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vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:32 am Post subject: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

At the end of my post for Macon ARNG Neil mentioned:

"Incidentally, I've taken lots of pictures of vehicles at ARNG installations without problem before - although the force protection fences (and in some cases Jersey barriers) sprouting up around many often get in the way..."

Well.....

As per Neil's request for photos of the M47 at the Army Reserve Center in Birmingham, AL, Mrs VB and I traveled out for a look see.

Sure enough, its an active base so we drove up to the guard booth to see about taking photos. No guard in the booth so we drove on in. I was a bit intimidated by the "Authorized Personnel Only" signs so we drove back out and started taking shots from across the street.

You can guess the next part......

So the Sheriff's car pulls up and inquires what the heck we are doing and we start explaining. He asks us to move along. We move along and while moving along, a truck hurtles out from the Reserve Center and starts honking at us. We pull over and start explaining again. I offer to show that we have only taken photos of the AFVs for personal use and are completely innocuous.

To our surprise, the gentleman (we assume he is post security) invites us to follow him onto the base and get closer photos. After showing our IDs we were invited to take the photos and here are some of the results.

I think you all will be very interested in the photos of the M4. It served in the Pacific during WW2 with the Marines. It's a flamethrower model. It wasn't listed on the AFV register. I hope it is a discovery!

Enjoy!

The VBs

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:34 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

M47 part 2

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:37 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

The post also has a WW2 combat vet M16 Half-track complete with Maxson mount and mirrors!

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:39 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

M16 part 2

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:40 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

M16 maxson mount detail

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:43 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

Here are some shots of the M4 flamethrower tank.

The dings and dents are battle damage from the war. The barrel is a replica.

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

M4 part 2

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Is the M47 serial 103.9?

regards,
Lesley

tanker2010 · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:15 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

Here are some shots of the M4 flamethrower tank. The dings and dents are battle damage from the war. The barrel is a replica.

First of, what leads you to believe this was a flame tank? Second, M4A1s with the E9 suspenssion weren't used in the war. If it has any bullet strikes on it, it proabably got those as a range target.

vagabond · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:17 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

I am merely passing on the information I was given by the gentleman from the center. If it is incorrect or historically impossible and/or inaccurate, I do apologize.

I have seen another flamethrower M4 in the museum in Huntsville that looked very similar - see attachment - so it didn't seem unreasonable that this was one as well.

I do not claim to be an expert, just an interested enthusiast.

Thanks,

VB

JimWeb · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 11:58 am Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

- tanker2010

Here are some shots of the M4 flamethrower tank. The dings and dents are battle damage from the war. The barrel is a replica.

First of, what leads you to believe this was a flame tank? Second, M4A1s with the E9 suspenssion weren't used in the war. If it has any bullet strikes on it, it proabably got those as a range target.

There plenty of these vehicles around. Its a variant of the M42 flame tank possibly known as the M42B1E9. The barrel isn't a replica it is supposed to have that seam down it.

They were used during the Korean War mainly IIRC but that particular vehicle may indeed have served in the Pacific (but not in combat - they arrived too late) before it was converted to an E9.

TrevorLarkum · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

- vagabond

So the Sheriff's car pulls up and inquires what the heck we are doing and we start explaining. He asks us to move along. We move along and while moving along, a truck hurtles out from the Reserve Center and starts honking at us. We pull over and start explaining again. I offer to show that we have only taken photos of the AFVs for personal use and are completely innocuous.

To our surprise, the gentleman (we assume he is post security) invites us to follow him onto the base and get closer photos. After showing our IDs we were invited to take the photos and here are some of the results.

Whoa - Glad it all worked out for you!

JimWeb · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

That remind me - Joe where did you take those images you took?

I. The almost white version on the grass?
2. The one on the concrete pad with the chain around it?

Joe_D · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

Jim,

I. The almost white version on the grass? She's behind the new armory they are building in Springville Alabama along with an M60A3 (33.769550, -86.473805). Once the work is complete they will be displayed in front again. That's what I was told anyways.

2. The one on the concrete pad with the chain around it? That one is at the Camp Shelby Museum South of Hattiesburg Mississippi on HWY 49 (31.197505,-89.224550) .

Vagabond, nice discovery.

It also proves that there may be more unusual Sherman tanks out there. I now count 3 M42B1E9 and the a Sherman Jumbo in the Mississippi/ Alabama area. Of these only the one at Shelby was known to us a few years ago.

JimWeb · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: More Birmingham, AL AFVs

- Joe_D

I. The almost white version on the grass? She's behind the new armory they are building in Springville Alabama along with an M60A3 (33.769550, -86.473805). Once the work is complete they will be displayed in front again. That's what I was told anyways.

2. The one on the concrete pad with the chain around it? That one is at the Camp Shelby Museum South of Hattiesburg Mississippi on HWY 49 (31.197505,-89.224550) .

That makes five in all I have come across - Huntsville, Anniston, Birmingham, Springville & Camp Shelby. But only one M42B1 imaged at an unknown location by Neil which reminds me to pester him till he tells me!

Anyone know of any more?

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