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Sabot

- JimWeb

The periscopes on the rear of the hull roof... M2 has them in the roof & the M3 has them in the roof hatch?

The M2 and M3 had the same TOW loader's hatch. The M3-specific hatch with periscopes did not appear until the M3A1 and subsequent variants (A2, A3).

An M2 had operable firing ports on the sides and ramp. The M3 had plated over blisters on the sides and the ports on the ramp were plated from the inside.

After the M3A1, the ports are entirely missing on the ramp and that area is smooth.

Neil_Baumgardner

So any agreement on which one this is?

Neil

Sabot

- Neil_Baumgardner

So any agreement on which one this is?

Neil

This one? I'd say it is an M3 CFV. Bolted gun port blisters are the distinguishing feature.

Neil_Baumgardner

Jeff, could you possibly post a picture showing the general area where you found the SN? Is it where your younger son is looking in the first picture?

Neil

MarkHolloway

On the M3 the firing ports on the sides are covered with a plate.

Sabot

- MarkHolloway

On the M3 the firing ports on the sides are covered with a plate.

The M3A1 (and M2A1) begins with a solid slab over the side ports so they don't even look like they are there. The M3 had the blisters with plates in the center.

Another difference between the straight M2/3 and the A1s is the bustle rack. The straight M2/3 have an angled bustle rack and the A1s have a vertical back side of the bustle rack.

My maintenance school had both an M3 and M3A1 as well as the M2A2.

SFC_Jeff_Button

The area where I found the serial number was the smooth area around the vehicles lifting eye, on the front left side. This would be the area right over my youngest sons right sholder in this photo where he's climbing up the side. My oldest son is the one that spotted this number first. Having an extra set of eye's certainly helps. I didn't look for this number and area on the first Bradley, so I may have to go back by it and see if it has one in the same location.

SFC_Jeff_Button

Today I revisited both Bradleys and found the following markings, both in the same areas. The 4th ID Bradley had 001000 stamped into the very bottom right rear of the hull, just to the left of a multiprong socket. And as you can see by the crack in the left rear of the hull, I can guess why it is now a display piece.
The 1st Cav Bradley had 00160 stamped into the exact same location. But this is the same Bradley that had 3AA00152 stamped by the front left lifting eye.
What do you supposse these two numbers that are in the same location tell us, or stand for?

Neil_Baumgardner

Have to let Mark answer that one. May just be stampings particular to that part, rather than the vehicle.

Neil

Dontos

- SFC_Jeff_Button

The area where I found the serial number was the smooth area around the vehicles lifting eye, on the front left side.

I've been told this is one of4 location that the SN is located. All the others are within the vehicle...

HTH
Don

SFC_Jeff_Button

So what I found were simply hull casting numbers? 001000 has definite issues with that crack. I assume cracks of this nature are not fixable?

Dontos

- SFC_Jeff_Button

So what I found were simply hull casting numbers? 001000 has definite issues with that crack. I assume cracks of this nature are not fixable?

That could be a subcomponent SN or something. I'll get more info tomorrow from my 'source'. I described the cracks to him. He didn't seem amazed, but apparently that is why that vehicle is a static. The Vehicle is probably just plain 'wore out'.

FYI: Other SN locations are Interior Drivers Compartment (Data Plate), Engine Compartment (Data Plate), and rear interior (only visible with Back Ramp lowered).

Don

SFC_Jeff_Button

001000 has the front right final drive cover plate missing. If I stick my arm (and camera) inside, would I be able to get a picture of the data plate? Which way would I point the camera?

Dontos

- SFC_Jeff_Button

001000 has the front right final drive cover plate missing. If I stick my arm (and camera) inside, would I be able to get a picture of the data plate? Which way would I point the camera?

I don't know, I'll find out tomorrow when I talk to my' 'resident expert'.

More tomorrow
Don

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