Design Of The M1 Lightweight Steel Tow Bar

Abstract : The increased weight of today's MlAl and MlA2 Main Battle Tanks has introduced a tow bar failure problem encountered only during field recovery operations. This problem is one of insufficient strength as the tow bar system currently used in the field was not designed for the recovery of these heavier vehicles. The direct result has been an increasing number of tow bar failures. In a joint program between the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM), the U. S. Army Materials Technology Laboratory (MTL) and Foster Miller, Inc. (FMI), a new lightweight composite tow bar was developed. During the development of this new system, it became apparent to MTL that the cost of manufacturing and materials for this composite system would be relatively high when compared to the current steel tow bar system. Accordingly, MTL developed a new lightweight tubular steel tow bar at the same time the composite tow bar program was coming to a close.