I have seen a picture of an M3a1 halftrack that was captured by I believe the 12th SS in the ardennes, des anyone know if there were M2A1 halftracks captured in the ardennes as well?
I would say its a safe bet to say yes. Many US units using those were overrun and captured or destroyed in the opening couple days of the battle. The 106th Division being the largest and several smaller Cav units as well.
Thank you, im reading the devils adjutant, and it says pieper was upset at malmedy when his tanks kept on firing on the trucks that one of the artillery units were using after they were abandoned. Just making sure, thanks again
Hi,
I am not sure if that is an M2 or M3 in the background.
Bundesarchiv 183-J28475, January 1945.
Might not be what you are looking for, good luck anyway.
Very Best Regards
Johan
M3 (see ammunition compartments in the side armor). There was a major difference between the M2 (& M4) and M3 (& M2A1) — the former had a skate rail for AA machine guns fitted around the inner edge of the rear compartment, while the M3 eliminated the skate ring and had an M49 ring mount for a .50-cal machine gun located in a “pulpit” over the co-driver’s seat. The M2 is about 9 inches shorter then the M3.
That was the pic I was using as somewhat inspiration, but the M2A1 also had the pulpit that you guys are talking about.
also, would the regular M2 have already been phased out by this time?
Not quite all correct. While the M2 had a skate rail for machine guns around the interior of the troop compartment. On the M2 both the .50 and the .30s were mounted on the rail on sliding pintles. On the M3, the .50 was on a floor pedestal mount and the .30s were mounted on fixed position pintles. On the M2A1 the skate rail was deleted, while on the M3A1 the floor pedestal .50 mount ws deleted. Both had the …50 mounted on a ring on the armored box pulpit and the .30s on fixed mount pintles. The M2 series had the shorter troop compartment with the external doors for the stowage boxes and no rear door and a visible “step” over the rear end of the tracks, while the M3 series had the longer troop compartment, a door in the rear armor plate, no exterior side armor stowage box doors and no “step” over the rear end of the tracks.
M2 Halftrack
M3 Halftrack
M2A1 Halftrack
M3A1 Halftrack
