Return visit to Yuma Proving Ground - display at the Visitor Control Center

When we went on the Behind the Big Guns tour (http://trekincartwrights.blogspot.com/2016/03/visit-to-yuma-proving-grounds.html), we found out that we could return to visit the Heritage Center, so returned to visit the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) again before leaving Yuma.

After turning off route 95 onto Imperial Dam Road, there is a Visitor Control Center on the south (left) side of the road. We had been told that we could come there and get a pass to get onto the base to return to the Heritage Center. The Heritage Center is open Tuesday - Friday. To get a visitor pass, you need to be a US or Canadian citizen, and take your drivers license (for all drivers in the vehicle, I guess you need to take some other kind of ID for anyone who doesn't have a drivers license), the registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle. They completed a background check on us in a few minutes and then we could enjoy the display there are the Visitor Control Center.

The information about this tank said: M103 Combat Tank 120mm gun. This vehicle provided a heavy tank armed with a 120-mm gun with decreased weight and increased maneuverability, greater flexibility and accessibility to all components. This vehicle weighs 120,000 lbs.

 Patti was impressed that this tank weighs more than twice what Miss Doozie weighs.

M4A3 Sherman Tank. This tank, hull #S50232, was manufactured April 1944, at the Grand Blanc Tank factory, Lima, Ohio. The original registration number is W-3082829. It has wet stowage for ammunition whereby the rounds were stowed in water jackets, which, if penetrated, doused them in liquid reducing the likelihood of combustion. It has a 75mm gun and was originally equipped with two 30 caliber, air cooled, Browning machine guns and a 50 caliber, M2 heavy barreled machine gun above the turret. This particular tank was also equipped wit an M1 dozer blade. Many of the holes in the steel body of this tank have the edges ground flat, removing the ridge caused by impact. This grinding has been identified as European combat damage repairs. These repairs are mute testimony to the fact that "OL WAR HORSE" is a World War II Combat veteran.

Note: Dwayne is standing between the middle gun and the one to the right. Information about gun to the left: XM51 (MGR-3A) Little John Rocket - The Little John Rocket was the little brother to the Honest John. It was the Army's smallest nuclear capable rocket and found use within the army's airborne division. Air-droppable, this system was tested at YPG from 1958-1959. Gun in the middle: Honest John. Information about gun to the right: M107 175MM Self Propelled Howitzer - The 175MM projectile used by this system was extensively tested at YPG. Weighing 174 lbs, t could be fired out to a range of nearly 33 KM. The M107 was used to provide long-range fires during the Vietnam War. The large spade on the rear helped absorb and direct the weapon's tremendous recoil.