[MV] Tracked Vehicle Tracks

WIDD-Jame (RiceJ@silltcmd-smtp.army.mil)
Fri, 16 Jan 1998 13:45:47 -0600

US Military tracked vehicles had rubber track pads or inserts which
attach to the shoes. Dependant upon the vehicle, the may have only one
or several of the pads per shoe. We are required to change the pads
when they get worn down to the grousers. The grouser is the metal rim
or edge of the socket where the pad fits. These pads are hard rubber,
but do give better traction on pavement that metal surfaces do.
Additionally, the keep the track from totally destroying roads with metal
cleets. Granted, running on the grousers in ice or hard packed snow
would likely give better traction as the metal could dig into the ice. This is
the principle involved in the reversed center connector. It can tear great
chunks out of the roadway very quickly. Unfortunately, reversing center
connectors on an M109 is not an option. It only has two end conncetors
with the center guides cast into the center of the shoe.

With all the track stories, perhaps the next thread should be, Funny
stories about thrown track. "There I was, sideways, in the middle of the
oncoming lane of traffic on the A6 autobahn......."

Jim Rice
USAFAS

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