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SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:06 am Post subject: OPFOR tank at Ft Hood in 1959...

Found this picture on display at the Ft Hood / Killeen celebration. I was thinking it was possibly the early days of the Armor Test Board where Doug worked, haha. I really like the helmets as well!

Doug_Kibbey

Not completely a joke, Jeff. Ft. Hood is where the test operations were conducted after the Armor Board closed at Ft. Knox. (but not back in '59 as far as I know).

"On November 20, 1991, as part of a further reorganization of TEXCOM, the TEXCOM Armor and Engineer Board was split into two separate Boards and transferred from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Fort Hood, Texas. The Armor Board was established as the Armor Test Directorate and the Engineer Board was combined with elements of the TCATA Training and Support Systems Test Directorate to form a new organization designated as the Engineer and Combat Support Test Directorate.
On October 1, 1999, TEXCOM was renamed the United States Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC) and the Engineer and Combat Support Test Directorate is part of this newly named organization. We are currently located on the first floor of Henson Hall, on West Fort Hood, Texas."

Whether this still holds true I have no idea...

Neil_Baumgardner

Perhaps Jeff could check this out?

Neil

Doug_Kibbey

It looks like a still from an Ed Wood movie ("Plan 9 from Krasnovia"...or something). Laughing

piney

While the helmets look laughable, that is the way opponents helmets were always drawn in Army trainng manuals back then, so it's consistant with that practice.

Jeff Lewis

JimWeb

Did the agressor force all have bad backs as well?

Cool

SFC_Jeff_Button

Do you suppose that is a jeep or scout car under the mock-up?

Doug_Kibbey

- SFC_Jeff_Button

Do you suppose that is a jeep or scout car under the mock-up?

Looks small for a scout car.

SFC_Jeff_Button

Neil,
I have a good friend, a Major, that works with OTC and just returned from 6 months in the big sandbox doing evals. He's on leave right now but once he gets back, I'll hit him up about this. Maybe I can get in there and see some interesting stuff!?!?!

Neil_Baumgardner

Cool, its more for Doug than for me - but I'm sure all would appreciate...

Neil

Doug_Kibbey

- SFC_Jeff_Button

Neil,
I have a good friend, a Major, that works with OTC and just returned from 6 months in the big sandbox doing evals. He's on leave right now but once he gets back, I'll hit him up about this. Maybe I can get in there and see some interesting stuff!?!?!

I wonder what archives might have been transferred (if any) from the old Board to Hood? Maybe you can ask him to check around? I'd sure love to poke into any old test project records I might have been involved in (they'd be WAY out of restricted clearance or of any interest other than historical now, so no worries there). I know the pics are at Knox, but the records are who-knows-where.

bsmart

You afraid that some of your past transgresions may come to light? Rolling Eyes

Doug_Kibbey

- bsmart

You afraid that some of your past transgresions may come to light?

Hopeful that they might! (I'd love to peek into, say, the LRF, M60A1"Hotpants", or the motherload, M60A2 IPT test project files). I can think of a few others, like the 2.2kw searchlight or the camoflage stuff. Gas particulate system and helmets would be boring.

Neil_Baumgardner

- SFC_Jeff_Button

Found this picture on display at the Ft Hood / Killeen celebration. I was thinking it was possibly the early days of the Armor Test Board where Doug worked, haha. I really like the helmets as well!

BTW, any guesses as to what this is supposed to be simulating? One guess I had was an M10 tank destroyer of all things - although right now I am thinking a T-34? Which would be an odd choice...

Neil

JimWeb

Probably a T-34 oh and according to the MV experts the vehicle underneath is an M38 - something to do with the shackles positioning on the front bumper

BTW anyone looked at the shadows in the image?

Cool

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