Combat Engineer Vehicle M7281-4
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 ~115,000lbs
~52,200kg		 Height over cupola periscope 128.2"
325.6cm
Length with boom and dozer in travel position 347.8"
883.4cm		 Gun cannon overhang forward 0"
Width over dozer 146.0"
370.8cm		 Tread 115.0"
292.1cm
Ground clearance 15.3"
38.9cm		 Fire height 82.6"
210cm
Turret ring diameter 85.0"
216cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 12.3psi
.863kg/cm²
M728: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
165mm Gun M135 M150 in turret 30 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 9°/sec +20° to -10°
(manual and hydraulic)		 4°/sec
.50cal M85 MG Cupola M19 on turret 600 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 -- Manual and hydraulic --
7.62mm M73, M219, or M240 MG Coaxial to 135mm gun 2000 rounds 360°
(manual and hydraulic)		 9°/sec +20° to -10°
(manual and hydraulic)		 4°/sec
Night vision
Infrared periscope M24 for driver, infrared periscope M32 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		 0°
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		 0°
Sides 5.5"
14cm		 0°
Rear 2.25"
5.72cm		 0°
Top 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
M728: Automotive
Engine Continental AVDS-1790-2D; 12 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° vee, supercharged diesel
Horsepower Net: 643@2400rpm
Gross: 750@2400rpm		 Torque Net: 1575 ft-lb@1750rpm
Gross: 1710@1800rpm		 Fuel capacity 385gal
1460L
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 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 was mounted on the front hull. This dozer blade was the standard dozer for the M60 tanks. An A-frame boom was installed on the front of the turret which folded to the rear when it was not in use. Also included in the design was a 25,000lb (11,000kg) turret bustle-mounted hydraulic winch.

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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. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.

  3. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.

  4. 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 30 Mar 2006.

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© Copyright 2001-06 Chris Conners