Just curious.

[Evans C.]

I don't know if this question has ever been asked here before so here goes...How many of you have ever served as tankers or ever even rode on a tank?

[Greg]

I don't know if this question has ever been asked here before so here goes...How many of you have ever served as tankers or ever even rode on a tank?

Hi,
I spent 20 years in US Army, Armor branch, much of that in Cavalry assignments.

I was in M60A1s, M60A3s, and M1s (105mm gun). I was a staff wienie by the time the M1A1 came out and never got to crew one of those!

I also rode in a Panther one time, at Ft Knox Patton Museum.

Greg

[Evans C.]

I was a tanker as well. Mostly M1A1s. I did 4 years active, all in Germany. I saw a lot of Leo II's, inside and out, never got to ride or shoot one. I had a few buddies who did though.

[djpool]

Another Tanker

I was a tanker as well. Mostly M1A1s. I did 4 years active, all in Germany. I saw a lot of Leo II's, inside and out, never got to ride or shoot one. I had a few buddies who did though.

I spent about 8 years as a tanker. Platoon Leader with 3/11 Cav and Company Commander 1/73 Armor OPFOR at the National Training Center. I played around on M551 Sheridans and M60A1s.

[Blitz]

I'm currently serving as a tank driver in Finlands only Armoured Brigade

[Brian C.]

I also rode in a Panther one time, at Ft Knox Patton Museum.

Greg

Greg,

Which Panther did you take a ride in? That would be in my top ten things to do in life!

Thanks,

Brian

[Greg]

Greg,

Which Panther did you take a ride in? That would be in my top ten things to do in life!

Thanks,

Brian

Brian,
This was quite a while back (late 70s). They used to use one of the Panthers in the annual July Fourth armor demonstration and "reenactment." The gun even fired blanks. I don't really remember which one it was, but I think it was the one that sits outside the museum now (on the back side of the museum); the one that has no tracks. I think the tracks were taken off this one to put on the "Panther II" which is inside the museum, so the one outside is no longer operational. I didn't get to be in the "reenactment;" just rode in the turret once when they were driving it around.

Greg

[Brian C.]

Hey Greg,

How did the ride quality and noise level compare to the other tanks you have been in?

[RichardC]

4 years in 4th Mech Inf, 1-77th Armor Brigade(Ft. Carson, Colo.),loaded, drove, gunned, commanded M60a3....got out the same month we converted to M1's( shucks)...

[Greg]

Hey Greg,

How did the ride quality and noise level compare to the other tanks you have been in?

Hi Brian,
I rode the Panther before I had any experience with modern tanks, but I remember that the suspension was much louder and had a lot more rattling than US M60-series or M1 tanks, probably because the Panther track was "flat" track without the rubber bushings. I didn't ride in it over any rough ground, so I couldn't compare the ride quality.

Regards,
Greg

[Listy]

my armmourd expiernce (no im not an armour virgin... ) most of it is mainance though.

Cheiftain
T62
Fox armourd car (not the feret with 30mm turret, the OTHER fox)
FV432 (also the wagon ive ridden in)
Cromwell

[Bjoern Clausen]

Five years of service as a "tanker"...
Last four years as a commander on a self propelled gun M109A3... (I know - It's NOT a tank! - But it has tracks and a gun! )

Bjoern

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, I have rode on or in;

T34/85
Sherman M4 and Canadian built "Grizzley"
Stuart M5
Hetzer
Stug III
SdKfz 251/D half track
Bren Carrier
US International half track
US M8 Armoured car

All these have been at living history events over the past 25 years.
Cheers, Ade.

[MartyC]

tank

German?

[MartyC]

tank

Don't know if you had this is mind, but I was the TC on the St. Louis Hetzer (Geli #221 for about 6 years). Had a Gasoline engine which was really different!!!