Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Military Vehicles

LOCKHEED RECEIVES THAAD SUPPORT CONTRACT Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division is being tapped to provide work for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The $164 million contract modification provides for performances as part of the ongoing Terminal Field Support Contract (TFSC), with a current value totaling at $725 million. Lockheed will continue with its efforts under the TFSC which include services such as forward stationing for theater support, logistics information capabilities, post deployment software support and security and engineering services. THAAD is a long-range, land-based theater defense weapon designed to intercept missiles during late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within and even outside the atmosphere. This allows it to provide broad area coverage against threats to critical assets such as population centers…

During the Vietnam War, my brother Don served in a 105mm artillery unit with the 101st Airborne. His battery shot the tubes out of two of their guns while providing continuous close support on a hill that became known as “Hamburger.” To continue the mission, the guns had to be airlifted out and replaced. Don could have cared less what happened to the unserviceable guns. His only concern was only that there were replacements available. Combat veterans usually had a “use-it-up-and-get-a-new-one” mentality. Sometimes history provides some uncanny experiences. More than 45 years after Don watched the swap of those guns, I talked to a 101st veteran during the 2015 Bankhead MVPA. He mentioned he was on Hamburger Hill, so I related Don’s story. He asked me to tell Don the…

U.S. Army Vehicle Markings 1944, by Jean Bouchery and Philippe Charbonnier (ISBN 978-1612007373Case-mate Publishers, 908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083, 610.853.9131; www.casemategroup.com. Hardcover, 144 pages, more than 300 photos and 200 illustrations, 2019, $37.95 This uniquely detailed guide covers the markings used on American tanks and tracked vehicles, trucks, and jeeps to denote their unit and classification, plus tactical markings and the debarkation codes used in the Normandy landings. Hundreds of contemporary photographs are paired with color diagrams to show how markings appeared on vehicles (including measurements) and explain variations in use. . While the text and illustrations focus on the European Theater, the authors relied on a couple of primary sources that were available to troops in both the Pacific and European theaters of operation: TM9-2800 Standard…

Look for more information in the advertisements in this issue of any show listings in bold and italics. Support our advertisers, they support the hobby! Confirm all information with show promoter before traveling. The time, dates, and/or location may have changed! SHOWS / RALLIES / CONVOYS  eb 14-17, CA, Gridley. Camp Gridley and NRG Change of Command, sponsored by the Northern Recon Group. Info: Floyd J. 530-673-9195; www.northernrecongroup.org Feb 21-23, FL, Mt Dora. MVPA’s First Florida Chapter Winter Rally, Reenactment, and Swap Meet, Renninger’s Antique Center and Flea Market, 20651 US Highway 441. Info: Stan Kinmonth (Rally Registrar), (904) 276-1418, stantr6@ comcast.net; or Dave Thomas (President), (352) 817-1087, halftrackdave@yahoo.com; www.flmvpa.org Feb 23-March 7, NEW ZEALAND, Orewa to Pakiri. Far North Convoy hosted by the New Zealand Military Vehicle Club, Inc. Info:…

Military Vehicles Magazine welcomes correspondence from readers. Letters and e-mail must include a name and regular mail return address. Published letters reflect the opinions of the writers. Military Vehicles Magazine reserves the right to edit all letters for clarity, brevity, and other purposes. Address all correspondence to: Editor, Military Vehicles Magazine, 5225 Joerns Drive, Suite 2, Stevens Point, WI 54481, or e-mail to: jadams-graf@aimmedia.com NINE-O-NINE CRASH Editor’s note: On October 2, 2019, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress owned by the Collings Foundation crashed at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States. Seven of the thirteen people on board were killed, and the other six, as well as one person on the ground, were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, with only the tail and a portion of one…

All types of military vehicle fans read this Magazine. Many are old hands at vehicle maintenance and restoration while others are new at it or even pay someone to do work for them. Regardless, tools are mandatory for most maintenance and repair projects. We updated and added to a tool-description list originally published, we think, in Peter Egan’s column in Road & Track, April 1996. This should help get “rookies” up to speed on terminology. Experienced mechanics might learn something new, too. We welcome additions to the list. Send them to our editor at jadams-graf@aimmedia.com SHOP TOOL “DAFFYNITIONS” AIR COMPRESSOR: A machine that takes energy produced in a far away power plant and transforms it into compressed air that travels by hose to a Chicago Pneumatic impact wrench that grips…

NEW FROM PETE DEBELLA Peter DeBella Jeep Parts is offering a complete line of new 24-Volt Gauges for your “M” Series Vehicles. Over the past several years, Pete developed each gauges. Finally, the final gauges in the series are now ready. All in 24-volt, the following are available: Fuel, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Temperature and Oil Pressure (available in both 0-60 PSI and 0-120 PSI). Peter has also developed matching 24 Volt Oil Pressure Sending Units available in 0-60 PSI and 0-120 PSI as well as a new Fuel Sending Unit for the M38A1 Jeep. All of these gauges and sending units have been produced with metal Douglas electrical connectors. Visit Peter DeBella Jeep Parts’ website to see many more of these new products: www.debellajeepparts.com or give him a call at (631)…

We love to see and share photos of our readers’ HMVs. Here are few that appeared on our Facebook page. To see more, share your own photos or to simply “join the conversation,” log onto your own Facebook page and type “Military Vehicles Magazine” in the search bar at the top of the page. “LIKE” us to receive the most recent news and hobby chatter. Follow us on Facebook: Join Facebook.com and search for Military Vehicles Magazine…

SHOULD I DRIVE IT, FLY IT, OR SHOOT IT? Why do some think they know what is best for our vehicles and military relics? The recent tragedy of a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress crashing and killing seven has reignited an old question: Should vintage aircraft be flown? Similarly, when a WWII-inspired amphibious vehicle sank in 2018 with 31 onboard, leaving 17 dead, many states looked at whether WWII DUKWs should be licensed. And, when someone shot a whole lot of school kids in Connecticut back in 2012, the calls came for the elimination of “assault-style” rifles that consequently led to restrictions on importing US-made WWII rifles. As a material culture historian, I have to ask myself, “Are these proper responses to tragedies?” SAVE THE RELICS Two things seem to play…

THINK BEFORE YOU JUMP Using your vehicle, HMV or otherwise, to jump-start another vehicle can be hard on your generator or alternator unless it’s done right. Alternators and generators were not designed to charge a vehicle’s battery while the starter is cranking and drawing a lot of power. If the other vehicle’s battery is dead, hook up your jumper cables — taking all the usual precautions — then run your engine at moderate RPM for about five minutes to charge the other vehicle’s battery. Then shut your engine off while the other driver cranks his. Don’t let yourself be talked into running your engine while the other guy is cranking because it “saves time.” It might save him time, but that won’t help you if your generator or alternator is…