Tank carry capacity

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

I have the seating diagram for an M1 somewhere in the US Army PDF field manuals. I cannot find it but recall several problems, which may be why it is only used non-tactically.

- The engine exhaust causes problems with possible cooked troops. Thus loading and unloading requires care, and not to be done over the rear. So probably only at the halt (no turning tracks to eat troops limbs).

- The M1 has to disengage turret traverse while carrying.

- the section had to sit in a set pattern on the turret top - not the rear engine decks.

Cannot recall if any discussion of the blow out ammo panels not being sat on - as if they had suffered a catastrophic hit that caused the blow outs to pop then the infantry section would likely already be strawberry jam a few milliseconds before that event happened!.

In reality - M1s in combat have enough kit tied all over the turret that the clean configuration required to give some guys a lift is not available. And US formations will have enough APCS and Humvees that administrative lift perched on top of the turret is not needed.

Tactically - the requirement to halt for mounting, take extrem care from exhaust heat, disengagement of the gun turret, and the highly exposed position of the grunts all sat around the rim of the turret, are all bad. Tank riding is just not needed.

Andy

I do remember (unless memory is playing tricks) reading it was actually done in Iraq early in the war, though only few times. It was along the lines of what you describe, 4-5 guys riding on the turret top, to act as extra eyes and tank desant if needed. Note that this was done at the beginning when there were not enough APCs (and, in some cases, even rifles) for everyone anyway.