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When I was in Army Transportation we had one M - 123 built by Mack to transport TD-24 IHC dozers. We although it was fitted with a 5th wheel we always used a dolly, Later in Engineers we transported D-7 E's and F's with a 5 ton sometimes with a dolly and sometimes with the 5th wheel. When we got into the mountains we borrowed a "Draggin' Wagon" / What was the "Draggin' Wagon"? Maybe Old Tanker can help me to remember
 
Here's the Draggin Wagon. We tested all those vehicles at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Hal
a175408.jpg
 
I never knew the cost of those vehicles. We just tested them. The M88 Recovery Vehicle was a big test and so was the Gamma Goat. The 3/4 ton Dodge out performed the Goat. Lady Bird Johnson
held the most stock. Those M88's were built in York PA. Not far from where I live. We used this vehicle for drawbar pull and cooling tests.
The earlier M88's used Continental V12 gas engines then they switched to diesel engines made by the same company.

When the M1A1 Abrams was tested we hooked an M88 to the last trailer in reverse for drawbar pull.

Two vehicles were sent back in the 1970's. General Motors built one with the Continental V12
and Chrysler made one with the turbine engine. I was sent to Detroit to install instrumentation, but it was a wasted trip since they wouldn't allow
any instrumentation installed. To make matters worse my airline went on strike and I had to fly to DC. They put me on an old bus to BWI airport
and that was the last time I used my own vehicle
to BWI. I used rental cars. Hal
a175412.jpg
 
I welded axle supports on those down the road a bit [ maybe was Churchhill proving grounds]. A sargent broke it on a dirt test track. I had to use two number five lenses in gas goggles and a bandana on my face to protect from rays just to get my head up where I could see the weld joint.My arc hood couldn't fit. Young and dumb.They were new and made by Oshkosh.
 
I'm also pretty sure there was thick bulletproof windows down by the drivers feet so they could see the ground below.
 


After WW2 the US Army left all its vehicles in Europe where they were sold in auction. This is an original Pacific in France.



Wynns the main heavy haulage company in Britain bought several Pacifics and built their own modern cabs



A couple of them have been restored
 
What year dodge trucks did you test, I see alot of 1977 dodge m880 army trucks for sale on Craigslist around here, all usually are pretty plainsman no power steering, all seem to have the 318 mix of 2wd and 4wd all two door long boxes. Most have brush guards. What were they used for transporting goods? I've always been gonna buy one just because most of the m880 dodges don't have any rust and look like new inside.
 
In 1999 I was working for a defense contractor at Aberdeen Proving Ground on a bridge test. There were two different country's Sweden and England having the test bridges. I worked on the Swedish bridge. It was installed using hydraulics. We used those trucks in the picture
for hauling the bridge sections. This test started in May of 1999 and on the first test the crew took 12 hours to get the bridge up. By Nov 1999 it took 4 hours. I have a picture of that bridge somewhere. The Swedish bridge wasn't chosen and England got the contract. I forgot to mention once the bridge was up they ran a large
recovery transporter that had an M88 Recovery Vehicle on the trailer. No problems with the bridge. The Swedish crew was a good group to work with. They drove Volvo's and spoke very good English. Hal
 
The Dodge truck we tested against the Gamma Goat was the M37 3/4 ton with the flat head 6 cylinder engine. They should have used the 318engine in them. My Army buddy has one of those trucks and he has the Dodge ambulance that uses the same engine. Here's a picture of him when we at Ft Bragg in 1953 with the 82nd Airborne. Hal
a175452.jpg

a175453.jpg
 
They have bought lots of those Oshkosh trucks. I was told they switched from Detroit diesels to Caterpillar engines. Hal
PS: Here's a picture of the heavy field dynanmometer they bought in the late 1970's. It has the EMD V8 engine made by GM. It developed 1600hp at 900rpms. It was built by a company
near Chicago. That town had 3 names and I can't remember it. Hal
a175456.jpg
 
They had a variety through the years. The 10ton Dragon wagon when I first enlisted wasn't a tank transporter. Only the Engineers had them to haul D6/7's with. It looked like the duce and half or 5 ton cargo truck except a 5th wheel instead of a bed. At the same time the tank transporter was a Oshkosh tractor, Detroit and Allison auto. M911 25 ton.


mvphoto13465.jpg


When I joined in 74 the US main battle tank was the M60A1. It was about 63 tons combat loaded. The M1 is 70 tons. That's a load in anyone's book.

The trailer was a lowboy that did not have a dolly.

This is the current transporter.


mvphoto13466.jpg


Rick
 
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