Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: M25 Dragon Wagon, Part 2

Part 2 of 2. Video cross-posted from World of Tanks channel for greater visibility. The M25 Transporter is often mis-named the M26, which, in reality, is only the tractor. But either way, it's a fascinatingly complicated piece of machinery designed to do particular job, and is another example of the 'behind-the-scenes' effort that the US Army took in creating a balanced, sustainable force in WW2. Not as glamarous as the tanks they transported, perhaps, but almost as vital.
In any case, these World of Tanks produced videos are advertising for WoT. If you wish to encourage WoT to make more, please feel free to try the game with this link and prove that the advertising works! worldoftanks.c...
Public facebook page:
/ thechieftainarmor
Twitter... erm.. X
/ chieftain_armor

[@m35benvids87]

Such an impressive piece of equipment. Recovery is often over looked.

[@Alexander-cg1ey]

It got some great spotlight at the beginning of the War in Ukraine

[@m35benvids87]

It sure did.

[@ditzydoo4378]

A truck/tractor that has a maintenance need for tension... Drive-Chain tension, but tension none the less. Chieftain is happy. ^~^

[@chrisc1140]

A tensioning Chieftain is a happy Chieftain!

[@nomar5spaulding]

As a modern day truck driver, this was a very cool video. I sent this to my dad, who is 65 in December and has been a trucker for quite a long time, and used to do a lot of driving with my grandfather back in the 1970s. Super cool rig.

[@noscopesallowed8128]

This vehicle's layout seems incredibly well thought out and this one is in spectacular condition. Insane to think a vehicle that old can be in such good condition.

[@gallendugall8913]

Really shows how complex simple things can be when done right.

[@murrayscott9546]

As is said, the Devil's in the details.

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

This is one of my favourite vehicles you've looked at. I am a fan of off road recovery and off road recovery vehicles!

[@JeffBilkins]

So we got a call..

[@wraithcadmus]

Ever play Spintires/MudRunner/SnowRunner?

[@ManicEngine]

Chieftain, I hope there are other vehicles at the Museum you could do more videos like this one on. It was interesting to hear David's experiences using this truck and all the odds and ends you wouldn't think of just looking at the vehicle. Always good to hear from the subject matter experts!

[@dougstubbs9637]

Hall Scott were considered the very best in heavy engines. Like Aston Martins, the engines were hand assembled, balanced and rated. Extraordinary reliability, smooth delivery of silky smooth torque. Logging trucks like Kenworths were the main customers, although at a premium price. Really were none better than Hall Scott. Legendary, just alike The Chieftain, our cult leader.

[@samholdsworth420]

Hand assembled in England does not inspire confidence lmao

[@samholdsworth420]

Hand assembled in England does not inspire confidence lmao

[@jon9021]

@@samholdsworth420that was when it meant something.

[@idrisddraig2]

@@samholdsworth420 it should. But assembled in England (without the hand part ) should not.

[@TomasPruzina-uw9ql]

Hand fitted means expensive, lacking in economies of scale. Sometimes an acceptable tradeoff for low production specialty products and even necessity for one-off prototypes, but opposite of good or great for engineers. Marketing wizards have somehow convinced people of the opposite though.

[@doughudgens9275]

Air fill nozzles for trucks have two openings: one pointed forward, and one pointing back at an angle. That way you can fill duel tire stems because one faces out and the other in.

[@manaboutit1594]

30 Year truck driver here. We approve of the brake upgrades. If one is gonna operate on the public roads, one should be safe as possible.

[@johnsteiner3417]

With all insightful planning that went into the design it seems like the engineers expected it to be used for decades.

[@A-world-of-My-Own]

Well those days are long gone, unfortunatly.

[@tomsmith3045]

I love 1940's American engineering. Everything built well, nothing that doesn't serve a purpose. And the question "should we put an M2 on it?" is answered by "will it fit?" It's just funny that we had a recovery vehicle with more firepower than some military's recon vehicles.

[@joshuaworman4022]

i was just listening to imagine dragon then i see this notification about the dragon wagon.

[@A-world-of-My-Own]

Love the detail of the descriptions, and the reasonings. Keep it up.

[@lwrii1912]

Cool vehicle. I like the old school stuff. I ran my Uncle's wrecker company in the mid 90's and he had a 1966 "R" model Mack with a Holmes 750 on it. I'm here to tell you, when you took that beast out to tow a dump truck or semi, or do some kind of recovery, you knew you did a solid days work when you were done. Nothing was easy in that rig and it sure was challenging. As much as I hate to admit it I did enjoy running that old wrecker.

[@johnmcgregor3671]

The interesting thing with Holmes wreckers is the price was put right on it ie when new a Holmes 750 was $750 plus the truck that it was put on

[@lwrii1912]

@johnmcgregor3671 Very interesting. I did not know that. Learning something new every day is a good thing, thanks 👍

[@chaseman113]

That intro clip reminds me of the insanity modified tank chassis’s did with blown injected V8’s. Commentary on that would be insightful, because the first of the Dragon Wagon video is great and excited to finish let two.

[@bachelorchownowwithflavor3712]

That steering setup with the super long drag link looks very similar to that of the transit school buses I work on.

[@jeffpowers8526]

Interesting stuff. I’ve been to the museum a few times, most recently being probably year and a half to 2 years ago and they’ve expanded their collection since. I remember seeing an M36B1 in the parking lot off to the side at that time. Worth checking out if you’re in the area, they run a ww2 weekend in May/June and some other events throughout the year.

[@jeffhoward9186]

I am with you also Chieftain. I do not like New York as well. New York can sink in the Hudson for all I care. Great show and presentation.

[@karl0ssus1]

Trucks use air brakes because they can be easily tied in to the trailer brakes. Connection coming loose/getting damaged doesnt spray oil everywhere, you dont constantly lose brake fluid every time you disconnect, and theres no risk of a leaking trailer consuming the entire oil reservoir of the tractor when you hook up.

[@Silverhks]

Can you imagine trying to keep a hydraulic trailer system pressurized? That's a lot of hosing/fittings to leak proof. With air you just let the compressor do it's thing

[@levihillsman7843]

And air dont boil

[@tomsmith3045]

Pretty much why they use them on trains, too. Can you imagine trying to bleed the brakes on a 50 car train?

[@Romuls753]

And it makes a parking brake incredibly simple to set up, it's just a fuck off huge spring

[@Ed-ty1kr]

Best part is, if you have an issue or a problem the brakes by default come on, with a large spring that the air pressure keeps open... Or the worst part, since without air pressure you end up with a ten ton paper weight, depending on how you see it.

[@alanrogers7090]

As the late, great Yogi Berra once said, "it's deja vu allover again"! I swear that I have seen these episodes before. I still want hed as this vehicle is so fascinating. I also want more on the M5A1 Stuart, as my Dad drove one during the war.

[@bluekestral8316]

I'm fairly certain this has been posted before

[@dennisvandermarkt8263]

People back in the day thought shit out. Wow engineered to the hilt. Awesome Chieftain, thanks for all you do

[@jonathanstancil8544]

Air brakes are used largely because if there is a leak in the system you can't run out of brake fluid. And front axle brakes weren't required on North American semis until July of 1980. There were issues with the front wheels locking up and trucks losing the ability to.control their steering with the wheels locked.

[@Ed-ty1kr]

Chain driven axles are ultra old school... something youd see rolling out of Jay Leno's garage.

[@chaseman113]

This thing has the most engine and adore it. Gotta share the same fuel as the tanks, but you need big reliable power and that means huge lazy gasoline engine of the times which only Hal-Scott could provide.

[@w.w.2restorations.vehicles698]

Army Cars U.S.A. was owned by Kevin Kronland who was tragically killed in an accident involving farm equipment. I purchased a French rebuilt White 160AX for a Halftrack project that I was working on, from Kevin before He passed away.

[@tacticalgunsmith]

I find the 50 cal. ammo storage and what looked like a Thompson in a cover mounted to the storage box infinitely more interesting than anything to do with the engine.

[@tasjan9190]

Hey Chieftain, what's up Buddy?! Great to see you ☺️

[@levihillsman7843]

Mil trailer plates take 3in pins still today. Over the road pins are 2.5 and you can change them.

[@dougstubbs9637]

I do know the British had an interwar vehicle called Dragun, an artillery tractor, but apart from this vehicle, I consider the western military’s are missing out on a cool name not usually used in reference to a fire breathing killer. Although, I believe that many Asian forces overuse Tiger and Dragon. In Australia, we don’t talk about the Eurocopter Tiger AAH POS.

[@ZGryphon]

Well, if you don't like the tractor puns, there was the US Air Force's AC-47, officially Spooky, but almost universally known as Puff the Magic Dragon...

[@richardbell7678]

It is a joke, as the M26A1 is for dragging disabled vehicles, so it is the "Draggin' Wagon"

[@guidor.4161]

Awesome vehicle. I got myself the excellent wrecker version of the M26 in 1:35 (Tamiya), because i thought the tractor/trailer combo might be too long for display when constructed...seems the original has a similar issue...

[@mediocrejoker153]

Awesome video. Next you should get a HET to compare it to. Those trailers were amazing to see at work.

[@tokencivilian8507]

Great stuff Chieftain.

[@andrewadkins5567]

Bailing out of the transporter seems to be the easiest on you have ever had.

[@guidor.4161]

Luckily i can at least go visit the 2nd vehicle in the Netherlands Overloon War Museum. Of course it is not a runner, at least they don't drive it. This museum must be one of the most underrated armor and vehicle museums. They have hundreds of vehicles and guns. Even a complete Lancaster in millions of pieces, dug up from a crash site and suitably arranged in a live size display.

[@SergeantSarge]

11:35 welp, so that's when the Scottoiler was invented!

[@SM120THBORE]

Service Brakes and Emergency Brakes Service Brakes: requires air to apply the brakes Emergency Brakes: requires air to release the parking brakes

[@gregoryheim9781]

A treadhead not thinking about airing up the tires... 😂. Hey Chief, how often do you worry about track tension on your car? 🤣

[@markstott6689]

I'm certain that I watched the Chieftain visit the Dragon Wagon 6 months ago??? It's what got me to buy the Tamiya Dragon Wagon model kit. Is this a re-upload or a brand new version?

[@eleks12]

Truck-Tractor Tractor-Truck... Or just Trucked-Tractor?

[@BuzzKiller23]

I had no idea Fred Durst was so obsessed with trucks.

[@AcButeo]

Not sure if this is the reason but we often use red light at night to preserve night vision. Could the red light be to allow night recoveries without blinding the troops and preserve situational awareness?

[@AlRoderick]

It's a side effect, but the main reason you use a red light is that it's much harder to see from a great distance. So a red light that's bright enough to work under for you isn't as visible to a distant aircraft as a white one.

[@marcelvangenderen6958]

Very nice video, my number 1 favourite vehicle of ww2! Does anybody know what kind of shoes The Chieftain is wearing? Are they military?

[@GoranXII]

Mildly surprised parts are so hard to come by. I'd have thought that these days modern machine shops with all their computer controlled tools would make it easier than ever to acquire custom replacement parts.

[@AlRoderick]

Yeah but those guys are busy and they charge a lot of money for custom-made parts, and a bearing assembly is a lot of parts serving as a unit. Machining a replacement component is always going to be possible, but it's going to be more than spending money for new old stock that's sitting around in a warehouse. That said, if you were really desperate, there's probably a machine shop somewhere in New Jersey that would take it on as a patriotic duty and only charge you an arm and a foot.

[@Christian---]

The important question is, how adept is the vehicle at carrying cake?

[@ivankrylov6270]

Hey Commander you like Dragons? Cuz ima be dragon your tank out of the mud you drove into

[@jeremyl862]

Can you do a more modern recovery vehicle? This was really interesting.

[@k9foru2]

Why would the bearings be almost unobtanium Bearing making companies have a crazy supply you usualy just need dimensions and they can make it it might be pretty expensive but not unobtanium. Edit: Part Number 941 - 932-B, Tapered Roller Bearings from Timken I was able to find that for around $900 from a couple supliers all new manufacture

[@roelhodzelmans1004]

I want one. If I every get big money, this will transport my IS-2

[@rogersmith7396]

Air brakes are much more powerful than hydrallics. All heavy vehicles have air brakes. Rolls Royce has used an air over hydralic system which is a real pain to work on. (I'm told).

[@wikikomoto]

why is there a heat shield on the crane? or is that the exhaust and the crane is behind it? we only get to see if for a second and the lighting isn't great

[@billylozito5790]

Nice but ya didn't drive it tho!

[@jurten]

wasnt this vehicle covered 4 years ago?

[@VirtualJMills]

Drip oilers available for motorcycles still, and of course chainsaws

[@mysticvirgo9318]

Air Brakes are failsafe.. air hold shoes off the drums.. Hydraulic brakes are not.

[@karl0ssus1]

True for as installed, not true for original equipment. There's also no real reason why a hydraulic system couldn't be installed in the same manner. The real reason is that air brake systems are expandable, so the trailer brakes can be connected to the tractors braking system, which would be an absolute pain in the arse with hydraulics.

[@SuperchargedSupercharged]

Have you ever thought about doing a video about the differences between the M1114 and the M1151?

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

Not anything which had ever crossed my mind before

[@ZGryphon]

"The most obvious and important difference between these two vehicles is 37."

[@SuperchargedSupercharged]

Well he likes the M1114 because it has better A/C. I liked the M1151 Better for the number of upgrades we put on it.@@ZGryphon

[@alanmoffat4454]

HOLD A PICNIC IN THERE .😊😊

[@pyramidsinegypt]

The Netherlands, dammit, not Holland 😄

[@jpreziose]

Damit u were where I live and I didnt get to meet u

[@wikikomoto]

oh also, is that .50 made of wood? :P

[@lawrencelaird2919]

Do they still allow the personnel ownership of military equipment in New York?

[@lawrencelaird2919]

This is truly a marvel of automotive engineering! It makes the M3 look simple!

[@Kumimono]

Red light, for better, adjustment for human night vision? I think subs have red lights for that reason. Which does make me wonder, do tanks have such feature? They are, after all, landships, if not, land submarines.... Need a big drill for that. :)

[@mars_hikes967]

No word about from what the engine was derived or copied, just deafening silence. I suspect it's based on work done by a certain Mr Hans-Dieter Paschke. Of course I have waterproof sources but I will keep them a secret. Also Fruehauf is a German name, so they must have known each other because both of them were active in the engine/trailer/tractor community.

[@bluekestral8316]

But a Timkin 941 is still made

[@stevebotham2018]

So how.bad was the withdrawal from.there being no track tensioner Nick jk

[@merlinwizard1000]

33rd, 9 August 2023

[@pyssysankar1]

Recovery vehicles are often overlooked. As war in Ukraine shows, you may lose to the enemy vehicles that could be restored with short repairs if you can't recover them from the field.

[@markcollins2666]

It's not a recovery vehicle, it's a transport vehicle. Get it straight!

[@danielstickney2400]

@@markcollins2666 The U.S. Army categorized the Dragon Wagon as a recovery vehicle, as Chieftain explained in part 1.

[@beersmurff]

World of Tanks, a game developed by Russians, Ukrainians and Belarussians together. Ain't that something.

[@legbert123]

NO DRAMA U ARE GETTING VIEWS WITHOUT DRAMA!!@!@!

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

War Thunder is WAY WAY better. 😂

[@AltCtrlSpud]

Вот здесь крошечный амогус -> ඞ

[@supremeflagship8965]

The engine used on this vehicle is Hall-Scott 440. It's a straight-6 gasoline engine with a 1091 cubic inches of displacement. Makes all modern gasoline sixes look tiny...

[@flight2k5]

What a stupid comment

[@kavemanthewoodbutcher]

So where's the video on the Diamond REO?

[@TheBetterManInBlack]

I have never seen a drive shaft parking brake work on ANYthing, and I've seen a bunch (since I'm old). Also, I looked it up. That engine is 1,096 cubic inch displacement!

[@teamidris]

Truth, Simon at X-Eng came up with a kit to make the benford dumper truck disk brake fit the Landrover transfer box. I ran the standard dumped cable and over-centre lever and that was mint :o) Before that I had threatened to drill holes in the brake drum and have a drop pin :D

[@tacomas9602]

Imagine how much frickin gasoline it drinks, jeeeeez!

[@TheBetterManInBlack]

@@tacomas9602 They said about a gallon a mile.

[@murrayscott9546]

Splendid restoration Levi and a good exposition by you both ! Thank you !

[@r2crowseye]

The 'filler pipe' for the tire is a Valve Stem. 😉 Loved this 2 parter. 🍻🍻

[@philipbossy4834]

Wont watch it again, but I'll still feed the algo with a line and a like. Fun times.

[@Gre-unit]

I remember meeting The Chieftain at E3 like 8 years ago and realizing he is like 8'9". He had a cowboy had on. It was magical.

[@fearthehoneybadger]

If only we could build kill dozers that move as fast as those cartoon tanks.

[@frankbarnwell____]

Been done. The movie Kill Dozer, in the 70s

[@GGGriffin]

great vid thank you

[@tpelle2]

I was surprised at the absence of brakes on the front wheels! However, I recall back to my days as a firefighter, when for a while I was the driver/engineer (engineer = the guy that operated the pump) on a 1973 Hendrikson-Pierce pumper truck. As a safety measure when responding on icy winter roads, there was a valve on the instrument pane that disengaged the air brakes on the front axle. This prevented one from skidding the front wheels on slippery roads and thereby losing steering control of the apparatus. I suppose that the supercharged Detroit Diesel 8V71 with it's Allison automatic transmission kept the rear wheels from locking up.

[@danglinbolas5547]

That "armored version" at the start sounded almost like "Arnold version". Now I wanna see The Arnold Version of this tractor.

[@petergerdes1094]

I realize this is a bit off topic of this video, but you seemed like the person who might know the answer. Why didn't the Germans protect against allied invasions with the same kind of blanket of mines that the Russians have deployed against the Ukrainians. I know they did use mines, but wouldn't it have made it a harder slog if they'd thrown more industrial capacity into producing and laying mines?

[@rogersmith7396]

Duallies usually have an air fill extension coming through the outside wheel.

[@W1ldTangent]

Military kingpins are bigger than commercial. The fifth wheel is usually live as you noted too, swivels in two dimensions instead of just front to back on a modern commercial tractor.

[@guidor.4161]

The engine is even bigger and has more hp than the twin OHC XK engine my Jag MK2 had, although the same engine in an E-type with triple carbs would have about 240 hp, i think...

[@chriscookesuffolk]

Enjoyed the film about this ingenious vehicle.

[@BashoftheMonth]

This is the prototype for every semi truck in the entire world, just really overbuilt.

[@marcelmichels9791]

I have seen the other one in Holland multiple times now... most impressive machines

[@coldwarrior78]

Wow, I thought the M88 was cool. This is amazing.

[@tacitdionysus3220]

What a fascinating vehicle.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

But does the engine resemble that of the T-14?

[@NosferatuandFriends]

Yes, the russians stole the design. Both engines combust hydrocarbons and turn reciprocal motion into rotational motion through means of a crank. Pretty cut and dry if you ask me.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@NosferatuandFriendsstole it from the Germans. Rudolf Diesel, probably.

[@death00124]

Did these ever carry a flamethrower?