80's Joe Vehicles in Real World

[Bryce]

Originally Posted by Rooster3D

Well, it has been a couple of months since my last post on these boards. I've been training to be a real-life soldier in the US Army! I just graduated from BCT (aka boot camp) last week and am now continuing my training with AIT.

It was actually based from the design of the RDF/LT by Aircraft Armaments, Inc. (AAI). The tank had two crew in the hull and one in the turret. I can't remember if it had an autoload mechanism. It's possible, though unlikely, since some next-gen tanks may start utilizing this technology only in the not-too-distant future.

On the other hand, it was a concept vehicle. They may have incorporated that tech before its time.

I believe there were two versons, one with a manned turrent and one without.

[Rooster3D]

Originally Posted by cyko

I'm not sure Hasbro intended the turret to actually be unmanned. Even as fond as they were of over-computerizing equipment. Driver's side rear of the turret is what looks like a hatch and described as "200 degree 'Crow's Nest' rifle ports". I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean. It seems like someone is going to sit in the turret and aim at the sky through those little holes. Whether that's a commander or one of the drivers climbing up through the tank is arguable.

I was just re-reading this thread again today and thought, "what a shame. Nobody cares about real-world associations anymore." Glad to see you back Rooster3D; good luck becoming a real G.I.!

Thanks cyko!

I beleive the rdf/lt had a manned turret with a hatch, but there was no loader - just a gunner. The driver and commander were in the hull.

There is a Sunbow episode where Steeler is in that top turret hatch. He had to jump out in time to not get blown up by a Stinger 4x4's missiles

[cyko]

Originally Posted by Rooster3D

...There is a Sunbow episode where Steeler is in that top turret hatch. He had to jump out in time to not get blown up by a Stinger 4x4's missiles...

Just watched it this weekend! "Worlds Without End". Sure enough, he's sitting in the mysterious "crow's nest" hatch and manning the tank alone. Of course, 3 Joes are sitting in the Armadillo next to him (Lady Jaye, Clutch and Grunt). Though, truthfully, only Lady Jaye is operating it. Hey, if you were Clutch, who'd you rather ride with? Even if it meant hanging on to the back of a platform?

[jds1911a1]

Great thread lots of fun to read through
VAMP - if you forego the front engine and give it to a rear engine design of (which the exhaust ports next to the cannon can support) then there is ample room in the front to accomdate a 7.62 coaxial gun

Mauler - another article about the real world experimental tank
http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/viewtopic.php?t=8648

the APC -
this french design is very close and has been in service since the mid 70's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9...nt_Blind%C3%A9

awe striker - special ops units were using 4 man dun buggies with Machine guns on them in the early 80's

also there was a reference to the m1a1 having a 105 gun which is incorrect. The M1 used the 105 rifled bore (like the m-60's) due to concerns about the propellent used for the 120 shell (some of the chemicals were not available in the us at the time), and to keep it aligned with the 60 to reduce armamanet needs for supply in combat (since more units were still fielding the 60's). As the production increased on the propellant later versions m1a1 and up used the 120mm smooth bore. Leopard 2 used the 120 from the start

[jds1911a1]

Originally Posted by Rooster3D

Thanks cyko!

I beleive the rdf/lt had a manned turret with a hatch, but there was no loader - just a gunner. The driver and commander were in the hull.

There is a Sunbow episode where Steeler is in that top turret hatch. He had to jump out in time to not get blown up by a Stinger 4x4's missiles

Sunbow took alot of poetic license when it comes to scale and design. you are correct the RFD is the same layout as the mauler. the US army was wary of autoloaders on tanks (that is one of the reasons it wasn't adopted) as it's one more peice of machinery to break in combat (even when Germany and the Sovieets were using autoloader systems in the 70's and 80's) the next gneration mbt will most likely use an autoloader though

[cyko]

Member skinny just posted in this thread a pict from a military site that looks a lot like the Wolverine in form and function. The photo is named "borbenasredstva1qg0", but when I did a search for "borbena sredstva" I just got random military vehicles (jets, APCs, etc). I know nothing about Russian armor, but this might be a lead. Like the Joe's APC, Hasbro might've combined eastern block elements with traditional western design to create "modern" equipment.

PS. Rooster3D, how's the training going?

[Rooster3D]

Originally Posted by cyko

Member skinny just posted in this thread a pict from a military site that looks a lot like the Wolverine in form and function. The photo is named "borbenasredstva1qg0", but when I did a search for "borbena sredstva" I just got random military vehicles (jets, APCs, etc). I know nothing about Russian armor, but this might be a lead. Like the Joe's APC, Hasbro might've combined eastern block elements with traditional western design to create "modern" equipment.

PS. Rooster3D, how's the training going?

It sucks. LOL My training will make me basically a cross between Breaker and Mainframe. Not that that in itself is bad, but there's a lot of BS and very little actual training. They've also decided to make it shorter, which allows me to get home sooner, but also makes anything I learn rushed in with that feeling of incompleteness. I'm the leader of my barracks currently, and getting fellow student-soldiers to do the right thing all the time is very stressful.

That tracked missile system does indeed make me think of the Wolverine. Even if they used a different tank chassis, the Wolverine designers may have been heavily influenced by the functionality and capabilities of this vehicle.