The ACAV L1ves...in Bosnia

Having just retired from the Army, my access to ARMOR magazine is limited. Finding a copy, I read the article on the need for the ACAV and the absence of the kits for the M113s. Preparing for our deployment to Bosnia in the fall of 1995 while in Graf and seeing the possible threats to the two M113s in our company, I convinced the 1SG to let me attach 20mm ammo cans to the sides of his track. These cans were filled with dirt or sand; they ended up with extra oil, MREs and whatever else could be stuck in there. This still provides the effect of spaced armor. The gun shields were somewhere in the system since some of the M-88s in our battalion had them. Our ever-resourceful motor sergeant found the ACAV kits in the system, and, while back at home station in Friedburg, they arrived and were installed on the 1SG’s 113 and on our maintenance track. Our company was attached to 3-5 Cav from Kirchgoens. Our company was further broken up with the 3rd platoon going to an infantry company and we got one BFV platoon. So we ended up with two mixed platoons and one tank pure. After about two months in country, we became a tank pure company again. Platoons used in patrolling actions were made up of two tanks and our two M113s. The M113s were manned by the crews of the two tanks that were left back at Camp McGovern. All these crewmembers were armed with M16s and one M-60 machine gun. Our Bosnia ACAVs were quite effective in patrolling the narrow streets in the Zone of Separation. It is difficult to maneuver an M1A1 through narrow streets and laying M-2 Flex is a lot easier than slewing a 120 in a narrow side street. Mind you, the M1 gets more respect than any other vehicle in the area. “Peace Through Intimidation.” The ACAV kits are out there, and they are just as effective today as they were in Vietnam.

Editor’s Note: You can find ARMOR Magazine via the Web at: knox-www.army.mil/dtdd/armor or via Fort Knox’s web page at: http://147.238.100.101/ We are slowly but diligently adding past issues to our web page. – Ed.

The ACAV Lives...in Bosnia by Sergeant First Class Gregory T. Dean (Retired) An ACAV kit on an M113, with improvised spaced armor made from empty ammo cans. Leaders must understand simulations. Commanders especially must understand what simulations will and will not do and then implement simulations into their overall training strategy.

Director, Fort Knox Senior Observer Controller Team (SOCT)

The National D-Day Museum To Open in New Orleans

Dear Sir: On the 56th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion, June 6, 2000, the National D-Day Museum will open its doors in downtown New Orleans. The Museum will be the first of its kind to tell the story of the United States amphibious operations around the globe in World War II. Located in the Warehouse Arts District of New Orleans, the 67,000-square-foot museum will house the St.-Lô Collection from La Musèe de la Libèration de St.-Lô in Normandy, France — a rich collection of artifacts from Utah and Omaha Beaches — including German vehicles, sentry boxes, and a wide array of weapons and equipment used by both sides during this conflict, as well as privately owned artifacts donated by veterans. A 16,000-square-foot gallery will be divided into four state-of-the-art interactive historical and educational exhibits that will include oral and written histories from veterans worldwide, military equipment, photographs, and never-before-seen film footage. “This museum is the only one of its kind in this country. It will celebrate the famous Normandy D-Day invasion, but it will also portray all the other WWII D-Day invasions fought by the Navy, Marines, Army, Army Air Force, and Coast Guard in every invasion of the war,” said Dr. Gordon Mueller, elected chairman of The National D-Day Museum. Please pass this information on to your readers. For more information, they can contact: (504) 525-1544.

The National D-Day Museum New Orleans, La.

ARMOR —

LETTERS (Cont.) ARMOR Magazine 1998 Index

The ARMOR Magazine 1998 index is now available. You can request a copy by email at armormag@ftknox2- emh3.army.mil or by contacting Mary Hager at DSN 464-2249/2610; commercial (502) 624-2249/2610.