Was there a RL varient of the M-2 mounting a 105mm howitzer?

[Hans]

This doesn't have anything to do with Aces High...well, ok you've probably guessed my motives for asking...

But seriously, isn't their a U.S. army M-2 or M-3 halftrack that has a 105mm howitzer in the back?

Or am I thinking of an anti-tank gun instead?

Hanz.

[Torque]

105 mortar maybe but where they gonna fit a 105 howy on a 1/2 track.

[Magic]

105mm Howitzer.... not sure. But a 75mm, yes.

goto: http://www.robertsarmory.com/

Lotsa neet stuff on other WWII weapons also.


Regards,

Magic

[funked]

I believe there were also heavy mortars carried, and a 37mm AT gun.  All three would be very useful on the fast halftrack chassis!

[kohler]

Yes and No.

The M2 was not the most common 'base' halftracked chassis used by the U.S. in WW2.

The M3 was - it had a larger 'carrying capacity' (M2s were most often used to carry small teams of infantry in armored recon units).

There was an M3 halftrack that was armed with a 105mm *howitzer* (as opposed to a 105mm gun). It had a small trailer that was used to carry the ammunition for the MA.

It was pretty quickly replaced by the M7 'Priest' as the M3/105 combo was basically 'poor man's mechanized artillery'.

It wouldn't be very useful at all in a direct fire/tank hunter role.

In general, U.S. armored halftracks suffered from very poor protection (as in poor even for armored halftracks). Rifle fire could penetrate them from the side and rear (the same could not be said of the German SPW 251 and SPW 250 series) - thus their nickname: 'Purple Heart Boxes'.

The most common U.S. halftracks (I don't have the exact variant # designations memorized at this early hour - if someone wants the exact names let me know):

M3 'HMG': 1 .30 water cooled HMG, 1-2 .30 air cooled MMG...found in the heavy weapons company of mechanized infantry units.

M2 w/8.1cm mortar (also had a .50 AAMG)

M3 w/75mm howitzer (used as a tank destroyer thru mid-late 1942...gun penetation/performance slightly inferior when compared to the M4 Sherman's 75L38 MA...also
had a .50 AAMG...very very vulnerable to enemy fire)

M15A1 MGMC (AA halftrack, 37L48 AA gun + 2 .50 AAMG all on same mount - actually more common than the M16 until early 1944 - I suspect the reason we have the M16 may partly be due to workload - no need to stat/spec out a 37L48 AA weapon this way)

M3A1 - armored infantry carrier. 1 .50 AAMG.

In general, U.S. armored infantry rarely rode into battle in halftracks (due to the protection problems mentioned above). All halftracks were vulnerable to AP fire, but for halftracks to be substandard when protecting versus shell fragments and small arms fire - look out. German PzGr often used their SPW 251s for actual armored assault - mostly on the Eastern front.

German halftracks (common):

SPW 251/1 - basic armored infantry carrier. 1-2 7.92mm MG 34 or MG 42, 1 on AA mount.

SPW 251/2 - 8.1cm mortar, 7.92mm AAMG.

SPW 251/9 - 7.5cm /L24 howitzer, 7.92mm AAMG, found in the heavy weapons company of PzGr and PzAufk (armored recon) units.

SPW 251/sMG - 7.92mm HMG, 7.92mm AAMG ('HMG' - heavy mount + telescopic sights for long range sustained fire) - replaced infantry carried HMGs in heavy weapons company of mechanized infantry and armored recon units.

Brain shutting down. See you guys in MA soon.

All halftracks very vulnerable on combined arms battlefield. They usually pack a good punch and are very vulnerable - they attract fire because it very cost effective to attack good weapon system without great protection.

J. Kohler

Great Crasher of Typhoons During Wingover

[SC-GreyBeard]

Yes there was,,,, the T-19 HMC(M-3 Chassis)had a 105 howitzer, and the T-30 HMC, had the airborne version of the 75mm field howitzer..

There was also the T-12, 75mm (LONG) used for anti-tank..

(from Steven Zaloga's "US halftracks of WWII", pg 33-40) Tanks illustrated #15

Personally I'll like to see a T-28e1, (africa) with the twin water-cooled 50's and a 37mm, or the aircooled 50's ands 37 mm of the M-15.




------------------
GreyBeard, Squadron Leader
Commander, "E" Flight, Aces High
Senior Staff Council
"The Skeleton Crew"
"Fly with Honor"[/i]
"Keepin' the Faith"

[Vermillion]

 

 

It wouldn't be very useful at all in a direct fire/tank hunter role

I could be wrong, but I believe these guys want to roll into range, and shell enemy airfields.  

That would be a really nice addition.

------------------
Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"

[funked]

Vermillion you got it precisely.  

What we want is the fastest possible vehicle with the biggest possible weapon.  That way we can have historically correct equipment AND get to the target in a reasonable time-frame.

What use is having all the armor on the Panzer if I never see any enemy tanks?  Both the Panzer and the half-track are toast to a well-flown fighter anyways.

[kohler]

The M3/105 variant was actually fairly slow...due to it having to tow the trailer filled with 105mm shells. 8)

Funked, your best bet as far as halfracks go would be the M3/75 variant.

Overall, it would be the M18 GMC. 8)

Kohler

[SC-GreyBeard]

errr  isn't the M-18, the hellcat tank destroyer? Mounting a L-76mm gun. Open top..

As for the 105/T-19, they used stripped out M3's for ammo carriers after the 1st few months of service.



------------------
GreyBeard, Squadron Leader
Commander, "E" Flight, Aces High
Senior Staff Council
"The Skeleton Crew"
"Fly with Honor"[/i]
"Keepin' the Faith"

[Hans]

Hell, I'll take a M-2 TOWING a 105mm howizter.

Yup, I want to shell an enemy airfield.  The Panzer just stinks at trying to hit the AAA guns on an airfield.  I figure I need something better suited for the job.

The four, basic army units I wanted are:

Tank
Mobile artillery
M-2 with a load of paratroopers
M-16 for AAA work.

Thats all we need.  That and the bases to be closer together.

Hanz.