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in the current issue of Military Machines International. Appears to be from an Australian Army officer who was on post for Abrams training - he took a bunch of good pics that are in this article: M47 Patton, M103A2, M60A2 & A3, M59 APC, even some Abrams that are apparently abandoned on the range.

Unfortunately there's nothing on the web for the issue/article. The MMI website is still showing the July & August issues (this is the September issue):
www.modelactivitypress...onthly.htm

Neil

I'd have one of those M60A2 in an instant if it was offered!

Preferably the one in the puddle with the tow chain still hanging off the back

Yeah, I thought that one looked pretty good too...

I was pretty amused about the part about hunters running free in this area?...

Neil

I'm certain that, if I was a local hunter, I'd have a partially constructed tank in my garage by now

Hi all,

Neil, it is not unusual for the Army to allow hunting on military reservations, and even in impact areas. Surprisingly, a number of species like hanging out in the training areas, and thrive there. Good wildlife management requires 'thinning the herd', and hunting is the best way to do that.

Hunters have to be state licensed and authorized access (read: military ID card holders), and usually have to undergo some sort of "don't touch that" training. Some posts use semi-permanent stands and discourage walking around, to avoid problems with duds and UXO. Others allow walking.

Often, hunting season is the only opportunity to get close to targets and hulks in impact areas.

C

- Neil_Baumgardner

Yeah, I thought that one looked pretty good too...

I was pretty amused about the part about hunters running free in this area?...

Neil

Neil,
What Chuck said. Knox is home to a lot of deer, especially.

Way back when (he said, drooling in his shoes, recalling his days at the Armor Board) we used to have test projects for things like mines, we'd have to outpost guys 24/7 to guard the minefields from hunters stumbling into them (nevermind that they were fenced and marked...you just know some bonehead would go in there...or maybe at night, "spotlighting"). Was good duty, a 24 hour shift was good for two days off, and we'd have several guys and bunkhouse so we could rotate guys for "outside".

Hi guys,

Besides the hunting season, a good day to see the Knox impact area is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is open to the public, for families to visit all the cemeteries that were left out in what became the impact area, after the inhabitants were moved out when the government took the land over. The impact area has certain gates open for the public, and you just pick the appropriate gate, tell them which cemetery you are going to visit, and go on in. If there happens to be a certain range that is on the way to "your cemetery," well, there you go. Be advised that you will need to come back out the same gate you went in, and they get kinda antsy if you aren't signed back out by about 1600.

Of course, as we all know, there most definitely *ARE* UXOs out there. Range Control polices the main impact area roads before Memorial Day, but they don't get everything. I have seen stuff from WW2 out there, and even stuff that looked like it was from WW1. I'm talking unexploded, rusty 75mm/90mm/whatever projos. So it's NOT a good idea to go wandering off the roads.

Geoff Walden

I cant seem to find the article you speak of. What am I suppossed to click on to view it?

Jeff, unfortunately its in the September issue which is not posted on their website yet. You may want to try a Barnes & Noble or other big bookstore - I've seen MMI in the magazine racks. I subscribe as its a pretty good magazine, along with Classic Military Vehicles - although they seem to have an inordinate fascination with "Green Goddesses" and every once in a while I see a picture of some "discovered" vehicle that was posted on this board a month or two before (if not more).

Frankly, I should probably send them some of my pictures and get something published - and perhaps paid for it! You could probably do a Fort Hood pictorial as well!

Neil