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 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:05:51 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Sharp-eyed camera-toting reader Larry K, also our source for most things Coast Guard, snapped this photo in Junction City yesterday or the day before. I know what it is - but I'll let you have fun demonstrating your vehicle ID skillz - and does anybody have any earthly idea why one of these is transiting the country? It might be destined for Fort Riley - but neither Larry nor I know. More pics here, here, and here.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:10:56 -0600 Aaaaaaand the -40's got six road wheels. Which my flash card *doesn't* depict. Durned lowest-bidder graphics... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55179 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55179 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:58:20 -0600 to paraphrase someone famous whose name happens to escape me: "the only green Iraqi tanks i ever saw were dead ones." heh. ..and yes, they were green-ish, somewhat scorched, but positively green-ish. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55167 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55167 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 16:31:51 -0600 To answer your question, Joh: There is a huge Iraqi military equipment grave yard in Taji. I've been around it several times and never saw anything that wasn't desert tan... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55160 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55160 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:19:20 -0600 Headed for one of the mil museums here? If it were aircraft I'd guess the Air Museum in Topeka at the old Forbes AFB (shameless plug, I know *G*). There's a bit of armor at the ANG museum here, too, but it's all US issue as far as I know. Hutch has all space stuff, to the best of my knowledge.... Of course there are all the static displays at Fort Riley. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55158 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55158 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:59:06 -0600 AMX-30, which was in rpoduction c.1966-79. It was followed by the AMX-30B2 which mounted an improved main gun (APFSDS) and a Fire Control Computer. This one has the original cross-turret optical rangefinder and the mounting for the large IR searchlight to the right of the gun. On the gun's left was a coax 20mm cannon which elevated to 45deg, with which to greet helicopters. The tank was exported widely, inluding Spain which had a co-production agreement. Aside from the coax 20mm, the original AMX-30 had a single main gun round, the Obus-G. Intended as a multi-purpose round, it was a shape-charge warhead 'suspended' on axial bearings in a rotating shell body. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55154 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55154 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:32:34 -0600 ..as for the worthiness of the trailer, the key is to look at the nice structural members (look around for the "Turner" logo down there). that one there will handle it. my eyeball is guessing at a center of balance for that load being just a hair behind the #2 roadwheel, (rough line of where the #2 support roller lies). it's an interesting job of blocking/bracing/tie down, but sufficient for a full weight armor vehicle, so i'm doubtful that any significant pieces are missing in order to lighten the load. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55139 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55139 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 08:44:35 -0600 here and here.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55132 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55132 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:59:36 -0600 beutepanzer (unless some non-armor types went rampaging in it...)]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55129 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55129 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:30:47 -0600 The ID is easy - it's a French-built AMX-30. To me it's very distinctive - there's simply nothing else that looks quite like it. What it's doing in Kansas, well, I have no clue. Just note that the French marketed the thing aggressively and there were a butt-load of them sold around the world, especially in Africa and the Middle East. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55124 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55124 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:02:40 -0600 I dunno....but I think it looks Russian T-90ish. (road wheels, main gun) Maybe a Republican Guard capture on its way to some Legion post or NG Armory..... But I might be wrong..... Yeah...I might be wrong.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55123 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55123 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:57:28 -0600 at this website and me not being an engineer, that trailer looks like it could handle the load. Of course, as a convoy or serial commander, I'd be checkin' data plates.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55118 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55118 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:31:50 -0600 Definitely an AMX-30, but that looks like an awfully light duty trailer to be hauling a 36T tank. Makes me wonder if it might be gutted. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55116 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55116 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:08:27 -0600 Opfor target practice, Ft. Hood?? OR Maybe some 3rd party (new Nato country?) is thinking hard about M1s vs. AMX-30s and there is to be a 'shoot off' and an OT demo. The Poles just bought a pile of F16s and their pilots are training even now (that's an interesting tale); maybe they want new tanks too? Or maybe Yemen or the like... OR Maybe this is a NATO interoperability test vehicle, heading to that old Buffalo Soldier Army base no one can pronounce the name of - Ft. Hoochie-Koochie ... :-) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55108 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55108 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:11:40 -0600 ...yeah, but it's just GOT to be an export model. if it was the real deal Frenchie model then the gun tube would be permanently in travel lock over the back deck (and drooping). and it would be flying a white flag instead of a Holiday Inn pennant. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55105 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55105 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:54:14 -0600 The tag on the picture is something of a clue... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55103 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55103 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:57:26 -0600 French AMX-30? The photo caption of "Cheese-eating Surrender Monkey Armor!" might have been a clue that it was French. LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55101 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55101 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:34:51 -0600 An Israeli M48 variant? I say this because of the cupola on top of the turret, and the turret looks too skinny to be an M60 variant. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55099 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/01/strange_sightin.html#comment-55099 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:48:03 -0600