The Army has nailed down its arrangements for its 250th anniversary celebration at the National Mall in Washington DC on June 14th. The Army's heavy combat vehicles are on the rails from the Sierra Army Depot in California moving cross country for Washington DC. Groups of the public have been gathering en route to observe the convoys moving through their states.
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Here's what's coming...
28
M1A1 Abrams tanks, each roughly 70-ton tracked vehicle equipped with a 120mm cannon
28
Bradley Fighting vehicles, lighter tracked armor with 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain guns
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Stryker fast attack infantry vehicles will also be included, flexible 20-ton eight-wheeled vehicles with mixed armaments.
4
Paladins, tracked self-propelled 155mm howitzers each
weighing over 27 tons. The Paladin is a 155mm turreted self-propelled howitzer used by the US Army. Its 38-ton weight and tank treads could damage roads.
There will also be "several" pieces of towed artillery including M777s and M119s.
The American public swarms a US Army Infantry Bradley Fighting Vehicle in its static display on the Washington Monument grounds at the 2019 Salute to America event. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
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The Army says at least 200,000 people are expected to attend the upcoming June 14th anniversary celebration. The 4 hour parade will start at the Lincoln Memorial at 4 pm and will proceed along Constitution Avenue and continue to the National Mall, a shorter route than previously expected.
Fifty aircraft are expected to participate, including helicopters like the multi-mission
Black Hawks, heavy-lift Chinooks, and attack Apaches. Army officials told reporters they are working closely with the FAA and DC's Reagan National Airport for parade flyover deconfliction.
All weapons systems will be disabled and inspected by the Secret Service prior to the event. No ammunition, be it blank or live rounds, will be distributed to soldiers. Ha, what the SS knows about tank and howitzer firing systems among other vehicles such as the Bradleys remains dubious.
Roughly 6,700 soldiers — including active duty, reserve, National Guard, Reserve Officer Training Corps and special operations forces — are expected to participate.
World War II-era equipment including
M4 Sherman tanks,
B25 bombers,
P51 Mustang fighter planes, and
C47 Skytrains, will also be featured.
Army equine units from across the country are also expected, including Arlington National Cemetery's
Caisson Detachment.
The Army's prestigious Golden Knights parachute team will end the celebration with a jump and will present a folded flag to the president.
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The Army is adding rubber padding to vehicle treads and 1 inch steel plates where tracked vehicles will make turns. Heavy tracked vehicles like the M1A1 often make turns by using differential steering — one side will roll forward while the other reverses, or the tracks will operate at a different speed. That can cause tracks to "pinch," the road surface.
There will be no practices or rehearsal for this parade which should come off well regardless. The Army and US Park Police will be "meticulous" about public safety around the heavy vehicles during offloading, their ready placement and movement in the parade and for their display positioning on the Washington Monument grounds.