Over 50 tanks seen today on a train to where?

Im not sure what the big deal is. Where do you suppose the military gets all of their equipment from. Does it just sprout up from the ground? Do they pick it off of their Tank Trees on the Bases right next to their Mortor Bushes? Just because you have never seen this happen, doesn't mean it isn't normal. Around where I am from, large military convoys, both on the ground and air born are common place. The nearest large base is well over 100 miles away.

We convoys of new trucks, new tanks, armored vehicles and dozens of helicopters flying over head often. This was normal before the new century. I know if your not used to it, you might think that the US Army might be invading your small town of 3000 people, but I assure you, they really do not care about your local Quicky-Mart.

Well at least one job sector is going strong.

Where do I send my resume?

Originally posted by jsobecky
It's the fastest, most economical way to transport them from base to base. Plus they would tear up the roads and cause massive traffic snarls from rubberneckers.

Exactly, this is a non issue folks. Military has moved heavy stuff this way for a very long time.

Originally posted by dainoyfb
I find it completely amusing, all of that gear and no escort. Looks like a gang of cowboys could ride up on horses and do a 1800's version train heist.

It's almost not funny.

Watching the video, you have to imagine those trains do not stop for ANYTHING. If I were the military and was contracting the shipping transport job out to another company, I'd make sure they had the rail lines clear for a direct non-stop haul.

It'd be so easy to to start up your own military. You always see these evil masterminds in films trying to acquire a case of missiles to hold a country hostage. Well, if you had half the tanks from the first video and half the other vehicles from the second video, it wouldn't be too hard to stage a coup in a third world country. Heck, you could do some damage to a major metropolitan area here in America as well, seeing as how they'd have to mobilize a great deal of troops and equipment to have to deal with anyone attempting to do so.

Anyway ... in a fairly remote region a damsel in distress with a overheated car sitting in the middle of the tracks should be enough to stop the train - even if it couldn't stop in time to avoid hitting the car -it'd still have to come to a halt after the impact. A QY60K Truck Crane would be enough to get most of the equipment offloaded. But, the big question after completing the hi-jacking is: "What now?" Where would you go? How could you get a 100+ vehicle convoy to a secure location?

I've seen 2 tank trains within the past year heading South along I-44 in Missouri. You do realize we are in a multi-front war and we do sell tanks to other nations and allies. Nothing to be concerned about in my opinion.

Originally posted by double_frick
reply to post by Ventessa

 

when i see things like this i always wonder if this happens all the time and just goes unnoticed...so when someone notices its quite freaky (and it is) since it seems like it rarely happens...but how else would they transport these vehicles when not in use?

i mean, is there an explanation for this?
(not to mention the numerous other reports of things VERY similar to this in these past weeks)

Living in a large military state myself, I can say yes, it does happen all the time. Anytime a battalion is deployed, comes back, transferred etc. they have to move all their equipment and the cheapest way is by train or cargo ship. The video of the tanks was ever so familiar when they 3rd ACR was transferred from Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs. 1 train contained all the tanks while 2 other trains carried the other armored carriers and equipment.

Don't take these videos out of context. This happens ALL the time.

Like others have said, I find nothing alarming by these videos. The videos of the tanks in Plano, Tx are not surprising due to the fact that the M1 Abrams tank is manufactured by General Dynamics, who has locations all around the Plano area. For all we know, they could have been on their way to Fort Hood.

I've seen trains like that for my whole life. The Marines shut down our port all the time when trains or ships come it carrying military equipment. I do know that there are some owner/operators that do carry military equipment over the road, but the majority is way too heavy.

Originally posted by tyranny22

Originally posted by dainoyfb
I find it completely amusing, all of that gear and no escort. Looks like a gang of cowboys could ride up on horses and do a 1800's version train heist.

It'd be so easy to to start up your own military. You always see these evil masterminds in films trying to acquire a case of missiles to hold a country hostage. Well, if you had half the tanks from the first video and half the other vehicles from the second video, it wouldn't be too hard to stage a coup in a third world country. Heck, you could do some damage to a major metropolitan area here in America as well, seeing as how they'd have to mobilize a great deal of troops and equipment to have to deal with anyone attempting to do so.

Unless the people had training in the technology on those pieces of equipment, it would be nearly impossible for them to utilize them. They would also have to take down the GPS and most electronics of the equipment, because the military, with a flip of a switch, could make these large paper weights.

No unit or tank numbers.. They are probably new or just refurbished.. Alot of stuff is just getting repaired and sent back to there units from the war.. And its normal to use rails to heavy for the roads..

They are all wheeled equipment, seems like they are for paved road situations,and they appear to be for riot situations, like when the economy collapses,and food is rationed out...and the FEMA Concentration camps... check it out.

Youtube comment above


If these vehicles are for iraq or afghanistan why arent they orange and desert colors?

I agree they do look built for urban conflict.

Originally posted by Haydn_17
They are all wheeled equipment, seems like they are for paved road situations,and they appear to be for riot situations, like when the economy collapses,and food is rationed out...and the FEMA Concentration camps... check it out.

Youtube comment above


If these vehicles are for iraq or afghanistan why arent they orange and desert colors?

I agree they do look built for urban conflict.

They look like every piece of military hardware we have. Why in heavens name would they use tanks of an urban conflict? Regarding the color, if they are reconditioned hardware from Iraq, then they are painted back to their forest green military color if they are not slated to go back to the middle east. Or, again, these could just be transfers from one branch to another.

But, this is just me. The movement of this equipment is so common.

I don't understand the paranoia. New tanks, off assembly lines, going for testing and/or training? You are afraid of this, why?

56 tanks is some serious armor! A brigade's worth I should think. If we can establish where these are manufactured then maybe we can make sense of where they are going.

If they are pre-positioning for use against Americans it would make sense to stage them on govt property where civilians eyes cant see them.

Calling all active military!! Let us know if they are doing unusual equipment staging on your bases. Maybe then we make sense of what's going on. I can't imagine they need that many tanks for an NLE excerice though....remember tanks do have one weakness. They can't go anywhere without fuel!

reply to post by Ventessa


They do look kinda new and shiney, not a mark on them.

They are probably on their way to be target practice in Afghanistan
or Iraq

They are taken to a secred base where they will be painted in black with cool flames on the sides. Then they will take over the world.

Originally posted by Haydn_17
They are all wheeled equipment, seems like they are for paved road situations,and they appear to be for riot situations, like when the economy collapses,and food is rationed out...and the FEMA Concentration camps... check it out.

Youtube comment above


If these vehicles are for iraq or afghanistan why arent they orange and desert colors?

I agree they do look built for urban conflict.

Right.. because none of the other 63 countries we are stationed in have paved roads, only the U.S. has roads with pavement on them.

When I do work on Fort Carson, I often seen traincars covered in military hardware, tanks, hummers, you name it. It's common. Stop fear-mongering.

[edit on 30-7-2009 by fleabit]

Okay people. Voice of reason here.

I've been in the Army 8 years.

I watched the vids you provided, nice shots of the Abrams if I do say so myself.

First of all.

When a unit is getting ready to deploy, they load the heavy equipment on trains to be moved to port locations. It's how they get the tanks and things to the ships to be sent overseas.

Secondly, on the first video, I noticed the tanks all looked brand new w/ no unit numbers or other designators on them. More than likely, they were brand new and getting moved to one of the major bases in the US where armored divisions are stationed.

Rail is how we get the tanks around the country. It's the main reason you people don't see columns of 50 tanks cruising down your local interstate, tearing up the road and causing a ruckus.

Nothing to worry about here people. Believe me.

Originally posted by ShadowMaster
In alot of cases the Military Equipment is too heavy to be taken by truck. The M1A1 Abrams is close to 60 tons and the A2 version is near 70 tons. I have seen some items shipped by truck-but rail is a cheaper way to go in mass. At the end of June there was a train in Houston that had M35a2-but mainly M35A3 up armored trucks on it in either green -but mostly tan.

As others have pointed out this equipment gets moved around quite a bit and Bradley AFVs and Tanks goto TACOM to be rebuild and to other sites for storage.

M1A1

Also, west of Houston is a facility that builds and retrofits military vehicles. They are in Sealy Tx. BAE is the company name. We see them all the time transporting the completed vehicles in various directions. Appears mostly to be transporting them to shipping points.

M35a3

reply to post by Ventessa


I feel pretty confident that there is an eye in the sky watching over that train. You and I may not be able to see it but if some fool (sleeper cell, weekend warriors, etc) tried to hijack that train, I don't see them jumping in and driving the tanks away.

Originally posted by mf_luder
Okay people. Voice of reason here.

I've been in the Army 8 years.

I watched the vids you provided, nice shots of the Abrams if I do say so myself.

First of all.

When a unit is getting ready to deploy, they load the heavy equipment on trains to be moved to port locations. It's how they get the tanks and things to the ships to be sent overseas.

Secondly, on the first video, I noticed the tanks all looked brand new w/ no unit numbers or other designators on them. More than likely, they were brand new and getting moved to one of the major bases in the US where armored divisions are stationed.

Rail is how we get the tanks around the country. It's the main reason you people don't see columns of 50 tanks cruising down your local interstate, tearing up the road and causing a ruckus.

Nothing to worry about here people. Believe me.

Exactly. Had these been painted with urban warfare camo and there was a train full of soliders wearing chem suits following this train, it may be time to exchange cash for silver/gold. But this appears to be nothing more then what meets the eye.