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/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:06:01 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification A different kind of whatziss today. This is a sprocket for a tracked vehicle. The question is - which tracked vehicle? You'll notice it's marked "Graf BOQ WC Key" meaning it's the key to the water closet, or latrine, of a Graf BOQ. At Grafenwoehr, Germany, a large training area (for Germany, it would be lost on Fort Irwin) the cantonment area has blocks of barracks, arranged in open horseshoes configuration. At least it did, I have no idea what it looks like now, my last trip to Graf having been when it was used as a Redeployment Assembly Area... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html Sat, 29 Dec 2007 11:34:57 -0600 I was permanent party at Graf, until I found myself headed for VN. Last there in 1967, so the sprocket in question may have still been part of Mother Gia when I was there. Woody http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68186 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68186 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:53:22 -0600 I've seen that, too. I tried, anyway, in case it's a different fellow. You'd think the Township would have updated its website by now, though! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68111 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68111 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:29:43 -0600 Re the suggestion to email the Lt Col. I don't think the Colonel will reply. If I googled correctly it appears he is no longer with us. Not in the physical sense, anyway. His obit notice is scattered about the web. The one I distinctly recall was at one of the schools he taught at, Virginia State University. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68107 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68107 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:27:12 -0600 Graf von Boquisucio, mebbe? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68103 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68103 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:04:50 -0600 personally leaning more towards Olaf's response than towards Eric's.... one would think that i would be able to remember how many knuckles get busted on each sprocket change for each vehicle type; but in any case, the teeth are too small for the M60 series. btw, John: don't get target fixation. this may NOT be the key retention device for the latrine at one of the regular camp sites (Aachen or Normandy). the label on it clearly declares it to be the BOQ key, so now you would have to expand the possible sites to include the German style barracks (with bunkage included) that are over by Normanday, as well as including the BOQ near the old Officer's Club. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68102 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68102 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:33:25 -0600 If you look at the sprocket in a certain way, it almost reminds you of ...... a ship's helm. And what would that remind you of, eh, John? Maybe .. 2nd BDE ("Helmsmen"), 1st AD ("Old Ironsides")? LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68095 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68095 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:58:38 -0600 Boq - shouldn't that have been Graf's Pee? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68086 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68086 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:35:41 -0600 There's only one problem with thinking the sprocket is from an M60/88 series. The one shown has 11 sprocket teeth and 11 bolt holes, the M60/88 hull series drive sprocket has 11 sprocket teeth and 10 bolt holes and was a heck of a lot thicker. ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68084 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68084 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:24:53 -0600 replaceable sprocket belongs to a M60A3 tank or M88 recovery vehicle as these have many common drive train components. By the way, I have changed many of these. requires much bolt twisting and bouncing on 'T' bar-cheater bar-tanker bar assembly. Most fun when accomplished at 0100, knee deep in mud wile snowing http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68073 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68073 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:23:35 -0600 http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1986/JUL_AUG_1986/JUL_AUG_1986_PAGES_18.pdf http://www.lvmac.org/VetLibrary/Flashbacks.htm He is apparently the Township Secretary of Palmer Township in Northampton County, PA ranckaitis@palmertwp.com Drop him an email and ask him.... (note all information from a Google Search of Public websites)]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68062 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68062 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:43 -0600 Never made it to Graf. I was a Wildflecken guy. Plus I was a combat medic so I don't know shite from apple butter when it comes to machinery. Still...good times, good times. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68060 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68060 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:59:22 -0600 Methinks there is an exciting and not necessarily positive explanation behind this "key fob". My salty sailor friends would be likely to present such a trinket to a hapless comrade as a memento of a misfortune. Can't you all envision some tank (or other tracked vehicle) driver/commander/or unit commander breeching a new entry into the outhouse/latrine (whatever you mud dwellers call them) with said tracked vehicle? Bet there was a whole lot of explaining going on after something like that. Meanwhile I will check out the sprockets on M41, M47, M48, M60 tanks and the 8 in SP when I get a chance next week. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68057 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68057 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:03:14 -0600 no idea what vehicle it came from, but your post brought back somf graf flashback-nightmares... i was an air force weather observer attached to the 2nd acr out of nurenburg from 1982-1985. one night some of the rocket scientists manning the artillery battery walked their rounds across our bivouac area. lot's of heads rolled on that one from the battery commander on down. fortunately nobody was killed or injured. but hey, it was good training. got me ready for the experience of scud and patriot pieces raining down on us in riyadh during the great unfinished gulf war! lol... hey, still love you arty guys though... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68055 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68055 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:49:02 -0600 To be fair, it can also be found on the M107 175mm or M110 8" self-propelled gun. Definitely the inside view, judging by the bevel cut where the bolt holes are. My money is on the M110 since the clues point to "WC" for latrine designation. ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68049 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68049 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:56:40 -0600 Ahhh - 'Tis good to see my own sprocket proudly featured at The Castle. Though I may remind everyone that its provenance is not from the Graf Spee, but from The Moat's Sand Pebbles. BOQ http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68048 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68048 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:54:27 -0600 M578 Drive Sprocket. Heath http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68040 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/snipe_hunt.html#comment-68040 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:26:39 -0600