Bustle rack

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams with a bustle rack and bustle rack extension packed full of gear.
A Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams with a bustle rack and bustle rack extension packed full of gear.

A bustle rack is a type of storage bin mounted on armored fighting vehicles, usually on the sides and/or rear of the turret. These racks are used to carry extra gear and supplies for the vehicle in the field, as well as give the crew a place to store their belongings so that they don't take up the already cramped space inside the vehicle. During Operation: Iraqi Freedom, some M1 Abrams tanks were fitted with a second bustle rack on the rear of the existing one at the back of the turret. This additional rack is often referred to as a bustle rack extension, or BRE. Also, some M113s and Bradley IFVs were fitted with similar stowage racks on the sides of the hull. The bustle rack extensions on the Abrams come in two versions; one with provisions for mounting jerry cans on either end originally used by US Marine Corps Abrams (as seen at right) and one without, used by US Army Abrams, though the former has begun to replace the latter on Army tanks. M-109 self propelled howitzers in Israeli service have used bustle racks on their front turrets for carrying crew men's personal equipment for decades.