±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: 1
Visitors: 356
Total: 357
Who Is Where:
 Members:
01: wheelsup_cavu > Community Forums
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Home
04: Community Forums
05: Home
06: Downloads
07: Member Screenshots
08: Community Forums
09: Home
10: Home
11: Community Forums
12: News Archive
13: Photo Gallery
14: Your Account
15: News
16: Home
17: Photo Gallery
18: Downloads
19: Member Screenshots
20: Community Forums
21: News Archive
22: Community Forums
23: Member Screenshots
24: Community Forums
25: Supporters
26: Member Screenshots
27: Home
28: Member Screenshots
29: Community Forums
30: Home
31: Member Screenshots
32: Photo Gallery
33: Photo Gallery
34: Community Forums
35: Home
36: Your Account
37: Home
38: Downloads
39: Member Screenshots
40: Photo Gallery
41: Community Forums
42: Home
43: Home
44: Community Forums
45: Photo Gallery
46: Home
47: Photo Gallery
48: Home
49: Photo Gallery
50: Home
51: Photo Gallery
52: Downloads
53: Home
54: Community Forums
55: Member Screenshots
56: Community Forums
57: Home
58: Home
59: Member Screenshots
60: Community Forums
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: Home
64: Home
65: Photo Gallery
66: Photo Gallery
67: Home
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Home
71: Member Screenshots
72: Community Forums
73: Your Account
74: Home
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Downloads
78: Community Forums
79: Home
80: Home
81: Photo Gallery
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Home
86: Home
87: Community Forums
88: Member Screenshots
89: Home
90: Home
91: Downloads
92: Member Screenshots
93: Member Screenshots
94: Community Forums
95: Your Account
96: Community Forums
97: Home
98: Photo Gallery
99: Home
100: Home
101: Photo Gallery
102: Community Forums
103: Home
104: Photo Gallery
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Home
108: Member Screenshots
109: Photo Gallery
110: Member Screenshots
111: Photo Gallery
112: Home
113: Home
114: Home
115: Home
116: Community Forums
117: Home
118: Community Forums
119: Home
120: Downloads
121: Downloads
122: Member Screenshots
123: Home
124: Member Screenshots
125: Photo Gallery
126: Home
127: Community Forums
128: Home
129: Photo Gallery
130: Photo Gallery
131: Home
132: Community Forums
133: Home
134: Photo Gallery
135: Home
136: Community Forums
137: Home
138: Downloads
139: Member Screenshots
140: Photo Gallery
141: Member Screenshots
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Home
145: Downloads
146: Member Screenshots
147: Community Forums
148: Member Screenshots
149: Home
150: Home
151: Member Screenshots
152: Community Forums
153: Downloads
154: Home
155: Home
156: Home
157: Home
158: Home
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Home
162: Home
163: Home
164: Home
165: Community Forums
166: Home
167: Home
168: Home
169: Home
170: Home
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Home
175: Home
176: Community Forums
177: Home
178: Home
179: Home
180: Member Screenshots
181: Home
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Member Screenshots
185: Home
186: Member Screenshots
187: Home
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: News Archive
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Home
194: Home
195: Community Forums
196: Home
197: Statistics
198: Downloads
199: Member Screenshots
200: Home
201: Downloads
202: Member Screenshots
203: Home
204: Community Forums
205: Photo Gallery
206: Home
207: Community Forums
208: Home
209: Community Forums
210: Photo Gallery
211: Home
212: Home
213: Home
214: Downloads
215: Home
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: Home
219: Home
220: Member Screenshots
221: Home
222: Home
223: Home
224: Home
225: Home
226: Home
227: Community Forums
228: Member Screenshots
229: Home
230: Home
231: Home
232: Photo Gallery
233: Home
234: Home
235: Community Forums
236: Home
237: Member Screenshots
238: Member Screenshots
239: Downloads
240: Home
241: Member Screenshots
242: Community Forums
243: Home
244: Photo Gallery
245: Community Forums
246: Photo Gallery
247: Home
248: Home
249: Photo Gallery
250: Home
251: Home
252: Downloads
253: Home
254: Home
255: Photo Gallery
256: Home
257: Community Forums
258: Home
259: Home
260: Home
261: Home
262: Member Screenshots
263: Community Forums
264: Home
265: Home
266: Home
267: Home
268: Home
269: Home
270: Home
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Home
275: Member Screenshots
276: Member Screenshots
277: Photo Gallery
278: Statistics
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Member Screenshots
282: Member Screenshots
283: Home
284: Photo Gallery
285: Photo Gallery
286: Statistics
287: Home
288: Home
289: Community Forums
290: Home
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: News Archive
295: Home
296: Home
297: Downloads
298: Photo Gallery
299: Home
300: Home
301: Home
302: Member Screenshots
303: Home
304: Member Screenshots
305: Home
306: Home
307: Home
308: Photo Gallery
309: Member Screenshots
310: Photo Gallery
311: Member Screenshots
312: Home
313: Home
314: News
315: Home
316: Community Forums
317: Home
318: Home
319: Home
320: Community Forums
321: Member Screenshots
322: Home
323: News
324: Home
325: Photo Gallery
326: Home
327: Home
328: Community Forums
329: Home
330: Home
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Downloads
334: Community Forums
335: Home
336: Photo Gallery
337: Home
338: Home
339: Member Screenshots
340: Photo Gallery
341: Member Screenshots
342: Member Screenshots
343: Member Screenshots
344: Downloads
345: Community Forums
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Community Forums
350: Home
351: Member Screenshots
352: Home
353: Home
354: Home
355: Home
356: Member Screenshots

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
M48 Variant. Unknown.
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: Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:30 pm
Post subject: M48 Variant. Unknown.

In 1986 I was escorted in the Restricted Area, "Behind the Fence" and allowed to photograph most items there. Does anyone have an idea what this M48 variant was intended for? Thanks. Rick
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address Photo Gallery
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:09 am
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

What the heck????!!!

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Rick_Eshleman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:17 am
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

Note the driver hatch, hydraulic part welded to it. Here's a few more views.
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: Tue Oct 23, 2012 4:00 am
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

That is Bizarre!!

I'm clueless

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: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:03 am
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

Well, going at it systematically...it has stabilizing feet attached to a rectangular box that is itself attached to a tank. It is meant to be lowered from the position we see it in now. It has numerous points of attachment to the top of the "box" and shielding for the crew (maybe just a driver) in the former turret ring area. Something nasty was to happen forward of the vehicle that would affect stability. What are we missing that mounts to that box? Missile launch?, charges?, crane? Maybe something to approach and fight oil well fires with explosives? Would be nice to know what the rest of the rig is supposed to be.
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: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:32 am
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

I have yet to find what this one of a kind modification was. Robert Lessel was the PAO who escorted me through did not know. It appears to be some form of engineers test rig, and probably doesn't exist any longer.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address Photo Gallery
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2068
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:29 pm
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

Thanks Rick,

Now my head hurts.

For what it's worth, the tank chassis is an M48, the picture showing the shield with hydraulic ram and valves also gives you a good view of the drivers hatch, which is the small type indicative of that version.

Remote piloted vehicle looking at the lack of any crew member station visible either on top or by lack of any real access to the drivers position. The big box on the rear could be the actuator system for shift select/steering/accelerator control. Ideal location to access necessary linkage and looks very similar to ones used with mine test vehicles. Interesting that she uses a commercial type APU very similar to what welding rigs use, but doesn't have the generator associated with it. My guess to operate the hydraulic pump by means of a PTO shaft.

"Something nasty" is exactly what I was thinking Doug, but looking at the fittings and all the other accompanying items I don't think it would be blast related, since most of that stuff would get ripped off, especially the outrigger arms, unless they were just designed to keep the box stable when not attached to the tank and were removed when operated. That box, it's shape, and the material it's constructed with are what's intriguing. The steel looks to be at least 3 inches in thickness, which would make sense on the bottom for blast mitigation, but why all around? Looking at the raising/lowering mechanism and it's travel limits based on the hardware and fulcrum points, it looks like it was designed to be lowered below the level of the vehicle and the surface it's on. The other really interesting feature are those huge blocks under it with the channels and the similar curved ones on the sides. Weird. Box looks almost like some sort of sarcophagus. Thinking "Nuke" related from the 50's. Who knows? Just a really strange vehicle obviously designed for a very unique job. Nothing used on it is so out of the ordinary that a well equipped GS/DS shop couldn't acquire through off the shelf Military/Civilian stock and fabricate. Something Aberdeen had lot's of expertise in.

Looking at the mechanics involved, I would guess it was some sort of "delivery/recovery vehicle". Of what is the million dollar question. Had to be dangerous enough to do it remotely.

Thanks Rick for sharing something very, very different. Wow!

_________________
Joe_D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
sapper141
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:53 pm
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

Ok this one has got me interested as well. Along with what the others have observed, I don't see an operator's position with sections plated
over the turret ring, or antenna mounts for a remote vehicle like the ROBAT or Panther. Now another question to throw in the mix what is with the generator up on the platform?
Seeya


Last edited by sapper141 on Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
Rick_Eshleman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 26, 2011
Posts: 909
Location: Lewes, Delaware, USA
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:05 pm
Post subject: Re: M48 Variant. Unknown.

I'm glad this has all of you interested! I had taken those photos years ago and forgot I had them. Somebody should have information on this! I also theorized about "Robotic Nuke Dispenser", "Explosives Disposal", etc. but have yet to find anything on this. By looks of it Early M48 chassis and probably 1950's era modification, it should be totally declassified by now. Any older Aberdeen Scientists or Engineers out there? Rick
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail AIM Address 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