INTRODUCTION
The use of the tank vehicles in the Army is increasing because of the need for larger volumes of bulk fuels
and rapid, uninterrupted distribution requirements for refueling Army aircraft and vehicles. As a senior
petroleum supply NCO you are responsible for being familiar with and ensuring that your personnel
accomplish tank vehicle operations according to specified task performance measures. When controlling
tank vehicle operations you must ensure that all fuel dispensing and receiving operations, environmental and
safety considerations, quality surveillance, accountability, and security procedures are followed correctly. All
tank vehicles come equipped with at least one fire extinguisher. It is important that you and your personnel
become familiar with the location and use of the fire extinguishers supplied with the tank trucks you will be
utilizing. As with any petroleum operation always ensure that fire extinguishers are inspected and serviced at
required intervals.
PART A - TANK TRUCKS
The Army utilizes several different tank vehicles for use in refueling operations. Below is a description of
these vehicles and their typical uses.
M49A2C Tank Truck. The M49A2C tank truck is mounted on a modified M45A2 chassis (2 1/2 ton).
The truck has a multi-fuel engine with single front and rear dual tires. It is about 23 feet long, 8 feet wide,
and 7 2/3 feet high. TM 9-2320-209-10 provides details on this truck. The tank body is a stainless steel
1,200-gallon tank shell divided into two 600-gallon compartments. Each compartment has a manhole cover.
One 5-pound carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is mounted on the left and one is mounted on the right front of
the vehicle. The rear equipment cabinet consists of a manifold, pump, filter/separator, discharge valve
control and meter, water separator chamber, gage stick, grounding assembly, pump delivery line valve,
gravity delivery line valve, filter/separator drain valve, and pressure gage. The pressure differential gage
measures the effectiveness of the filter/separator. When the pressure differential between the inlet and
outlet pressure is more than 20 psi, change the filter elements and the go/no go fuses. If pressure differential
between the inlet and internal pressure is more than 15 psi, replace filter elements only. Change only the
go/no go fuses when the pressure differential reading is 15 psi between the internal and outlet pressure. A
power take off shifting lever is located in the cab to the left side of drivers seat. It operates the pump. The
lever is moved backward to engage the pump. To disengage the pump, pull lever forward. The M49A2C is
used for top and bottom loading, defueling aircraft, and pressure discharging.
M131A5C 5,000-Gallon Semitrailer. The M131A5C semitrailer (Figures 3-1 and 3-2) has a 5,000-
gallon capacity and weighs 12 tons. The entire vehicle is about 31 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 9 feet high. It
is towed by a 5-ton, 6x6 tractor truck or like vehicle that has a fifth wheel. The semitrailer is used to carry
and transfer fuel, service containers, and refuel ground vehicles and aircraft. The semitrailer can travel
cross-country at a reduced payload of 3,300 gallons (1,650 gallons in each tank compartment). It can fill or
empty 3,000-, 10,000-, 20,000-, or 50,000-gallon collapsible tanks. The vehicle can transfer product to, or
receive it from the fuel system supply point (FSSP). The stainless steel tank body is divided into two 2,500-
gallon compartments, has a 20-inch manhole and filler cover assembly, with a vent valve and locking device,
a discharge valve with screw assembly, and a drain pipe. A full marker gage that indicates when the tank is
full is welded to each manhole cover. There is a walkway on top of the tank body with a slip-resistant steel
grating. A ladder at the rear of the vehicle gives access to the manhole covers. The two compartments are
connected by piping to the vehicle's fuel delivery system. There is one equipment cabinet and a
filter/separator on the curbside of the vehicle. The curbside equipment cabinet houses an auxiliary engine,
pump, and battery. There are three hose tubes and one equipment cabinet on the roadside of the vehicle.
The roadside equipment cabinet houses a meter, a 1 1/2-inch (0-55 GPM) dispensing assembly, 2 1/2-inch
(225 GPM) dispensing assembly, filter/separator pressure gages, engine controls, fixed fire extinguisher
system, portable fire extinguisher, and fuel handling controls. The three hose tubes are located directly
above the roadside equipment cabinet. They hold three sections of suction hose and a gage stick. There is
a door on both ends of the hose tubes. The auxiliary engine and pump assembly has a 2-cylinder, 4-cycle,
air-cooled gasoline engine; a self-priming centrifugal pump; and a 24-volt battery. The choke is on the left
side of the engine. The engine controls are on the instrument panel located in the roadside equipment
cabinet. These controls consist of a power panel switch, starter button, ignition switch, oil pressure gage, and
voltage gage. The pump is connected to the auxiliary engine by a bearing-mounted shaft. A firewall
separates the two items. The entire pumping system has a total capacity of 225 GPM. The filter/separator
3-2
QM 5098
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