Does anybody know what type of vehicles the recon company of a tank destroyer battalion would have used. I’ve been researching the 701st TD battalion, which is the unit I’m in now (reflagged as the 1-71st Cavalry Regement) I do know that they used halftracks with a 75mm gun in N Africa, and later recieved M-10s in Italy, but I can’t find anything about the Recon Companies equipment, I was thinking maybe they used Stuarts or maybe M3 scout cars.
Thanks
Wes
Don’t forget the M8 and M20 very popular in the Recon role as well, but I would hate to speculate as to which you wish to represent and at what period in the war.
Good point, I had forgotten about them. I was just kinda looking for a general idea, our unit history was not well documented as far as specific vehicles and numbers. Thanks for the input though.
Wes
I’ve found a picture from the 701 with the wheel and fender of a M3 Scout Car to the right of some men posing infront of a M10, it is closer to the camera than the men. However, there is no evidence that this vehicle is from the 701 and if it is it is unclear if it is HQ, Recon, Med…
As of 7/5/44 the 701st no longer had a Recon Co. At this time they used M8s and M5s. For more info you may want to contact someone at this website. http://www.701td-battalion.org/Default.htm
Thanks for the help!
Wes
I’m glad you posted, I thought I would have something in some of the new reference materials I’ve been accumulating but instead I discovered that my information on “tank battalions” doesn’t cover “tank destroyer battalions.” I thought that I had it with the 701st tank battalion but duplicate numbers were used and that wasn’t the same as the 701st tank destroyer battalion.
I did find that there are used copies available of the book “Road to Tunis” by David Rame (who worked with the 701st TD). And at this website http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/history/marshall/military/mil_hist_inst/a/armor4a.asc there is a reference to "North African Campaign DIary, “B” CO. and 2nd plt. Rcn. Co. 701st TD Bn, type transcript.
The only thing I had that came close was a photo in the book “An Army at Dawn” with the caption “an American tank destroyer battalion on reconnaissance at El Guettar March 23, 1943” which shows an M3 and a 75mm GMC M3 with three jeeps.
Wish I could have been of more help, Bob
I just picked up that book “An Army at Dawn.” From what I have gathered through the BN history, Vets, and current information, it seems that the vehicles could be quite diverse. In fact one Vet told me a story of when his M-10 was knocked out,! it was replaced by a jeep and a bazooka! Well anyway, thankyou all for the help!
Wes
I’m guessing that everyone has probably already consulted the book :
"US Tank and Tank Destroyer Battalions in the ETO 1944-45 (Battle Orders) by Steven Zaloga "
If not, let me know…I’ll look through it this evening for the 701st when I get home.
Larry
Actually no, I have not seen that book. It would be great if you would take a quick look and see what it says, like I said before, just a general idea would fine I know its hard to say for sure that “so and so unit used X-number of X vehicle” Thanks for the help, now theres some books you guys mentioned that I want. It never ends! Thanks
Wes
Wes,
Glad to be able to help. When I got the book, it was real difficult to read because it’s like an encyclopedia, with lots of charts and diagrams. It’ll be cool now to actually have a reason to go look something up. Hopefully there’ll be some info you can use.
Larry
Wes,
I goofed. [D)]
I have the Zaloga book on that Armored Division…not the Tank/Tank Destroyer Battalions. I combed through the book I have last night, and it barely mentions the existence of TD Battalions. I apologize for my error. But now I need to find that book myself.
Larry
Hi Hunter.I spoke to an expert source [ my dad],Who had the ditinction of seving on 2 differant tank destroyer BN’s units out of basic he was sent to scool on operationt & cross training.He was attached to the78th Inf division which had many different battalion within.His 1st unit in the 78TH was to be withinThe893rd tank destroyer BN. My dad has many photos of their M-8 recon vehicles.He entered SVC’s after d-day.At some point he wasSwitched to The 740th TD BN.They had switced to m-36’sHe’s been to Frakfurt,Kassell,Manheim,Stutgart & the renmants of the bridg at Remagen.He has other pic,more of the scenery,But 1 cute 1 Of an M.P. tailing a prostitute Mith no hair.Dad said that she was a sign of a prostitute that had been tested positive of STD’s I asked him about m-20’s for recn use.He couldn’t differentiate,So the answer is ,both were used. Semperfi, ~rudedog~