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