M1A1 Abrams Operation Desert Storm Question

They might have been trying to say active only.

As you know the fight between AD and Res was real and on full display in ODS. Since 4th Tanks did so well that when 2nd Tanks tried to get back in the action the grunts said thanks but no thanks those weekend warriors are pretty good and no need to change, too paraphrase Jeff Dacus book ‘ Desert Storm Marines: A Marine Tank Company at War in the Gulf’. A very good and interesting book on 4th Tank BN in ODS if anyone is interested in the topic. As I recall also had decent photos of their Abrams. Not sure where I placed my copy to double check.

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I am not privy to the whole truth so take this for what its worth. I was in the 8th Tank Bn and had no physical association with 2nd tanks. I heard their CO was a cowboy with his own agenda. I know we trained with 6th Marines for the breakout into Kuwait. When given the chance, 6th Marines chose to keep the M60A1 reservists over 2nd tanks with M1A1’s. There is more to this I believe and I don’t know where things fall. At the end of the first day when were to be resupplied a single truck of ammo showed up. When asked where the hell is the rest of the ammo the response was that this was all that was ordered. We were expected to take 85% casualties so no need to order more ammo. With that statement, was the plan to waste the M60A1’s on breaching and replace the breaching team with 2nd tanks? I don’t know. However at the end of the day we were intact, we cross loaded and stood by tor the next mornings advance.

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Template from 3-66 Armor in Iraq

1-67 Armor would substitute for 3-66 Armor on the nose and rear
CO MBT would be HQ66
S3 MBT would be HQ65 iirc

Don’t forget the Division (or Corps) marking prefix to the BN (shown as 4I in the model diagram).

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Thank you for the information. Yes, it is true that 4th Tanks did have M1A1s in ODS. I was also able to find some photos of these tanks.

@Ted_Dannemiller @HeavyArty
Thank you for your help and kind replies!
I did some additional research and found a video of this tank. US 1st Infantry Division prepares to move into Iraq, oil well fires... Filmmaterial - Video - Getty Images

It says that it belongs to the 1 Infantry Division. Its unclear to me which tank battalion this M1 belongs to but its not 2-34 AR as they have a different numbering style.
Best Regards,
Lukas

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I must have been good coz Santa got me both the Panda 1.35th M1 and Ipm1 kits and a set of Trumpeter T156 tracks.Still got a kit of the original Tamiya M1 so ive got a few to keep me occupied guys.
Richard

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Thank you again for your info. I did just design the M13 Decon Sprayer. I designed the more modern version and the older one in the Verlinden Photo.

I don’t have any more references to the older one so take this design with a grain of salt.



If anyone has more pics of the older M13, I’m happy to adapt my design before printing them.
Best regards
Lukas

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That looks pretty accurate to my old memories - any chance you would print off a few extra for sale?

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Hello,
thank you for your positive feedback! I just printed the first parts together with other items. I think, they are quite nice.
Yes, I can print some more, look into your PM.

Best
Lukas


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Good job on the M13 DECON apparatus. It looks great.

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Thank you, Gino!

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The M13 looks good. If you are selling them, I think lots of people would buy them. I would.
Ken

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