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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: Spain
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 Posted: 08-May-2002 12:21 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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I have had this image in the hard drive for something and it always been something of an enigma. I thought the Sheridan fiasco had been phased out of service and mothballed by 1990, but this photo looks like it was taken during the Gulf War. The vehicle color scheme, the tanker uniform, the inmediate surroundings...okay, okay, I'm kidding  , it's obvious from the ammo load that that's live ammunition and not a photo taken during maneuvers.
So since it has been 10 years since the Gulf War and some of the information is declassified, and I bet some of you have read the official story, does anybody know of a cavalry or airborne unit that fielded the Sheridan tank?
My guess, from the arm patch of the soldier in the photo is that this tank might belong to the 101st Airborne division. Since no replacement of the Sheridan was available and any plans for it would have been stopped by the fall of the Berlin Wall, it seems burocratic inertia kept this "rolling coffin" in the units and had to be used because it was the only thing around.
http://rt000pui.eresmas.net/sheridan.html
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Vagabond
Mercenary
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 16:27 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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thats funny. i used to collect micro machines. expecially the desert camo military stuff. and part of the sets were desert camo sheriadens, and that was shortly after the gulf war.
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 17:07 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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What'd you do with yours? I still kinda sorta collect them.
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Vagabond
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 17:38 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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a neiborgh kid really loved them, n thed been pretty beat up in transport, so i gave the 9 i still had to him.
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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 18:05 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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The only unit in the US Army to use the Sheridan tank is the 82nd Airborne.
They used then in the Gulf War and in Bosnia. The M551 was suppose to be replaced by the M8 AGS but Clinton and his brown nosing assholes cut the M8 to pay for Bosinia.
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
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Location: Canada
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 19:41 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California uses the Sheridan, mainly as OPFOR vehicles, many of them vismod (visually modified) to look like Russian vehicles.
Alexander
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Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 19:49 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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Those M551 aren't combat ready...
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Alexander
Heavy Horse Merc Brigade
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Location: Canada
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 23:37 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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No. I've heard, however, that you guys might be replacing the M8 AGS with a LAV-3 AGS. Roughly the same capabilities, but without the treads, making it far cheaper, although not as mobile. I've driven the LAV-2 and it's quite good, and I've heard that the LAV-3 is leaps and bounds beyond it!!! And the best part...? They're designed and built in Canada!
Alexander
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Commanding Officer, North West Armoured Cavalry
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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 08-May-2002 23:45 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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The choice of the LAV for the Intermin Brdg. is a bad idea...it's protection is only setup to stop 14.5mm HMG fire and that is it.
They, US ARMY BRASS, will see the folly of their ideas when the body bags come home and the reason is an RPG took the LAV from ass end...
The idea that the wheeled vehicle will be better since it can use the roads as car is a load of horse crap from a crapped out horse...treads have better off road usage and the protection of a tank is a lot better then the LAV...but hey what do I know...I just happen to drive a quater of million dollar ammo hauler that is made by Oshkosh and we find new faults with it daily...
And there is no M8 AGS to replace, Clinton and his bean counters cut it before it even got issued...
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Karagin
If you can strike few with many, you will thus minimize the number of those with whom you do battle.
[ This Message was edited by: Karagin on 2002-05-08 23:46 ]
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 09-May-2002 00:12 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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Don't forget the Sheridan's only combat drop, Panama.
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
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| Posted: 09-May-2002 18:51 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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Well, I finaly found somebody that could answer my question, below are the replies I got. The photo has quite a documentary value, and I was right when I guessed the surroundings looked like an airstrip, maybe I should have gone to work for Intel, after all
I always get confused with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. I thought the soldier in the photo was from the 101st due to the black patch visible on the left arm, but it must be something else. It doesn't look like it has been touched by a censor.
The Sheridan was a rolling coffin indeed, and will not be missed, but still, it's one of those cursed projects that have a certain charm. It has something of a Sci-Fi look.
On a human interest note, no wonder that the soldier in the photo is looking tense, in those days just after taking Kuwait, Saddam tanks could have rolled over into Saudi Arabia, and these Sheridans would have been the first ones to fight against the Iraqui armor. I would dread facing a T-72 inside this deathtrap.
" On the 8th of August Sheridans were deployed as part of operation Desert Shield. These tanks comprised the armoured element of the 2nd Brigade, the ready Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. Further research suggests that this Sheridan contingent came from 73rd armoured attached to the 82nd during the Gulf deployment"
"The 82nd Airborne's tank battalion fielded the last Sheridans. They were retired AFTER the Gulf War. They were the first US Armor in theater since they were part of the initial airlift.
BTW, the 82nd no longer has a tank battalion. The unit was demobilized when
the Sheridans went into mothball."
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 09-May-2002 22:33 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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Look at the bright side. If those Sheridan's had to fight the Iraqis at least they wouldn't have been saddled with the worst anti-tank guided missile in history, the Shillaleagh.
If memory serves correctly it was a two part missile design that the Sheridan was supposed to carry. In testing these things actually bounced off targets, failing to detonate and headed back at the firing vehicle.
I'd take a V300 over a Sheridan any day. Sad vehicle to name after a great cav commander.
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Ronin
ComStar
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| Posted: 12-May-2002 16:50 Post subject: Another tank riddle: Sheridan in the Gulf War? |
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The unit insignia patch on the soldier's shoulder is from the 82nd Airborne. It looks black because it is the "subdued" version that is worn on combat uniforms. Subdued versions of patches replace the normal colors with black and dark green. Occasionally a red is used, such as on the 1st Infantry Division patch. Brown is used on officer rank devices to replace the gold color or the 2nd Lieutenant and Major insignia (all others use black to replace the silver used for all other officer ranks). The theory behind subdued insignia is that will stand out less than full color ones.
Ronin
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