CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

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Joe Gopan
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Location: Proving Ground

CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Feb 12, 2018 7:14 pm

Cutest little tracked MV is the M-56 Scorpion armed with a 90MM cannon. and a 3 man crew. It's mission is to Sink The Bismarck-n-Git. I witnessed one in action at APG years ago. When ready to fire, a spade on the rear is lowered and when fired the tracks virtually come off the ground. Its top speed is over 40MPG
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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Austringer
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Location: Altanta, GA

Re: CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

Post by Austringer » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:54 pm

I'm restoring one right now. A few corrections though, 4 man crew (Driver, Commander, Gunner and Loader). The spade that you refer to is not a spade, it's the loaders platform which gives the load some moving around area to load the 90mm M54. The pioneer tool rack is on the bottom when it's folded out. Before firing the gun, it's recommended that the entire crew except the gunner exit the vehicle as the recoil is most unpleasant and if the gun is slewed fully to the right and the commander is sitting in his seat, he could be severely injured when the cannon is fired. When the 90mm goes bang, the front two road wheels lift off the ground. Before firing the gun, the vehicle is supposed to be in neutral with the parking brake locked. I can't remember if the contact switch on the parking brake is part of the firing system, aka if parking brake is not engaged, no power is fed to the firing system. Will need to look at the wiring diagram to confirm.

Depending on where next year's national convention is, should have mine finished up.
Jason Green
Atlanta, Ga

STILL NOT associated with the Georgia MVPA 15 years and counting as long as that one guy is president of the club....

1963 Willys M151 (under resto)
1969 M706E1
1983 M106A2

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Austringer
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Re: CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

Post by Austringer » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:56 pm

Here is one of the protos firing. Blast shield looks to be actual armor and the recoil system configuration is slightly different. This one does not have the loaders platform installed.

My favorite picture of one firing. I spoke with a M56 gunner from the 173rd AB who crewed one in vietnam and he said that the gunner right before firing would lead way over to avoid getting a face full of scope.

Image

https://youtu.be/lbfuJvZHPmw?t=1m30s
Jason Green
Atlanta, Ga

STILL NOT associated with the Georgia MVPA 15 years and counting as long as that one guy is president of the club....

1963 Willys M151 (under resto)
1969 M706E1
1983 M106A2

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:32 am

Lot of whiplash there, the gunners had to had side effects from the pounding.
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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Austringer
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G-Major General
Posts: 3212
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 8:21 pm
Location: Altanta, GA

Re: CUTE LITTLE BUGGER

Post by Austringer » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:08 am

THE PM Monthly mag and even the -10 manual says that everyone except the gunner should exit the vehicle b/c how back the recoil was. I find this funny.
Jason Green
Atlanta, Ga

STILL NOT associated with the Georgia MVPA 15 years and counting as long as that one guy is president of the club....

1963 Willys M151 (under resto)
1969 M706E1
1983 M106A2


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