What happened to the mile of tanks?

[silviop15]

Just out of curiosity, why were the vehicles removed from the side of the road, where did they go, etc?

[Rick_Eshleman]

Silvio, All "mile of tanks" which were US AFVs, were sent to: Ft Lee, Ft. Benning, Anniston, AL, or Ft Sill as part of the BRAC moves. So like the former Ordnance Museum, they were shipped out too. Rick

[silviop15]

Thanks, but I thought it was broken up before BRAC. I heard something about a car hitting one of the displays, or the base commander wanting it gone, and a few more crazy stories.

[vagabond]

The mile of tanks was gone by the time we made our first visit to APG back in 2005. All we ever saw on the way to the museum itself and the field of tanks were about 6 vehicles near the entrance gate and a few more further along on the way to the museum.

[bsmart]

- silviop15

Thanks, but I thought it was broken up before BRAC. I heard something about a car hitting one of the displays, or the base commander wanting it gone, and a few more crazy stories.

The complete story may be way back in the archives from when I wrote it up years ago.

The 'Mile of Tanks as it existed in the 1990s was already about 1/2 the length that I remember it from the mid 1960s (Everything before the M-3 light had been removed when a new gate area had been created) But then

There was an ugly auto accident one rainy night where a car driven by an intoxicated driver slid off the road and hit one of the tanks (The M-3 Stuart with wading trunk) In the accident a child was severely injured including brain damage. The parents (I was told one of them was the driver) Sued the army saying the road was unsafe. The median was determined to be to narrow (according to the most recent highway design standards) for there to be any obstructions in it. The Army decided that the path of least resistance was to remove the tanks, trees, bushes, etc from the median (How do you fight in a jury trial against a brain damaged kid) as well as paying out a substantial cash settlement.

Dr Atwater told me that it was probably the best thing that happened to the tanks because it forced the Army to admit the deteriorated condition of the tanks and sped up the EPA run refurbishment program.

Thus ended the 'Mile of Tanks'

[silviop15]

Too bad, but atleast the vehicles had a better chance of being preserved.

M3 Stuart with a wading trunk, an M3A3?

This might sound like an insensitive question, but what was the damage to the tank?

[bsmart]

- silviop15

Too bad, but atleast the vehicles had a better chance of being preserved.

M3 Stuart with a wading trunk, an M3A3?

This might sound like an insensitive question, but what was the damage to the tank?

I don't remember what version of M-3 but I suspect an M3A3. The damage was to one of the corners of the wading trunk. There were/are some dents and crinkles. I'm sure that there are picture of it in the storage lot with the damage. I conducted enough tours of the 'Mile' collection when it was stored waiting for refurb, and I KNOW some members here took pictures of almost EVERYTHING during my tours as well as hearing the story. During all those tours I was too busy talking and herding cats to take many pictures. So I consider all the pictures they took as my contribution to the documentation of the collection

[silviop15]

Bob, just want to confirm you only have 1 photobucket correct?

[bsmart]

- silviop15

Bob, just want to confirm you only have 1 photobucket correct?

I think so . IF I dig up any other archives I'll let you know.

[silviop15]

Sorry Bob, just had to check, I found a few members did. Thanks for the info

[bsmart]

No problem, Don't read anything into the Caps that I was upset. It just crept in because of slow fingers and the late hour.

I applaud your effort and appreciate the involvement of new members. We were all new at one point and it can be hard becoming active when everyone else seems to know everyone else and there are customs in place that you only find out when you 'violate' them

[silviop15]

Thanks.