Re-Build or purpose built?

[NORCALLOGGER]

Hi all I saw this in Oregon the other day and snapped a couple pictures.
Can someone tell me if this is a conversion from a military vehicle or a
purpose built machine.




Either way I thought it was an interesting machine.  The place was closed so I couldn't ask any questions, maybe next time.
Thanks.
Rick

[Gordon Ferguson]

Rick, the bottom half looks to me as it came from Sherman tank, model with the HSSV suspension?

[shropshire lad]

Pedant's Corner ( My favourite of all the corner that I frequent! ) .

  Gordon ,

  Do you mean HVSS suspension ?


   Nick

[Design-HSB]

I think that's einTractor bulldozer embarrassed to pipeline.
Since, however, lacks the self-supporting floor pan from the tank, I think only the chain drives and drive shafts were used by tanks.

[Lawton Maner]

After WWII many industries recycled tanks and other vehicles for other uses.  Timber Times had a series of articles and models based on Sherman Tanks used for everything from bulldozers to skidders. When I get home, I'll look it up and tell you which issues the articles are in. The original article was in issue # 17 an a model of a Sherman Tank made into a Skidder appeared in issue #52.

[Gordon Ferguson]

Pedant's Corner ( My favourite of all the corner that I frequent! ) .

  Gordon ,

  Do you mean HVSS suspension ?


   Nick

HVSS.    HSSV.     What ever?      You really do need to get out of that corner more often 

[eTraxx]

HVSS - Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension



http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/suspension/hvss_suspension.html

The M4A3 was the first to be factory-produced with horizontal volute spring suspension

[Gordon Ferguson]

Ed, no doubt that will keep Nick happy for hours

[eTraxx]

Seriously ... every time I am in the hobby shop I catch myself eyeballing the 1:48 armor kits .. and thinking .. a nice copy of that machine rusting silently in the weeds .. cool!

[Ray Dunakin]

As someone who knows virtually nothing about armored vehicles, I wonder why the tracks (including wheels, suspension, etc) are so different from tracked civilian vehicles such as tractors and bulldozers?

[shropshire lad]

Ed, no doubt that will keep Nick happy for hours

No need to get all bitter and twisted about it !

[eTraxx]

As someone who knows virtually nothing about armored vehicles, I wonder why the tracks (including wheels, suspension, etc) are so different from tracked civilian vehicles such as tractors and bulldozers?

A bulldozer moves relatively slowly, has to move through very rough terrain such as rock without the track coming off. A tank - at least a modern tank has to be able to move fast and keep from turning the crew into jelly while doing that! An Abrams tank has problems in rough, rocky terrain and can throw track pretty easily if you try turning in that rock. It's really a form of evolution - divergence started prior to WWII probably.

[Lawton Maner]

For those among us with a pocket of change to spare, check out this auction.  It includes several items which will make NRA members wet themselves.

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140228-your-own-private-arsenal