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

Hi All:

As some of you might recall, I am building an M978 Fueler, which will be in a vignette depicting action at Objective Curley in the second thunder run of OIF1. I am at the markings stage at this point, and although I have lots of photos of 3rd ID vehicles, HEMTTs are few and far between. Those I do have are usually trucks in the background and so are cut off, thus showing me very little.

What I have been able to ascertain is that HEMTTs of the 3rd ID usually had some sort of panel behind the driver's side cab which helped hold in gear. Here is a photo:

The panel can be seen. Also of interest is the gear stowed on the roof. What is that on the bottom of the pile? How is it all tied down? I am not aware of any tie down hooks on the cab.

Here are some pics of a HEMTT I photographed at Ft Stewart last year. I do not believe this is marked up like an OIF1 truck since the door carried a "battle board" number of "42F" as opposed to something like the photo above of "40\". There was normally a '\" used in Iraq; never a letter. I plan on mimicking this vehicle to a large degree unless there is someone out there with a photo or two of 3rd ID HEMTTs in theatre.

Thanks for looking.

Bob

Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Bob!

Sorry to cause problems, but I have a question for you.

The Brigade that made the Thunder Runs into B-Town was the unit that was already in theater when the run up started. They used the Brigade Equipment set (BES) that was in Kuwait. My question is, did the HEMTTs come from that BES or where those vehicles from the Division?

I am thinking that if those HEMTTs were part of the BES, then maybe that box on top of the cab could be something like the racks we saw hanging off the sides of the Abrams, Bradleys, and M113s. If so, then possible it could be carrying extra drinking water and MREs.

Confused

Sgt, Scouts Out!

Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Bob! Hi Folks!

Something I remembered as I was driving home that might account for the difference with the battleboard markings.

During OIF, the 3rd ID was using the updated Division 86 TOE. Those photos you took last year should be the new Unit of Action TOE. It could be the change with the Division TOE also changed some of the battle board markings.

Just a thought. Smile

Sgt, Scouts Out!

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

Roy:

I am not sure if the HEMTTs were pre-positioned or not. I understand a lot of the support equipment came from Ft Stewart. In any event, the division was there for a number of months before the invasion and there was lots of time for units to come up with ideas on stowage. I know the racks seen on the AFVs were made nearer to the invasion D Day. Before that units were using picket stakes and large ammo boxes to make a sort of home made bustle rack extension for tanks.

I'n not going to sweat that odd box in the photo. But I will probably go with the duffle bags on the roof; looks different and interesting.

Of course a HEMTT crewman could help answer some of this, if one is out there... Smile

Those guys really did more than anyone expected that day, which is why I am doing this vignette. Support troops do not get their due.

Cheers.

Bob

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

And about that odd box shape at the bottom of the pile; it could merely be MREs and/or water bottle boxes covered in a tarp to keep dust away. Heaven knows there is very little room on the HEMTT for personal stowage.

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