CONVOY SPEED

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
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Joe Gopan
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CONVOY SPEED

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 09, 2017 10:07 am

Many of us with a lot of military convoy miles well find that they can maintain the normal 35MPH convoy speed by the sound and feel of their MV without having to watch the speedometer. :wink:
How many can relate to this?
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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2/14Marine
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by 2/14Marine » Mon Oct 09, 2017 10:37 am

An easier way is just keep the proper distance from the vehicle in front of you.
LtCol USMC R
1954 M38A1
1941 GP 9270 DOD 4-6-41
1942 MB 121796, DOD 2-23-42, USMC 37141

Joe Gopan
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:41 pm

Unless you are in the lead vehicle. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Michael O.
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by Michael O. » Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:03 pm

Unless you're traveling down Route Irish....
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Marty, SoCal
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by Marty, SoCal » Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:58 pm

Between Camp Pendleton and 29 Stumps it used to be 45mph for tactical vehicles. MP's in white pickups would sneak up on the convoy or single vehicles and write them tickets for driving any faster.
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2/14Marine
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by 2/14Marine » Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:13 pm

Yes on Rt Michigan or Uranium we weren't traveling 35mph and the lead Vic was to busy to worry about the speedometer or Road Masters. Lol
LtCol USMC R
1954 M38A1
1941 GP 9270 DOD 4-6-41
1942 MB 121796, DOD 2-23-42, USMC 37141

Wolfman
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by Wolfman » Sun Oct 15, 2017 4:48 am

Honestly, I don't remember what speeds we were running. Talking Vietnam when the company was on the road in our APCs.
I do remember vehicle separation was the main concern.
Out on the road, we maintained 100 meters. In the event of an ambush, that only had one track in the killing zone, hopefully. The rest went on the defense, which was, go on the offense.
In populated areas, we closed up to 50 meters and slowed down. Tried to keep the locals from darting through the convoy. A loaded APC would do a number on a Honda 50 or a Homo Sapien.
Drivers had to really pay attention or the convoy would have an accordion effect. Be a real mess.
There were two passes we ran through. The Mang Yang pass and the An Khe pass. We hated those. Going down, it was pretty much flat out, speed wise. Going up, we had to run in a lower gear ( range. APCs had automatic transmissions ) and creep along on the steep sections. We hated that. Everyone was nervous. Areas of the passes was below a ridge line. Incoming was what ever was dropped from above. But we maintained separation, and hoped any incoming landed between us.
On base, we kept it even closer and slowed way down.
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tamnalan
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by tamnalan » Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:52 pm

Pretty easy to maintain convoy speed if you're toward the front, but if you're in the last march unit?

Good luck. You're probably down to 10 and then up to 55, seconds later. It's a big yo-yo in the back.
Alan W. Johnson
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MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:59 pm

I enjoyed the occasional assignment to drive the Convoy Control Officer (M-38A1).
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

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tamnalan
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Re: CONVOY SPEED

Post by tamnalan » Sun Oct 22, 2017 4:12 pm

Couple of Route 66 convoy shots. The first shows Lanny Moore before we crossed the Mississippi River near St Louis. We got to cross on the "Old Chain of Rocks" Bridge truss-type bridge which used to be part of Route 66. It has an abrupt corner in the middle of the river (the bridge is not straight).

Image

Image

The second is a shot west of Tucumcari, NM. I was the very last vehicle in the convoy in this pic. There was normally a "March Unit 6" trailing the jeeps but they had stopped to assist somebody. When underway, we stretched out over a mile on the road.

Image
Alan W. Johnson
_______________
MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939


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