Hi,
Can anyone tell me how the M1A1 decides which track to drive when pivot turn is selected?
I am currently learning to drive the vehicle, in order to move it around the tank park.

We are practicing pivot and neutral turns and the track being driven seems to be fairly random. I can't believe it is all random as it's a machine and there must be a logical answer.

Our instructors can't help with the query, so I thought I'd ask the experts

Thanks for any assistance

Nige

It's a function of the transmisson, based on Driver input.

Post this on the Armor discussions on the US Army forums. You'll get more technical answers there. I was a Grunt.

In Pivot, track locks in the direction of the turn (left turn, left track does not move. Right turn, right track is locked) Just like walking. Tank spins around locked track.

Neutral steer rolls each track opposite of the other (left forward, right backward, and vise/versa). Will spin in its footprint.

Drive allows the transmission to brake the track in the direction of the turn. Track does NOT lock, only less power is transferred.

Do not leave in combat idle when shifting into gear.....bad noises happen.