Posted on 05/18/2020 11:37:10 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - 25 years ago, a jaw-dropping sight rolled through San Diego streets: a tank crushing everything in its path.
Stunned residents in a Kearny Mesa neigborhood described a 'rumbling, grinding noise' as the M60 tank carved a path of destruction.
10news photojournalist Rett Lawrence was at dinner with co-workers when he got the page.
"You've never seen so many guys run out to the door so fast," said Lawrence.
As a police helicopter flew overhead, the 60-ton tank ripped through cars, signs, traffic lights, hydrants and whatever was in its path. In one sequence, the tank destroyed a trailer and a van, before sheering through a mobile home like scissors.
"Trying to drive with my camera on my shoulder and one hand on the wheel. It was crazy," said Lawrence.
Inside the tank: suicidal Army Veteran Shawn Nelson, 35, who stole the Patton tank - which was equipped with a machine gun and cannon - from the National Guard Armory in Kearny Mesa.
As police gave chase, the tank plowed through a pedestrian bridge and some 40 vehicles.
"At one point, I was right behind him and beside him until he got onto the highway ... Where is this guy going to go? How are they going to stop him? Those questions kept running in my mind," said Lawrence.
23 minutes into the chase, the nightmare scenario came to an end, when the tank tried to cross the center divide into oncoming traffic and got stuck. That was enough time for officers to climb on the tank and bring the chaos to a end. Lawrence was less than 100 feet away.
"As soon as he popped that hatch, it was pretty much over. The ending was like a movie, a bad one," said Lawrence.
Nelson was shot and later died at a hospital.
Is M60 tank being still used by National Guard?
I cannot imagine anybody stealing Abrams tank...There should be heavy security for such an equipment...
25 years ago, cops opened the tank hatch and shot the driver...I have watched many war movies...Usually, a soldier would open the tank hatch and toss a grenade into the tank...OK, I am not sure that cops are able to use grenades...
What if somebody steals Abrams tank? I think cops should ask the military for help in that case...
In GOLDENEYE, James Bond steals a Russian tank in St. Petersburg...That was a memorable scene...
I suddenly have a great idea for maintaining social distancing and getting out for a little drive..... Hmm....
There’s an Abrams tank rampaging through the Democrat party now.
I think you mean the chow line...
The Army, to include the Army National Guard, and the Marine Corps use the Abrams, but differ on the models. Most vehicles are secured by heavy duty padlocks, in fenced in motor pools on military bases. Some may be off post at Armories or Reserve Centers motor pools.
Tank theft is rare. The population of people who can a) operate the tank (its similar too, but different from driving a car) and b) are motivated enough to break into the facility and break into the tank is very small.
If someone steals one, unless they have ammunition on board, which is unlikely for multiple reasons, the best tactic is to get out of the way and let them run out of fuel.
If they have ammo or are hazarding human lives, then the quickest solution would be to get an military aircraft or helicopter to hit it with a missile. But that would still take a few hours to get appropriate approval and then get an aircraft armed and on station.
There’s an Abrams tank rampaging through the Democrat party now.
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I am not sure how much Ms. Abrams is worth...
But, I do know that Abrams tank is very expensive...
If they have ammo or are hazarding human lives, then the quickest solution would be to get an military aircraft or helicopter to hit it with a missile. But that would still take a few hours to get appropriate approval and then get an aircraft armed and on station.
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Bazooka? I am not sure that US military still uses bazooka any longer...
How about a TOW missile?
Javelin missiles— they replaced the Dragons. Easy to fire.
The M60, as a tank, is no longer in service in any form in the US Army, Marines or Reserve/Guard. There are still M60-based vehicles in use, though.
This tank was stored in a fairly open lot with IIRC a cheap padlock locking a hatch. Since then, tanks in similar situations are stored with critical, but easy to install components removed and locked in a more secure location nearby so they can be quickly activated by trained personnel as needed. Think of it as the old trick of pulling a critical fuse, ignition wire, or using a hidden fuel pump cut switch. They are also issued much more substantial padlocks and are usually stored with little fuel in them, which in an Abrams will probably last maybe a couple miles.
Cops are not usually issued grenades.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Nelson_(American_rampager)
The last “bazooka” in the US was taken out of service in WW2 - replaced by the LAW 72mm antiarmor shoulder fired rocket launcher, then later the Dragon and eventually Javelin and supplemented by Gustav gun recoilless rifles and the SMAW. TOW is a heavier missile that isn’t shoulder fired, but is carried by a crew and must be set up on a stand before it can be fired.
Er, corrections: The last Bazooka derivative (the M20 Super Bazooka) served into the Korean War and then into Vietnam before the government finally replaced it with a better, less antiquated solution in the *66mm* M72 LAW.
An Abrams is only $8 million. Compared to a $175 million F-22 or a $25 million F-15, it’s not that bad
We have to be tankful that no civilians were killed or injured that day.
Well, it was a tragedy. Maybe I shouldn't call him a nutjob. Look at him. He looks perfectly normal. Maybe a little nutty.
Bazookas (recoilless rocket launchers)were replaced in the 1950’s by both recoilless rifles (firing modified anti-armor cannon rounds) and eventually anti tank missiles like the TOW.
TOWs are too big for one soldier/Marine to carry, so the U.S. uses the Javelin as a man-portable missiles,and the smaller AT-4 rocket.
Recently the U.S. has fielded the M3 recoilless rifle, which is a modernized version of the ubiquitous Swedish Carl Gustav rifle.
In the scenario here, the problem would be getting a missile or rifle ammo to the right place in time. You would not want to destroy a multi-million dollar tank unless you had no other option. But if you had no choice, an aircraft or helo would probably be quicker.
You go for the treads no?
I’m surprised the hatches can’t be locked from the inside.
Other than the tank, did he have a weapon?
They can be locked from the inside, but for obvious reasons they cannot be unlocked from the outside in that case. Usually they lock all the hatches but the loader’s hatch from the inside, exit, then padlock the loader’s hatch from the outside.
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