Newspapers / The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, … / April 2, 1970, edition 1 / Page 15
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'Otter' Gets New Lease On Life By Cpl. Mark Thiffault DANANG The furry Sea Ot ters of North America were threatened with extinction for years, but were saved through the efforts of conscientious con servationists. Another “Otter,” the Marine Corps’ amphibious track ve hicle, was also threatened with extinction but was given a new lease on life by Leathernecks of FLC’s Motor Transport Mainte nance Company. Eleven battered and crippled “Otters” were transported to the FLC site for repair from the 9th Motor Transport Bn. The M-76 Otters, the last of its type to be used by Marines in Vietnam, required the work of seven Marines for three weeks to repair them. The FLC Leath ernecks could not save them all. .jMj. | Xriu \ s U . JSfj " I PI \jgay.Bj *• lit H WMm£- 4; Mjlj^lfjPi*^^^!y>^]fflif<j|if| *U\ -, iMt : Lf' t t -HySssf f 4 * 1 MBWBMMB|fijflßßw One Os Five Completely Rebuilt M-76 ‘Otters’ 3 PIECE BATH SI flfl sß “ OUTFIT *WU 5 It. stool rcctis tub. Large 19" x 17" Lavatory, dosa coupled toilet. Complete with all fittings to floor or wall. 3 PIECE BATH $1 Os 73 ■ OUTFIT ■* ■ S ft. cast iron recess tub. Large 19" x 17" Lava tory, dose coupled toilet. Complete with all fit tings to floor or wall. 3 PIECE BATH ■ OUTFIT IM COLORS S ft. recess cast Iron tub. Large „ _ 19" x 17" Lavatory, close £4 0073 coupled toilet. Complete with I 1(1 all fittings to floor or wall. ■ Brow THORP & CO. ELM fr MILLARD ST. • JOHNSON CITY • 926-4194 • ESTABLISHED 1902 However, they did manage to re construct five of the amphibious vehicles from salvaged parts taken frpm the other six. “The Otter is a marginal ter rain track vehicle,” stated Ma rine SSgt. Tommie D. Fender, n o n-commissioned officer in charge, Maintenance Bn.’s Fuel and Electronics Shop. “It’s ca pable of going through water and swamps and over rough ter rain. “The design of this vehicle is outstanding,” SSgt. Fender stated. “It has a 18 and % inch ground clearance, so it doesn’t get hung up on obstacles prot ruding from the ground. Its hull is shaped like a boat’s and is buoyant in water. The 18 rubber tires help keep it afloat.” SSgt. Fender is the only Ma rine at the repair facility to Open 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday thru Saturday have prior experience on the Ot ter. “These vehicles were built at the start of the Korean War,” the Leatherneck said, “and parts are not available for them. These five are the last remain ing survivors of this particular type of amphibious vehicle.” Once the vehicles were brought into the shop, the Otters with the best hulls were singled out. Most of the machines had been involved in hostile action and were in pretty bad shape. “The next thing we inspected were the engines,” Fender stated. “We discovered that five engines were in servicable con dition so we started working.” The vehicles were dis assembled and their parts trans planted. The hulls were patched, windows installed, and the Ot- SERVICE ENTRANCE SWITCHES UL approved and meet national ELECTRICAL CODE STANDARDS. Breaker Type 200 Amp- $9 £55 40 Circuit Breaker WW ' Panel W/200 Amp. Main Breaker Single Pole Breakers *1.45 Doable Pole Breakers *3.35 100 Amp- s9* 15 20 Circuit W / | V Breaker Panel W/100 Amp. Main Breaker ters took on a new look. “The seven workers, all volun teers, had never worked on this type of thing before, so it was a new experience for them,” the Leatherneck said. Using the only instruction manual in Vietnam for the Ot ters, the Marines put the ma chines back together piece by piece. “There was a lot of things I didn’t know about the mainte nance of the Otter,” Fender said. “I don’t know what we’d have done without a manual.” Three weeks and 1,500 man hours later, five of the 8,813 pound track vehicles were ready to be put through operational maneuvers. “These monsters are heading for duty with the 4th CAG, near— Quang Tri,” added Fender. “They are to be used as supply I M 1 1 1 ■b< i * ■ JB fifFv * »t i ‘J--'V~?;/-'\. 4m «fc4. c> : ;;-;a||g| : r \ Bp* ® . |fclflß|« JET ’*Jx SSgt.Tommie Fender, son of Mr. and Mrs.Ragan Fender, Bee Log, N.C. THE "YANCEY RECORD HOT WATER gallons & gallons of hot wafer! • Class lined tanks • Immersion Type Element • Automatic Thermostat Control • Built-in Trap • 5 Year Warranty Guarantee • Quick Recovery • Double Element • Double Thermostat • Fiberglass Insulated 52 Gal. Round s g] 2s 30 Gal. Table Top S 6T S We Carry A Complete Line or Plumbing and Electrical Fixtures and Supplies; Also Light Fixtures, Appliances, Etc. APRIL 2. 1970 carriers. Each can hold up to carriers. Each can hold up to 3,000 pounds of food or ammuni tion.” Otters can also substitute as troop carriers, and can haul 10 fully equipped Marines. “We have a .50 caliber ma chinegun on a turret that springs in a 380 degree circle,” Fender said, “and that spells trouble for the enemy. It can throw out lots of lead.” In the event that the Otter leaks water, it is equipped with bilge pumps that automatically dispose of any inside water. Five Marines from 4th CAG spent four days under the in struction of Fender to learn how to operate the vehicles. “I. also taught them how to do minor maintenance on them,” he said. “If they are well cared for, they could last for years. PAGE 15
The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, N.C.)
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April 2, 1970, edition 1
15
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