This is what we used at my first duty station, 25th inf. Div. Schofield Barrack Hawaii. This vehicle and being an 11C, they had no problem understanding my hearing loss when I retired.
I made adapter plates to run 1100-18 gama goat tires and rims on mt 55 dodge M37. Best mod ever. Bought them brand new, with the nubs and mil-spec air from my friend Jack in tooele for $90 ea. The only tubless lock ring style wheel i've ever seen.
This is not the Gamma Goat that was finally used by the Military. Those used by the Military used a Diesel. This is basically a prototype. This protype was also 1/3 lighter than M651. I believe that the body was made out of Royalite, which is stronger than fiberglass. The ones used in Nam were heavier and a hell of a lot noisier than the one that was on the prototype which as a Chevy Corvair engine.
I drove one for a year when I was on Okinawa in '76 with 3rd Battalion/ 9th Marine Reg. They were very loud. they would go anywhere except the volcanic ash from Mt. Fuji. I was just driving around while everybody was playing war. I got stuck in a very big hole with loose ash I got out and stepped back about25 ft watched it dig it's self in after a couple of minutes I got back in and backed out of the hole it dug, and drove around until I found a better way out. I could pull the front wheels off the ground by getting the rpms wound up in 1st shift to 2nd real fast the Goat would pop a wheelie. I drove it like a 5 ton sports car.
I had a buddy who worked full time as a National Guard mechanic, meaning it was his regular job, not active duty, but full time National Guard, he worked on these and drove them, as well as deuce-n-1/2s, 5 tons, and heavy equipment. It would be cool to find a surplus one and drive it for a work truck.
+Lynn Froetschner The Army got the model with the 3-53N Detroit Diesel engine. As any trucker could tell you, those old 2-stroke Detroits were LOUD. They called "Screaming Jimmys" and "Rocky Mountain Hummingbirds"; or, in the 12 cylinder models, the "Buzzin Dozen";. The exhaust note of that type of engine and the magnitude of it are it';s calling card. The Army, being the Army, ran them practically straight piped with not much for mufflers and with the engine situated right next to the driver. Ear protection was recommended for operators.
Randall Waitt I drove one of these things for a while when I was in the Army back in 84 (Bamholder Germany) All 2 stroke Detroits are noisy, unless they are mufflled, like the 977 HEMTT I drove for a while with an 8V92. They were reliable though.
+rbagel55 Muffled was the way to go for sure. I spent a good amount of time behind the wheel of an IH Transtar with a Silver 6V92T and an Allis - Chalmers HD-6 crawler tractor with a 3-71N. The IH with the muffler was far more comfortable on the ears. The Allis had this big pair of headphones you had to wear when you operated it. You still had your ears ringing at the end of the day even if you didn't plug them into the radio.
Randall Waitt Same thing here. We would go out to the field several times a year since i was in a Field Artillery unit. That ring from that 8V92 would hum in my ears as I went to sleep after driving it all day
All of them had 3-53N's in the some of the early ones were had cast iron blocks but those would sink more than swim so most of the goats have an aluminum 3-53N. Note that at least the engine I have out of a goat also has an early 4-valve head unlike some of the industrial 3-53N's.
The Chesapeake Bay at Ft Eustis, VA. Remember those days well, early 70’s. Transportation Headquarters. Goat’s we’re loud, you could hear those winding 2-stroke diesels all over Post.
I think he means .... sound of the goat. Probably because this was a propaganda piece and the sound would have been a down side... what would have been the point of a "low profile" in tall grass if you can hear it coming a mile away... I like the goats though and the 3-53 detroit but it's loudness is not a tactical advantage.
this was the end all of close in transport used them at ft hood and grey army/air force fit handlely in transoprt jets and ship/rail movements es radio mobile handy and carried our mail and mess and mobile hospital miss it much
Absolutely the most useless piece of equipment the military ever got saddled with.I drove them in Texas and Ft.Lewis.I would as soon run thru he'll with gasoline underwear on as drive one again.
This is what we used at my first duty station, 25th inf. Div. Schofield Barrack Hawaii. This vehicle and being an 11C, they had no problem understanding my hearing loss when I retired.
I see why having a Detroit screaming right behind you.
I made adapter plates to run 1100-18 gama goat tires and rims on mt 55 dodge M37. Best mod ever. Bought them brand new, with the nubs and mil-spec air from my friend Jack in tooele for $90 ea. The only tubless lock ring style wheel i've ever seen.
This is not the Gamma Goat that was finally used by the Military. Those used by the Military used a Diesel. This is basically a prototype. This protype was also 1/3 lighter than M651. I believe that the body was made out of Royalite, which is stronger than fiberglass. The ones used in Nam were heavier and a hell of a lot noisier than the one that was on the prototype which as a Chevy Corvair engine.
I drove one for a year when I was on Okinawa in '76 with 3rd Battalion/ 9th Marine Reg. They were very loud. they would go anywhere except the volcanic ash from Mt. Fuji. I was just driving around
while everybody was playing war. I got stuck in a very big hole with loose ash I got out and stepped back about25 ft watched it dig it's self in after a couple of minutes I got back in and backed out of the hole it dug, and drove around until I found a better way out. I could pull the front wheels off the ground by getting the rpms wound up in 1st shift to 2nd real fast the Goat would pop a wheelie. I drove it like a 5 ton sports car.
I love the music. The opening bars make it seem like the Gama Goat is coming to destroy Tokyo.
The only vehicle that trailer powered axle and the most reliable invention to this day. i bet it can compete modern 4x4 for offroad challenges
I had a buddy who worked full time as a National Guard mechanic, meaning it was his regular job, not active duty, but full time National Guard, he worked on these and drove them, as well as deuce-n-1/2s, 5 tons, and heavy equipment. It would be cool to find a surplus one and drive it for a work truck.
The dam thing overheated a lot. Maybe a civilian version would be fun to own, down side Parts?
My dad took us for rides in the ones they had at his unit. I remember them being extremely loud!
+Lynn Froetschner The Army got the model with the 3-53N Detroit Diesel engine. As any trucker could tell you, those old 2-stroke Detroits were LOUD. They called "Screaming Jimmys" and "Rocky Mountain Hummingbirds"; or, in the 12 cylinder models, the "Buzzin Dozen";. The exhaust note of that type of engine and the magnitude of it are it';s calling card.
The Army, being the Army, ran them practically straight piped with not much for mufflers and with the engine situated right next to the driver. Ear protection was recommended for operators.
Randall Waitt
I drove one of these things for a while when I was in the Army back in 84 (Bamholder Germany) All 2 stroke Detroits are noisy, unless they are mufflled, like the 977 HEMTT I drove for a while with an 8V92.
They were reliable though.
+rbagel55 Muffled was the way to go for sure. I spent a good amount of time behind the wheel of an IH Transtar with a Silver 6V92T and an Allis - Chalmers HD-6 crawler tractor with a 3-71N.
The IH with the muffler was far more comfortable on the ears. The Allis had this big pair of headphones you had to wear when you operated it. You still had your ears ringing at the end of the day even if you didn't plug them into the radio.
Randall Waitt
Same thing here. We would go out to the field
several times a year since i was in a Field Artillery unit. That ring from that 8V92 would hum in my ears as I went to sleep after driving it all day
All of them had 3-53N's in the some of the early ones were had cast iron blocks but those would sink more than swim so most of the goats have an aluminum 3-53N. Note that at least the engine I have out of a goat also has an early 4-valve head unlike some of the industrial 3-53N's.
I want one!!
The Chesapeake Bay at Ft Eustis, VA. Remember those days well, early 70’s. Transportation Headquarters. Goat’s we’re loud, you could hear those winding 2-stroke diesels all over Post.
Many thanks for this video. Going to find it very helpful in building a 1/35th scale model of it.
La version diesel était un trois cylindres deux temps qui s'utilisait dans les tours. Le même moteur que sur les engins forestiers Timberjack.
Useful vehicle.
Surprised didn't them in nam..
I can only imagine what kind of work they would have to do to a Gama Goat to up-armour it.
well considering they were made of heavy gauge aluminum, i think armoring them would be impossible without compromising it's performance
how can I get a copy
Mine is quite a bit more modern... too bad we lost the good tires and prop...
So that's what the AGL-4 evolved into...
why no sound
Sound works here - it is likely a problem on your end ?
I think he means .... sound of the goat. Probably because this was a propaganda piece and the sound would have been a down side... what would have been the point of a "low profile" in tall grass if you can hear it coming a mile away... I like the goats though and the 3-53 detroit but it's loudness is not a tactical advantage.
I just found this on yt. Totally silent. wtf?
this was the end all of close in transport used them at ft hood and grey army/air force fit handlely in transoprt jets and ship/rail movements es radio mobile handy and carried our mail and mess and mobile hospital miss it much
Absolutely the most useless piece of equipment the military ever got saddled with.I drove them in Texas and Ft.Lewis.I would as soon run thru he'll with gasoline underwear on as drive one again.
Seen these get stuck in the mud, was never impressed