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Alf_Adams · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject: Michigan trip report

Following up on my last posting on Wisconsin, here are the results from my travels in Michigan this fall. Some of these numbers will just confirm what is already in the Register, but some are new and will help fill in some blanks. Naturally, I also took photos of each of the vehicles, and I have posted these to my Photobucket page. The M48 in Armada is a bit of a special case. Being a one of a kind, I did a walkaround/climbover and put several photos of it up. I will post results for, Ontario and Quebec later as I get it all organized. s698.photobucket.com/h.../allalbums

Michigan

Armada
M48 with Shillelagh turret, listed address is correct. I could not find any trace of a serial number on the hull, but I don’t know if M48s have numbers stamped in like M60s. N42 51.123 W082 53.130
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Au Gres
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4313A, RN is 09A06472
N44 03.195 W083 39.627
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Berville
M60A3, this vehicle is listed as in Allenton, but is actually at the VFW post on the outskirts of Berville (next town over). Address is correct otherwise. Serial number is 4396A (not 4369A), RN is 9B7126.
N42 54.580 W082 53.182
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Birch Run
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is not readable, RN is JJ02ZW
N43 15.590 W083 46.565
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Burton
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4327A. RN is JJ005M
N42 59.860 W083 35.714
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Davison
M7B2 Priest outside VFW Post 4087 at 9474 Lapeer Rd. No serial number or data plate visible. This vehicle is missing all of its return rollers on both sides.
N43 00.842 W083 31.161
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Flint
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4319A, RN is 9B7078.
N43 05.413 W083 45.284
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Flushing
We went to the listed address, but found nothing, no tank, only houses. However, we noticed that the Flint M60A3 is just down Coldwater Rd, not far away. This tank may have been confused and double listed. More research on it is needed on it. Perhaps on a future trip.

Frankenmuth
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4405A, RN is JJ01U9.
N43 19.083 W083 44.126
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Hemlock
Listed address is correct, however, the M114 listed is again an M114 155mm towed howitzer, not an AFV.
M60A0, serial number 212 is confirmed, RN is 9B3338. N43 24.771 W084 15.607
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Hermansville
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4309A, RN is 09A06370.
N45 42.521 W087 36.254
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Houghton Lake
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 4338A, RN is 09A20730
N44 19.233 W084 46.433
This is one of the very few vehicles that I could read something on the rear deck. It appears to read 1E126? The ? may be another 6. Rust and paint obscure anything more.

Germfask
M47 at a War Memorial on the west side of Hwy 77, north of Co. Hwy 498. Serial number is 11335.
N46 14.886 W085 55.593
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Grayling
Listed address is correct.
M4A3(75)VVSS, serial number is confirmed as 1342
M60A0, serial number is confirmed as 12489, RN is 9B4674
N44 39.533 W084 42.728
These vehicles can be seen on Google Street View.

New Haven
M42A1 Duster, listed address is correct. All I could make out on the data plate on the rear was the numbers 1486 on the top right side of the plate. As I understand it, this could be the serial number or the build number.
N42 43.340 W082 47.342

New Lothrop
M551 Sheridan, listed address is correct, but hard to find due to the VFW Post being located down a side road beside a house. There is a sign directing you down the road. Could not read SN or RN stampings in the hull, but 13E772 is painted on both sides of the hull. N43 07.403 W083 58.287

Port Huron
The M59 listed as being at the armory at 2525 Dove St. is no longer there. This entry should probably be deleted.

Saint Helen
M47, listed address is correct. Serial number is 8652. This tank has a large 260D welded onto the left side of the glacis. Don’t know what that’s about. N44 22.4512 W084 24.603

Sault St Marie
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is confirmed as 2802A, RN is JJ04UP
N46 29.553 W084 21.547
This vehicle can be seen on Google Street View.

Standish
M60A3, listed address is correct. Serial number is 4349A (not 4339A). RN is 9B7236.

Swartz Creek
M47, listed address is correct. SN is very faint but does appear to be 5401 as listed.
N42 58.954 W083 48.680

Joe_D · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:20 am Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Alf,

Thanks much for posting and confirming these.

Did you happen to get a picture of the Idler mount on the hull for the Armada M48/ Shillelagh ? Also, do you have any good shots showing the areas between the #1 and # 3 support rollers? I have some theories on this hull.

Now for the other rare tank you took pictures of,

Birch Run MI

You confirmed what I have thought for a while based on some poor pictures I've seen of her. She is a US M60A3 RISE/Passive. Notice the LRF cover on the right Blister. Yet the sight housing is for a Passive tank and the searchlight cable aperture is not welded over. She's the only one I know of in existence. How she escaped conversion to TTS is beyond me. I wish you could have found her SN. If she is a production A3 she would have the "J" hook wind sensor mast stowage bracket. She would also have an interrupter. Both being welded to top of the turret rear behind the loader's hatch. M60A3 Pilots wouldn't have that feature. The RN of JJ02ZW would belong to an early A3, which would coincide with her being a RISE/Passive model.

I'm willing to bet both of these tanks are refugees from TACOM in Detroit. Would explain a lot.

Been a pretty interesting week with these two and the M48 creature at MVTF Mark and Chris have been posting pictures of.

Tichenor · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Alf

Aren't the serials for the Grayling entry swapped, 12489 seems a bit high for a M60A0 Wink

Now the big question: can I use your pictures at the Afvregister, as always reference to the autor will be added.

Michel

Alf_Adams · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Aren't the serials for the Grayling entry swapped, 12489 seems a bit high for a M60A0 Wink

Yes, sorry about that. I guess I had too many numbers in my head when transcribing them. The Grayling tank serial numbers are switched, and should read: M60A0 SN 1342, M4A3(75)VVSS SN 12489.

Now the big question: can I use your pictures at the Afvregister, as always reference to the author will be added.

Yes, please feel free to use my photos for the AFV Register. I'm glad to be a help in this impressive resource.

As for the Armada M48, sorry but I didn't get closeup photos of those areas. I'll put that on my to do list if I am back there sometime. I hope someday to be back in the area since there is so many more tanks to do.

As for the Birch Run M60A3, it is interesting to learn the details on it. I hadn't noticed these points, but I am far from an M60 expert. If it helps I am attaching more views of this tank.

Alf

Joe_D · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Alf,

Thanks for posting the additional pictures, In the second picture I think I can see the "J" hook.

I do have a question about the Houghton Lake M60A3 4338A. I'm been updating my data base with all the new info you provided and the RN for her is not making sense. Could RN 09A20730 actually be RN09A20370 ? The last two digits should be the build year for 09A RN's and 30 is a wee bit to early for an M60.

Alf_Adams · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Good catch Joe. Yes indeed, I reversed the last 2 digits of that number when I typed it. Attached are photos of the SN, RN, and the stamping on the rear edge of the engine deck. Good to know that there is meaning to some of these numbers we are collecting, and they are not all just random. I'll keep that in mind about the last 2 digits of certain SNs.

Alf

SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

Joe, contact me via personal email-- I have to look, I have more closeups of the Armada "M48".

Alf, at Grayling, you didnt swing by the MATES facility on N. River Down Rd. to see the tracks there?

later,
Shawn

Alf_Adams · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Unfortunately no. We were a little pressed for time at this point and only made a quick stop in Grayling to see the tanks at the legion. Also I did not know the location of the MATES tanks. The AFV Register just said MATES and I figured that would involve a delay at security and a search for the facility that we didn't have time for this trip. Can you tell me, where is the main gate to the base, and is MATES inside the base? I would definitely like to try to get to these on a future trip. Thanks.

Alf

SHAWN · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 484

MATES is not inside the base. MATES is several miles east of town on North River Down Road, dont recall the address, you cant help but see it. No security. Anymore, I am not up there except for our artillery competitions, which allows me to see a bit more.
Shawn

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Shawn,
I dont suppose you could help locate MATES on this map via satellite view and/or street view?

maps.google.com/maps?f...7&t=h&z=12

Thanks,

Neil

Tichenor · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Neil

What I have is :
2450 West North Down River Road, Grayling, MI

44° 41.107'N 84° 39.903'W

Michel

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Thanks Michel,
Wanted to make sure one of us had it.

Neil

Tichenor · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Hi Neil

I have the location, but no idee what could be there.

Michel

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Its the MATES listed under Camp Grayling.

Neil

Tichenor · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Michigan trip report

Neil

wouldn't it be better to put the entry for Camp Grayling under the grayling entry?

Michel

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