I believe that was footage from one of the Bothers-in-Arms exercises the Warsaw Pact held every few years. If the appearance was that of a large formation, it’s because they were massive in scope, with nearly the whole of GSFG deployed in addition to all Warsaw Pact formations; this wasn’t a case of the USSR pretending, their formations were huge (and NATO perpetually outnumbered). The Soviets afforded great importance to these exercises with coordinated planning and deployments at the highest levels; the CinC of the Soviet Ground Forces (and others) would attend.
Any resultant footage released and hailed by the Soviets was always eagerly seized upon by western intelligence agencies as new tactics and equipment could sometimes be discerned; the Allied military missions - deployed in East Germany, also had their work cut out when these exercises were underway.
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TBH; the bulk of those formations would’ve been evaporated during the first nuclear exchanges aimed at the Fulda Gap’ sadly, most of West Germany would’ve been evaporated as well. Glad we dodged that bullet and cooler heads prevailed in the end.
I spent 4 1/2 hours of REFORGER '84 wearing a drysuit in the Kattegat. And the next fourteen hours or so hiding from the Danish Home Guard. One of my more memorable adventures.
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You’re right there; as I described during an exchange with Tom Hathaway some time ago:
“More or less the nuclear destruction of eastern Germany, any western bits which we may not have been able to hold, and a fair chunk of western Russia to take care of those pesky reinforcement units. Oh, and probably lighting up Poland on the way.”
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Not to mention the Green Lights teams, one of which I was a member of. We always knew those timers wouldn’t work
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Talk about having power between your legs.
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Awesome photo!
Those were always fun.
Ken
I remember as a kid when my dad was in the ARMY and we were stationed over there in 69 to 71 before my dad retired is units with other elements of the 4th Armored Div would of out on training exercises
for 45 days at a time 3 or 4 times a year to Grafenwior,Honenfels and Wildflicken and the sound of the M110 rumbling over the cobblestone streets as they return to the Kasern
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Another step closer to completion.
Now, my focus is on the main gun.
Modded kit barrel on top; DEF Model M68 Late gun on the bottom. The new barrel is longer, but I’ll make it work. Just waiting for the bits that go up front to arrive.
Then I’ll focus on markings. I’m definitely going for REFORGER 87, so it’ll be 2nd Armored Division. Or I could go REFORGER 85 and do 3rd Infantry Division; I gave a couple 64th Armor markings I can throw.
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Lookin’ good, love that color!
Huge difference between the two barrels. One must be totally off.
You did a great job on the base paint.
Olivier
I believe the Tamiya barrel is a little short. Also, there is a difference where the guns trunnions are mounted in the different turrets (M60A1 vs M1A1/M1IP).
Ken
Those brass cased rounds are Beehive time. That must be in South Korea.
Currently working on the workable tracks. Using Trumpeter’s TK-02 kit.
I just discovered, two parts sprues deep that i put the end connectors backwards. SO, now, I have to VERY CAREFULLY take it apart and put the end connectors in the right orientation. 
Or take the lazy route and just leave that section of tracks hidden in the top run of the tracks, hidden from view by the side skirts. 
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That sounds like a pretty good solution. I often don’t even add return rollers as I find they can be used for other things.
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Aside from the fact that this particular kit’s return rollers are incorrect. One pair sits longer than the other.
This is the entire suspension system on an M1A2 Abrams shown for reference purposes ONLY.
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Actually, that is correct. On the early M1s, one roller went to the inside of the track, one to the outside. Later on, I forget if it was the IP or A1 version, they went to both rollers being inside the track.
This simplifying of the suspension system is why the paddle wheel was added.
Ken
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To piggyback on what Ken said (I can feel a collective cringe when i say that). I can assume that the mods were made during the M1IP since they had to modify the entire suspension system, along with the Power Pack to account for the extra weight of the new “long” turret.
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