halftrackinfo

general discussion => what's on your mind? => Topic started by: HenryVIII on February 24, 2015, 09:57:45 AM

Title: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: HenryVIII on February 24, 2015, 09:57:45 AM

I was looking for some WW2 reference pics to research markings. I found this site and thought this was kind of interesting. Not exactly what I was looking for but it looks like the Germans were fond of halftracks too.

Henry

http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/armoured-vehicles-2/m3_halftrack-2/m3-halftrack/ (http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/armoured-vehicles-2/m3_halftrack-2/m3-halftrack/)

Title: Re: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: 47lincsled on February 24, 2015, 11:19:49 AM

 They weren't stupid, they knew good equipment when the saw it, our equipment was so much easier to work on the any German piece.

Title: Re: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: steve-0 on February 27, 2015, 12:45:26 AM

thanks for posting.

i think i only had one pic of germans in an american halftrack. i didn't realize there where that many.

Title: Re: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: HenryVIII on February 27, 2015, 08:49:48 AM

I think most of the captured tracks that are seen in the pictures were in North Africa. Rommel was known to have used a lot of captured equipment, both British and American. One of the remarked tracks has the Afrika Corps. insignia painted on it. And a couple of the tracks have the US flag still painted on. That campaign is was the only time I have heard of that the American flag was painted on us vehicles as an identifier.

Henry

Title: Re: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: T26E4 on February 27, 2015, 08:54:18 AM

One of the weirdest pics i've seen was that of a German infantry unit that had captured and repainted a pair of Red Army Su-57s (T-48 57mm GMC).  So they were US-made half track gun motor carriages, sent to the Russians as lend lease, and lost to and reused by the Germans -- against the Russians!

@HenryVIII: the use of the US Flag symbol in North Africa was an attempt to appeal to Vichy French to NOT engage the invading US forces during Operation Torch.  Some did, many did not.   

British forces during Operation Torch did not wade ashore to face Vichy French defenders -- only American.   Previously, the British attacked the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir on 3 July 1940 and at the Battle of Dakar on 23 September 1940.  These were huge rallying cries for the Vichy and other pro-Axis French.  Thus the decision to not stir the hornet's nest and use boldly marked Americans instead.

Title: Re: halftrack WW2 pictures
Post by: HenryVIII on February 27, 2015, 09:18:23 AM

That is very good info. Thanks.   Henry