[quote]ORIGINAL: pattoncommander

I'm waiting eagerly for the conversion kit to M-46. I'll do two models. No photos. I intend to take some I the next day or so. We have an m-46 here at Ft Jackson...only one outside of Bovington I have seen. As soon as I get some photos. I'll post them.

Hey 123spat, We didn't have any M-60s in Nam. Latest we had there were M-48A3s.[>:] In my opnion, having worked with them a number of years, the M-60s were just as awkward and clumsy as the M-48s. I had 48, 48A1, A1 with dozer and 48A2, and for a short while was saddled with a T-97 flame tank. After spending so much time with very nimble 41s, 46's and 47s, the 48's were just slow, wallowing pigs. [] Going from 48.6 to 52 tons and from 23 inch to 28 inch tracks with the same engine was a bit too much. Last M-60A3 I drove could max out at 18 mph.[:'(] Driving an M-41 sportster will spoil you on speed and maneuverability, but have to admit, the M-60 would make a nice backstop. Now the M-1A1 is a totally different animal and has everything...with the corresponding price tag. [X(]

On the M-45, I'm not sure many even had a convas mantlet cover. None that I recall in Korea had covers, other that the partial mantlet side canvas as they had all been converted from older M-26s. But I have a photo of a post war training area that shows M-45's with a full mantlet cover like the M-46. Th M-45 mantlet was thicker with an added inch or two of armor, so the canvas would have to be custom made for that tank. My 105 howitzer was made from a Vietnam era radio antenna and is the correct length with a slight taper, but just may possubly be a slight fraction too thick.

As soon as I get some M-46 photos, I'll post them

Bill

[/quot M 60 CEV was in SE ASIA and maybe the bridge layer