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armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

Does anyone have any idea why the army doesn't just weld in the serial number on the hull, why the stamp? If you are a tanker is the serial number unimportant?? just curious

Joe_D · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Serial Numbers?

Economy of time and money,

All lot faster to stamp than bead weld. Besides, the crews would use the hull data plate to get the SN so it was easy to read (Unless someone stole it).
During my time the Serial was the one used all the time. Was needed for the maintenance forms and dispatch folder. Was also on all the DA 2408-4's to track gun tube data. For accountability the serial number is used when issued or turned in and is on all the property book paperwork. Registration numbers were something we needed on rare occasions, and then was fun explaining where to find them to the crews. To this day I still can't remember why they asked for them.

armyjunk2 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 1416

Thank you Joe, I never quite understood. It seemed to me a permanent easy to see number would be handy. I didn't know about the Hull Data plates. Who assigned the number? Was it done when the tank was manufactured?

Joe_D · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Serial Numbers?

I can only speak about M48/60's, M1's and a little on M551's.

Serial numbers are assigned by Army from what I know, but that's only because they are the prime manager for Tanks (TACOM) and are stamped during manufacture once complete. That's why USMC and Export tanks have SN's in sequence with the Army's. That also creates gaps in the numbers if a order is canceled or reduced in a fiscal year. They are usually changed when a tank is rebuilt to another model or version. M60A1 to A3 and M1 to M1A2 conversions are good examples. A interesting exception was when they rebuilt the old M60A2 hulls to Bridge Layers, which changed the nomenclature to M60A1 AVLB but retained the original SN.

Dontos · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:29 am Post subject: Re: Serial Numbers?

Joe

Its amazing what one retains in the dark regions of the mind. I still remember 2 of my old tank SN's. I had '0223' (a reissued M-1 'slick') at Ft Polk in 89-91 and then theres 'L6116' (M1A1) but I can't remember if it was Germany in 88/89 or Ft Hood in 93/94.

We used to get the RN from the BMO if we needed it on paperwork or whatever. I think it was only needed for tank turn-in.

Regards
Don

MarkHolloway · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:47 am Post subject: Re: Serial Numbers?

M551 SN 662 was mine in Budingen! Over 30 years ago. USA# 13F172!

Joe_D · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:34 am Post subject: Re: Serial Numbers?

My two M60A3's in Budingen were 1020 (A36) and 998 (A38),

One of these days I'm hoping to find one of them on display somewhere. Then I'd have to fight the urge to take her home with me Laughing

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