±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: 520
Total: 520
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Home
04: Home
05: Your Account
06: Community Forums
07: Home
08: Home
09: Community Forums
10: Home
11: News Archive
12: Home
13: Community Forums
14: Home
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Home
20: Photo Gallery
21: Home
22: Home
23: Photo Gallery
24: Photo Gallery
25: Downloads
26: Community Forums
27: Member Screenshots
28: Member Screenshots
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Home
32: Home
33: Community Forums
34: Member Screenshots
35: Community Forums
36: Home
37: Community Forums
38: Home
39: Community Forums
40: Home
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: News Archive
44: Member Screenshots
45: Downloads
46: Member Screenshots
47: Home
48: Downloads
49: Community Forums
50: Home
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Home
54: Home
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Photo Gallery
58: News Archive
59: Community Forums
60: Photo Gallery
61: Community Forums
62: Member Screenshots
63: News Archive
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Your Account
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Photo Gallery
70: Home
71: Your Account
72: Community Forums
73: Member Screenshots
74: Home
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Community Forums
79: News
80: Community Forums
81: Member Screenshots
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Home
85: Search
86: Home
87: Home
88: Community Forums
89: Your Account
90: Home
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Member Screenshots
94: Home
95: Member Screenshots
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Home
99: Member Screenshots
100: Home
101: Home
102: Home
103: News Archive
104: Community Forums
105: Tell a Friend
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Home
109: Community Forums
110: Home
111: Community Forums
112: Member Screenshots
113: Home
114: Home
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Home
121: Community Forums
122: Home
123: News
124: Photo Gallery
125: Member Screenshots
126: Community Forums
127: Photo Gallery
128: Home
129: Home
130: Tell a Friend
131: Home
132: Community Forums
133: Home
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Member Screenshots
138: Home
139: Community Forums
140: Home
141: Home
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Home
145: Home
146: Home
147: Community Forums
148: Home
149: Statistics
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Home
158: Community Forums
159: Home
160: Community Forums
161: Home
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Downloads
166: Member Screenshots
167: Member Screenshots
168: Home
169: Home
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: News Archive
173: Community Forums
174: Home
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Home
179: Community Forums
180: News Archive
181: Home
182: Home
183: Home
184: News Archive
185: Home
186: Home
187: Community Forums
188: Downloads
189: Home
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Home
195: Home
196: Member Screenshots
197: Home
198: Community Forums
199: Member Screenshots
200: Home
201: News
202: Community Forums
203: Member Screenshots
204: Home
205: Member Screenshots
206: Home
207: Community Forums
208: Home
209: Home
210: Photo Gallery
211: Downloads
212: Photo Gallery
213: Downloads
214: Home
215: Home
216: Home
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: Home
220: News
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Home
225: Community Forums
226: Member Screenshots
227: Home
228: Home
229: Downloads
230: Member Screenshots
231: Home
232: Home
233: Member Screenshots
234: Community Forums
235: Photo Gallery
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Member Screenshots
239: Member Screenshots
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Home
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Member Screenshots
246: Community Forums
247: Home
248: Community Forums
249: Your Account
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Photo Gallery
253: Your Account
254: Community Forums
255: Treasury
256: Home
257: Home
258: Community Forums
259: Home
260: Home
261: Home
262: Home
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Home
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Home
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Home
277: Home
278: Home
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Photo Gallery
283: Home
284: Photo Gallery
285: Community Forums
286: Home
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Home
291: Home
292: Home
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: News Archive
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Home
301: Photo Gallery
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Member Screenshots
305: Community Forums
306: Home
307: Home
308: Community Forums
309: Home
310: Home
311: Home
312: Home
313: Community Forums
314: Home
315: Home
316: Home
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Home
322: Home
323: Community Forums
324: Home
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Home
329: Home
330: Community Forums
331: Photo Gallery
332: Home
333: Community Forums
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Home
337: Community Forums
338: Home
339: Home
340: Home
341: Member Screenshots
342: Photo Gallery
343: Home
344: Member Screenshots
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Home
349: Community Forums
350: Community Forums
351: Home
352: Member Screenshots
353: Member Screenshots
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Home
357: Home
358: Community Forums
359: Member Screenshots
360: Member Screenshots
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Statistics
364: Community Forums
365: Home
366: Home
367: Community Forums
368: Community Forums
369: Home
370: Photo Gallery
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Photo Gallery
376: Home
377: Community Forums
378: Photo Gallery
379: Home
380: Community Forums
381: Home
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Home
387: Community Forums
388: Member Screenshots
389: Home
390: Home
391: Home
392: Downloads
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Home
397: Community Forums
398: Home
399: Home
400: Photo Gallery
401: Community Forums
402: Photo Gallery
403: Community Forums
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Home
408: Home
409: Home
410: Community Forums
411: Member Screenshots
412: Community Forums
413: Your Account
414: Community Forums
415: News
416: Home
417: Home
418: Community Forums
419: Home
420: Community Forums
421: Home
422: Member Screenshots
423: Home
424: Community Forums
425: Home
426: Home
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Member Screenshots
431: Home
432: Community Forums
433: Downloads
434: Community Forums
435: Home
436: Home
437: News
438: Member Screenshots
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: News Archive
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Member Screenshots
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Home
448: Home
449: Home
450: Community Forums
451: Community Forums
452: Member Screenshots
453: Home
454: Home
455: Member Screenshots
456: News
457: Member Screenshots
458: Home
459: Home
460: Member Screenshots
461: Home
462: Home
463: Downloads
464: Community Forums
465: Downloads
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Home
469: Community Forums
470: Home
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Home
474: Home
475: News
476: Home
477: Home
478: Home
479: Your Account
480: Member Screenshots
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Member Screenshots
489: Home
490: Home
491: Community Forums
492: Downloads
493: Home
494: Community Forums
495: Home
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Home
499: Home
500: Community Forums
501: Home
502: Member Screenshots
503: Home
504: Community Forums
505: Home
506: Home
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Home
510: Community Forums
511: Home
512: Home
513: Home
514: Home
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
M103 Tank Unit?
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 1, 2, 3  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:52 am
Post subject: M103 Tank Unit?

Found this on the Internet. This must be an M103 Heavy Tank unit.
(Source~ www.3ad.org )


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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:19 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Hi Mark! Hi Folks!

M103 is correct. That is the only heavy tank the US Army and USMC ever fielded.

Spot Report!
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
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:41 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

An interesting photo.

I know that the US Army only had 70(+/-) M103A1's that they aquired from the USMC. I had always assumed that the M103A1 Heavy Tank Battalions were Corps level asset.

I've seen some photos of Army M103A1's that were marked with 32nd Ar.

I wonder if that 2nd HTB 33 Armor is the same 2/33 Armor that used to be stationed at Ayers Kaserne in Kirchgons as part of 3rd Ar Div?

Having lived there (at THE ROCK)for 3 years, I never knew that M103A1's had been previously assigned there.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:58 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Good point, Don. I think 2/32 Armor has an M103 unit. We need to do some research.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:25 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

All I can find is that 2/33 Armor was the heavy battalion. In 1957 2/32 was designated a medium tank battallion. Can't find much else.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:46 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

In Europe, the US Army fielded only one battalion of heavy tanks, originally assigned to the 899th Armor, later redesignated the 2/33rd Armor[3]. The US Army heavy armor battalion, in contrast to other armor units, was organized into four tank companies, composed of six platoons each, of which each platoon contained three M103's, for a total of 18 tanks per company. Standard US Army armor battalions at the time had three companies per battalion, each with three five-tank platoons, with 17 tanks per company (two tanks were in headquarters platoon). The US Marine Corps assigned one M103 company to each of its 3 Marine tank battalions, including its Marine reserve units.[4]

While the US Army deactivated its heavy armor units with the reception of the new M60 series main battle tanks in 1960, the remaining M103s stayed within the US Marine Corps inventory until they began receiving the M60 series MBT. With the disappearance of the heavy tank from US forces came the full acceptance of the Main Battle Tank in 1960 for the US Army, and 1973 for the US Marine Corps.[5] Although the 21st century's M1 Abrams MBT utilizes the same caliber of main gun, the 120 mm, the M103's cannon was a rifled gun firing a fixed round, ejecting a lengthy brass shell casing (34.69 inches in length for the armor-piercing rounds)[6]. The M1 tank's 120 mm main gun is a smooth bore (no rifling) firing a semi-caseless round, ejecting only a back cap of the original loaded round; the bulk of the 120mm shell's casing is consumed during firing.

Yeah, I know, it's Wiki...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...heavy_tank
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:35 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Okay,....Memory serves me well, as I knew this whole topic had run before,.....back in 2007/2008.

1958: US Army fields the 899th Tank Battalion with the M103A1 Heavy Tank. Redesignates to 2nd Heavy Tank Bn, 33rd Armor Regt.
** Composition of Unit: 4 Tank Companies, made up of 6 Platoons (3 tanks per Platoon)

The 899th Tank Bn was inactivated on 1 May 1958 in Germany; concurrently, personnel and equipment were transferred in place to the newly activated 2nd Heavy Tank Bn, 33rd Armored which was activated on the same day and assigned to USAREUR.

Forgot where I got this from but I'm sure its more accurate than 'Wiki'....

Besides, in the time since we last discussed this, I have had the chance to check out most of the Heavy Tank prototypes that ended up as the M103.

For such a huge tank, I still don't feel there is that much 'elbow room' in the turret....

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:04 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

There was a statement on the wiki site that the M103 is the tank on the armor branch insignia. I deleted that since it is in fact an M26.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:46 am
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Via private communications from a party that prefers to remain anonymous:

"Here's the deal. the only "real" hvy tk bn (w/m103s) was the 899th Hvy Tk Bn (an element of the 19th armor group. the 899th hq was at fliegerhorst kaserne in hanau; but its companies were attached to divisions around the fulda gap. b co/899th was at kirch goens w/cca 3ad. in oct '57, the 899th was re-flagged 2d hvy tk bn, 33d armor (and 19th armor grp became 4th armor grp).

i have tried for years, to learn where the other companies of the 899th were located. so far - i only know that another company was in aschaffenberg.....

I see somebody got pieces of the 899th history on the site. They may not realize there was one company attached at Kirch Gons. My error - I thought all the TK Bns in 3AD went CARS in Oct '57, but it turns out that ROCAD (which ran concurrent w CARS conversions) only covered the battalions assigned to armored divs, NOT the attached ones. The 3AD had another 19th/4th Armor Grp unit attached in those years - 746th AIB/later 3/51 Inf."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:01 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Photo from Kirch Goens. Says 1959. M103's and a couple M-74 Heavy Recovery Vehicles.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:17 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

WOW, Thats cool!!

Theres an M51 Heavy Recovery Vehicle also, which makes sense.

Amazing how I actually recognize the two tank motor pools.

4/32 Ar was in the upper tank motorpool, although the entire enclosure was concreted. 2/32 Ar was in the lower Motor Pool.

The road that went between the two motor pools went by the 'tank wash rack' and then to a back gate.

The maint buildings were part of the FSB area. The open area on the right side was the 'Wheeled Motor Pool', where we kept our Jeeps & Trucks.

The Rocks 'back gate' is in the distance to the upper right of the image. Actually beyond the large building, which I believe was the 'sub-cal' mini-tank range impact 'back stop'.

Cool find Mark!! I've never seen this shot before.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:27 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

I made a mistake, Dontos. I meant to point out the M-51 Heavy Recovery Vehicle. I think there is an M-74 but that might be medium recovery.
There was a second photo at the site (shown below): SOURCE: www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?


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

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:33 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

Here is a photo looking from the lower corner of the 4/23 MP towards the wheeled/track park & 2/32 ARs MP.



It actually is orientated in a reverse angle from the 1959 photo, towards the ASP in the distance.

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

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:43 pm
Post subject: Re: M103 Tank Unit?

It appears that A Company was in Aschaffenburg. C Company was in Erlangen in '59 and then moved to Kitzigen in '60. Found the following:

Santiago Soriano (Santiago Soriano)
I tranfered from Kentucky to Co. C 2nd Hvy. Tnk. Battalion 33rd Armor in Kitzingen, in 1960 to 1963.

C Co, 2 Bn, 33rd Armor. (James Thiele)
I remember wearing the 7th Army Patch while assigned to the 33rd in Erlangen, then wearing the 3rd Inf Div. patch while in Kitzengen. Guess we were like a "supporting" unit, with heavy Tanks.

2 Bn, 33rd Armor (James Thiele)
As I remember. A Co. was in Aschaffenberg, B Co in Hanau. C Co in Kitzengen. It was a Heavy Tank Bn only had 3 Company's each having 18 M103, 120MM Tanks, 63 tons each. (the ones the Marine Corp. got rid of)

C Co, 2rd HvTkBn, 33rd Armor (James Thiele)
Joined unit in Sept 1959 in Erlangen, Germany. Unit relocated to Kitzengen, Germany in Jan/Feb 1960. Departed some time in 1961.

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 3
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next



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