Optical relay for bradley

[dragoon500ly]

Speaking from the heavy metal side of the house, the tank gunner controls the laser range finder, ballistic computer, night vision and weapon selection (main gun or coax). The tank commander has an override control to cut the gunner out and slew the turret to new targets, he can also laser range or fire the selected weapon only. The TC sight is an extension that allows him to use the gunner's periscope head. On most tanks this means that the TC has to drop inside the turret and look through his scope. On older tanks (M48/60s) the TC has to operate the rangefinder from his down position.

The M60A3 had a extension piece just for the night vision. I've always loved it because it was adjustable (to an extent) and it was possible to angle it so that I could look down and see what the gunner was tracking while keeping my head out of the turret. The M-1 switched back to the TC dropping down to use his sight.

On most tanks, the loader controls the safeties for the main gun and coax. On the M-1, the coax is mounted near the gunner and he has to reach up and enage the safety. Never liked that feature, but the Abrams has a fairly large coax feed box that takes up the traditional coax mount location.

Tank crews train for minimum crew, the TC can operate the gunnery systems, usually by using the toe of his boot and a lot of stretching. Can be quite amusing if you reading a map and yapping on the radio at the same time. Tankers can be quite flexible!

As for the tanks external load...four duffle bags, four rucksacks, four sleeping bags for the crew, two camouflage nets (a 10'x10' diamond and a 20'x20 hexagon)'with a bag of poles and spreaders, the tank tarp, a 155mm powder can loaded with maps of the area, four cases of MREs, most crews had a fifth duffle bag (or a 25mm ammo can from the Bradleys) loaded with NBC suits, spare filters and the decon kits, at least two 5-gal water cans, and a can each of 10W and 30W oil for the trannie/engine. Everything has to be packed on top of the turret, behind the hatches (THANK GAWD for bungee cords!) and covered with the tarp to protect the junk from the weather. You quickly mastered the art of getting everything inside the tarp and securing it so that it kept the turret clear for rotation.

M-1 has two hull sponson boxes to store the pioneer, track maintenance tools and the bore brush and poles to punch the main gun. A tool bag with hammer, adjustable wrench, box wreches, a sprocket set, files, screwdrivers, pliers and a grease gun. A dozen reload gease tubes, not to mention spare end connectors and center guides for the track.

The turret has two sponson boxes, used to hold smaller items of the tank kit like cleaning rags, small arms cleaning kit, critical spare parts, the LBE and Kevlar helmets of the crew and some of the machine gun ammo cans (IIRC the loader stored eight cans of 7.62 in his and the TC stored six cans of .50 in his).

As you can see, a lot of necessary junk to clutter up things.