M813 vs Armor, M813 wins! - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

M215 · 12-20-2007, 21:31

I was asked by the Virginia Muesum of Military Vehicles to asst in recovering a hull of a armored vehicle today. Basically I was needed to winch this thing out of a hole it's been sitting in for a long time. This piece of armor had been purchased about ten years ago by the muesum but for reasons it was not retrievable until now. After several attempts to winch it out the only result was sliding the 5 ton across the mud towards the armored car. A very large tree had grown into the side hatch and was holding on tight. The 5 ton was anchored to a tree by the rear hitch and the winch doubled through a snatch box, that was enough to set the armor free. After spinning the armor around with the winch it was loaded on to a very large roll-back for it's return to the muesum.
The vehicle is a proto type called a Dragoon, simular to a Cadillac-Gage V100
Enjoy the pictures.

DanMartin · 12-21-2007, 00:53

Woah..that's really cool. Look at the size of that tree! How long was that hull sitting there?

It would be great to follow up on this in a few years when that beast is restored...some great "before" pictures here. Hang on to them...

timntrucks · 12-21-2007, 08:49

man that was a recovery thanks for sharing Tim

maddawg308 · 12-21-2007, 09:39

Very cool save! Keep us posted on the restoration. There are only a couple Dragoons in private (or museum) hands, they are pretty rare. Quite a few SWAT teams have them in inventory, though.

Austringer · 02-21-2008, 14:54

Just put a verbal comitment to purchase this vehicle. Will do a resto log on it when I pick it up (after the snow and ice melts)

steelsoldiers · 02-21-2008, 15:08

Congrats Jason. Looks like a big project. I can't wait to see the resto log.