±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 230
Total: 230
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Home
05: Home
06: Statistics
07: Photo Gallery
08: Home
09: Home
10: Home
11: Home
12: Downloads
13: Home
14: Downloads
15: Home
16: Home
17: Home
18: Home
19: Home
20: Photo Gallery
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Statistics
26: Home
27: Home
28: Home
29: Home
30: Home
31: News
32: Community Forums
33: Home
34: Home
35: Home
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Home
39: Home
40: Community Forums
41: Home
42: Home
43: Home
44: Home
45: Home
46: Home
47: Statistics
48: Member Screenshots
49: Community Forums
50: Home
51: Home
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Home
55: Downloads
56: Home
57: Home
58: Home
59: Home
60: Home
61: Home
62: Member Screenshots
63: Community Forums
64: Home
65: Home
66: Home
67: Photo Gallery
68: Home
69: Home
70: Member Screenshots
71: Home
72: Home
73: Community Forums
74: Home
75: Home
76: Home
77: Home
78: Home
79: Home
80: Home
81: Community Forums
82: Downloads
83: Home
84: Home
85: News
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Home
89: Home
90: Home
91: Home
92: Home
93: Statistics
94: Home
95: Downloads
96: Home
97: Home
98: Home
99: Community Forums
100: Home
101: Home
102: Home
103: Community Forums
104: Home
105: Home
106: Home
107: Home
108: Community Forums
109: Statistics
110: News
111: Home
112: Home
113: Home
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Home
117: Downloads
118: Community Forums
119: Home
120: News Archive
121: Member Screenshots
122: Downloads
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Home
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Home
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Member Screenshots
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Home
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Home
152: Home
153: Photo Gallery
154: Statistics
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Home
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Member Screenshots
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Community Forums
166: News Archive
167: Member Screenshots
168: Community Forums
169: Home
170: Community Forums
171: Downloads
172: Community Forums
173: Home
174: Member Screenshots
175: Home
176: Member Screenshots
177: Photo Gallery
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Member Screenshots
182: Member Screenshots
183: Photo Gallery
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Home
187: Community Forums
188: Home
189: News
190: Home
191: Home
192: Member Screenshots
193: Home
194: Downloads
195: Community Forums
196: Member Screenshots
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Home
201: Statistics
202: Home
203: Community Forums
204: Home
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: News
210: Community Forums
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Home
215: Member Screenshots
216: Home
217: Home
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Home
221: Home
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
M50 Ontos "dozer"
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.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA
PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:43 pm
Post subject: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Photo US Army MHI. USMC 3rd Division camouflaged Ontos made to look like small bulldozer. 1969.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:59 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Any background on this? This one and the one next to it have their guns removed (or not yet assembled). Preparation for transport or recent arrivals, I wonder? Wondering about the reasons for this subterfuge.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Rick_Eshleman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA
PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:34 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Doug,
All information I have on this is what was on reverse of photo. I copied that over 20 years ago at US Army Military History Institute, Carlisle, PA. It appears they are using packing crate plywood to camouflage (from a distance) the vehicles. Also, cables still attached to vehicle make it look like a recent air drop by helicopter? Rick
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address Photo Gallery
treadhead
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 09, 2010
Posts: 7
Location: Southbury, CT
PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:34 am
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

In my copy of Squadron Signals, M50A1 Ontos in action page 27. Caption states that 2 Ontos' were diguised as bulldozers in March '69 so they could be airlifted to southwest of Khe Sanh for operation Maine Crag.
Back to top
View user's profile
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:32 am
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Good stuff, Guys. Sounds like they might have been involved in this joint op with 5th Mech, 101st Abn in that region:

www.8th-4th-arty.com/events69.html

"1969/03/15
Unit: 5th Mech supports 3rd Mar
Source: 101 ABN Website
Location: Vietnam Salient
Event: Op Maine Crag

On March 16, 1969, the 1st Brigade, 5th Inf Div (Mech) was again committed in the 3rd Marine Regiment's AO. It operated an Armor/infantry Task Force named Task Force Remagen to re-open the RC (Route Coloniale) 9 to the Laotian border, to conduct reconnaissance in the Khe Sanh plain, and support the 3rd Marine regiment's Operation Maine Crag. For three days, between 12 and 16 April, the Brigade conducted a search and clear operation over a 100-square kilometer area near Lang Vei on the Laotian border. No US were killed and North Vietnamese Army casualties were also light. "


An Ontos weighs about 8-9 tons, so easily lifted by a CH-47 and maybe a CH-46, whoever was picking up. I'm just surprised that they were lifted with the guns separate...usually you could stabilize the load with a small parachute or securing line to keep stuff like that from twisting around in the sling.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Doug

Sorry for being a little late on this.

The justification on the gun removal in this particular situation was for pure disguise & hopeing that Charlie would open fire on non tactical equipment.

Air mobile transport of the Ontos was done occassionally from 1966-70. In the early days the Ontos weighed too much so the PIG had to be stripped of all weapons, ammo and even engine decking. This enabled it to be airlifted.

Later in the war, as helicopter lift limits increased, it was done more often and without stripping too much equipment.

BTW: During Operation Maine Crag, neither Ontos fired their weapons as enemy opposition was not encountered. There was a rumor that NVA had light armor in the Area of the Op, so the Ontos was included...


Regards
Don
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: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:33 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Thanks, Don. Good info.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Rick_Eshleman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:44 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

Doug and Don, Thanks for the info! It's always good to get the full story. Rick
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:52 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

The last reported airmobile operation of the Ontos, was done by the 173rd Arbn.


In 70-71, an undetermined number of Ontos were transferred from the USMC to the Army. D Co 16th Armor was given the few remaining Ontos in Vietnam that the USMC didn't ship back to the states.

The Ontos was airlifted by chinook to an LZ then used in the immediate area. After the Operation they would be 'lifted' back to there base. This last operational episode in the life of the Ontos has completely elluded me for several years. It was an Army Pilot who did the lifting that gave me the basic information. ...and the hunt goes on,....

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:54 pm
Post subject: Re: M50 Ontos "dozer"

- treadhead
In my copy of Squadron Signals, M50A1 Ontos in action page 27. Caption states that 2 Ontos' were diguised as bulldozers in March '69 so they could be airlifted to southwest of Khe Sanh for operation Maine Crag.


....What an EXCELLENT reference book....LOL!! Cool

Mr. Green

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



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