M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle

The M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle was based on an M60A1 Patton MBT (Main Battle Tank) chassis with a hydraulically operated dozer blade mounted on the front, an A-frame crane hinged on each side of the turret and a winch. The vehicle can also be equipped with a mine clearing rake. The armament was changed from using the 105 mm M68 rifled tank gun used on the standard M60/A1/A3, to use an M135 165 mm short-barrelled demolition gun with 30 rounds of HEP (High Explosive, Plastic) ammunition, it is a license built copy of the 165 mm L9A1 gun that was used on the British Army's FV4003 Centurion Mk.5 AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) tank. It is also armed with a coaxial 7.62 × 51 mm NATO M73 machine gun, with 2,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, as well as a .50 cal M85 machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola, with 600 rounds of ammunition.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• M728
• Combat
• Engineer
• Vehicle

[wigon]

Ah I remember these babies at Ft. Leanordwood. That 165mm demolition gun was PURE AWESOMENESS! I can't believe that they never made a M1A1 version of this tank using the same demolition gun. Instead the replacements all have no heavy weaponry other then line charges. It's a shame because the snub-nosed 165mm gun actually is an excellent weapon for urban combat because the short barrel does not hit buildings when the vehicle is in narrow streets and is perfect for where bombs are overkill.

[palonejr]

I close my eyes;

The gunner and loader are sleeping. The TC is smoking and half asleep. The internal red lights are on in the turret. The Officers are talking on the radio. The engine is idling and we are in convoy ready to move again. My face is black from the diesel exhaust from the tank in front of me. I am the only one who cant sleep and must be alert. My friends lives depend on my driving. I am so tired and I want to sleep.

Freddie and Maurice, wake up!

Bobby

12th Engineers 8TH ID 1976

[omnianti0]

blade is too a prearmor able to defeating evry existing hollow charge from front and add other combat & mobility utilitys ;

evry 1980 armored got a remote machingun for commander cupola : what hapend now : is sub oficier get to unability to fight as officiers ?

[texasdustfart]

The blade slow the tank down and add more weight.  The "top turet" sic is called a cupola and the M1 and M1a1 both have one it just isn't as pronounced, the top mounted M2 .50 cal can be fired from inside turret while buttoned up. The M1a2 however can not.

[omnianti0]

why evry tank doesnt have dozer blade ?

why m60 is the onlyone to have a top turet ?