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| M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Name | M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle |
| Origin | United States |
| Type | Armored engineering vehicle |
| Service | 1965–present |
| Used by | United States Army; other operators |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Defense; Anniston Army Depot |
| Production date | 1965–1970s |
| Number | ~1,600 (approx.) |
| Weight | 55 short tons (approx.) |
| Length | 30 ft (approx.) |
| Primary armament | 165 mm M135 demolition gun |
| Secondary armament | M60 machine gun |
| Engine | Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12 diesel |
| Transmission | Allison CD-850-6 |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Clearance | 18 in (approx.) |
| Speed | 30–35 mph (road) |
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle The M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle is an armored engineering vehicle based on the M60 Patton main battle tank chassis, designed to support United States Army combat engineers with breaching, demolition, and obstacle reduction capabilities. Entering service during the Vietnam War, it combined heavy firepower, specialized equipment, and armored protection to perform route clearance, obstacle reduction, and fortification tasks across theaters including Arab–Israeli conflicts and Gulf War. The vehicle's integration of a large demolition gun and engineering tools made it a unique asset within armored and combat engineer units of NATO and allied forces.
Development of the M728 began as a response to post-World War II and Korean War lessons about armored support for engineer units, leveraging the proven M60 Patton hull and powertrain. Chrysler Defense adapted the M60 chassis to mount the 165 mm M135 demolition gun originally developed for the T118 (165 mm) gun concept, integrating an hydraulic dozer blade, winch, and specialized mounting for demolitions. Design choices reflected experiences from Vietnam War counter-mobility tasks and guidance from U.S. Army Ordnance Corps requirements, seeking interoperability with NATO logistical chains and compatibility with M88 Recovery Vehicle maintenance practices. Production involved coordination with the Anniston Army Depot for overhaul and retrofit programs during Cold War force modernization.
Primary armament is the 165 mm M135 demolition gun capable of firing the M123A1 high-explosive demolition round and multiple charge systems developed by Picatinny Arsenal ordnance programs. Secondary armament typically included an M60 machine gun for anti-personnel defense and provisions for smoke grenade launchers to support obscuration during breaching tasks. Engineering equipment comprises a hydraulically operated dozer blade for earthmoving and berms, a front-mounted winch for obstacle extraction and self-recovery, and stowage for Bangalore torpedoes and Bangalore charge assemblies used in route clearance operations influenced by techniques codified at Fort Belvoir and in doctrine from U.S. Army Engineer School. Fire control systems borrowed components from M60A1 upgrades and maintenance regimes linked to Tactical Vehicle Modernization initiatives.
Several field and workshop modifications adapted the M728 for specific missions and export customers. The basic M728 was supplemented by engineering support kits and improved transmissions from Allison Transmission retrofits. Some vehicles received enhanced communications suites compatible with SINCGARS radios and battlefield management systems derived from Force XXI experiments. Exported or allied-upgraded versions incorporated local armor upgrades influenced by lessons from Yom Kippur War operations and ad hoc modifications in Operation Desert Storm theater, including additional reactive armor prototypes tested alongside M1 Abrams survivability trials.
The M728 first saw deployment in Vietnam War units where armored engineer assets supported river crossings, base construction, and bunker reduction. During Yom Kippur War and subsequent Six-Day War post-conflict assessments, similar engineering concepts influenced Israeli armored engineering practices. In Operation Desert Storm, M728s supported breaching lanes for VII Corps and coalition armored formations, working alongside M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley elements to reduce minefields and anti-tank obstacles. NATO exercises in West Germany emphasized its role in defensive and counterattack planning against Warsaw Pact scenarios, and the vehicle featured in training programs at Fort Hood and Fort Knox before many units were phased out in favor of newer engineering platforms.
Armor protection derived from the M60 glacis and turret structure provided small-arms and shell splinter protection consistent with Cold War era medium tank standards. Crew compartment design prioritized blast attenuation for demolition tasks informed by research at Edgewood Arsenal and safety protocols from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers training. Add-on armor packages and field-applied explosive reactive armor trials were influenced by survivability studies following engagements in Lebanon and lessons recorded during Operation Iraqi Freedom. NBC protection and firefighting equipment adhered to standards promulgated by Department of Defense directives of the 1970s and 1980s.
Primary operator was the United States Army; allied users included NATO and coalition partners through surplus transfers and Foreign Military Sales programs managed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Countries reported to have operated or evaluated the vehicle include units associated with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and select NATO member states during Cold War deployments and post-conflict redistribution after Gulf War demobilizations.
Decommissioned M728s are preserved in military museums and collections such as those at National Armor and Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning displays, and various regional military history institutions across the United States and allied nations. Static exhibits often accompany collections featuring the M60 Patton family and Cold War armored engineering displays at venues like the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum and specialist restoration groups collaborating with the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
Category:Armored engineering vehicles Category:Cold War military vehicles of the United States