I am back from our long vacation. But had rotator cuff surgery 2 days after returning. So I am in a sling for the next 6 weeks. No modeling for me… So, I’m planning and plotting for now. One of the items on my list is a 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment M109A1 in Dual-Tex camo scheme in Germany in the 1978-1984 timeframe. I’ve only found one photo of one of these.
Rick, Mirko, I’ve just checked my copy of the Tankograd book; it has the same (and only photo of the M109s). It gives no indication of the unit other than the individual vehicle names visible on the gun barrels, viz:
Master Blaster
Satan’s Hell Fire
Night Hawk
being the only ones discernible. As the camouflage scheme was only applied to those vehicles within 2nd (US) Cavalry, I imagine that someone on here with knowledge of their order of battle will be able to identify the unit shortly. Thereafter, any numbers should be fairly easy enough to devise I would have thought. I have to admit that such numbers generally confuse the hell out of me so I’m no help here(!)
I can’t help you there. What I can help with: Last year my surgeon wanted me out of the sling as soon as possible, two weeks, which was fine with me - the thing was driving me crazy. In fact, he had me doing light PT as soon as it was off - just bending over and letting it swing around slightly like an elephant trunk. Every patient and doctor are different - I get that. But mine was pretty severe. I also had to have the bicep reattached with screws.
The good news is I’m lifting as heavy as ever, and sleeping pain free. But my surgeon doesn’t want to hear that.
When all is said and done, you’ll be happy you did it.
Have to agree with this one. When we converted to the M109A1 from the short tube M109, it was in the summer of 1974. The most obvious difference in the A1 from the A2 is that the former still had the same cover over the panoramic telescope, which was simply a flat round plate on a pole which was extended up above the turret so you could then mount the pantel to the gun and stick it above the turret so you could see. The A2 had a permanently mounted cover with a clear glass/plastic window which allowed the pantel to be used and still maintain protection to both the pantel as well as the interior of the turret. By 1978 I would have figured that any of the old A1’s would have received the new modification.
The link below isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but it does provide a bit of a clue. The bumper number on the left side of the vehicle as you look at it (either from the front or the back) will PROBABLY be 7A2^CAV where the “^” is a solid triangle. This indicates that the higher HQ of the 2nd ACR was 7th Army. On the RIGHT hand side the number should PROBABLY be either 1,2, or 3, depending on which Squadron the vehicle was in, followed by “HOW” indicating that it was in the Howitzer Batter of that Squadron.
After THAT??? Any guess as to what specific VEHICLE number it was assigned, I’d have no idea, OTHER THAN it definitely would NOT be “HOW-1” which would have been reserved for the BC’s jeep.
@taylorrl and @18bravo I hear you! My arm was rebuilt on 13 August, with one plate and about 10 screws. Still in a non-weight-bearing status, but I am getting PT for range of movement. I go back in November to get checked out. Till then the heaviest thing I can lift is a soda can.
I can! The injury was to my left arm, so the hand that I use to hold the model or item I am working on. Unfortunately, I have been staying with family while I recover, so I have not been able to work on anything for three months now.
So I spend a lot of time watching the builds here!
Thanks guys! With only 18 M109A1’s to ever sport this camo pattern, I’ll be pleasantly surprised to find more photos. My date range was the period when 2ACR tested Dual-Tex. When I factor in the life span of the M109A1, it reduces the date range from 1978 to maybe 1980.
Barring more photos showing up, I’m going to arbitrarily pick bumper numbers - left bumper VII 2CAV - right 3HOW-12, in black on a sand background. I’ll go with MASTER BLASTER on the bore evacuator as the gun name.
thanks for the encouragement on shoulder. 5 more weeks in a sling is going to be a drag…
