How long were M37s used?

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:23 am

I know that 51 was the first year of the M37. When were they finally phased out and sent to the volunteer fire departments etc?
Thanks,
Tim

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:48 am

Hey Tim,
Production stopped w/ the B-1 Series, mid 1968. Length of service was all over the place. I got out of the Air Force in Jun 72, we were still using two @ Bucks Harbor AFS, Bucks Harbor, Maine. They worked harder/longer in Europe, as late as 1975 I think?
On Robi's page there's a lot of this type of info, maybe better'n mine?

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:39 pm

Although they were getting as rare as hens' teeth in the regular AF by then, there were still a few earning their keep as late as 1989, when I retired. I'm sure some continued to serve in reserve and National Guard units for a while after that. The Civil Air Patrol squadron in my home town still has one, if that counts.

pfrederi · Post by **pfrederi** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:03 am

HHC 1/501 Inf (Ft Campbell 101st) had two M37 w/w by MTOE in 1972/3. Replaced in 73 by two Gamma Goats....BIG MISTAKE!!!

By mid 70s I would guess most had been relegated to Guard/Reserve units.

Stilll had some nice ones at Camp McCoy Wisconsin in 1979 when I was there evaluating a Reserve unit summer camp....

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:49 am

My unit at Ft. Ord still had an M201 in service in '77-'78....
Gary

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:56 am

The last one offered from Aberdeen Proving Ground's Property Disposal was sold to Memphis Equip. Co. in Sept. 1981, I have a pic somewhere around here and will try to locate and post it. It had been used by the track recovery school and had a Little Joe APU mounted in the cargo box to help start M88s with dead batteries. The truck had not been used for about a year and started and drove Ok I was told, but typically had no brakes after sitting that long and one flat tire also about half a ton of mud from the tank course lodged everywhere, even inside the cab.

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:35 am

A Little Joe? Man I haven't heard that in ages, since my M88A1 days in Germany: Hohenfels, Grafenwoehr, Baumholder, etc. Thanks for the flashback!
Gary

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:26 pm

Yeah, a nice Little Joe to, wired into the trucks elec. system for starting and had jumper cables the size of welding leads and it was supposed to run and generate current also. I went to the auction but it went so far out of my reach in about 20 seconds that I was left out. I would have liked to have bought it but at $3500 it was way out of my league, that was a bucket load of cash in 1981

Carter

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:08 am

Carter wrote: I would have liked to have bought it but at $3500 it was way out of my league, that was a bucket load of cash in 1981 Carter

For some of us, it's still a bucket load of cash!!

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:10 am

You got that right esp. since I only paid $400 for the red truck and that came with a complete winch kit to be installed when I have time.

tmbrwolf · Post by **tmbrwolf** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:05 am

When I was stationed in Germany, we had a "labor service" bridge maintenance unit in the motor pool next to us, they had an M201 they used as a contact truck, it was still going strong when I left in 79.

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:45 pm

Carter wrote:The last one offered from Aberdeen Proving Ground's Property Disposal was sold to Memphis Equip. Co. in Sept. 1981, I have a pic somewhere around here and will try to locate and post it. It had been used by the track recovery school and had a Little Joe APU mounted in the cargo box to help start M88s with dead batteries. The truck had not been used for about a year and started and drove Ok I was told, but typically had no brakes after sitting that long and one flat tire also about half a ton of mud from the tank course lodged everywhere, even inside the cab.

I got the date wrong, 1985 not 81, the old brain is getting confused in my advancing years.

but here is the pic of last M37 I saw sold from Aberdeen's PDO, the Little Joe is hard to see but it's mounted in the cargo bed, right behind the cab:

KenSee · Post by **KenSee** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:28 pm

I used mine just last weekend.

Carter · Post by **Carter** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:08 am

I exercise mine once in a while but it doesn't seem to cure the problems I have with it, I exercise my eyes also but that doesn't make them see any better.

Teoma · Post by **Teoma** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:46 pm

I remember seeing them occasionally when I was stationed at Petawawa in 82

How long were M37s used?

How long were M37s used?

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