Hi Bob! Hi Folks!
- bsmart
I wonder if someone went for a test swim and didn't make sure the drainplugs were in place
The first time I saw that photo I was thinking the same thing. But then I notice that there was no water pouring out of any of the bottom hull opennings. Maybe it has been hanging there for a while while they let the water drain back into the pool.
As for lifting a M113 full of water, I am not sure a M-88 could have done that. Not with the blade up anyway.
I was part of a recovery action where we towed a M-113 out of a river. The crew tried to cross a rain soak river during the dark. When they got to the other bank, the vehicle would not climb up out of the water. After a bit, the driver noticed his feet were getting wet. When he looked down at his boots, he saw that the vehicle was filling with water. At that point he turned the engine and then the electrical power off (which killed their radio). It happening so fast that the rest of us had no idea where they were. Out of four APCs that were working that night, we lost three of them. Two in deep mud and that one into the river.
The water logged one was covered by water over the rear up to the back of the TC's cupola. That and the engine grills where just above the water level. We used three other M-113A1s, pulling in reverse, to pull it out. The C.O. sent the TC diving into the vehicle to open the troop hatch in the ramp. That let most of the water flow out as we slowly pulled it up onto the bank.
Some more of my very old history.
Sgt, Scouts Out!