M1a1

[DaWiz]

Heres another question for you all. If a M1A1 were to some how flip over, say it some how drove off a bridge and flipped is there any way for the crew to escape other than the top hatches? Something like this may have happened I guess in Iraq when the driver was some how shot in the head and the M1 vired off a bridge resulting in some crew members drowing.

[Hannibal]

Very good question, I had a hour long conversation with a friend about that incident today.

The short answer is no, once you are upside down you are screwed until the 88's come and get you righted.

The big question on my mind about that incident is what the hell the driver was doing unbuttoned (hatch open) in the combat zone. The only reason I could possible come up with was that the periscopes were dirty or destroyed and the TC had him driving unbuttoned. However that is still the wrong and the TC should have had the driver buttoned. Drivers are taught to drive and trust the TC without being able to see outside. There have been many occasions when we have been moving along and mud splashes the drivers hole and he cannot see. You cannot stop but keep moving and the driver or TC will guide the tank by giving the driver commands.

Bottom line in my opinion is that the TC made the fatal mistake of allowing the driver to unbutton.

-Jason

[Marine1812]

This topic of discussion has been by far the most talked about by me and my fellow Marines.

Facts:
The tank ran off a bridge, into a river. Retrieved 5+ days later. The tank was in 20+ feet of water, upside down. The tank crew died of drowning, minus the driver who was shot in the head.

The driver would not been allowed to drive unbuttoned due to the 'new' safety device that does not allow the turrent to traverse while the drivers hatch is open.

There is no way to get out of the tank except for:
1. Drivers Hatch
2. TC's Hatch
3. Laoders Hatch

The tank being upside down, the hatches were unable to open, due to hydrostatic pressure of the water and silt/mud. Water was rushing in due to hatch seals not being worth a shizit!

The driver decided he did not want to drown and shot himself!!!

At first I though he may have neen shot by a sniper (not likely), then he went crazy and shot himself (maybe), he went crazy and the crew shot him (not likely).

The driver not wanting to drown and taking his own life makes the most since, being no one will ever know for sure.

Semper Fidelis,
Marine 1812

[jay12]

Man thats scary. Where did u get this information on this subject of how they died. and i was wondering if theres no chance of getting out of the drivers hatch if the tank flips over or being able to move the turret around alittle. i know one thing id tear all those gards out trying to get in to the drivers hole, but if he was stuck in there i cant imagine the water comming in to fast, and thats a horrible way to go.

[Hannibal]

Dont think he was serious on the suicide bit but he is dead right about not getting out. Plus the guards are one thing but if he was setting up then he would have had to get the seat down and then get out, which isnt likely. Plus the fact that the tank was probably upside down at the time.

This is definatly worst case scenario, no wonders those russions are terrified of those snorkels!!

-Jason

[DaWiz]

What gaurds are you talking about? and how deep can the M1a1 get?

[Hannibal]

You would almost have to see (hmmm... Jason should get some photos..wilco!) but there are these metal mesh guards to prevent the turret from traversing and ripping the driver in half and to prevent from people in the turret from the same trouble as the turret reverses.

When the turret is traversed at different angles the driver is blocked by these guards and is unable to get into the turret.

In this case marine1812 is right, even if he could get into the turret they were all screwed... no ejection seats on our rides 8O

-Jason