Re: Obsolete and antiquated ships


Andy Dingley wrote:
On 19 May 2006 08:56:32 -0700, "BlackBeard" <sean.keck@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

The commander's station is equipped with six periscopes, providing 360
degree view.

From on top of the turret. I don't know how close-in the commander can
see, but I doubt it's any closer than a lane or two of roadway.

A lot of tanks roll off bridges and loding ramps. If you are loading
them, it's a job for careful co-ordination with one or more ground
spotters to be your eyes for you - not an option when driving across
narrow Iraqi bridges

http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/abrams.htm

Several photos of the 1/ driver with hatch open and 2/buttoned-up

The buttoned up view suggests that the driver can see a very narrow
field with the tread fenders and lights restricting the view over the
flat forward surface. Side view line drawing subsequent could give a
near-field vision of the length of the tank or more.

"DRIVER

The driver moves, positions, and stops the tank. While driving, he
constantly searches for covered routes and for covered positions to
which he can move if the tank is engaged. He maintains his tank's
position in formation and watches for visual signals. If the tank is
equipped with a steer-to indicator, the driver monitors the device and
selects the best tactical route. During engagements, he assists the
gunner and commander by scanning for targets and sensing fired rounds.
The driver is responsible to the commander for the automotive
maintenance and refueling of the tank. He assists other crewmen as
needed.

The driver's station at the center front of the vehicle is equipped
with a monitoring panel showing the condition of vehicle fluid levels,
batteries and electrical equipment. The driver has either three
observation periscopes or two periscopes on either side and a central
image intensifying periscope for night vision. The periscopes provide
120 degrees field of view.

The driver's night vision equipment enables the tank to maneuver at
normal daytime driving speeds in darkness and in poor visibility
conditions such as in dust, smoke and in battlefield obscurants. The
Driver's Vision Enhancer, AN/VSS-5, developed for the US Army
Communications and Electronics Command by Texas Instruments, is based
on a 328 x 245 element uncooled detector array, working in the 7.5 to
13 micron waveband. The AN/VSS-5 provides a 30 degree elevation and 40
degree azimuth field of view. The field of regard is given as -50 to
+20 degrees in elevation, and + or - 190 degrees in azimuth.

A Driver's Thermal Viewer, AN/VAS-3, developed by the Electro-Optical
Systems Division of the Hughes Aircraft Company, is installed on the
M1A2 Abrams tanks for Kuwait. The AN/VAS-3 is based on a 60 element
cadmium mercury telluride, CdHgTe, detector operating in the wavelength
band 7.5 to 12 microns. The cooling is provided by a Split Stirling
0.25 watt engine. The field of view is 40 degrees azimuth x 20 degrees
elevation, and the field of regard is given as 100 degrees in azimuth
and 40 degrees in elevation."

(Parking appears to not be a problem with the M1A series)

.

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