±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 786
Total: 786
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Community Forums
03: Member Screenshots
04: Home
05: Home
06: Community Forums
07: Home
08: Downloads
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Member Screenshots
12: Community Forums
13: Photo Gallery
14: News
15: Community Forums
16: Photo Gallery
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Photo Gallery
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Downloads
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Member Screenshots
28: Photo Gallery
29: News Archive
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Member Screenshots
33: Community Forums
34: Home
35: Downloads
36: Photo Gallery
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Home
41: Photo Gallery
42: Home
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Home
48: News Archive
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Home
52: Community Forums
53: Downloads
54: Community Forums
55: Member Screenshots
56: Community Forums
57: Photo Gallery
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: News Archive
64: Home
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Photo Gallery
69: Community Forums
70: Photo Gallery
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Community Forums
79: Downloads
80: Community Forums
81: Downloads
82: Member Screenshots
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Photo Gallery
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: Community Forums
91: Home
92: Home
93: Photo Gallery
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Member Screenshots
97: Member Screenshots
98: Community Forums
99: Photo Gallery
100: Community Forums
101: Photo Gallery
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Member Screenshots
105: Home
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Photo Gallery
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Home
116: Community Forums
117: Home
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Photo Gallery
124: News Archive
125: News Archive
126: Member Screenshots
127: Downloads
128: Community Forums
129: Photo Gallery
130: Member Screenshots
131: Member Screenshots
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Member Screenshots
139: Downloads
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Photo Gallery
144: Statistics
145: Downloads
146: Photo Gallery
147: Member Screenshots
148: Community Forums
149: News
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Downloads
153: News Archive
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Member Screenshots
157: Community Forums
158: Statistics
159: Photo Gallery
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Downloads
163: Member Screenshots
164: News Archive
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Photo Gallery
171: Home
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Member Screenshots
175: Downloads
176: Downloads
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Photo Gallery
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Downloads
184: Photo Gallery
185: Home
186: Home
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Member Screenshots
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Downloads
198: Community Forums
199: Photo Gallery
200: Downloads
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: News
204: Member Screenshots
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Member Screenshots
209: Community Forums
210: Photo Gallery
211: Home
212: Home
213: Member Screenshots
214: Community Forums
215: Downloads
216: Photo Gallery
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: Home
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Member Screenshots
225: Member Screenshots
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Member Screenshots
229: News Archive
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Member Screenshots
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Photo Gallery
238: Community Forums
239: Home
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Photo Gallery
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Member Screenshots
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Photo Gallery
251: Community Forums
252: Member Screenshots
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Photo Gallery
256: Community Forums
257: Home
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Member Screenshots
261: Photo Gallery
262: Home
263: Community Forums
264: Member Screenshots
265: Member Screenshots
266: Downloads
267: Home
268: Home
269: Community Forums
270: Photo Gallery
271: Community Forums
272: Your Account
273: Photo Gallery
274: Home
275: Member Screenshots
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Downloads
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Home
283: Community Forums
284: Home
285: Community Forums
286: Member Screenshots
287: Home
288: Member Screenshots
289: Photo Gallery
290: Home
291: Member Screenshots
292: Home
293: Community Forums
294: Home
295: Home
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Photo Gallery
300: Member Screenshots
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Photo Gallery
305: Photo Gallery
306: Your Account
307: Photo Gallery
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Home
311: Community Forums
312: Photo Gallery
313: LinkToUs
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Photo Gallery
318: Home
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Downloads
322: Photo Gallery
323: Downloads
324: Home
325: Community Forums
326: Home
327: News
328: Community Forums
329: News Archive
330: Community Forums
331: Home
332: Home
333: Home
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Home
337: Community Forums
338: Home
339: Your Account
340: Photo Gallery
341: Photo Gallery
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Member Screenshots
345: Member Screenshots
346: Home
347: Statistics
348: Home
349: Community Forums
350: Home
351: Photo Gallery
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Home
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: News
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: Photo Gallery
369: Home
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Your Account
374: Community Forums
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Home
378: Your Account
379: Photo Gallery
380: Community Forums
381: Member Screenshots
382: Photo Gallery
383: Community Forums
384: Downloads
385: Community Forums
386: Home
387: Photo Gallery
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Downloads
393: Member Screenshots
394: Photo Gallery
395: Photo Gallery
396: Community Forums
397: Downloads
398: Member Screenshots
399: Community Forums
400: Downloads
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Home
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Member Screenshots
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: News Archive
411: Photo Gallery
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Home
417: Community Forums
418: Community Forums
419: Home
420: Community Forums
421: Downloads
422: Community Forums
423: Downloads
424: Community Forums
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Downloads
431: Home
432: Community Forums
433: Home
434: News
435: Photo Gallery
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Member Screenshots
441: Photo Gallery
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Home
446: Photo Gallery
447: Home
448: Community Forums
449: Downloads
450: Community Forums
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Downloads
454: Photo Gallery
455: Photo Gallery
456: Home
457: Home
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Home
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Home
465: Community Forums
466: Home
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Photo Gallery
471: Member Screenshots
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Home
476: Home
477: Photo Gallery
478: Community Forums
479: Photo Gallery
480: Community Forums
481: News Archive
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Photo Gallery
486: Community Forums
487: Member Screenshots
488: Home
489: Community Forums
490: News Archive
491: Member Screenshots
492: News Archive
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Member Screenshots
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Photo Gallery
509: Photo Gallery
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: News Archive
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Member Screenshots
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Photo Gallery
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Member Screenshots
528: Community Forums
529: Downloads
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Photo Gallery
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Member Screenshots
538: Contact
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Photo Gallery
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Community Forums
545: Downloads
546: Photo Gallery
547: Community Forums
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Downloads
552: Community Forums
553: Statistics
554: News Archive
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Member Screenshots
559: Community Forums
560: Downloads
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: News Archive
565: Community Forums
566: Community Forums
567: Home
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Member Screenshots
572: Community Forums
573: Photo Gallery
574: Community Forums
575: Member Screenshots
576: LinkToUs
577: Photo Gallery
578: Member Screenshots
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Member Screenshots
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Home
589: Photo Gallery
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Home
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Photo Gallery
597: Member Screenshots
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: News Archive
603: Photo Gallery
604: Community Forums
605: Community Forums
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Photo Gallery
609: Community Forums
610: Photo Gallery
611: Community Forums
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Downloads
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Photo Gallery
618: Community Forums
619: Home
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Home
623: Photo Gallery
624: Downloads
625: Your Account
626: Member Screenshots
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Community Forums
631: Community Forums
632: Member Screenshots
633: Community Forums
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Home
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Member Screenshots
643: Downloads
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Home
647: Home
648: Community Forums
649: Photo Gallery
650: Community Forums
651: Statistics
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Member Screenshots
655: Home
656: Community Forums
657: Home
658: Downloads
659: Community Forums
660: Home
661: Community Forums
662: Downloads
663: Community Forums
664: Home
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Photo Gallery
668: Photo Gallery
669: Community Forums
670: Statistics
671: Photo Gallery
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Member Screenshots
677: Community Forums
678: Your Account
679: Member Screenshots
680: Home
681: Community Forums
682: Downloads
683: Community Forums
684: News Archive
685: Member Screenshots
686: Photo Gallery
687: Downloads
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Home
691: Home
692: Photo Gallery
693: Photo Gallery
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Downloads
698: Community Forums
699: News
700: Home
701: Community Forums
702: Downloads
703: Community Forums
704: Downloads
705: News
706: Downloads
707: Community Forums
708: Home
709: Downloads
710: Home
711: Member Screenshots
712: Home
713: Community Forums
714: Community Forums
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Home
718: Photo Gallery
719: Community Forums
720: Community Forums
721: Community Forums
722: Community Forums
723: Community Forums
724: News
725: Community Forums
726: Photo Gallery
727: Photo Gallery
728: Community Forums
729: Downloads
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Downloads
737: Statistics
738: Member Screenshots
739: Community Forums
740: Community Forums
741: Community Forums
742: Downloads
743: Member Screenshots
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Community Forums
747: Community Forums
748: Community Forums
749: Community Forums
750: Home
751: Member Screenshots
752: Community Forums
753: Downloads
754: Community Forums
755: Community Forums
756: Photo Gallery
757: Home
758: Photo Gallery
759: Community Forums
760: Community Forums
761: Community Forums
762: Photo Gallery
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: News Archive
766: Home
767: Community Forums
768: Member Screenshots
769: Community Forums
770: Community Forums
771: Member Screenshots
772: Community Forums
773: Community Forums
774: News Archive
775: Downloads
776: Community Forums
777: Home
778: Member Screenshots
779: Community Forums
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Photo Gallery
784: Community Forums
785: Community Forums
786: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:06 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

Mark,

did some quick checking and indeed, while 1-33 Armor was part of 3AD from 10/01/57, 2-33 only joined the Spearhead on 10/01/63 and 3-33 on 07/01/63, when they were redesignated from 3rd and 2nd MTB, 1st Cav respectively (although another source states that 2-33 was already reflagged 02/03/62)- guess they could have been 7 Army assets before that, methinks some more digging is needed.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:29 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

Hi Neil! Hi Folks!

- Neil_Baumgardner

Accurate Armour is supposed to have an M103A2 kit this year - although their kits are usually pretty expensive!:
www.accurate-armour.co...navlevel=2
Neil


That M103A2 has been on their list for a few years. I think I waited for four or five years (it could have been longer) for their current M114.
I picked up a resin (U.S. Marine M103) kit for my birthday back in 2000 from a little outfit called Commander Series Models, Inc out of Rochester, NY. Sadly, it is still one of my many kits that is still waiting to get build. Here is a scan of a review I pulled out of the AMPS Boresight back in May of 2000.



I have to agree that most of AA's kits (along with all of the other resin companies) are a bit costly, but stop and think about the price of many of the 1/35 scale kits coming out now days. For the price of two or three of those plastic kits, you can cover one of those resin models.

Some of my old history.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
SFC_Jeff_Button
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Ft Hood, TX
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:12 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

Hello to all, Lil-J, (my son) got the engine bay picture through a bottom belly plate that was missing if I remember correctly. Comparing the rear area of the hull, I would say this is an A1 model. Those fenders do appear to be modified but I really wouldn't know. The roadwheel was up in the air on it's own, not supported by a jack. The shock was broken and just hanging there. I spoke with the SFC that works at the museum about what would happen the the collection when 4th ID moves to Ft Carson permanently. He said that Carsons museum is very small and can in no way accomadate the collection. He said he heard that 2009 was when the museum would move but believes thats very optimistic and thinks 2011 is more likely.

_________________
SFC Jeff Button "High Angle Hell"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
KenEstes
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 07, 2006
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:53 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

Re: the Q on how long the army operated them:


The Marine Corps alone would participate in the M103A1 upgrade of turret controls, sights, rangefinder and ballistic computer. These new heavies finally reached the troops during 1958-59. Had the Army assigned the tank a higher priority in its materiel system, the deliveries might have happened sooner. Ironically, the M103A1 proved so impressive that the Army took 72 of them on temporary loan from the Corps to outfit its sole heavy tank battalion in Europe during 1959-62.

The USMC discarded them in 1972, having modified 160 of their 219 to the diesel A2.
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:06 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

- KenEstes
Re: the Q on how long the army operated them:


The Marine Corps alone would participate in the M103A1 upgrade of turret controls, sights, rangefinder and ballistic computer. These new heavies finally reached the troops during 1958-59. Had the Army assigned the tank a higher priority in its materiel system, the deliveries might have happened sooner. Ironically, the M103A1 proved so impressive that the Army took 72 of them on temporary loan from the Corps to outfit its sole heavy tank battalion in Europe during 1959-62.

The USMC discarded them in 1972, having modified 160 of their 219 to the diesel A2.


Thanks for the info Ken. It's always nice to get some concrete information from an SME.

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
CaptCav
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:19 am
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

I found this thread while Googling the 899th Heavy Tank Bn. I joined this site so I could specifically respond to this thread. Wow - you've taken me back to my childhood, lol. The 899th was somewhat of a mystery unit, and I've spent most of my adult life trying to figure out who they were and where they came from.

In 1957, my dad was CO of A Co, 709th Tank Bn, an element of CCA, 3d Armored Div, at Kirch Gons, Germany. During '57, the 709th Tk Bn returned from Graf to discover that huge beasts had occupied their hard stands in their absence, unannounced. Long story short, it was a company of the 899th Heavy Tk Bn, equipped with brand new M103 heavy tanks. I specifically remember it was October, because while this happened, the Russians launched Sputnik I. The company was commanded by my father's friend, Capt (later COL) Don Valeska.

The arrival of the M103s created quite a stir - no one had ever seen them; and there was a continuous arrival of VIPS and the curious to The Rock to "look" at the beasts. The 899th was an odd ball unit. It belonged to the 4th Armor Group in Frankfurt. Headquarters for both the battalion and 4th Group was at Gibbs Kaserne. Shortly there after, the 899th was redesignated 2/33 Armor (Hvy Tk). I might add that another unit of the 4th Armd Group was attached to the 3AD at KG - the 746th AIB.

As I remember my dad explaining, the 899th Hvy Tk was parceled out across 7th Army. Each of the four divisions received a company of M103s. The thinking was that the M103s would be used as long-range "sniper tanks" (for lack of a better term); to engage the oncoming Russians before they were in range of the M48A1s. THe M103s turned out to be an albatross. They were so heavy, that they were restricted to just a few roads and bridges. As we tankers all remember - late winter and early spring in Germany are muck season & tanks bog down. The M103 did not bog down..... it played submarine. And lastly, the M103 utilized a 2 piece main gun round, which was not well received by the heavy tankers. It was cumbersome and took time to assemble before firing. Seems I remember there was a crane inside the turret, to facilitate moving the round.

BTW - when CARS was implemented in the fall of 1958 - it was a little screwy. The 4 tank bns in 3AD were re-designated as follows:

7th Tk Bn - 2/1 Cav (MTB)
709th Tk Bn - 2/13 Cav (MTB)
32d Tk Bn - 1/32 Tk Bn (MTB)
33 Tk Bn - 1/33 Tk Bn (MTB)
83d Recon Bn - 3/12 Cav (DivCav)

In the early 1960s, 2/1 Cav and 2/13 cav were redesignated battalions of the 32d & 33d Armor.

Hope this fills a few knowledge gaps!!
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:23 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

- CaptCav
I found this thread while Googling the 899th Heavy Tank Bn. I joined this site so I could specifically respond to this thread. Wow - you've taken me back to my childhood, lol. The 899th was somewhat of a mystery unit, and I've spent most of my adult life trying to figure out who they were and where they came from.

In 1957, my dad was CO of A Co, 709th Tank Bn, an element of CCA, 3d Armored Div, at Kirch Gons, Germany. During '57, the 709th Tk Bn returned from Graf to discover that huge beasts had occupied their hard stands in their absence, unannounced. Long story short, it was a company of the 899th Heavy Tk Bn, equipped with brand new M103 heavy tanks. I specifically remember it was October, because while this happened, the Russians launched Sputnik I. The company was commanded by my father's friend, Capt (later COL) Don Valeska.

The arrival of the M103s created quite a stir - no one had ever seen them; and there was a continuous arrival of VIPS and the curious to The Rock to "look" at the beasts. The 899th was an odd ball unit. It belonged to the 4th Armor Group in Frankfurt. Headquarters for both the battalion and 4th Group was at Gibbs Kaserne. Shortly there after, the 899th was redesignated 2/33 Armor (Hvy Tk). I might add that another unit of the 4th Armd Group was attached to the 3AD at KG - the 746th AIB.

As I remember my dad explaining, the 899th Hvy Tk was parceled out across 7th Army. Each of the four divisions received a company of M103s. The thinking was that the M103s would be used as long-range "sniper tanks" (for lack of a better term); to engage the oncoming Russians before they were in range of the M48A1s. THe M103s turned out to be an albatross. They were so heavy, that they were restricted to just a few roads and bridges. As we tankers all remember - late winter and early spring in Germany are muck season & tanks bog down. The M103 did not bog down..... it played submarine. And lastly, the M103 utilized a 2 piece main gun round, which was not well received by the heavy tankers. It was cumbersome and took time to assemble before firing. Seems I remember there was a crane inside the turret, to facilitate moving the round.

BTW - when CARS was implemented in the fall of 1958 - it was a little screwy. The 4 tank bns in 3AD were re-designated as follows:

7th Tk Bn - 2/1 Cav (MTB)
709th Tk Bn - 2/13 Cav (MTB)
32d Tk Bn - 1/32 Tk Bn (MTB)
33 Tk Bn - 1/33 Tk Bn (MTB)
83d Recon Bn - 3/12 Cav (DivCav)

In the early 1960s, 2/1 Cav and 2/13 cav were redesignated battalions of the 32d & 33d Armor.

Hope this fills a few knowledge gaps!!


WOW!! M103's at "'THE ROCK!!!" Never heard about that one......



1986-1989 Ready 1st Bde, Ayers Kaserne (2/5 CAV 'COHORT' & 4/32 AR)
Great Stuff!! Thanks
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:14 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

- Dontos
WOW!! M103's at "'THE ROCK!!!" Never heard about that one......


How about "Atomic Annies" at Giessen? Mr. Green That was my big surprise when I discovered that fact... Yup, we were ready for them red hordes.

Geeze, I've been surrounded by you guys and I'm not even mentioning the 32nd Chief of Staff, who was actually a great guy. Cool
Back to top
View user's profile
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:19 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

Welcome CaptCav! Hope to see you around some more. Appreciate the info!

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
CaptCav
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:14 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

This trip down memory lane has motivated me to do a little digging. A search of station lists turned up the following, for HQ, 899th Hvy Tk & HQ, 2/33 Armor:

1956 - Fligerhorst, Hanau
1957 - Gibbs, Frankfurt
1959 - Fligerhorst, Hanau

That would fit. Oct '57, a company of 899th "appeared" at Kirch Gons. In May '58, my dad gave up his company at KG & became Asst G2, 3AD at Drake. Just before he gave up his company, the co of the 899th at KG disappeared (I never thought to ask my dad where it went). Funny - I never thought of Fligerhorst as tanker land.

The problem with station lists is that they often account only for the bn/regt/bde HQ. They seldom show where the individual companies are located. As an example, from 1949-1953 - my dad's tank company in the 1st ID was "permanently" located at Bamburg, Furth, Schweinfurt and Wurzburg.

You begin to get an idea why I say the 899th was/is a mystery unit. We can also safely say it seems to have been located near the Fulda Gap. Gosh - what a surprise!!!
Back to top
View user's profile
Kurt_Laughlin
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 577

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:52 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

- Neil_Baumgardner


There only appear to be 4 T43 pilots (aka prototypes) out there, and about 20 M103s - so not that common. Unfortunately I dont know where to look for SNs on them...

Neil


IIRC, they are stamped into the glacis and/or tow lugs. The one in Euclid OH (across from the Polka Museum. . .) was S/N 217, USMC 233037.

KL
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
oldertop
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Oct 20, 2006
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:09 pm
Post subject: Re: T43 / M103 at Ft Hood from Lil-J...

The M103s in the "dueling tanks" picture are M103A1s, They are part of a group of 72 M103A1s that were "barrowed" from the re-fitted-debugged M103s Marine Corps stocks of which there were 218 on hand. The Marines brought 160 vehicles up to M103A2 requierments with up-grades in the range finders and by going to the diesel engines, the overall range (basicly doubling it) was also improved with new disigned fuel tanks. what few know is that a all up combat loaded M103A2 was faster than the Brit Centurion and that 120mm gun made her the Queen of the battlefield in her day. That guns 51 pound AP shot could punch a hole through 221mm of armor plate a 1,000 meters and 196mm at 2,000 meters. Mr. Green
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 2 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page Previous  1, 2



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum