TM 55-2200 001-12
Change 3
Sec. 6-Fig. 83
TANKS AND SIMILAR UNITS OVER 100,000 POUNDS-DODX 140-TON
FLAT CARS WITH CHAIN TIEDOWN ASSEMBLIES
Item No. of Pcs.
Description
A
Brake wheel clearance, see General Instruction 1.
B through D
Intentionally not used.
E
6 per tank
Shackles, heat treated to 170.000 lbs. minimum breaking strength, 1-1/2 in. alloy steel, screw-
pin anchor shackle (has 1-3/8 in. pin). M1 Tank, attach one shackle to each front tow lug and
one shackle to the smaller hole in each lifting eye bracket. At rear of tank, attach one shackle
to each tow lug. M60 tank, attach one shackle to both the upper and lower holes in each front
tow lug. (Lifting eyes are not used.) At rear of tank, attach one shackle to each tow lug.
F
1 per tank
Link, 300,000 lbs, breaking strength, 1-3/4 in. alloy steel, 7 in. inside diameter, Attach to towing
pintle at rear of tank.
G
2 per tank
Wire rope, 3/8-inch, 6x19 IWRC. Wrap gun tube with protective material in area between rear
lifting eyes. Apply wire rope in two complete loops, one around the gun tube to left rear lifting
eye, the other around the gun tube to right rear lifting eye. Tension the cable only enough to
take slack out, and secure each loop with two 3/8-inch cable clips. (Not required if tank has
operable external gun tube brace.)
H
24 per tank
Single chain tie-down assembly with 1/2 in. diameter special alloy steel chain, proof tested to
27,500 Ibs. (13,700 lbs. working load limit). Apply chains between vehicle tie-down fittings
and anchor locations identified on the deck of the car, as shown in the loading figure (see
chain attachment points).
I
1 per tank
Saddle block. Fabricate gun tube rest from 6- x 6-inch lumber, contoured to fit tube, with metal
banding over the tube and nailed to block. Not required when tank has an external travel lock
(gun brace) or when gun tube is not installed in normal position on turret.
J
2 per tank
Wire rope, 3/8-inch, 6x19 IWRC. If gun tube is not installed in the turret, secure turret to hull
with 3/8-inch wire rope to prevent turret rotation and secure each loop with two 3/8-inch cable
clips.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. The car is equipped with a hand brake lever at lower edge of side sill. Lading on car deck will not interfere with brake
lever operation.
2. The shackles (item "E") and the link (item "F") are furnished as a part of the chain tie-down system on the railcar.
3. The loading figure (see chain attachment points) illustrates tie-down arrangements for one or two M1 or M60 tanks,
but other tanks and similar tracked vehicles may be loaded. When loading other such units, the number and location of
chain securements may vary from the arrangement shown, depending on the size and weight of the vehicle and location
of the tie-down fittings. The originating carrier must approve the load before shipments are made.
4. When tanks are loaded facing in the opposite direction from that on the loading figures (see chain attachment points),
the tie-down pattern will remain as shown but the numbered chain anchor location and channel letter would be
transposed as shown in parenthesis "( )".
5. Vehicle brakes must not be set and transmission shall be in neutral.
6. Turret gun must be in the aft travel position and secured in a travel lock or with wire rope, item "G" For the M1 tank,
the turret gun is lowered into a saddle block, item "I". Turret rotation and gun elevating controls must be engaged and
wire tied. if feasible, to prevent movement of turret and gun.
7. The vertical painted stripes on the railcar side sills indicate tank placements. Yellow for M60 tank(s), white for M1
tank(s). When two M or M60-series tanks are loaded, the forward left-hand road wheel of tank No. 1 and the rear left-
hand road wheel of tank No. 2 are centered over its respective colored stripe. When one M1 or M60-series tank is
loaded, align as shown in relation to the center stripe on the side sill. The M60 shall be loaded so that the space between
the third and fourth left-hand road wheels is centered over the center stripe on the side sill. Position one M1 tank with its
fourth left-hand road wheel centered over the center stripe on the side sill 8. Tighten turnbuckles of front and rear chain
tie-downs at the same time to prevent uneven tensioning. Tighten each chain until only 1/8-inch of rubber is visible
between the metal rings of the compression unit attached to the turnbuckle. After tensioning, strike chain with a hammer
or steel bar with enough force to eliminate any kinks in chain and retighten if necessary. Tighten jam nut against
turnbuckle torque 15 to 25 foot pounds.
9. Unused chains must be secured to the deck or stowed in channels. See General Rules 4, 5, 7, 11, and 15(G) for
further details.
E-108.4
