From: Tom Kelly (tjk2356@webtv.net)
Date: Mon Mar 28 2005 - 16:57:40 PST
Just received AM # 111 today, the pictures of the Bastogne 60th
anniversary event are absolutely outstanding!! I see on page #17 the
commonly used (mis-used?) photograph of a halftrack leaving a landing
craft. This photo is almost always mis-identified as an M3 75mm GMC (Gun
Motor Carriage). It is not.
The halftrack in question is a field modified M2 halftrack, fitted with
a 75mm gun mount, and windshield armor pirated from a M3 GMC. You gotta
love those Marines when it comes to resourcefulness! This vehicle has a
winch, the side cargo doors, and remains of the cut skate rail can be
seen, thus identifying the vehicle as an M2.
All M3 GMC's were built by Auto-Car, and had rollers, as an aside, I
don't think I've ever seen any M3 variant manufactured by Auto-Car that
had a winch, just rollers ( a topic for another time), I'm not too sure
about their M2's however.
I just want to set the facts straight, as this picture is very common,
and almost always mis-identified. I think it's important for researchers
and restorers to know the truth so they don't restore something that was
never "manufactured" and claim it was.
Later - Tom Kelly
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