Project TANK TRAP (US Army, 1964)

[Grey Havoc]

Abstract : Project TANK TRAP was conducted to determine the capability of selected tactical vehicles to traverse craters typical of those which could be produced with Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM). The vehicles included in the test program were the M-60 Tank, M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier, and an articulated two-unit general purpose vehicle called the POLECAT. Trafficability testing of these vehicles was performed in the SCOOTER crater, the JANGLE U crater, and Pre-SCHOONER BRAVO crater.

http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0693817

http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD0693817

PREFACE
This report presents the results of a joint research effort, designated
Project TANK TRAP, conducted by the U. S. Army Engineer Nuclear
Cratering Group (NCG) and the Land Locomotion Laboratory (LLL) of the
Army Tank AutomcMve Center. This project, which was conducted at the
Atomic Energy Commission's Nevada Test Site in 1964, evaluated the
effectiveness of explosive produced craters as terrain barriers.
The participation of the Nuclear Cratering Group was accomplished
under Department of the Army Research, Development, Test,and Evaluation
(RDT&E) Task 4A022601A880, "Military Engineering Applications of Nuclear
"Weapons Effects Research. " The Land Locomotion Laboratory participated
under DA Project No. 1DC21701A045, "Vehicle Mobility Under Adverse
Soil Conditions. "​

ABSTRACT
Project TANK TRAP was conducted to determine the capability of
selected tactical vehicles to traverse craters typical of those which could
be produced with Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM). The vehicles in-
cluded in the test program were the M-60 Tank, M-113 Armored Personnel
Carrier, and an articulated two-unit general purpose vehicle called the
POLECAT. Trafficabiiity testing of these vehicles was performed in the
SCOOTER crater, the JANGLE U crater, and Pre-SCHOONER BRAVO
crater. The results of the research project indicate that: (1) craters
formed in dry soil by the detonation of explosives at tue surface or at very 1/3
shallow depths of burst (down to approximately 20 ft/kt ' " do not present
significant trafficabiiity problems to tracked tactical vehicles; (2) craters 1/3 4
formed at or near optimum depth of burst (—160 ft/kt ' ) in dry soil are
a trafficabiiity obstacle to tracked tactical vehicles; and, (3) craters formed
in hard rock, such as basalt, cannot be negotiated by tracked tactical vehicles
without major modification of the crater and/or assistance by heavy
duty equipment, either mobile or fixed.​