Nah, mate. Zippo tracks were the M113 with flamethrower. Oh, wouldn't that make a nice surprise for some Iraqi feeling lucky!
I know that there have been discussions for years about the hydraulic fluid used. The red oil had a lower vapor ignition temperature, but gave longer life to the trannies.
And was carcinogenic if slopped all over the skin, as when it was used in ammo cans for cleaning weapons bolts and other smallish parts.
In Country, the M-113 was a death trap, with most riding on the outside so you wouldn't be trapped when it hit a mine. Maybe conditions are different in Bagdhad...
True enough but those of us in M48 tanks and M551 Sheridans rode outside, too. The first thing that goes if you're standing in a track or tank that hits a mine is all the bones of your legs as the shock is transmitted from the floor, There;s not much the driver can do about that, but if mines other than Claymores are the most likely threar, riding on top is one common answer. Sone of those command-detonated mines were made fron 500 pound and 750 pound bombs. Like this one; hit a 750-pounder, which blew off both tracks and the turret. You're invited to guess what happens when it's a 15-ton M113 instead of a 52-ton M48 hits a rig like that.
