What Used to Be on my Hood?

[Tanabi]

Hey guys;

My HMMWV (m99 used to be a Corps of Engineers truck in the Michigan national guard. It's got this weird circular mark on the hood and a couple bolt holes, like something used to be there. I am wondering if anyone knows what it might have been. Here's pictures.

 

[Dock Rocker]

Bridge plate

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tanabi]

Oh, that's very interesting. Thank you!

 

[Milcommoguy]

Bridge Plate.

A little history: Bridge Plates are markings used on Allied vehicles beginning in World War II that indicate the weight of the vehicle in tons as well as the weight classification of the vehicle. This was used to calculate whether a vehicle, or series of vehicles, could safely cross a bridge with a given rating.While originally designed by the British as an affixed metal plate that was yellow in color, later in the war (and afterwards) it was commonplace to simply paint the number onto a vehicle whose weight was unlikely to change.
While simple in idea, the actual classification is complicated by being based not only on gross vehicle weight, but on whether the vehicle is wheeled or tracked, the number of axles, axle spacing, vehicle speed, the number of lanes the vehicle uses and whether or not the vehicle could be hauling a trailer.
These markings (or plates) were typically found on the right front fender or in the area of the right front headlamp.

I put my age on it, but running out of numbers.

And YES there is a TM for this too.

CAM

 

[86humv]

Alot of people put 69 on it....Wonder what that means....?

 

[Tanabi]

I put my age on it, but running out of numbers.

From my reading, the 'proper' setting would be 0 3 for my truck. I'll probably get a bridge plate for it at some point, since I've already got holes drilled in the hood for it. And it's an interesting detail

 

[Guyfang]

Bridge Plate.

A little history: Bridge Plates are markings used on Allied vehicles beginning in World War II that indicate the weight of the vehicle in tons as well as the weight classification of the vehicle. This was used to calculate whether a vehicle, or series of vehicles, could safely cross a bridge with a given rating.While originally designed by the British as an affixed metal plate that was yellow in color, later in the war (and afterwards) it was commonplace to simply paint the number onto a vehicle whose weight was unlikely to change.
While simple in idea, the actual classification is complicated by being based not only on gross vehicle weight, but on whether the vehicle is wheeled or tracked, the number of axles, axle spacing, vehicle speed, the number of lanes the vehicle uses and whether or not the vehicle could be hauling a trailer.
These markings (or plates) were typically found on the right front fender or in the area of the right front headlamp.

I put my age on it, but running out of numbers.

And YES there is a TM for this too.

CAM

We still had them up till I retired in 1993, and my time as a contractor, 2004-2010. As a side note, the Germans had, (and STILL have) signs before every bridge or culvert the weight classification signs. And also still have the signs that give the armored vehicle classification info on it. Back in the day, when there was almost a million US troops here, along with the other allies, it was extreamly normal to see any number of armored vehicles driving down everything from the autobahn to tiny dirt roads. It paid to know these signs. You did not want to be the young convoy commander who damaged a bridge.

 

[riderdan]

You did not want to be the young convoy commander who damaged a bridge.

Should we ask you how you know?

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Well I've heard 18 different versions on how the numbers are put on. My HMMWV Came from the Army with C 07. I've heard the number is in tons, I've heard it is per thousand pounds. I don't believe my HMMWV can be 14000 lbs total combination so that kinda rules out Tons. The vehicle is rated for gross weight of 7700 lbs, so I'm gonna assume at this point it is per thousand pounds? Anyone know which TM the info is in? My M1009 came with C 09 which wouldn't make sense in ton or 1000lbs, My M931A2 came with C 10 so go figure.......... Need the TM to decipher how it works.

 

[Guyfang]

Should we ask you how you know?

For once in my life, I was NOT the guy who was responsible for the ruins. 1973, and I was a young and dumb PFC. Our Battalion Co. Was not the kind of leader who "counseled" his young Commanders privately. Our Co. directed three 17 ton tracked Self Propelled Launchers over a tiny road, on a tiny bridge, in a tiny village. The bridge looked like something pre Roman. Well, before we drove over it, in any case. The second track caved in a trench, in the bridge bed. The third finished it. The MP's, Polizei, Landkreisstrassenbmt, the Burgermister and every idle person in a ten km circle was there, when the Bn. Commander came up in his jeep. Wasn't pretty. Lots of blood. I doubt the man made the Majors list. Years later, when I was a convoy leader, you can bet I learned how to read those signs.

 

[riderdan]

Anyone know which TM the info is in?

FM 5-36?

The bridge plates numbers are based on STANAG 2010 which is NATO's weight classification system...

 

[Guyfang]

This was THE document we had to study, years later, to become a convoy leader. After testing we promptly forgot 98% percent of it, as it simply did not pertain. But the basics to driving/ organizing a convoy in Germany, are in this FM. When ever possible, it was best to Recon a route for most units, due to over sized equipment. Hence, RSOP, Reconnaissance, Selection, Occupation of Position. That was the convoy I was in charge of. The Recon portion payed off big time, due to the tiny roads and villages. The example I will never forget was driving into a tiny village, to find a M109 SP Artillery Track, parked at a T intersection, after pivot steering to the left. The gun barrel had opened up the front of a gasthaus like a hot knife, slicing butter.

 

[riderdan]

I remember one time driving from Grafenwoehr to someplace in the countryside and a butterbar got us completely lost. We wound up in this tiny Hamlet where he sent three deuce-and-a-halfs up a side street so narrow we could reach out and touch the buildings on each side. Unfortunately, where the side street met another narrow street the corner was too sharp for the deuces to turn the corner. The three specialists drivers were cursing a blue streak as they tried to back the trucks back to where we'd turned in. Nothing got smashed, but it was pretty funny (from the back of a deuce on top of a pile of duffle bags)

 

[NormB]

Hey guys;

My HMMWV (m99 used to be a Corps of Engineers truck in the Michigan national guard. It's got this weird circular mark on the hood and a couple bolt holes, like something used to be there. I am wondering if anyone knows what it might have been. Here's pictures.

View attachment 742383View attachment 742382

Does ANYONE know the exact location for these plates? I’ve seen this photo, and several more showing them more towards the front of the hood, many more on the front blocking air flow, and occasionally off to the right front of the brush guard.

As my drill sergeant would say “a place for everything, and everything in its place” and military doctrine HAS to dictate the exact location for these plates.

So I’m not reliving my life as a small clinic NCOIC in USAEUR reading and filing ARs, TMs, FMs, and all the rest, which specific HMMWV manual might this be in? Or is there a larger TM specifying placement?

I’ve already spent the better part of two hours looking into this online (slow day in clinic yesterday due to inclement weather, I had time to kill).

Thanks in advance.

 

[bikeman]

NormB, I'd check USAREUR regulations, or, go to the point with 21st TSC's SPO Shop, Trans Section. There's also one or two Movement Control Battalions that run Movement Control Teams (MCTs) which are actually very small companies (~21 SM). You probably have an MCT close to you, if not a BN. You can go VFR direct to them as well.

 

[NormB]

Bridge Plate.
These markings (or plates) were typically found on the right front fender or in the area of the right front headlamp.
And YES there is a TM for this too.
CAM

1 - what TM covers this, or is it buried in the M998 TMs somewhere?

2 - where, exactly, is this plate SUPPOSED to be mounted. I doubt military regs say anything along the lines of "typically placed in or around the right front fender, bumper, brush guard (or wherever your unit interior decorator believes it will set off your vehicles from any others in the convoy).

 

[NormB]

NormB, I'd check USAREUR regulations, or, go to the point with 21st TSC's SPO Shop, Trans Section. There's also one or two Movement Control Battalions that run Movement Control Teams (MCTs) which are actually very small companies (~21 SM). You probably have an MCT close to you, if not a BN. You can go VFR direct to them as well.

Thanks. Ft. Meade's on my list of places to visit soon again anyway (I used to work there, not far), I was hoping to avoid trying to track down someone who could give me a direct answer.

I'm more into IFR these days, flying my desktop around the web.

 

[Bulldogger]

Alot of people put 69 on it....Wonder what that means....?

Mine reads '96, since that is the year I graduated college.
BDGR

 

[bikeman]

Thanks. Ft. Meade's on my list of places to visit soon again anyway (I used to work there, not far), I was hoping to avoid trying to track down someone who could give me a direct answer.

I'm more into IFR these days, flying my desktop around the web.

Didn't catch you were still stateside. 7th TB(X) out of Ft. Eustis is probably a better bet.

 

[Guyfang]

If someone is on active, they can look up/get a copy of TB746-93-1. That TB covers marking of vehicles. It should have your answer as to where the marker would be placed. View attachment APPH.PDF View attachment AER385-4.PDF

The first doc shows a basic placement of the bridge Classification marker. The second Doc is the Regulation, here in Germany that covers bridge crossings. Hope it comes out.