Camp Shelby in Forrest County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

1. M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle Marker

Inscription. On a battlefield where cannon projectiles could be launched at speeds of more than a mile per second, troops asked to perform combat engineering tasks such as the removal and installation of obstacles under fire were issued the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV). Equipped with an A-frame jib boom capable of lifting up to 8.75 tons, a wench, an M9 bulldozer blade able to push up to 12.5 tons of top soil, and a huge demolition gun, the CEV could perform a wide variety of battlefield engineering tasks under direct observation of an enemy.

The CEV was the only armed variant of the M60 tank family to see combat during the Vietnam War. This model vehicle was also used to penetrate the Branch Dividian compound in Waco, Texas.

Vehicle Specifications
Armament: 1 x 165 mm L-9A1 demolition gun with 30 rounds, 1 x.50 caliber M85 machinegun, 1 x .30 caliber M219 or M240 machinegun
Crew: 4 (commander gunner, loader, and driver)
Weight: 57.5 tons
Speed: 30 mph
Maximum effective weapons range: 1,600 m
Maximum armor thickness: 230 mm (angle equivalent)
Production: 243
Year entering service: 1966

Captions
(Diagram #1) 165 mm Demolition Round

Erected by Mississippi

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Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby. (Marker Number 5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.

Location. 31° 11.827′ N, 89° 13.441′ W. Marker is in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in Forrest County. It is at the intersection of Forrest Ave W and Museum Street, on the left when traveling north on Forrest Ave W. The marker is located on the grounds of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 850 Forrest Ave W, Hattiesburg MS 39407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mississippi’s Pine Belt.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

2. M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle and Marker

distance of this marker: M103A2 Heavy Tank (here, next to this marker); M48 Patton Medium Tank (a few steps from this marker); M60 Patton Medium Tank (a few steps from this marker); M47 Patton Medium Tank (a few steps from this marker); M56 Scorpion Self-Propelled Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); M42 Duster Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); UH-1H Iroquois Utility Helicopter (within shouting distance of this marker); M102 105mm Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camp Shelby.

More about this marker. The marker and the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum are located at the historic Camp Shelby, an active Mississippi National Guard military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

3. M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle Marker

The front view of the M728 tank.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 3, 2026

4. M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle Marker

The side view of the M728 tank.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 72 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.