"M3 halftrack Camo Normandy Beach" Topic

I like the Camo on this M3 on a Normandy Beach. Does anyone know what colors and pattern it used? Robert

I'd be guessing but the darkest shade is likely to be black, the mid tone could be a brownish colour & the lighter one olive drab. Looks like the censor's obliterated the unit ID.

Offically it should follow the colours & patterns in this:

link

Probably like this Corgi one here:

link

Wow had not seen that camo on M3's before, its cool – thanks

I have the manual linked above. Dosen't look like any there. The Corgi looks close. But I think it looks more like a copy of this,

Robert

Didn't work for that half track….

The markings on the fenders lead me to believe that this track is in British or Canadian service, not American, so Etranger's link won't cover it. Anyone have any British sources for M3 cammo patterns?

MTP46a is the relevant document link but it isn't a standard British pattern either. Thats a GI looking at the wreck & it has the M3 fenders rather than those of the M5 version that was the model usually supplied tothe British.

I did wonder about it being a British vehicle, given the bridging plate & what 'could' be an AOS number, (231). Does anyone know which British unit had 231? I can't find it on the partial list I've got.

The distorted number on the bonnet (hood) side appears to begin with an 'S' prefix; usually seen on US vehicles. S as a prefix in British serial numbers was for SP guns link & the Canadians more or less followed British practice. An M3 (or M5) should have had the prefix 'T'.

Adam – I reckon it's drowned rather than been destroyed by enemy action.

Its the only photo I have seen so far with that pattern. I have seen some question too as to who it belongs to. Robert

British Vehicle Camouflage, 1939-45.
link

British Army Colours and Disruptive Camouflage in the United Kingdom, France and N.W. Europe, 1936-1945
by Mike Starmer
link

I'm wondering if it might belong to a Free French unit….maybe 2nd Armored Division on Utah Beach

The Free French didn`t land until later (1st August), so unless it stranded, and the photo is very late – it wouldn`t be French :-)

I thought it may be Canadian too, with the markings and camouflage pattern looking British; but the number plate on the bonnet seems to start with USAF? could it be a forward air controller vehicle??

I don't think it would be USAF. The USAF didn't come into being until 1947. Robert

It appears to be an MGMC, not an M3

link

I have seen three-tone schemes like that on 79th Armoured Division Buffalos in 1945, though nothing else.

Some US vehicles did carry bridging discs, so it's not necessarily a British 'thing'.

Some British units did land on Omaha, though they were exclusively Army Group Troops, Lines-of-Communication Troops and RAF Commando units. While that number does look a bit like a British AoS serial, the RAF didn't use AoS signs (they painted a roundel front and rear, plus a registration number beginning with 'RAF') and there should be a white diagonal stripe across the number for Army Group or LoC Troops. I don't therefore think it's British.

I don't therefore think it's British.

It is an American M16. See the link I posted above.

Sorry Hornswoggler, I can't open the links from work, so didn't see that. However, the British did use lots of de-turreted MGMCs (M14s) as command, OP and tractor vehicles.

Would you happen to have any photos or links Mark? Robert

I'll see what I can find. I think we did a discussion on this recently though.

Here's an M14 working as a 17pdr tractor in Italy:

And here's another M14 working as a artillery OP in 7th Armoured Division (at the end of the war):

Thanks Mark. . Robert