Combat Engineer Vehicle M7281-8

M728: General
Date of first acceptance 1965 Total acceptances 291
Manufacturer Detroit Tank Arsenal Crew
4 men:
  • Commander in turret right rear
  • Gunner in turret right front
  • Loader in turret left rear
  • Driver in hull center front
M728: Dimensions
Combat weight 117,400lbs
53,250kg
Height (lowest operable) 128.23"
325.70cm
Length with boom and dozer in travel position 350.8"
891.0cm
Gun overhang forward 0"
Width over dozer 146.0"
370.8cm
Tread 115.0"
292.1cm
Ground clearance 15"
38cm
Fire height 82.6"
210cm
Turret ring diameter 85.0"
216cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 12.8psi
.899kg/cm²
M728: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
165mm Gun M135 M150 in turret 30 rounds
(9 ready)
360°
(manual and hydraulic)
9.6°/sec +20° to -10°
(manual and hydraulic)
4°/sec
.50cal M85 MG Cupola M19 on turret 728 rounds
(188 ready)
360°
(manual)
-- +54° to -10°
(manual)
--
7.62mm M73, M219, or M240 MG Coaxial to 135mm gun 3,600 rounds
(2,200 ready)
360°
(manual and hydraulic)
9.6°/sec +20° to -10°
(manual and hydraulic)
4°/sec
Aiming equipment
Telescope M105F and periscope M32C for gunner; periscope M34 or M36 for commander
Night vision
Infrared periscope M24 for driver, infrared periscope M32C for gunner, infrared periscope M36 for commander
M728: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 4.29"
10.9cm
65°
Lower front 5.63" to 3.35"
14.3cm to 8.51cm
55°
Sides 2.9" to 1.41"
7.4cm to 3.58cm
0° to 45°
Exhaust grille 1.0"
2.5cm
Lower rear 1.6" to 1.2"
4.1cm to 3.0cm
30° to 60°
Top 1.41"
3.58cm
90°
Front floor 0.75"
1.9cm
90°
Rear floor 0.5"
1.3cm
90°
Turret
Cast homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Gun shield 5.0"
13cm
60°
Front 10.0"
25.4cm
Sides 5.5"
14cm
Rear 2.25"
5.72cm
Top 1.0"
2.5cm
90°
M728: Automotive
Engine Continental AVDS-1790-2D; 12 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° vee, supercharged diesel
Horsepower Net: 643@2,400rpm
Gross: 750@2,400rpm
Torque Net: 1,575 ft-lb@1,750rpm
Gross: 1,710@1,800rpm
Fuel capacity 385gal
1,460L
Transmission General Motors CD-850-6A, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering Mechanical, T-bar
Brakes Multiple disc
M728: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 6 independently sprung dual/track 3 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth rear drive Dual compensating at front of track On first 2 and last road wheels/track
M728: Track
T142
Center guide, double pin, replaceable rubber pad
Width 28"
71cm
Pitch 6.94"
17.6cm
Shoes/track 80 Ground contact length 166.72"
423.47cm
M728: Performance
Max level road speed 30mph sustained
48kph sustained
Max trench 99"
250cm
Max grade 60% Max sideslope 30%
Max vertical obstacle 30"
76cm
Min turning diameter Pivot
Max fording depth 48"
120cm
Cruising range ~280mi
~450km

The M728 was based on the M60A1 tank. The 105mm gun was replaced by the 165mm demolition gun cannon M135, which was a modified version of Britain's L9A1 weapon. Changes to the ordnance included omission of the bore evacuator, a manual instead of semiautomatic breech, and the breech bushing was combined with the gun tube. The M135 also had a new obturator, breechblock latch, and firing mechanism. The gun mount M150 was a modified version of the M140 mount found on the regular M60A1 tank. An hydraulic dozer blade M9, the standard dozer for the M60 tanks, was mounted on the front hull. An A-frame boom was installed on the front of the turret which folded to the rear when it was not in use, and allowed loads of up to 17,500lb (7,940kg) to be hoisted with a single line or 35,000lb (16,000kg) with a double line. Also included in the design was a turret bustle-mounted hydraulic winch with a horizontal single line capacity of 25,000lb (11,000kg) and a double line capacity of 50,000lb (23,000kg).

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank, volume 1. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1984.
  2. TM 9-2350-222-10 C2 Operator's Manual Vehicle, Combat Engineer, Full-tracked: M728 (T118E1) W/E (2350-795-1797). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 13 August 1965.
  3. TM 9-2350-222-10-1 C6 Operator's Manual Operator Controls and PMCS Vehicle, Combat Engineer, Full-tracked: M728 (2350-00-795-1797). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 18 June 1993.
  4. TM 9-2350-222-10-2 C9 Operator's Manual Operation Under Usual and Unusual Conditions Vehicle, Combat Engineer, Full-tracked: M728 (2350-00-795-1797). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 10 June 1993.
  5. TM 9-2350-222-10-3 C5 Operator's Manual Troubleshooting and Maintenance Vehicle, Combat Engineer, Full-tracked: M728 (2350-00-795-1797). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 28 February 1992.
  6. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  7. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.
  8. Federation of American Scientists. "M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV)." DOD 101. 21 Jan 1999. 1 Jul 2001 <http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m728.htm>. DOD 101
Last updated 12 Mar 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners