±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 222
Total: 222
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Photo Gallery
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: News
08: Downloads
09: Home
10: Community Forums
11: Home
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Photo Gallery
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Community Forums
20: Photo Gallery
21: Member Screenshots
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Photo Gallery
27: Community Forums
28: News Archive
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Member Screenshots
33: Photo Gallery
34: Community Forums
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: News Archive
40: Downloads
41: News
42: Photo Gallery
43: Community Forums
44: Photo Gallery
45: Community Forums
46: Photo Gallery
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Statistics
50: Photo Gallery
51: Photo Gallery
52: Photo Gallery
53: Photo Gallery
54: Member Screenshots
55: Home
56: Home
57: Home
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Photo Gallery
61: Downloads
62: Photo Gallery
63: Photo Gallery
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Photo Gallery
67: Photo Gallery
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Photo Gallery
74: Home
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Photo Gallery
86: Member Screenshots
87: Statistics
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Photo Gallery
94: CPGlang
95: Home
96: Community Forums
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Home
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: News Archive
103: Home
104: Photo Gallery
105: Community Forums
106: Photo Gallery
107: Community Forums
108: Home
109: Photo Gallery
110: Photo Gallery
111: Community Forums
112: Photo Gallery
113: Photo Gallery
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: CPGlang
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: CPGlang
120: Photo Gallery
121: Home
122: Downloads
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Photo Gallery
126: Photo Gallery
127: Photo Gallery
128: Community Forums
129: Home
130: Member Screenshots
131: Community Forums
132: News Archive
133: Community Forums
134: Home
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Home
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Home
147: Community Forums
148: Member Screenshots
149: Community Forums
150: Home
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Downloads
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Photo Gallery
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Photo Gallery
160: Photo Gallery
161: Photo Gallery
162: Photo Gallery
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Photo Gallery
166: Photo Gallery
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: CPGlang
172: Photo Gallery
173: Community Forums
174: Photo Gallery
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Photo Gallery
180: Photo Gallery
181: Downloads
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Photo Gallery
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Photo Gallery
192: News
193: Photo Gallery
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Your Account
197: Home
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Photo Gallery
204: Community Forums
205: Your Account
206: Photo Gallery
207: CPGlang
208: Community Forums
209: News
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: Community Forums
213: Home
214: Photo Gallery
215: Home
216: Photo Gallery
217: Home
218: Community Forums
219: Photo Gallery
220: Community Forums
221: Photo Gallery
222: Photo Gallery

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Up, Up, and Away!
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Jinx
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 186
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:52 am
Post subject: Up, Up, and Away!

Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:29 am
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

Hi Folks!

I wonder how bad the crew was hurt when that Cromwell landed? Surprised

I also wonder if anything broke when it hit the ground? Shocked

Interesting photos, thanks Jinx!

Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:49 am
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

I love 'air' shots. That has always amazed me. Even when I have participated is such a manuever.

Did it hurt?...... I'm sure it didn't tickle!!

If he lands 'square' it shouldn't be too bad. He appears to be fairly level.

rough landings tend to throw you around in the turret, thats when you get a bit 'bruised up'.

Even with modern suspension, one tends to get 'minor' bumps. Dislocated shoulders, compressed spine, twisted ankles or knees, dental 'difficulties' Shocked

....AH THE LIFE OF A TANKER!!! Wink

Cool photo!!

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
JeffStringer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 637

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:53 am
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

I always enjoyed watching the old footage of the M2 and M3's flying over mounds of dirt and land as though nothing had happened ... yeah, right!


Cool pix!
Back to top
View user's profile
SFC_Jeff_Button
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Ft Hood, TX
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

I've never heard of a "Cromwell". When and where was this taken? Does that number on the nose tell us anything?, looks like a USA#?

_________________
SFC Jeff Button "High Angle Hell"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
David_Reasoner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 127
Location: South Central Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

- SFC_Jeff_Button
I've never heard of a "Cromwell". When and where was this taken? Does that number on the nose tell us anything?, looks like a USA#?


British "cruiser" tank in service from 1943 til Korea. Forerunner of Comet and Centurion. WW2 service was mainly with 7th Armored Division in Normandy and beyond, also with armored recon battalions of other UK armored divisions. Very fast (Christie suspension), armor protection roughly comparable to Sherman, 75mm main gun fired same ammunition as Sherman 75mm. The number plate on the nose appears to be a civil registration number, so I'm guessing the shot was taken at a postwar military display (hence the "Cromwell" tag to help the public identify the vehicle?).

David
Back to top
View user's profile
Jinx
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 186
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

I do not have the caption for that photo, sorry. But i think it only said that the tank was a Cromwell - not really necessary because of the big sign that says CROMWELL on the side - and that it was rather fast and agile. I have read reports saying that this tank moved and handled like a sports car. Pretty decent power-to-weight ratio with that big old Meteor engine in the back.

If you look closely at the far right of the photo you can see a crowd of people watching. So it's certainly possible that this was a post-war demonstration.

Any ideas why the turret hatch is open?

(Maybe the commander figured out what the driver was about to do, and he bailed out!)
Back to top
View user's profile
David_Reasoner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 127
Location: South Central Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:46 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

- Jinx
I have read reports saying that this tank moved and handled like a sports car. Pretty decent power-to-weight ratio with that big old Meteor engine in the back.


Early models were good for 40mph. Surprised Later (and heavier) models were governed down to 32mph to improve drivetrain and suspension component life expectancies. Not bad for a 1942-43 medium tank design. Unfortunately the Cromwell still came up short in protection and firepower departments, at least when compared to the competition.

David
Back to top
View user's profile
palic
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 172

PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:35 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

This is obviously a post war shot not only due to crowds watching the show. The registration number is postwar too (for instance 43AX27, white lettering on black background).
I have a pretty similar experience with a bit newer stuff - "flying" BMP and BPzV Svatava.
Approx. 15 years ago when I acted as an armoured recce coy cdr, we arranged a series of "unofficial crosscountry ability tests" for our vehicles. BMP-1 was able "to fly for a distance of 2 - 2,5 lengths of its hull at speed about 50 kph from a terrain "step" 75 - 100 cm high. There was no serious problem with "landing" especially on "soft" ground (no concrete panels, just a dry ground), the drivers enjoyed "piloting" their sweeties, no torsion bars were broken.
The experience of "flying vehicle" commander could be a bit different and really painful, especially in the case he does not expect the "take off" action.
We used to move our vehicles from the barracks to the remote training area during the night, driving them in convoys headed and followed by wheeled vehicles with flashlights.
When entering the training area wheeled vehicles continued their movement on the roads and we were on our own. It was a good chance for our drivers to speed up ...
It was a November night with lots of stars in the sky and with a thick layer of snow on the ground. We all were nearly frozen and just about to fall asleep... My BPzV driver did not see there were three huge holes on the downhill track and we "went airborne" at pretty high speed. Just for explanation - the holes dimensions were pretty close to "hull down size trenches"... Mr. Green
We jumped over the first hole and I was suddenly awaken Shocked flying above my vehhie, with intercom cable disconnected and shouting to driver SLOW DOWN YOU BL..DY BAS..RD through the roaring engine...
We continued flying over the second hole but I have to say the hull bottom/front armour has hit the third hole. The driver was OK - he expected the impact... Cool
What to say more - hope you can imagine how painful was the landing of my body on the vehicle - my ba..ls were nearly smashed Mad and I have seen more and more stars at that moment.
Fortunately the layer of snow acted as a thick soft pillow and my vehicle was not damaged....
Back to top
View user's profile
Jinx
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 186
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

Were there any crew in the back? From what i understand about the BMP series of vehicles, the crew compartment doesn't have a lot of headroom. Going airborn couldn't be a lot of fun for the "passengers", i'm guessing.
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:11 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

- palic

The experience of "flying vehicle" commander could be a bit different and really painful, especially in the case he does not expect the "take off" action.


Palic

I have had several bruised ribs, TCing the Abrams, with an over eager driver who loved to 'pull air'.

The TC (or loader) hatch ring is ones worst enemy. The 'OOUUUFFF' factor. The pain is gauged by how loud an 'OOUUUFFF' the TC or Loader exclaims when his chest is compressed into the hatch.

Body armor has greatly helped protect the turret crews ribs, from such a fate.


_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
palic
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 172

PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:41 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

To Dontos and Jinx:
Yep, definitely it could be said there is not enough headspace in the rear compartment of BMP-1. It is divided into two parts along the sidewalls. It provides space for four sitting bodies with full gear on each side (L and R) „or for six coffins (three each side)“ as we used to say... „Hard hat“ or soft black padded tankers helmet with intercom helps very much during crosscountry rides. Imagine, there are no indivdual seats, no safety belts but two long low benches in the BMP-1 rear compartment. One man only could sleep there comfortably on each side…
The recce squad (belonging to recce coy, armoured cavalry bn) consisted of six men only (instead of eleven men in the mechanized rifle squad): commander, driver, main armament gunner-operator, leading scout and two junior scouts so the guys had enough space in the rear compartments. Scouts in the rear compertment werere sitting left/right shoulder forward. That was pretty similar case like with M2/3 family vehicles – a lot of extra equipment for recce variant inside, but still enough space for living...
When speaking about BPzV Svatava the situation is a bit different. All the crewmen (commander, driver, main armament gunner-operator, scout-wireless operator, scout-navigator and scout-target acquisition radar operator) have their individual seats and no safety seatbelts again, they are sitting "face forward". The inner space of vehicle is filled with extra equipment (lots and lots of stuff) and all the crewmembers have their own soft black padded tankers helmet with intercom. No problem to be there (inside) when the vehicle „is flown“ in the air – simply because there is not enough space to be shaken…even in the case the hull hits ground.

And I have forgotten to add: Sir, yes, sir, all the crewmembers were on board.... just to keep weight balance of vehicles...
Back to top
View user's profile
Jinx
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 186
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

Any idea what the rationale is for not having safety belts/harnesses?
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

- Jinx
Any idea what the rationale is for not having safety belts/harnesses?



SEATBELT?.....IN A TANK?.....What the heck is that?

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:30 pm
Post subject: Re: Up, Up, and Away!

- Dontos
- Jinx
Any idea what the rationale is for not having safety belts/harnesses?



SEATBELT?.....IN A TANK?.....What the heck is that?


I'm sorely tempted to delete those posts before NHTSA or some congresscritter see's them. Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum