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A-109E · Last edited by A-109E on Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

I thought I might share my Ft. Knox photos with you characters in installments from time to time. I know many of you will see these as familiar and old stuff since you work/live/play/visit the base and have posted similar photos in previous threads.

For those of you who have never been to Ft. Knox, or like me, haven't been there for years (...and I ain't saying how long it had been for me..), these shots are for you.

One of the largest, prettiest, most elegant military installations in the country, Ft. Knox reigns supreme if you like armor, museums, or history.

The Patton Museum of Armor bookstore sells a book in the 'Images of America' series entitled "The United States Army at Fort Knox" which is fascinating for those curious about the history and development of the base. Published by Arcadia Publishing (http://www.arcadiapublishing.com) and authored by Matthew D. Rector, this $19.95 photo essay represents money well spent. I used this for reference to fill in the gaps in my not-always-100%-functional memory. Surprised

I hope you enjoy!

--Bob Steinbrunn

Six miles north of the base on the west side of Dixie Highway (US 31W) is this monument.

Entering the Brandenburg (north) gate on Brandenburg Station Road.

Three grizzled old veterans situated inside the traffic circle at the intersection of Chaffee Avenue and Vine Grove Road. This area was where the old farming town of Stithton, Kentucky was when the military moved in. At that time it was known as The Stithton Circle and was the main entrance to Camp Knox.

On Chaffee Avenue (old west gate) one sees the next several sights.

Doug_Kibbey

Great Bob...keep 'em coming!

Say, is that traffic circle at the intersection of Harper Loop and Eisenhower Road the main one there near where main PX used to be, or another one? I think that one was at Chaffee and something...used to be an M103 and/or one of those big T28/29 thingy's there with 2-3 other tanks. Main traffic circle....

D.

binder001 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 363

Isn't that "M48A3" actually an M48A2? Or did they remove the aircleaners from the fenders? I don't see the aircleaners indictitive of a diesel engine, and the tank has three return roller/side. Most 'A3s were rebuilt 'A1s and had five return rollers/side.

Gary

Chris_C

The M48A2 had 3 return rollers per side, and the M48A2C lacks the small track tensioning idler, so it looks like that tank may be an M48A2C. I was going to ask that same question.

Doug_Kibbey

Well, it does say "replica"....you're not s'posed ta' notice. Wink

Chris_C

Ah, good point. Wink

A-109E · Last edited by A-109E on Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:46 pm; edited 2 times in total

- Doug_Kibbey

Great Bob...keep 'em coming!

Say, is that traffic circle at the intersection of Harper Loop and Eisenhower Road the main one there near where main PX used to be, or another one? I think that one was at Chaffee and something...used to be an M103 and/or one of those big T28/29 thingy's there with 2-3 other tanks. Main traffic circle....

D.

Same circle, Doug. You're absolutely correct: Chaffee Avenue it is, sorry. Actually, mapquest.com says "West Chaffee Avenue/Chaffee Avenue and Vine Grove Road". The circle was situated at what once was the main gate to Camp Knox, according to the book I listed, and was then known as The Stithton Circle. It's a really fascinating title......well...I mean.....if you're a Knoxaholic like me.

Doug_Kibbey

- A-109E

Same circle, Doug. The street names I used were taken from both the book and mapquest.com's map of Ft. Knox. (I try to verify everthing anymore since the memory isn't always...um....spooled up to 100%.)

The circle was situated at what once was the main gate to Camp Knox, according to the book I listed. It's a really fascinating title......well...I mean.....if you're a Knoxaholic like me.

Me, too...I'd really like to thumb through that book before deciding if I'd like to buy a copy...if it's still available.

I was stunned at how sleepy Knox was during my visit there last year...it was such a happenin' place when I was posted there in the early '70's, both before and after VN. I mean it was jumpin'!

And tanks on display were never allowed to deteriorate into the condition like you sometimes see them now (no slight to the voluteers, who can't be expected to keep up with all that). The bottomless pit of cheap labor used to be tapped to keep those things looking presentable.

A-109E

- Doug_Kibbey

Me, too...I'd really like to thumb through that book before deciding if I'd like to buy a copy...if it's still available.

It's still listed as available at Arcadia's Web site, Doug:

www.arcadiapublishing.com

Oddly, I couldn't find it there searching by keyword or title, but only found it looking for the author, Matthew D. Rector. Shocked

The museum gift shop carried quite a few copies when I was there in April 07, but they don't list it on their Web site. Sad

Late note: This title is also listed on amazon.com for cheap at:
www.amazon.com/s/ref=n...+D.+rector

Neil_Baumgardner

Uh... Its not called Stithton Circle anymore?

Neil

Dontos

- Neil_Baumgardner

Uh... Its not called Stithton Circle anymore?

Neil

As far as I know, it is still referred to as Stithton Traffic Circle....

As for the M48 and others currently there,....

When 'we' participated in the vehicle cleaning/repainting (partially completed by the Museum Volunteers), the vehicles there were moved and different vehicles replaced the ones at the traffic circle.

My M48/M60 depth of knowledge is woefully deficient, compared to other on this DG. (especially since they were considered 'dinasaurs' when I entered the Army in 1985 !! Mr. Green

)

Sooooo, I'll leave the exact variant up to the experts.

Respects (SHOUTING) .....ESPECIALLY TO THE ELDER MEMBERS OF THE DG !!! Mr. Green

Don

Doug_Kibbey

- Dontos

- Neil_Baumgardner

Uh... Its not called Stithton Circle anymore?

Neil

As far as I know, it is still referred to as Stithton Traffic Circle....

As for the M48 and others currently there,....

When 'we' participated in the vehicle cleaning/repainting (partially completed by the Museum Volunteers), the vehicles there were moved and different vehicles replaced the ones at the traffic circle.

My M48/M60 depth of knowledge is woefully deficient, compared to other on this DG. (especially since they were considered 'dinasaurs' when I entered the Army in 1985 !! )

Sooooo, I'll leave the exact variant up to the experts.

Respects (SHOUTING) .....ESPECIALLY TO THE ELDER MEMBERS OF THE DG !!!

Don

As I recall, the T28/29..whatever that monster is over at the Patton Museum used to be in the circle for sure...and I think an M103 and probably also an M60...don't recall what else for sure, but an M41 seems right. Maybe someone can come up with an old pic...like from a yearbook or something. The old main PX (wood) was over there just off Dixie, I think (shopped there often) and that was the main gate (entry off Vine Grove or W. Chaffee...Vine Grove, I believe...which, Bob?). Used to almost always be a stream of DoD rail cars with tanks coming or going on the rail head along the tracks there...busy place. You had to watch your step because the MP's were thick as ticks in that area.

Doug_Kibbey

For coots of a certain age:

Dontos

Doug

Your map is a little 'dated' (to say the least!!)

Here is a map segment I was tinkering with, which will accompany a static display reference index of Ft Knox. I was hoping to have it completed a long time ago. I seem to keep getting pulled off of this little pet project, if not distracted, preventing me from finishing it.

Unfortunately, I'll probably get it finished, just about the time when everything gets hauled south Crying or Very sad

(...if that dreaded event ever actually occurs Evil or Very Mad

). ANYWAY...

Don

A-109E

- Neil_Baumgardner

Uh... Its not called Stithton Circle anymore?

Neil

Yes, it is, Neil, but only by those fortunate enough to be able to pronounce it without inadvertantly spitting. Me? I just have to call it "the traffic circle"......sigh. Wink

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