Abrams System maintainers keep tanks moving, mission ready

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, POLAND

03.24.2015

Story by Sgt. Christina Dion 

319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, Poland - Most mechanics are well versed on how engines run, but some specialized mechanics know much more about the vehicles they maintain. Abrams tank system maintainers must be masters of the engine, and the integrated computer systems running them.

For Spc. Jon Vance of Lansing, Mich., Staff Sgt. Johnnie Jones of Memphis, Tennessee, and their team, these skills are essential to ensuring Delta “Death Riders” Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, has a successful deployment supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve rotation with the Polish Armed Forces.

As a forward support element from Hotel Co., Special Troops Bn., 3rd Bde, 3rd Inf. Div.attached to the Death Riders armor company, they have the task of keeping the M1 Abrams tanks operational throughout their training mission.

“We are supposed to know everything from wheels to tracks,” said Vance. “(Our job) incorporates all mechanical Military Occupational Specialties in the Army versus (specializing in) just one system.”

With the influx of armored vehicles recently in Poland, the challenge on these Abrams system maintainers is to ensure all the vehicles, from the U.S. Army’s most technologically advanced tank system to the most basic wheeled vehicles, are operational for upcoming missions.

This is not always an easy task, said Jones. Although they have computers and manuals that help with diagnostics, sometimes they have to rely on intuition and hands-on troubleshooting methods to find problems.

To aid in the problem-solving aspects of diagnosing the tank system issues, the group of nine has put their heads together when the computers can’t determine defects.

At times having a small group is difficult because it limits the pool of knowledge to draw ideas from, but in other ways, both Vance and Jones said it makes training much better.

One-on-one training is easier since there isn’t a group of people that need instruction, said Jones. When a tank is deadlined or non-operable, they can work in teams to figure out the problem or have someone train alongside a more experienced maintainer.

Having that experience is important because the Abrams tank has a jet engine but it also has computer systems, suspension, steering, hydraulic, auxiliary power, fire extinguishing/suppression, and gas particulate systems. They diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions on many different systems that are outside the actual engine.

That level of maintenance requires the mechanics to understand the electronic systems as well as the operation, testing and maintenance of the weapons systems.

While tank operators have to perform maintenance on the vehicles’ exterior parts such as the tracks and system lubrication, the Abrams tank systems maintainers attached to Delta Co. ensure the armor vehicles can keep moving across Europe as the mission dictates.

• Date Taken: 03.24.2015
• Date Posted: 03.26.2015 04:19
• Story ID: 158132
• Location: DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, PL