±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 190
Total: 190
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Photo Gallery
04: Member Screenshots
05: Community Forums
06: Photo Gallery
07: Photo Gallery
08: Home
09: Home
10: Home
11: Home
12: Home
13: Your Account
14: News
15: Home
16: Community Forums
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Home
21: Home
22: Member Screenshots
23: Home
24: Community Forums
25: Downloads
26: Community Forums
27: Home
28: Home
29: Home
30: Home
31: Member Screenshots
32: Home
33: Home
34: Community Forums
35: Home
36: Community Forums
37: Home
38: Home
39: Home
40: Home
41: Home
42: Community Forums
43: Home
44: Home
45: Home
46: Community Forums
47: Home
48: Home
49: Home
50: Community Forums
51: Member Screenshots
52: Community Forums
53: Home
54: Home
55: Community Forums
56: Home
57: Community Forums
58: Home
59: Home
60: Downloads
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: News
65: Home
66: Community Forums
67: Home
68: Downloads
69: Community Forums
70: Home
71: Downloads
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Home
77: Your Account
78: Home
79: Home
80: Community Forums
81: Home
82: Member Screenshots
83: Home
84: Community Forums
85: Member Screenshots
86: Home
87: Photo Gallery
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: Community Forums
91: Home
92: Home
93: Downloads
94: Community Forums
95: Home
96: Photo Gallery
97: Member Screenshots
98: Community Forums
99: Downloads
100: Home
101: Photo Gallery
102: Member Screenshots
103: Community Forums
104: Home
105: Community Forums
106: Home
107: Photo Gallery
108: Community Forums
109: Home
110: Home
111: Community Forums
112: News
113: Community Forums
114: Statistics
115: Home
116: News
117: Community Forums
118: News
119: Community Forums
120: Home
121: Home
122: Community Forums
123: Home
124: News Archive
125: Home
126: Home
127: Member Screenshots
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Home
134: News Archive
135: Home
136: Community Forums
137: Home
138: Community Forums
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Member Screenshots
147: Community Forums
148: Photo Gallery
149: Photo Gallery
150: Home
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Home
154: Downloads
155: Home
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Home
163: Home
164: Home
165: Home
166: Home
167: Community Forums
168: Member Screenshots
169: Home
170: Community Forums
171: Home
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Home
176: News
177: Community Forums
178: Home
179: Home
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Home
183: Member Screenshots
184: Home
185: Home
186: Home
187: Downloads
188: Home
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
M386 truck based rocket launcher
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
SHAWN
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 484

PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:46 pm
Post subject: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:04 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

"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)
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
TomT
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:50 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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
Back to top
View user's profile
SHAWN
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 484

PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:19 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:33 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

Technically it was the

"Truck, 2½ton, 6x6, Launcher, GM, Honest John"

Neil
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:49 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

- Neil_Baumgardner
Technically it was the

"Truck, 2½ton, 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

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************


Last edited by JimWeb on Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
SHAWN
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 484

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:23 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:23 am
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:54 am
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

- 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
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
SHAWN
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 484

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:16 am
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

correct roy, the chassis is a 5-ton, 6x6 M139 (modified)
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:16 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

- 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

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************


Last edited by JimWeb on Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:59 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:59 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:11 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

- 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

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
TomT
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:16 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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
Back to top
View user's profile
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:24 pm
Post subject: Re: M386 truck based rocket launcher

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
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum