As usual, as you drove up, he had quite a few
vehicles lined up on display. (Usually if they are
staged like that, they won't be running during the
presentations.) An M-24, an M-3A1, an M-5A1, an
M-19, M-113 (Serial #3), an M-114, a
Swiss-modified Hetzer, an OT-810 remod'd to
Sdkfz looks, a Alvis Saladin, two Centurians, a
Swiss Pz-61, two T-72Gs, several T-55 variants,
two BMP-1s, an MT-55 (recovery vehicle), and a
BTR-152. Also he has the Rapid Deployment Tank
prototype (just donated from AAI) parked on line
with an armored car (also from AAI) that I'd never
seen before (a prototype that never went anywhere,
production-wise), that had definitely seen it's better
days.
Off to one side then were an M-4A1, and M-4A3,
an M-3A3 (I think - not too sure on model #s on
Lees), a Crocodile, and a Valentine. Then off to one
side of these was an M-16, an M-3 towing a 76mm
ATG, several jeeps, a few deuces, three Hummers
in full military gear, and several odds & ends.
After parking the car, I walked up to where the
presentation would be held, and looked out across
the field to where the demo vehicles were staged.
Something didn't look right with several of the AFVs
that I could see, so I walked down for a closer look.
Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed. I
couldn't believe it hardly, but there was an M-18
Hellcat, alongside an M-36 Jackson. (Standard
M-36 hull, with an B2 variant turret.) Several
FV-432s, two Abbots (sp?), two T-34/85s, a Scorpion,
a Striker, three or four Ferrets (of course!), a Fox,
and a Saracen.
It turns out, the M-18 and M-36 came from the
Bosnia area, and still looked the part. (Several
evident small-arms dings in the armor even.) The
M-36s powerpack had been pulled in the past, and
replaced with a T-55 powerpack. Other than that,
it looked ready to rock. The M-18 definitely needed
a paintjob, and had it's own collection of bullet
pockmarks, but really looked good, overall. I couldn't
see inside though. The .50 cal ring had been removed
at some point, and what appeared to be a mount for
a DshK was mounted on the rear of the turret.
Alan had two Russian speakers talk of their
experiences during the war as armor crewman, one
speaking English (sort of), the other needing a translator.
While standing looking at the M-18, the one needing the
translator had been looking at the two T-34/85s, and I
thought that he looked familiar. It turns out that he was
Mikhail Kalashnikov, the Soviet weapons designer. This
was the first time he'd ever been to the U.S., and I'm not
sure what brought him here now. But he talked through
a translator from the Russian Embassy, and was
interesting to listen to. Afterwards, he took photos with
alot of people, myself included. (I just hope they come
out decent!!!)
Overall, it was a very decent show, and well worth
the drive out.
Jerry
Ashburn, VA
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