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Burik · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 119

Hi Guys:

Attached are a few photos of my M978 HEMTT Fueler I am working on at the moment. I am making this for an acquaintance, and at some point this should appear in a modeling magazine as a build article.

The reason I am posting it here is that I have not yet decided on which unit I will depict with this truck. I am leaning towards marking it as a 3rd ID truck embroiled in the fighting at Objective Curly during the second thunder run. I think I have a good idea of the markings and small add-ons many trucks had for OIF1. But I want to be sure, and maybe some of you here could confirm, or correct me on a few details. Or maybe some of you know a HEMTT crewmember who would know...

It appears to me that as far as the markings go, not all trucks had the exact same stencils on them. It does appear to me that they all had NO SMOKING WITHIN 50 FT stencil on the fuel tank. But in some photos it appears the red flame logo is not always there. However, it is very hard to tell since most photos are only of one angle of one truck, they are far away, and many times the truck is not really the feature of the photo. I am trying to be as accurate as possible, but it seems to me that many trucks were not stenciled the same as a result of being repainted. I think I have the bumper codes down as well as the brigade ID numbers and chevrons.

Similarly, it appears many trucks had some sort of panel (wood or metal?) behind the driver's side, which served to hold in loose stowage on the fender area. Also, it appears some crews used the roof to stow their duffle bags. I can not tell how they tied them down, though. I have also been told that some crews cooled water bottles by placing them in wet socks and then hanging them off of an outside mirror, but I have not seen a photo of this.

Finally, I plan on putting this in a vignette, depicting the crew fighting back agasint the enemy who surrounded them at Curly. I like the Curly idea since it shows the crews doing their part in this difficult battle in which every trigger puller was important; plus their cargo was like gold to those tankers who were headed into the city center of Baghdad.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I can also be reached at buriks @ comcast.net.

Thanks for looking.

Bob

MarkHolloway · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:20 am Post subject: Re: HEMTT 978 Fueler

The 'Red Flames' you are talking about are hazardous material placards. Although required by federal law I think they are stupid in a combat zone. Bulk loads, like the M978, have a 4-digit number identifying the product. "1993" is for diesel and "1863" is JP-8. Let me know if you require any detail shots of this truck. I can take them at work.

(1203 is gasoline)

MarkHolloway · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: Re: HEMTT 978 Fueler

Don't get to add the fire extinguishers.

Burik · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 119

Thanks Mark. I have a bunch of photos of the truck, but I just don't have many good ones of 3rd ID trucks, and the ones I do seem to be a little different as I noted.

The placard thing is helpful. I don't think I have decals of those, so I might just use the one you posted to make a decal on my home printer.

I do have one fire extinguisher on the box in front of the fuel tank. I have two more that will get mounted when I get around to painting.

Thanks for looking.

Bob

Burik · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 119

Here are some better pics of the interior.

Bob

MarkHolloway · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: Re: HEMTT 978 Fueler

The fuelers here carry two large (20 pound) fire extinguishers.

I think the 3d ID got their equipment from the 24th ID so maybe some pictures from them would help?

Burik · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 119

Mark

I think you are right about the 24th ID. You have pics of their stuff?

Sabot · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: HEMTT 978 Fueler

- MarkHolloway

The fuelers here carry two large (20 pound) fire extinguishers.

I think the 3d ID got their equipment from the 24th ID so maybe some pictures from them would help?

Actually, the 24th ID became the 3rd ID.

Much like the 5th Mech became 2nd Armor then became the 4th ID.

Dontos · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: HEMTT 978 Fueler

- Sabot

Much like the 5th Mech became 2nd Armor then became the 4th ID.

Yup, sure did.....and then they repainted the best boresight panel / thermal sight adjustment fixture on Ft Hood.

Rolling Eyes

...ah the good ol' days of the 'checker-board' water tower....long gone, but never forgotten.

Old history revisited....

Don

Burik · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 119

Yes, Rob said it better that the 24th became the 3rd ID. I was at Ft Stewart last year and got to see the T72 the 24th ID captured during Desert Storm. Neat little story behind that. The engine was running when the 24th guys came upon it but nobody was around. Artillery had been called onto the position and the T72 even had some holes in it due to the barrage. THat was apparently enough for the T72 crew and they legged it out of there. Footprints were seen in the sand leading away from the tank and into the desert.

The tank is now inside the museum and is in running condition. A visiting Russian general confirmed that tank was made in Poland. Also, Steve Zaloga used it for the basis of his Osprey book on the T72 and the artist used it for the cover graphic. So, even though it is the 3rd ID museum now, a little of the 24th's history remains there (along with other captured Iraqi equipment outside).

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