M34, M16A1 and M16A2 in combat?

[Cobrahistorian]

Hey all,

I'm trying to nail down photos of M34 (aka T19 40mm GMC), M16A1 and M16A2 halftracks in combat in Korea.  I've got documentary evidence that they served there, but have yet to find any images thereof.  Right now I'm working on an exhibit of 10 1:35 scale models of all types of production AA halftracks and while I've got photos of 28th Division M16A1s in Germany in 1951, I haven't been able to locate any other shots. 

All ten halftracks will be displayed alongside our M15A1 and M16 in the Air Defense Artillery Museum.


Thanks!

Jon

[Lordsandy]

Jon,
Could you email me at jsande8551@aol.com any photos you may have of an M16A1 please?

[steve-0]

here is an m16 halftrack in korea
http://halftrackinfo.com/index.php?topic=460.0

[Cobrahistorian]

Can't tell if that one is a straight M16 or an A2. 

I did find this photo in my archives today.  It's from the C/82nd AAA in 1951, so it is possible that it was an A2.  Can't tell if the side armor is bolted up or if there's a troop door on the rear, but the lack of stowage boxes, height of the turret and the fact that the fold down armor is up have me leaning towards this being an M16A2. 

[Cobrahistorian]

Here's the back panel on my M16A2:

[Cobrahistorian]

Well, after going through old Antiaircraft Journals, I've turned up two shots of M34s in Korea.  That means that more than likely, the original photos are somewhere here at the museum. 

[WayOffTrack]

I'm skeptical that more than a handful of m16a1's made it to Korea prior to the end of combat. I have the conversion data plate for number 298 and it is dated May of 53.

[Cobrahistorian]

I think you're probably right that they were late arrivals. The 899th AAA photos I have are all most likely the 1951-53 timeframe in Germany. I was looking at photos of A Battery 140th AAA today and in 1952-53, all of the tracks shown were regular M16s with bat-wing armor. 

I find it particularly interesting that the A1 and A2 modifications happened so late in the Korean War, since the M16 was really on its way out at that point.  The last ones were finally withdrawn from service in 1958. 

[Cobrahistorian]

Here's the 899th AAA M16A1 and the 140th AAA M16