±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: 324
Total: 324
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Photo Gallery
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Member Screenshots
07: Home
08: Your Account
09: Community Forums
10: Member Screenshots
11: Member Screenshots
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Member Screenshots
16: Member Screenshots
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Member Screenshots
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Member Screenshots
27: Community Forums
28: Downloads
29: Community Forums
30: Downloads
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Photo Gallery
34: Community Forums
35: Home
36: Home
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Member Screenshots
42: Member Screenshots
43: Member Screenshots
44: Home
45: Member Screenshots
46: Member Screenshots
47: Home
48: Member Screenshots
49: Member Screenshots
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Statistics
53: Community Forums
54: Downloads
55: Member Screenshots
56: Community Forums
57: Your Account
58: Member Screenshots
59: Community Forums
60: News Archive
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Downloads
64: Member Screenshots
65: Member Screenshots
66: Photo Gallery
67: Community Forums
68: Home
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Home
72: News Archive
73: Your Account
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Member Screenshots
77: Member Screenshots
78: Member Screenshots
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Photo Gallery
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Downloads
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: News Archive
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Home
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: News Archive
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Home
100: Member Screenshots
101: Community Forums
102: Home
103: Community Forums
104: News Archive
105: Photo Gallery
106: Member Screenshots
107: Member Screenshots
108: Statistics
109: Home
110: Community Forums
111: Home
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Statistics
118: Your Account
119: Community Forums
120: Home
121: News Archive
122: News Archive
123: Home
124: Downloads
125: Community Forums
126: Home
127: Member Screenshots
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Photo Gallery
132: Home
133: Home
134: News Archive
135: Member Screenshots
136: Your Account
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Member Screenshots
142: Community Forums
143: Member Screenshots
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Home
147: Member Screenshots
148: Home
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Downloads
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Home
158: Photo Gallery
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Downloads
162: Home
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Home
166: Home
167: News Archive
168: Community Forums
169: Home
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Member Screenshots
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Home
180: Your Account
181: Community Forums
182: News Archive
183: Community Forums
184: Home
185: Photo Gallery
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Home
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Home
197: Home
198: Member Screenshots
199: Community Forums
200: News Archive
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Home
204: Home
205: Community Forums
206: Home
207: Member Screenshots
208: Community Forums
209: Member Screenshots
210: Community Forums
211: Downloads
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: News Archive
215: Home
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Member Screenshots
220: Your Account
221: Photo Gallery
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Home
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Home
235: Member Screenshots
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Photo Gallery
241: Member Screenshots
242: Home
243: Downloads
244: News Archive
245: Home
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Your Account
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Downloads
255: Community Forums
256: Home
257: Member Screenshots
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Member Screenshots
264: Member Screenshots
265: News Archive
266: Home
267: Photo Gallery
268: Home
269: Member Screenshots
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Photo Gallery
275: News
276: Home
277: Community Forums
278: Member Screenshots
279: Community Forums
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Your Account
285: Home
286: Home
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Photo Gallery
290: Community Forums
291: Home
292: Community Forums
293: Member Screenshots
294: Community Forums
295: Photo Gallery
296: Community Forums
297: Member Screenshots
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Home
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Member Screenshots
304: Community Forums
305: Home
306: Member Screenshots
307: Community Forums
308: News Archive
309: Community Forums
310: Member Screenshots
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Photo Gallery
315: Community Forums
316: Member Screenshots
317: Photo Gallery
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: News Archive
321: Community Forums
322: Home
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved
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, 3  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:51 pm
Post subject: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Last night I received an e-mail from Ed Heasley saying they were planning on moving the Elephant this morning. After some soul searching and 'Telecommuting' into work very early this morning to make sure I could afford to take off I decided to take at least the morning off and drive up to Aberdeen to watch and document the effort.

The tow truck arrives


First we push


Then we pull


The HETT arrives


Hooking up the cables


The first tug


Almost there!


Loaded up


We got us a convoy!!


There was one casualty of the move. There was a 4-5' black snake that insisted on climbing onto the tracks and drive sproket. is now 2 1' snakes, 1 2' snake, and a lot of goo!


They left the Elephant on the HETT tonight in the motorpool and will drop it at the Refurb center in the morning.

Two final notes - Ed asked me to let everyone know that I already gave him copies of all the pictures I took today so there is no need to send him any! And I would have had his out an hour ago but Firefox decided to update itself just before I hit submit and I lost the entire message!

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 9:06 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Great pics Bob!

I take it the tracks "rolled" okay? Otherwise I'd have worried about the tracks ripping off, like the Mile of Tanks ones... Didnt they try to use TWO M88s last time they tried to move it for just that reason? Seems like they did it rather easily this time...

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 9:23 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

The background to the sudden change in the elephant's status

As I understand it the Commanding General asked at her staff meting why 'the old tank' was still sitting at the railhead. Dr Atwater explained the long history about not being able to get it moved. Then she asked something to the staff like 'You mean we can't move a tank?' After the meeting the Colnel called the recovery section chief and asked something like 'Chief why can't we move a tank?' The Chief ( a Chief Warrant Officer) said 'Sir we haven't been asked, of course we can move a tank'. In all fairness this has gone on so long the folks involved now are not the ones who had problems years ago.

Anyway The ball got rolling quickly. The Warrants and NCOs checked things like weight and balance, got clearances for a heavy move across base and arranged a base police escort. They were surprised that the Elephant uses an electric transmission (The comment was they had hybred drive 50 years ago? I told them there is at least one other similar vehicle (The T23) in the museums possecion. Rolling Eyes )

This was obviously a well qualified group. There were several Warrants, and most of the rest were E6s and E7s with a few civilians. Several sported Senior Instructor badges on their uniforms. They quickly layed out the planned operation, had an alternative prepared if they had trouble loading like they did last time. While waiting for the HETT to arrive they pulled the Elephant forward and back about 100yards to loosen up the track. The pictures were taken from so far back while they were winching it up because they insisted that everyone not actively involved be further away from the action than the cable was long (just in case Shocked ) Everything went very smoothly, if not as quickly as some thought it could.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Hellfish6
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 151
Location: Orlando
PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2007 11:25 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Great pics, great story. I can't wait to see this monster restored.
Back to top
View user's profile
piney
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 2330
Location: Republic of Southern New Jersey
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:22 am
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Thanks for the pictures Bob

Jeff Lewis
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:39 am
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Really great news !! I'm happy to see this and really hope that this very rare tank will be now better preserved !!

P-O

_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
jcneel
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 101
Location: Victoria, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:00 am
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Are they actually going to work on restoring this one, or did they just wanted to have it moved?

Where did it get moved to? Is is now over by the warehouse or did they just put it in one of the yards?

Great set of photos.

I, too would love to see this one restored.

Any more news on when the Tiger I is coming back??

Thanks for the update.

Chris Neel
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:31 am
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

- jcneel
Are they actually going to work on restoring this one, or did they just wanted to have it moved?


Well they have wanted it moved for years Rolling Eyes It does not have a 'slot' in the refurb schedule at the moment. Right now refurb is working on the Vickers Mk 6 light tank, the Mae West, and the Firefly. The Firefly got it's first primer coat this week so it is occupying the Paint Booth for a while.


Where did it get moved to? Is is now over by the warehouse or did they just put it in one of the yards?


Well by now (He looks at the clock) it should be unloaded outside the refurb shop. It will sit on the concrete pad outside the paint booth (next to the 'Vigilant' SP gatling gun) until they decide to put it in the paint booth.


Any more news on when the Tiger I is coming back??


No update on the Tiger. I am hoping that the 'notification system' that Ed used for the Elephant was a dry run for how I will find out about the Tiger (although I am hoping for a little more lead time). Rest assured as soon as I have any news I can pass on I will let everyone know. But there may be a 'News Embargo' when the Tiger comes back. That will probably be a much higher profile event and there is talk about the Air Force and Ordnance Public Affairs folks wanting to control the announcements. I just hope I don't get completely frozen out of things when the time comes.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:41 am
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Well the good news is it's an open post (for the most part). All you need is to get the heads up and anyone can come on post that day Wink - that is assuming you get the heads up...

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:39 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

- Neil_Baumgardner
Well the good news is it's an open post (for the most part). All you need is to get the heads up and anyone can come on post that day Wink - that is assuming you get the heads up...

Neil


If it comes in it will come in to the Airfield, which is a restricted area I'm pretty sure. I've told them I still have my GI drivers license stamped 'Flightline Authorized' if Dr Atwater needs someone to drive up to the plane Wink

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Neil_Baumgardner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3942
Location: Arlington, VA
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:42 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

Good point, depends on whether they leave it in the "behind the fence" area... Since its already been refurbed thanks to Mr Wheatcroft, I wouldnt think it would need to go through the refurb facility... So what do they plan to do with it anyway? Park it outside the museum?

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:05 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

- bsmart
- Neil_Baumgardner
Well the good news is it's an open post (for the most part). All you need is to get the heads up and anyone can come on post that day Wink - that is assuming you get the heads up...

Neil


If it comes in it will come in to the Airfield, which is a restricted area I'm pretty sure. I've told them I still have my GI drivers license stamped 'Flightline Authorized' if Dr Atwater needs someone to drive up to the plane Wink


Is coming in by air transport a sure thing? Is there a possibility it could be sent over by container ship? That was one problem when the museum acquired the JagdPanzer IV from the UK. It was shipped over and spent a long time sitting on the dock. During that time the persiscopes and other equipment were stolen. I do hope they fly it directly to APG to avoid that from happening.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:43 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

I think there are several problems with Sea transport

1) This won't fit inside a standard 8' wide container. That means it has be shipped in a non container ship. Most of thoise today are RO-ROs. But most commercial RO-ROs are set up for consumer vehicles and don't have deck height needed or decks that will handle the concentrated loading. On top of that I doubt the shipping line would want it to be towed across their decks with the steel tracks Smile

2) Liability The combination of large (heavy) cargo and the value of the cargo makes it something that most shippers don't want to touch. I was talking with someone who handles liability for a shipping company and he said that his management would avoid that job like a plague. He said some 'weird loads' like that are done for the PR value (UPS or FedEx shipping animals or museum exhibits for example). He said the North Atlantic is especially troublesome for heavy delicate loads. (If you look at the 'plimsol markings' that all cargo vessels have to show how much freeboard they have 'Winter North Atlantic' requires the most freeboard which equates to the most reserve bouancy because of the rough conditions)

3) Tracking and security - you covered this pretty well

As I said a while back it was already sceduled to be transported on a C-5. The plane that crashed at Dover a while back was supposed to have brought it on the return flight of that trip to deliver equipment overseas. That crash and the subsequent fleet grounding until the cause was determined totally screwed up C-5 flight schedules for the forseeable future so it is a wait and see situation.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
SHAWN
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 484

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:22 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

hey bob,
who was surprised to find that the elephant had an electric trans??
the army (among other initials) has/have studied that exact elephant time on and time off for years. you would think that we, not just the u.s., would have developed such a "hybrid" by now. ya, es ist eine Porsche!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:55 pm
Post subject: Re: FLASH UPDATE -- The Abedeen Elephant has been moved

I have found tht most troops involved in day to day operations don't relly understand the history behind their profession. There are of course exceptions. The studies and evaluations were archived long ago and the current generation unerstands Diesels as old technology and turbines as new technology, but think of electric generators and motors as used in locomotives

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 3
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3  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