Artillery, Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the USA: The Museum of American Armor, Old Bethpage, New York

The Museum of American Armor, Old Bethpage, New York

The Museum of American Armor (MAM) is the new home for the tanks and armoured fighting vehicles previouslly held in the Military Museum of Southern New England (MMSNE), in Danbury, Connecticut. This aim of the MMSNE was to maintain the memory of American Tank Destroyer units of the Second World War.  Over the museum's 20 year history, thanks to generous donations and the hard work of many unpaid volunteers, the museum's collection has expanded to over 10,000 artifacts, covering all of the armed forces of the United States.  The museum currently displays a wide cross-section of weapons and materials pertaining to 20th century American military history.   Many of the museum's vehicles are extremely rare, and a few may be the only examples preserved in the Western Hemisphere.  The museum staff is composed primarily of unpaid volunteers who are responsible for designing and installing exhibits, running the gift shop, and participating in public events.

(MAA Photo)

The Exhibits included the following tanks, armoured fighting vehicles and artillery:

(Simon Q Photo, of a Tiger I preserved at Bovington in the UK.

(Rickard Angman Photo)

Tiger I at the Musée des Blindés, Saumer, France.

German Tiger I tank replica. The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of the Second World War that began operational duty in 1942 in Africa and in the Soviet Union, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. It gave the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted the 8.8 cm (3.5 in) KwK 36 gun (derived from the 8.8 cm Flak 36, the famous "eighty-eight" feared by Allied troops). 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944. After August 1944, production of the Tiger I was phased out in favour of the Tiger II. (Wikipedia)

(Author Photo)

M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman "Easy 8" tank, similar to this one on display in front of the Oshawa Armoury,

(USMC Photo)

A Marine flame throwing tank, also known as a "Ronson", scorches a Japanese strongpoint. The eight M4A3 Shermans equipped with the Navy Mark 1 flame-thrower proved to be the most valuable weapons systems on Iwo Jima, 1 March 1945.

M42B1E9 Sherman Flamethrower Tank (Serial No. 415), RN 3015171. Only eight M42B1E9's are known to be in existence today. US flamethrower tanks (all models) were referred to as "Ronson’s" or "Zippo" tanks to GI's. This variant is a flamethrower version of the M4A1 Sherman. It had its 75-mm gun replaced with a flamethrower and has the spaced out E9 suspension with extended end connectors on both sides of the tracks. The MAA tank was originally built by Pressed Steel Car in August 1942 and then re-manufactured in 1945. She has a riveted lower hull. She was originally from the North Africa campaign (wrecked) and was later refitted for the planned invasion of Japan. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M5 Stuart tank, similar to this one preserved with the 3rd Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

The M5 is a late-war version of a pre-war light tank design which was obsolete the day it went into battle. Nevertheless, it gave American and Allied forces a reliable tank that could be used as a scouting vehicle.It was found on all fronts of fighting during World War II, but was probably most effective in the Pacific, where the Marines used it against Imperial Japanese forces before the arrival of the better-equipped Sherman tanks.The final version of the vehicle used twin V-8 automobile engines and twin Hydra-Matic transmissions, operating through a transfer case. This gave Stuart crews a quieter, cooler and roomier version and was easier to train on than the automatic version.It also featured a redesigned hull with sloped glacis plate for better protection and a driver's hatch moved to the top. (MAA)

M47 Patton Medium tank, similar to this one preserved with the 1st Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas. The M47 was a relatively short-lived MBT (then called “medium tank” created to replace the M46 Patton/M26 Pershing and the M4 Sherman). It was widely produced to fit the needs of the US Army, US Marines, but also NATO nations as a stopgap measure before new models could be built locally. Although a good all-over tank, the M47 Patton was used only for a few years, before its replacement by the M48 in 1953 which was really a generation ahead. Declared obsolete in 1957, the impression it left, and service time nevertheless far outlasted the fifties under other colors. The Soviet T-54 was modified to face it and the M47 defeated many foreign-built models with success, even taking part in massive tank battles. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M48 Patton MBT, similar to this one preserved with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. The MAA has an Israeli Magach 3, 109121צ-, originally manufactured by the United States as an M48 Patton tank designed to confront and defeat Soviet armor if the Cold War erupted during European combat. Considered surplus by the United States by the early 1960s, it was transferred to Jordan as part of a military assistance program. During the 1967 Six Day War, Israeli forces captured this M48 and incorporated it into their own tank force.
The M60 is an American second generation main battle tank (MBT). It was officially standardized as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 in March 1959. Although developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 series was never officially classified as a member of the Patton tank family, but as a "product-improved descendant" of the Patton tank's design. The United States fully committed to the Main Battle Tank doctrine in 1963 when the Marine Corps retired the last (M103) heavy tank battalion. The M60 tank series became America's primary main battle tank during the Cold War. Over 15,000 M60s were built by Chrysler. Hull production ended in 1983, but 5,400 older models were converted to the M60A3 variant ending in 1990. It reached operational capability with fielding to US Army units in Europe beginning in December 1960. The first combat usage of the M60 was with Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War where it saw service under the "Magach 6" designation, performing well in combat against comparable tanks such as the T-62. In 1982 the Israelis once again used the M60 during the 1982 Lebanon War, equipped with upgrades such as explosive reactive armor to defend against guided missiles that proved very effective at destroying tanks. The M60 also saw use in 1983 with Operation Urgent Fury, supporting US Marines in an amphibious assault into Grenada. M60s delivered to Iran also served in the Iran–Iraq War. The United States' largest deployment of M60s was in the 1991 Gulf War, where the US Marines equipped with M60A1s effectively defeated Iraqi armored forces, including T-72M tanks. The United States readily retired the M60 after Operation Desert Storm, with the last units being retired from active service in 1997.[15] M60-series vehicles continue in front-line service with a number of countries' militaries, though most of these have been highly modified and had their firepower, mobility and protection upgraded to increase their combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield.The M60 underwent many updates over its service life. The interior layout, based on the design of the M48, provided ample room for updates and improvements, extending the vehicle's service life for over four decades. It was widely used by the US and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today, despite having been superseded by the M1 Abrams in the US military. The tank's hull also developed a wide variety of prototypical, utility and support vehicles such as armored recovery vehicles, bridge layers and combat engineering vehicles. As of 2015 Egypt is the largest operator with 1,716 upgraded M60A3s, Turkey is second with 866 upgraded units in service, and Saudi Arabia is third with over 650 units.

(Author Photo)

M60A3 MBT, similar to this one on display in the 3rd US Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

The M60 is an American second generation main battle tank (MBT). It was officially standardized as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked: 105-mm Gun, M60 in March 1959. Although developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 series was never officially classified as a member of the Patton tank family, but as a "product-improved descendant" of the Patton tank's design. The United States fully committed to the Main Battle Tank doctrine in 1963 when the Marine Corps retired the last (M103) heavy tank battalion. The M60 tank series became America's primary main battle tank during the Cold War. Over 15,000 M60s were built by Chrysler. Hull production ended in 1983, but 5,400 older models were converted to the M60A3 variant ending in 1990.

It reached operational capability with fielding to US Army units in Europe beginning in December 1960. The first combat usage of the M60 was with Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War where it saw service under the "Magach 6" designation, performing well in combat against comparable tanks such as the T-62. In 1982 the Israelis once again used the M60 during the 1982 Lebanon War, equipped with upgrades such as explosive reactive armor to defend against guided missiles that proved very effective at destroying tanks. The M60 also saw use in 1983 with Operation Urgent Fury, supporting US Marines in an amphibious assault into Grenada. M60s delivered to Iran also served in the Iran–Iraq War. The United States' largest deployment of M60s was in the 1991 Gulf War, where the US Marines equipped with M60A1s effectively defeated Iraqi armored forces, including T-72M tanks. The United States readily retired the M60 after Operation Desert Storm, with the last units being retired from active service in 1997.[15] M60-series vehicles continue in front-line service with a number of countries' militaries, though most of these have been highly modified and had their firepower, mobility and protection upgraded to increase their combat effectiveness on the modern battlefield.

The M60 underwent many updates over its service life. The interior layout, based on the design of the M48, provided ample room for updates and improvements, extending the vehicle's service life for over four decades. It was widely used by the US and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today, despite having been superseded by the M1 Abrams in the US military. The tank's hull also developed a wide variety of prototypical, utility and support vehicles such as armored recovery vehicles, bridge layers and combat engineering vehicles. As of 2015 Egypt is the largest operator with 1,716 upgraded M60A3s, Turkey is second with 866 upgraded units in service, and Saudi Arabia is third with over 650 units. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M551 Sheridan tank, similar to this one on dispaly in the 3rd Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

(Author Photo)

M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer.  Similar to this one on display at the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

The M18 Hellcat was an American tank destroyer deployed during the Second World War and the Korean War. Of its era, it was among the fastest armored vehicles on the battlefield, reaching speeds of 55 mph. That speed came at a cost though.Its armor was no more than one inch thick and offered no protective roof for its five-man crew. It was also unique in that it used a 400 horsepower, 9 cylinder radial gasoline engine, originally designed for military aircraft.With design work initiated before America’s entry into the conflict, the Hellcat gave American and Allied forces a respectable, mobile anti-tank capability against heavily armored German tanks, offering a 76 mm cannon in its turret.The Hellcat’s speed and ability to maneuver into firing position were welcomed by its crews, but they wanted a far more powerful gun and were wary of the minimal armor protection.With only a modest half-inch of armor plate on the front hull, its protection was actually less than that of the M8 armored car, and much less than the two inches of frontal armor on the Sherman tank. With heavier German tanks—such as the Panther and Tiger—arriving on the battlefield, Hellcat crews needed a strategic approach to kill these far more potent enemies.Some 2,507 were built by Buick, representing America’s late realization that both the Germans and Russians had surpassed the U.S. in innovative tank design during the Second World War, and the United States was in a grim game of catch up. (MAA)

(World War Photos)

German Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausf G Assault Guns, ca 1944. The Sturmgeschütz (or StuG) was developed by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War as a means of putting a powerful assault gun on a tank chassis, without the considerable cost and complexity of building a tank. Initially meant to destroy enemy bunkers and similar defensive positions, its low profile, potent 75 mm cannon, and mobility were put to good use as an ambush weapon against the Allies as they closed in on the Nazi Reich in 1944-45. The MAA StuG is a replica. The original vehicles served on all fronts—from Russia to North Africa, and Western Europe to Italy—as assault guns and tank destroyers, with a number of them being exported to Germany’s allies. Still, without a traversable turret and its thin armor, it was ill-advised to engage in an attack role.As the situation for the Reich military deteriorated later in the war, its defensive capabilities became increasingly important, and more StuGs were built than tanks. It was no surprise that a version of this weapon became Germany’s most manufactured armored fighting vehicle during World War II, with some 10,000 examples produced.

(Andre Blanchard Photo)

M8 Greyhound Light Armoured Car, similar to this one in the Ontario Regiment Museum, Oshawa, Ontario.

M8 Armoured Car. Originally conceived as a fast-moving tank destroyer, it became quickly apparent the M8 was under-gunned and under-armed to perform that function, and so it became a widely-produced reconnaissance and scouting armored car, with 8,500 built.Susceptible to mines and not well-suited to off-road travel, it was used most effectively in the hands of those like General Patton to act as modern-day cavalry, screening the flanks of fast-moving tanks and mopping up rear areas bypassed during his advance from Normandy.Its 37 mm cannon was augmented with a coaxial 30 caliber gun and a .50 caliber gun on a turret ring to ward off enemy aircraft and offer heavy ground defensive fire. It fielded a crew of four. (MAA)

(Howard Dale Photo)

M20 Light Armoured Scout Car. The M20 was an M8 Greyhound with the turret replaced with a low, armored open-topped superstructure and an anti-aircraft ring mount for a .50-in M2 heavy machine gun.  A bazooka was provided for the crew to compensate for its lack of anti-armour weaponry.  The M20 was primarily used as a command vehicle and for forward reconnaissance, but many vehicles also served as armoured personnel carriers and cargo carriers.  It offered high speed and excellent mobility, along with a degree of protection gainst small arms fire and shrapnel.  When employed in the command and control role, the M20 was fitted with additional radio equipment. (MAA)

(MSGT Bert Mau, U.S. Army Photo)

Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando, similar to this one in service with US Military Police in 1981.

The Museum’s acquisition of this iconic Vietnam War armor vehicle underscores the commitment to honor those Americans who served during this conflict. The V-100 Commando, with twin machine guns in a turret, was extensively used during the Vietnam War to protect military convoys heading out to supply remote outposts, as well as provide security for air bases housing helicopters and fighter bombers. Developed in the early 1960s during the height of the Cold War, it was designed to be used in various roles, including as an armored personnel carrier, a reconnaissance vehicle and a weapons carrier, but it would become best known in the jungles of “Nam.”
Originally deployed to South Vietnam in 1963, it was used by the U.S. Army Military Police, the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and the South Vietnamese military. By 1968, the U.S. Army had purchased the V-100 Commando for its own use. The vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive, has a gasoline-powered 360-cubic-inch Chrysler V8 engine, and its five-speed manual transmission allows it to traverse rough terrain. It was capable of speeds up to 60 miles per hour. The V-100 carried a maximum crew of two, with up to ten passengers. In road patrol, convoy duty and base defense, it usually had a crew of two: driver and gunner. Additional armament often included two or three top-mounted M2 machine guns or M60 machine guns. Other weapons were also introduced, such as the M134 Miniguns. (MAA)

(Dammit Photo)

Daimler Dingo, similar to this one in Roermond, the Netherlands.

The small two-man British Dingo has been called one of the best armored fighting vehicles built in Britain during the Second World War. It was well-protected for its size and was typically equipped with a Bren machine gun for defense. The Dingo featured a unique pre-selector transmission gearbox and fluid flywheel that offered five speeds in both directions. This is a feature retained in the post-war Ferret and Fox armored cars, also on display. Like a number of American vehicles during World War II, it was extremely vulnerable to mines, featuring run-flat tires and independent coil suspension. A swiveling passenger seat allowed the second crew member to operate the radio or the Bren gun, as needed. The driver's seat was canted slightly off to the left of the vehicle, which allowed the driver to maneuver in reverse and look behind simply by glancing over his left shoulder. One can imagine that this was a useful feature, as retreats by Dingos scouting for the enemy were often necessary. The Dingo was so popular that, though it was only in production throughout the war, it was not phased out of service until the early 1950s. It saw action from the earliest days of the Second World War, as the British retreated from Dunkirk, to the final weeks of the conflict, when the Third Reich was crushed. It was found in North Africa and Italy, as well as Western Europe. A number of captured Dingos were used by the Germans; a handful were reportedly also used in Vietnam decades later, where American troops drove them while off-duty. The MAA Dingo is painted in markings applied during the hard-fought Italian campaign. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

Daimler Ferret similar to this Ferret Scout Car Mk  II.  LGen E.C. Ashton Armoury Museum, 724 Vanalman Ave, Victoria, British Columbia. The Ferret is a direct descendent of the Second World War British armored cars. It was produced from the immediate post war years through 1971. It could be found wherever the British military was posted, from the Berlin Wall to the sands of Africa to the streets of Hong Kong. Throughout its production life, the basic hull remained unchanged, but more powerful engines and different turrets were installed. The Ferret has an all-welded steel hull that is divided into three compartments: the driver's compartment, the fighting compartment in the center, and the engine compartment in the rear. The driver sits in front with three hatches: one in front and one on each side, and each hatch has an integral periscope. In the center is a manually-operated turret that accepted a number of different weapons, but the .30 caliber machine gun is featured in the Museum’s presentation. A Rolls-Royce B60 Mk 6A six-cylinder in-line water-cooled gas engine develops 129 horsepower at 3,750 rpm. Drive is transferred to all four wheels with a fluid-coupling transmission, having five speeds in each direction. Run-flat tires were used during operations. The Museum’s version has been painted with a Second World War Allied star, in recognition of its heritage. (AA)

The FV721 Fox Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled) (CVR(W)) was a 4 × 4 armored car manufactured by ROF Leeds, deployed by the British Army as a replacement for the Ferret scout car and the Saladin armored car. The Fox was introduced into service with B Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment (Aliwal Barracks, Tidworth) in 1975 and withdrawn from service 1993–94. Development of the Fox began in 1965 and the following year the Daimler company of Coventry, which was building the Ferret scout car at the time, was awarded a contract to build 15 prototype vehicles. The first was completed in November 1967 and the last in April 1969. User trials began in 1968 and the first official announcement concerning the Fox was made in October 1969. The following year the Fox was accepted for service with the British Army and a production order was placed with Royal Ordnance Leeds. Production began in 1972 and the first vehicle was completed in May 1973. Production of the Fox has been completed at Royal Ordnance Leeds.

(Mike Peel Photo)

FV721 Fox Armoured Car similar to this one in the Monmouth Museum in the UK. The FV721 Fox Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled) (CVR(W)) was a 4 × 4 armored car manufactured by ROF Leeds, deployed by the British Army as a replacement for the Ferret scout car and the Saladin armored car. The Fox was introduced into service with B Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment (Aliwal Barracks, Tidworth) in 1975 and withdrawn from service 1993–94. Development of the Fox began in 1965 and the following year the Daimler company of Coventry, which was building the Ferret scout car at the time, was awarded a contract to build 15 prototype vehicles. The first was completed in November 1967 and the last in April 1969. User trials began in 1968 and the first official announcement concerning the Fox was made in October 1969. The following year the Fox was accepted for service with the British Army and a production order was placed with Royal Ordnance Leeds. Production began in 1972 and the first vehicle was completed in May 1973. Production of the Fox has been completed at Royal Ordnance Leeds. (MAA)

(Dammit Photo)

White M3A1 Scout Car similar to this one in Roermond, the Netherlands. The M3A1 Scout Car, manufactured by the White Company, is the personification of the Army’s pre-war thinking about mechanized cavalry units.Originally designed and built in 1937, the U.S. Army envisioned these vehicles being sufficiently armored to ward off enemy small arms fire, while being equipped with several machine guns to permit the crew of five to get out of harm’s way while on scouting missions.Like much pre-war thinking, these tactics would not withstand the first encounter with the enemy, and American forces would need to change how they utilized their wheeled cavalry during World War II. Often deployed with jeeps, motorcycles, M8 Greyhounds and Stuart tanks, the M3A1 would be an integral part of a cavalry group that would conduct patrols to gather intelligence on the location of enemy forces. Thousands of these vehicles would be used by other Allied nations, including Soviet forces in helping to push Nazi forces back toward Berlin, while the British operated the White Scout Car in Europe in the weeks and months following D-Day.After the war, emerging nations such as Israel deployed them as front line combat equipment. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

Staghound T17E1, similar to this one in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario. In 1941, the US Army Ordnance Department issued proposals for wheeled armored cars for itself and Allies. While both the Americans and British purchased the Ford M8 series of armored cars, Britain also elected to purchase a second, larger design produced by Chevrolet. Originally designated as the T17E1, it soon became better known as the Staghound. The armament was typical for an Allied armored car of the day, a turreted 37MM main gun and two .30 caliber machine guns. Unique Staghound attributes, however, included its sheer overall size and being powered by two separate gasoline engines. Using either or both engines, power was supplied to all four wheels through an automatic transmission. A crew of five manned the Staghound.
With almost 4,000 examples produced during the Second World War, the Staghound saw combat with British and Commonwealth forces in Italy and throughout the Northwest European theatre. The Museum’s exhibit is a Mk.I Staghound, the most common version. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M114 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) similar to this one on display at the 1st Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas. The M114was the result of a 1950s US Army proposal for a lightweight, amphibious, and air-deployable vehicle to equip its Cavalry and Recon Battalions. Efforts to make the vehicle simple and light included powering it with an existing automobile V-8, extensive aluminum construction, and one-piece tracks with largely rubber construction. A crew of only three operated the M114.The vehicle did not fare well in its Vietnam War debut. The lightweight armor made it vulnerable to heavy weapons fire and enemy landmines. Its hull design and insufficient power made traversing rough battlefield terrain difficult. Most M114s were withdrawn from Vietnam early on and then transferred to Army units in Europe and the United States where they served into the late 1970s.Cadillac-GM built the M114 in three main versions. The Museum’s example is an early production M114, with a pintle mounted .50 caliber machine gun manually operated from the commander’s position. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M3 Half-track, similar to this one on display in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.  

The M3 Half-track American armored personnel carrier was used by the Allies during the Second World War and in the Cold War. Derived from the M2 half-track car, the M3 was extensively produced, with about 15,000 standard M3s and more than 38,000 variant units manufactured. The M3 was extensively modified with several dozen variant designs produced for different purposes. During the Second World War, the M3 and its variants were supplied to the U.S. Army and Marines, as well as British Commonwealth and Soviet Red Army forces, serving on all major fronts throughout the war. The M3 and its variants were produced by many manufacturers including Diamond T, White Motor Company and Autocar and were designed for a wide variety of uses, such as a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon or self-propelled artillery. Although initially unpopular due to its lack of significant armor or a roof to protect the crew from shrapnel, it was used by most of the Allies during the war. In the Cold War era, the vehicle was used by a variety of state and non-state operators in conflicts in South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, remaining in service until as late as the mid-1990s. In Mexico they are still in use as of 2019. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

M16 Gun Motor Carriage, similar to this one at the 3rd Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas. As war clouds began gathering in Europe, the United States Army recognized the need to develop a modern, mobile and armored infantry force. They would need a vehicle that could quickly transport troops and their light artillery to the front lines, regardless of road conditions.The White Motor Car Company responded with a vehicle with tracks in the rear and conventional wheels up front, giving it the well-known nickname of “half-track.” The half-track was built in many configurations and models from 1940 through 1944. They were modified to carry everything from anti-tank guns and heavy mortars, to a squad of troops, to an M16 anti-aircraft Quad .50 anti-aircraft battery.As a troop carrier, it could transport a driver and combat rifle squad of up to 12 soldiers. Many had a raised .50 caliber machine gun ring above the front passenger seat, giving the vehicle a powerful defensive weapon. The M3A1 Half-Track had a 6-cylinder White gasoline engine developing 147 horsepower, optionally driving just the rear tracks, or the tracks in conjunction with the front wheels, for additional traction while off-road. While slower on soft ground, it could hit speeds of up to 45 mph on a paved road and had a range of approximately 175 miles.While it had thin armor, its reliability ensured that half-tracks would play a crucial role in transporting troops where they were needed in a timely manner. Nearly 40,000 half-tracks were produced, serving the Army, the United State Marine Corps, and our Allies. Surplus half-tracks found their way into many other nations’ inventory after the end of the Second World War, including Israel, which used variants right through the 1970s.The Armor Museum presents three half tracks within its collection.

(Adam Haunder Photo)

Sd.Kfz. 251 replica, based on a a Czechoslovak post-war Tatra OT-810 half-track. For every battle during the Second World War, transporting the maximum number of troops to the battlefield in the shortest period of time, and in the safest way possible, was always an urgent priority. For the United States, the solution was the legendary halftrack, which combined speed with traction in rough terrain. This concept, however, was not exclusive to the U.S. The Germans produced the Sd.Kfz. 251. It was meant to transport nearly a dozen Panzergrenadiers (German mechanized infantry) into combat. Over 15,000 vehicles, and their variants, were produced by seven manufacturers. The vehicle provided protection from enemy small arms fire, mounting at least one German machine gun to produce suppressive fire for the squad while they dismounted from the rear and into combat. Its open top allowed for greater situational awareness of combat conditions and the ability to fire weapons over the top, but this also meant German troops were vulnerable to fire from mortars, field artillery, lobbed hand grenades, Molotov cocktails, and strafing by Allied aircraft. The museum’s replica is an OT-810, built in Czechoslovakia after the Second World War, with the manufacturing blueprints, tools and jigs for the Sd.Kfz. 251 left behind by the Germans after the country was liberated. The Czech Army was still using versions of this vehicle as late as 1995. (MAA)

(U.S. Army Photo)

The M4 high-speed tractor, similar to this one, used M4 Sherman tracks, roadwheels, and drive sprocket. However, the suspension was of the HVSS type, first introduced on a light tank T6 project in 1938. One variant was designed to tow the 90 mm anti-aircraft gun, and another was for the 155 mm gun or 8-inch howitzer. The rear compartment carried the gun crew and other equipment and some later variants included a crane to assist with heavier projectiles. Two types of ammunition boxes were used on all models: a 90 mm box with side "tailgates" to access 90 mm shells pigeon-holed in the sides, and a combination box for 155 mm or 8-inch ammunition. (Wikipedia)

(Alf van Beem Photo)

The M25 tank transporter (G160) similar to this one, was a combination 6x6 M26 armored heavy tank transporter/tank recovery tractor and companion 40-ton M15 trailer introduced into US Army service in Europe in 1944–45. Manufactured by Pacific Car & Foundry Co., it was a substantial upgrade over the Diamond T M19 transporter/trailer duo introduced in 1940. Nicknamed the Dragon Wagon, it was replaced by the 10 ton 6x6 M123 semi-tractor beginning in 1955. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205259)

Jeep Ambulance being loaded onto a Buffalo LVT, 13 April 1945.

The Amphibious Vehicle, Tracked (LVT or AMTRAC) is an amphibious warfare vehicle and amphibious landing craft, introduced by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. (The USN and USMC use L to designate amphibious vessels, also called L class.) The United States Army, Canadian Army, and British Army used several LVT models during the Second World War, and referred to those vehicles as Landing Vehicle, Tracked. Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles. The types were known as amphtrack, amtrak, amtrac, etc. (portmanteaus of amphibious tractor), alligator and gator. FMC modified an LVT-2 in August 1943 by moving the engine forward and adding a large ramp door in the rear, allowing troops to exit from the rear of the vehicle. Capacity went from 16 troops in the LVT-2 to 30, making earlier LVTs largely obsolete. This innovation also greatly facilitated the loading and unloading of cargo. Some vehicles received armor kits. It was by far the most numerous version of the LVT, with 8,348 units delivered; the US Army received 6,083, and the British Army 500. Many of the British LVT-4 were armed with a 20 mm Polsten cannon and two .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns. Removable 20 lb and 10 lb armor kits could be fitted. (Wikipedia)

(Author Photo)

M42A1 Motor Gun Carriage, Duster, twin Bofors 40-mm cannon, similar to this one on display at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.

(Author Photo)

Universal Carrier, similar to this one at 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick. Prior to the Second World War, the generals in England envisioned the universal carrier to be a mechanized machine gun “nest” capable of providing cover from fire wherever needed. It was one more example of tactics conjured up following the horrific trench warfare of World War I that would not survive the swift Nazi tactics of blitzkrieg, with their combined use of air and armor forces.Once committed to battle, the Universal Carrier became a ubiquitous implement of war. From a mobile mortar battery, reconnaissance vehicle—and, yes, a defensive machine gun position—to moving troops, supplies, ammunition and the wounded, these vehicles were found in virtually every theater of operations where the British Empire fielded its troops. Unable to produce enough of them, Britain gave Ford a contract to build the vehicles for the Allies, and a total of 113,000 were produced. (MAA)

M29 Weasel, similar to this one in the Texas Forces Military Museum, Camp mabry, Texas.

(Rob Mitchell Photo)

The GMC CCKW is a 2½ ton 6×6 U.S. Army cargo truck that played a major part in helping secure America’s victory during the Second World War, as it was the prime mover of men and materials to the front lines. Its essential role brought home the simple truth about war, attributed to a U.S. Marine Corps commandant, when he stated, “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics." Called the "Deuce-and-a-Half"—or just "Deuce"—the GMC’s Model CCKW saw some half a million built by a consortium of companies working to the same Army specifications, including International Harvester and Studebaker, among others. The original design specified a truck that could haul an adequate amount of supplies and still be well-suited to fit on transport ships. GMC submitted a design based largely on their pre-war truck models and won the contract in time for production by early 1941. Assigned primarily to U.S. Army supply units, these trucks were operated mainly by African-American soldiers who distinguished themselves throughout the war, moving tons of supplies under difficult and often dangerous conditions to ensure that the American army could continue its offensive. They are best known for manning the “Red Ball Express”—whose supply mission from the shattered ports of France to the front lines remains legendary, although this was just one instance in a long and difficult war. Still, at its peak, the Red Ball Express operated nearly 6,000 vehicles and carried about 12,500 tons of supplies daily. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

Diamond T 4-ton 6X6 Truck, similar to this one in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario. During Second World War, the Diamond T Motor Car Company in Chicago produced what automotive historians still consider to be the classic multipurpose heavy truck. Several versions of the Diamond T were developed using a common chassis, including cargo trucks, dump trucks, and wreckers. The Diamond T 969 was a vehicle recovery truck based on a 4 ton 6X6 chassis and powered with a Hercules RXC six-cylinder gasoline engine. It was manufactured from roughly 1940 until 1945. After 1943, most versions were of the open cab design. The wrecker became a critical element in the Allies’ ability to recover disabled trucks, jeeps and armored cars from the field and return them quickly to the order of battle. During the massive resupply effort required to ensure American troops had what they needed on the front lines, the transportation effort known as The Red Ball Express used an ample supply of Diamond T wreckers to prevent disabled vehicles from blocking convoys moving up behind them. With its two rear winches, it is capable of lifting 10 tons; it also has a front-mounted Gar Wood winch rated at 15,000 pounds. Approximately 6,000 Diamond T wreckers were produced, and many were supplied to Allied countries through the Lend-Lease Act. After the Second World War, Diamond T wreckers were still in use in various countries for many years. The fact that America’s Arsenal of Democracy could not only manufacture the necessary weapons of war, but also the vehicles which kept those weapons repaired and ready for battle, is an indication of the nation’s industrial capacity some 75 years ago. (MAA)

(mark6mauno Photo)

Dodge WC-54 Ambulance, similar to this one. Just as important as tanks and artillery was the ability of transporting American G.I.s back to a field hospital after being wounded. The Dodge WC-54 Ambulance served to fill that role. About 19,000 models were built between 1942 and 1945. They functioned as the U.S. Army's main ambulance, with some used as late as 1953 during the Korean War by the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and others serving as late as the 1960s in the armies of certain European countries. The ambulance had room for a driver and anywhere from four to seven patients, plus a medic. If the fold-away bunk stretchers were used, four patients could be transported lying down. Unlike virtually every other military vehicle, the WC-54 featured a cab heater, providing comfort for patients and crew. It was fitted with a rear foldaway step to allow easier access for stretcher bearers and injured soldiers. One version developed late in the war allowed it to be shipped partially disassembled, permitting more to be placed into transports or even transported by air. Geneva protocols relating to the conduct of war dictated that ambulances on both sides of the conflict would be unmolested, marked by a bright red cross. It can’t be said that this instruction was universally observed. The operational example at the Museum is part of the Jeff Rein collection. (MAA)

(MAA Photo)

The Chevrolet Class 500 fire truck was the most commonly used fire engine at Army installations. The trucks were built on chassis and bodies that were constructedby most of the major truck and fire equipment builders. It was equipped with amidship mounted 500 gpm. centrifugal or rotary gear pump. The water tank held 150 gals and 150 ft. of 1 in. hose was carried on a reel or in a basket mountedatop the hose body. The hose body held 1000 ft. of 2 1/2 in. hose. The Class 500 was used for combating structural fires at post, camps and stations. (MAA)

(USMC Photo)

Quad .50 Caliber anti-aircraft guns. Taking the best American automatic weapon of World War II, the .50 caliber machine gun, designers created a mobile four-gun battery (the Quad) that gave the U.S. Army enormous firepower capable of sweeping everything before it. Whether it was downing enemy fighters attacking American airfields or destroying sniper nests, the Quad .50 was lethal, potent and portable. So capable of creating an overwhelming curtain of lead, American forces employed it during the Korean War; while in the Vietnam conflict, they were placed on large military vehicles and deployed as “gun trucks.” With a built-in motor, the Quad .50 could track enemy targets with a hand-held electric trigger by a gunner who was encased behind armor. The weapon had a muzzle velocity of 2,930 feet per second, an effective range of 2,500 yards, and could spew out between 1,600 and 2,200 rounds per minute. Given its 2,400-pound weight, many of them were mounted on half-tracks during the Second World War to improve mobility, while others, such as the one on display, were placed on trailers to be towed by trucks and then dug into defensive positions. (MAA)

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583068)

Ordnance QF 40-mm Bofors AA Gun, similar to this one being prepared for loading on a Douglas C-47 Dakota, RCAF (Serial No. 653), 27 Oct 1943.

(Author Photo)

37-mm M3A1 Anti-tank Gun.  Similar to this one in the National Museum of WWII, New Orleans, Louisiana.

(US Army Photo)

57-mm M1A1 AT Gun firing at a German bunker near Saint-Malo, Brittany in France, 31 July 1944.

(Author Photo)

57-mm M1A1 Anti-tank Gun, similar to this one on display at the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

(Author Photo)

3-inch M5 Anti-tank Gun, similar to this one with the Louisiana National Guard Museum, New Orleans, Lousiana. The 3 inch gun M5 was an anti-tank gun developed in the United States during World War II. The gun combined a 3-inch (76.2 mm) barrel of the anti-aircraft gun T9 and elements of the 105 mm howitzer M2. The M5 was issued exclusively to the US Army tank destroyer battalions starting in 1943. It saw combat in the Italian Campaign and in the Northwest Europe campaign. While the M5 outperformed earlier anti-tank guns in the US service, its effective employment was hindered by its heavy weight and ammunition-related issues. Losses suffered by towed TD battalions in the Battle of the Bulge and the existence of more mobile, better protected alternatives in the form of self-propelled tank destroyers led to gradual removal of the M5 from front line service in 1945. In 1940, the US Army just started to receive its first antitank gun, the 37 mm gun M3. While it fit the request of the Infantry for light, easy to manhandle anti-tank weapon, Artillery and Ordnance foresaw a need for a more powerful gun. This led to a number of expedient designs, such as adaptations of the 75 mm M1897 or towed variants of the 75 mm M3. Late in 1940, the Ordnance Corps started another project - an anti-tank gun based on the 3 inch anti-aircraft gun T9. The barrel of the T9 was combined with breech, recoil system and carriage, all adapted from the 105 mm howitzer M2. The pilot of the weapon, named 3 inch gun T10, was ready by September 1941. Although the subsequent testing revealed minor problems, it was clear that the gun, eventually standardized as M5 on carriage M1, presented major performance improvement over existing designs. Production began in December 1942. In November 1943, a slightly modified carriage was standardized as M6. In this carriage, a flat shield borrowed from the 105 mm howitzer was replaced by a new sloped one. In January 1944, AGF requested an upgrade of those guns built with the early carriage M1 to the carriage M6; consequently most of the guns that reached the frontline had the M6 carriage. (MAA)

(Author Photo)

155-mm M114 Howitzer, similar to this one on display in Minto, New Brunswick. The M114 155 mm howitzer is a towed howitzer developed and used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It saw service with the US Army during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the M198 howitzer.The gun was also used by the armed forces of many nations. In some countries, the M114A1 still remains in service.A new carriage was under development for much of the 1930s for the existing First World War-era M-1918 155 mm howitzer, which was a license-built French Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider until 1939 when it was realized that it did not seem logical to put a new carriage underneath an obsolete howitzer. So development began anew with a carriage designed to be used for either the 155 mm howitzer or the 4.7-inch (120 mm) gun. This was completed by 15 May 1941 when the Howitzer M1 on the Carriage M1 was standardized. The howitzer itself differed from the older model by a lengthened barrel of 20 calibers and a new breech mechanism. Uniquely it was the sole 'slow-cone' interrupted screw mechanism to enter US service after 1920.[1] This meant that two separate movements were necessary to open the breech, versus the single movement of the 'steep cone' mechanism that simultaneously rotated and withdrew the breech.The M1A1 was redesignated as the M114A1 in 1962. (MAA)

M110A2 8-inch SP Heavy Howitzer, similar to this one at the Rexas Forces Military Museum, Camp Mabry, Texas. The 8 inch (203 mm) M110 self-propelled howitzer was the largest available self-propelled howitzer in the United States Army's inventory.[citation needed] Consisting of an M115 203 mm howitzer installed on a purpose-built chassis, it was deployed in division artillery in general support battalions and in separate corps- and army-level battalions. Missions include general support, counter-battery fire, and suppression of enemy air defense systems. The M110 was exported to a number of countries. According to the operator's manual, the M110's typical rate of fire was three rounds per two minutes when operated at maximum speed, and one round per two minutes with sustained fire. The M110 featured a hydraulically operated rammer to automatically chamber the 200+ pound projectile. These rammers were prone to breakdown and generally slowed operation of the gun, because the rammers required crews to completely lower the massive barrel before using it. Highly trained and motivated crews could achieve two to four rounds per minute by using the hand-operated manual rammer, which was essentially a heavy steel pole with a hard rubber pad on one end. Using the manual rammer was physically demanding, but crews were not required to lower the barrels nearly as much as with the hydraulic rammer. The M110's range varied from 16,800 meters to approximately 25,000 meters when firing standard projectiles, and up to 30,000 meters when firing rocket-assisted projectiles. (MAA)

Tanks, Armoured Fighting Vehicles and military equipment relocated from the Military Museum of Southern New England (MMSNE), in Danbury, Connecticut:

(US Army Photo)

M116 Husky Tracked Amphibious Cargo Carrier.

(Author Photo)

M-792 Gamma Goat Ambulance.  Similar to this one on display at the 1st Armored Cavalry Division Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

(S. Filatov Photo)

Soviet BA-64 Light Armoured Car, similar to this BA-64B on display at Nizhniy Novgorod Kremlin, Russia.  The BA-64 on exhibit was captured in Korea by the soldiers of the 24th Infantry Division and returned to the United States for evaluation.

(Author Photo)

German Spahpanzer Luchs (Lynx).  Similar to this one photographed by the author while serving with SFOR in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997.

(Huhu Photo)

German Schutzenpanzer 12-3 APC.  Similar to this one in the Bundeswehr Museum, Germany.

(Jorchr Photo)

Swedish  Panzarbandvagn 302 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

(USN Photo)

5-inch 54-calibre Anti-Aircraft Gun, similar to this 127-mm/54 Mark 16 gun aboard the USN aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41).  The museum's 5"/54  doesn’t have the variable protective shield housing, so all of its features can be seen.  

(Author Photo)

Centurion Mk. 5 Main Battle Tank (MBT), manufactured in the late 1950s and donated by the Swiss government after being deactivated in May 1993.  It is similar to this one on display at the  New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Group Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Author Photo)

M108 105-mm Self Propelled Howitzer.  Similar to this one with the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Texas.

(Max Smith Photo)

M22 Locust Light Tank.  Similar to this one on display in the Bovington Tank Museum, England.

((U.S. Army Photo)

M36 Tank Destroyers in NW Europe during the Second World War.

(Author Photos)

M36 Tank Destroyer.  Similar to this M36B1 on display at the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

(Raymond Douglas Veydt Photo)

MBT-70 tank at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

 (Zukkor Photo)

MBT-70 at the Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury, Connecticut, now with the MAA.

(Author Photo)

Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank, 120-mm main gun.  The T-72 is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank that entered production in 1971.  About 20,000 T-72 tanks were built, making it one of the most widely produced post-Second World War tanks, second only to the T-54/55 family.  The T-72 was widely exported and saw service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts.  Improved variants are still being built for export customers.  Similar to this one with the New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Group Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Saiga20 K Photo)

122-mm Main Gun, used on the IS-2 Joseph Stalin D25-T similar to this one in the Kubinka Tank Museum, Russia.

(Author Photo)

M578 Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV).  Similar to this one with the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Texas.

(Author Photo)

M40A1 106-mm Recoilless Rifle.  Similar to this one held in the New Brunswick Military History Museum, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.

(Bukvoed Photo)

Chinese Type 65 twin 37-mm Anti-Aircraft Gun, on a wheeled M1939 (61-K) gun mount.  This piece was captured by the 1st Marine Division during Desert Storm in 1991, when Kuwait was being liberated.  Similar this one with the Muzeyon Heyl ha-Avir, Hatzerim, Israel.

(Author Photo)

BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.  Similar to this one on display at the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

(Bundeswehrmuseum Dresden Photo)

French Hotchkiss SP lA Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle.  Similar to this one in the Dresden Tank Museum, Germany.

(Bundeswehrmuseum Dresden Photo)

French Hotchkiss SPZ Observation Vehicle.  Similar to this one in the Dresden Tank Museum, Germany.

German Schutzenpanzer 42-1 Cargo Carrier.

(Huhu Photo)

German SPZ  Schutzen Panzer Mortar Carrier.   Similar to this one in the Dresden Tank Museum, Germany.

Test Reconnaissance Vehicle with twin rocket launchers mounted on an experimental turret.

M-52 5-ton 6 X 6 Tractor Truck.

(USN Photo)

Model M-656 Cargo Truck.

Corbitt 50 SD6 5-ton truck.

(Rept0n1x Photo)

M886 Dodge Ambulance.

Clarktor 6 Airport tug.

(Ryan Crierie Photo)

M-274 Mule.  Similar to this M274 Mechanical Mule with a M40 recoilless rifle at the American Armoured Foundation Museum.

(US Army Photo)

M39 APC.  Similar to this US Army M39 assisting the USMC in Korea, 25 July 1953.

(Bukvoed Photo)

British FV 603 Saracen APC.  Similar to this one in the Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel.

(USMC Photo)

105-mm M101A1 Howitzer.

(Ebyabe Photo)

5"/38 caliber Mk. 12 Anti Aircraft Gun.  Similar to this one at Flagler Park, Okeechobee, Florida.

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