We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:05:49 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification This one was tougher than I expected. It even disturbed the Commissar. Dunno why, though. It's Commie iron. Arditi and Captain H pretty well nailed it, with just a little help. Here's your final clue to the challenge. New pics also added to the album. Apparently, not many of you have seen the inside of many tanks. And at least two of you who have, CW4Bill and the Instapilot, have only seen the interiors of tanks because you blew their turrets off, which does make it hard to get a good sense of the interiors, what with the altitudes, ranges,... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html Tue, 09 Nov 2004 07:08:56 -0600 JDM, FSD means a. Foreign Steel Directorate. b. Funky Scrap Department. c. Firing System Defunct. d. Fix Suspension Defects. e. All/None/Any of the above. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8436 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8436 Wed, 10 Nov 2004 06:58:55 -0600 I was about to ask "what loader", then checked it out. They did not remove the loader until the 64 model. 4 guys in that would be cramped. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8429 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8429 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 22:56:24 -0600 this link! The small tubes/pipes running along the front of the hatch-well threw me, as did the sudden drop off to the immediate left front of the hatch... Oh well. BTW, for those who've never been inside a maneuvering, firing tank, the lack of an attached rotating turret floor must really sucks for the loader, who has to shuffle around with the rounds as he watches for turret-attached hardware coming his way. And all the used casings on the floor. I used to think M60s were cramped, then I saw one of these up close... Screw that!! -SangerM ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8424 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8424 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 21:19:27 -0600 JDM - Foreign Studies Directorate. Gunner - CAPT H is, as ever, correct. I myself have never seen them without the machinegun turret. I had to look twice to confirm what they were. Those are some cramped little two-man vehicles! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8423 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8423 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 20:49:25 -0600 http://www.twilightarmouries.ca/AFV/LAV/mak_wiesel_2.htm Cheers JMH]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8422 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8422 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 20:44:11 -0600 What are the three or so small vehicles along the fence? Simply training vehicles or a tankette? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8421 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8421 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 20:33:30 -0600 Now that thing looks like it could do some damage. Blow em up. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8418 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8418 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:17:22 -0600 Okay, you guys are all so smart...what do the letters spraypainted on the front mean? FSD? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8417 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8417 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:11:41 -0600 Come on guys, everyone knows that this is a upgraded t-55, the t-54 100mm did not have a bore evacuator..... probably picked up in the balkans with that paint job and add-on site on the top of the turret and the add on bra... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8415 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8415 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 16:21:04 -0600 Dunno if the spaced steel turret-bustle qualifies as "standoff applique armor"... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8414 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8414 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 15:46:26 -0600 It's a bad guy tank. Guns. Heh. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8413 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8413 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 14:48:54 -0600 Checking out the gun tube.... I pronounce this a T54 100mm rifled gun with bore evacuator at the end of the tube is a dead give away to any of us "land combat" types. this tank has been upgraded with the standoff applique armor and the goodies inside. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8411 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8411 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 14:31:50 -0600 And here I was guessing M24 Chaffee... Course, I've only seen inside a Brad, Abrams, LAV-25, and Challenger. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8407 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8407 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 11:41:22 -0600 Funny--I was more certain of what it is from looking at the insides. It's the base-model that I guessed (not many have a left-side driver), but I don't know enough to ID the variant/redesigns beyond what you've revealed so far. Good job you guys who got it from the photo's John posted! Wow! -SangerM http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8400 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8400 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 09:01:52 -0600 As I e-mailed from work, it's a heck of a lot easier to ID them from the outside. The POV from the driver's hatch & the clunky interior had me thinking it was an upgraded Sherman. Hell, with the "bra" armor, I can tell you the letters that follow the numbers. (And just what is it w/ Army intel guys & boobs? The "bra" armor on this and the "Dolly Parton" model of T-72... Sheesh!) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8397 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8397 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 08:41:40 -0600 Grumpf. Should'a remembered about the commonality of certain Cyrillic letters with Englitch (and me a Suvorov/Rezun fan, too)--way to go, Arditi and Captain H! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8396 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2004/11/okay_sports_fans.html#comment-8396 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 08:29:33 -0600