ATS Camera-Phone Post from BlackJackal (Tank)

Below is an image from the picture-phone of BlackJackal...

I passed this tank on the way in to work this morning. I have no clue where it was going but it appeared to be in working order. The strange thing is that it was being transported by a commercial transport company Deaton Trucks. I have no clue what kind of tank it is but I would like to know.



[edit on 20-7-2004 by BlackJackal]

I can't wait to see the comments added to this one!

Great shot BJ...!

So many axles for 1 tank??
Nice pic, BJ
Sanc'.

I don't think I'd want to be driving behind that thing.

Great pic!!

Where did they leave the 'other' tanks. Looks like there could have been 2 more on there...
lol:

Hmmm, Alabama convoy HEMTT from last pic, now I believe an M1 Abrams tank on the highway, maybe our friend is near Ft McClellan In Anniston, Alabama,
possibly Ft Rucker near Dothan, though this is the helicopter training base for pilots, maybe part of the Alabama National Guard inventory, the possibilities are endless......

Post updated with all the information I have available.

The tank appears to be an M-1 from this angle, and I would have no reason to think it would be anything else.
As far as it being 'odd' that it was civilian transport, that is not uncommon at all. The Army doesnt have enough trucks to transport all their vehicles.

I will tell you a little story here....
I was in gulf war 1 as it is called now-a-days, and to make a long story short we put all our vehicles on civilian (Saudi) trucks to haul them out to the desert. So again, civilian hauling of military equipment is not uncommon.
(oh and BTW, I personally flew to Saudi Arabia on a Federal Express 747, me and all the other members of our advanced party, all in uniform with 100+lbs of gear and M-16s)

Originally posted by sanctum
So many axles for 1 tank??
Nice pic, BJ
Sanc'.

The MAX weight per axle allowed is 17,000 lbs, the Abrams tank weighs 69 tons (138,000 lbs). There is 12 axles, so each axle is carrying 11,500 lbs. Plus trailer weight. Seems logical.

[edit on 4-10-2004 by Shmigoli]

Yeah, this is an M1 for sure. It may look alittle odd, but that is because the gun is pointed back, like they always (at least they are suposed to) do when it is "green and clear" (has no ammo.)

Non-military transports are actually more common than military ones. We have to use trucks and trains to move these things. They tear up roads FAST and dont fit into one lane very well. Imagine getting into a head on with one of those on the street!

[edit on 3-10-2004 by cavscout]

I was under the assumption that weapons and other military equipment is usually transported with a very large escort of local law enforcement with at least one helicopter in the air? I mean I live a few miles away from a lockheed martin base in Oldsmar, Florida and one night I saw what must have been at least 50 law enforcement vehilcles lights flashing and sirens blaring and all with all three Tampa PD helicopters in the air escorting 2 flatbed trucks with very large crates on them. Whatever was inside of them had to be dangerous or very valuable. Wouldnt a working military attack vehicle be worth escorting as well?

If you live in the Tampa Bay area the base is in Oldsmar, just keep going west down Hillsborough avenue until you pass the flea market, it will be on the north side (right) sometimes I see aircraft out there. I think I will take a trip there now and find out if they will let me have a tour

Nice pic bj. I've seen military vehicles being transported by civilian vehicles on hte highway. It probaly wasn't escorter because it may not have been full esembled or not have any fuel in it.

I see these things all the time. It is a M1 tank no doubt(besides, its the only MBT-Main Battle Tank-we have now). Civilian transport is very common nodays in the military, and its cheaper than running it by the military. I have yet to see one in a guarded convoy. ICBMs(Intercontinintal Ballistic Missiles,i.e. Nukes) are one of the few things I have seen with a real military convoy/escort, complete with helocopters(UH1 Hueys), Seen lots of those in Montana(over 200 missile silos there, each w/ a Minuteman III missile. Each ICBM has 3 nuclear warheads , OUCH)

~Lcpl R., 2/2 Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC

good pic,i have seen it for many times

Nevermind this post, i can't find the video of the trucks.

[edit on 6-1-2005 by TheBigD]

[edit on 6-1-2005 by TheBigD]

[edit on 15-1-2005 by Oakley]

If anyone wants to see a M-1 ABRAMs tank in action, rent the recent movie "The Incredible Hulk". He battles I think three, M-1 Abrams tanks at the same time.

Originally posted by DYepes
Wouldnt a working military attack vehicle be worth escorting as well?

I doubt that they would be transporting a tank if it was armed or could even run (ie. no fuel, or other way of operating it). It could have been being transported for mantenance too, I mean maybe the base it was stationed at didnt have the proper equipment to work out any bugs that could have happened. Just find it hard to beleive that they'd transport a tank that could be stollen and used straight off the truck.

When I was running My own truck between1976 to 1984, You would be surpries if you could see what the Gov. Sends by owner operator, I have pulled many military loads from west coast to east coast, some Big and a lot of little loads that just had to go..

Originally posted by jfdarby
When I was running My own truck between1976 to 1984, You would be surpries if you could see what the Gov. Sends by owner operator, I have pulled many military loads from west coast to east coast, some Big and a lot of little loads that just had to go..

There's a new movie out called "XXX:State of the Union"
A scene in it about the same thing you talk about!
When they show the US Goverment on purpose shipping military gear and equipment using private owner operators and truckers.

The Stealth Bomber was developed, and tested, at a civilian installation. LA Airport!

The idea is using civilian cover keeps it out of the eyes of the enemy - including the public who the Goverment likes to keep clueless.