim.
TIA
Tom

Some drove buttoned up, some sticking out of the hatch. Either way would be accurate. Another technique was to drive out of the hatch till you had a reason to drop down and close it. Like someone firing at you.

Cheers Gino. If I button it up at least I'll not have to get a figure to fit.
Tom

The one thing i learnt from our fellow members here when building my M113A2 was that if you decide to make it with figures poking out of the hatch, make sure the hatch is opened all the way or closed all the way. I made the mistake of leaving it "half open" which can be considered inaccurate in every respect.

And very dangerous as it will come down and smack you in the head when you hit a bump. Not pleasant at all.

One thing I learned about M113s from some of the CDN guys who drove them was,even open the hatches were tied down.The lacthes that hold them open could let go and the hatch would bonk you in the head.Not fun.
That beening said they weren't in "combat".

Jim

Ours aren't strapped down, but there is a pin that is inserted through the arm on the catch that locks it in place. To lower it, you first have to remove the pin, then pull on the arm of the catch to release it.

Take it from someone who has been bonked, the hatch must be fully opened with the safety pin installed or fully closed. Had the drivers hatch close on me going cross country at Ft. Bliss around 1986. Busted up my two front teeth and my front lips. The 1Sgt. reached over and closed it and I kept driving.