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SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

ah, the things i didnt realize i had. found an operators manual for the M386. i dont think i had even realized that there was such a creation. just a truck mounted rocket to be used against tactical targets.
shawn

Doug_Kibbey

"Honest John"...would solve all our problems in Europe*...conventionally or nuclearllylyly...whatever it took. Sort of a magnum version of a Davey Crockett. Laughing

*(or Korea...whatever)

TomT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 4

Hi Guys, The Honest John was a ballistic rocket weighing over 5 tons fired from a truck mounted ramp. It carried either a conventional HE warhead or an Atomic war head. It was the first tactical atomic weapon. It was propelled by solid JATO fuel which blasted off in a 4 to 5 sec burnout. Once launched it could not be controlled. Because of its large fin surface area , correction for surface winds was very important. It's range was about 17 miles. I served with the 100FA Battalion attached to the !st Cav in Japan in 1954. We airlifted all over the Far East including Okinawa, Thialand ,Hokkaido and an amphibious landing of Iwo Jima with fleet support . Because of the truce agreements we could not be stationed in Korea with atomic weapons but we were ready to go if hostilities broke out. It was replaced, I believe, by the Corporal missle. TomT

SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

it that what the M386 was called? then i have heard of it...
well, if i ever own one, i have the operators manual for it.

Neil_Baumgardner

Technically it was the

"Truck, 2Ã‚Â½ton, 6x6, Launcher, GM, Honest John"

Neil

JimWeb · Last edited by JimWeb on Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:02 pm; edited 1 time in total

- Neil_Baumgardner

Technically it was the

"Truck, 2Ã‚Â½ton, 6x6, Launcher, GM, Honest John"

Neil

Originally it was the Truck, 5ton, 6x6, Short Launcher, GM, Honest John while the M289 Long Launcher (which it replaced) was still in service

www.jedsite.info/trans...intro.html

www.jedsite.info/trans...intro.html

Cool

SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

yep, that is right. it was shorter.
found out more about it, the M386 had the shorter ramp. The A-frame mounted on the front bumper to support the long ramp of the M289 was deleted on the M386.

Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Folks!

- SHAWN

Hey Folks!

That truck is NOT a duce and half, that is a five ton. Look at the gap between the rear of the front tire and the fender. There is room of the driver to step in between the tire and the rear of the fender.

Sgt, Scouts Out!

Doug_Kibbey

- Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Folks!

- SHAWN

Hey Folks!

That truck is NOT a duce and half, that is a five ton. Look at the gap between the rear of the front tire and the fender. There is room of the driver to step in between the tire and the rear of the fender.

Sgt, Scouts Out!

Roy is right...and in fact, one modded version is rated at 6 tons. Figures, since Tom established the missile itself weighed over five tons.

Here is a bunch of cool stuff related to this system:
www.usarmygermany.com/...et%202.htm

www.usarmygermany.com/...Rocket.htm

www.usarmygermany.com/...et%204.htm

www.usarmygermany.com/...et%201.htm

All on this page:
www.usarmygermany.com/...tm#HJunits

SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

correct roy, the chassis is a 5-ton, 6x6 M139 (modified)

JimWeb · Last edited by JimWeb on Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:59 pm; edited 2 times in total

- SHAWN

correct roy, the chassis is a 5-ton, 6x6 M139 (modified)

it was originally an M139C, then M139D - I assume the change came with the different launcher styles.

The M139 itself is an uprated version of the M36 2.5-ton LWB chassis which is why it is often mistaken for a 2.5-tonner.

Cool

Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Jim! Hi Folks!

- JimWeb

it was originally an M139C, then M139D - I assume the change came with the different launcher styles.

The standard five ton cargo trucks had an axle gear ratio of 6.443:1
The M-139 C, D, and F models used for the Honest John system had an axle gear ratio of 10.26:1 for improved off-road traction. That may make two items that make the Honest John trucks different.

- JimWeb

The M139 itself is an uprated version of the M36 2.5-ton LWB chassis which is why it is often mistaken for a 2.5-tonner.

Sorry Jim, I have disagree with you on that point. Sad

The M-139 is a modified M-55 which had a 20 foot cargo box which was designed to carry engineer bridging equipment.
The M-55 is a modifed M-54.
The M-54 five ton 6x6 cargo truck was developed as a replacement for the WW II four, six, 7 1/2 ton series of trucks.

The M-54 FOVs is very similar in design and appearance to the M-35 2 1/2 ton series of trucks. Looks is ALL that the M-35 FOVs and the M-54 FOV's have in common. The M-54 is a total different design and the M-55/M-139 is not an upgraded M-36.

My take on M-35 vis M-54 trucks.
Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

JimWeb

- Roy_A_Lingle

The standard five ton cargo trucks had an axle gear ratio of 6.443:1

The M-139 C, D, and F models used for the Honest John system had an axle gear ratio of 10.26:1 for improved off-road traction. That may make two items that make the Honest John trucks different.

If you can see an axle ratio gear externally Roy your a better man I am... Crying or Very sad

- JimWeb

The M139 itself is an uprated version of the M36 2.5-ton LWB chassis which is why it is often mistaken for a 2.5-tonner.

I was following an explanation from a pocket history by an american general called Toftoy.. but I'm beginning to think he was actually talking about the prototype launchers and got them confused with the production vehicles...

Cool

TomT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 27, 2006 Posts: 4

As I recall, the launching ramp was mounted on a 5 ton truck. The National Guard museum in Lawrenceville NJ has an intact rocket and launcher they plan to refurbish. An Honest John unit from Cape May served in Europe. There is a ramp and rocket on display off the Garden State Parkway in Cape May NJ but no vehicle. Another interesting fact on this rocket is that it was covered with a tight fitting quilted electric blanket for hours before a lauch in order to maintain the proper temperature for the solid fuel! Don't know how that would work out in a combat situation. Somewhere in my photos I have a picture of that setup. TomT

Neil_Baumgardner

I think I spotted that rocket in Lawrenceville. It was in a fenced off area with a lot of other aging material, including a Gamma Goat.

Neil

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