At 03:30 is my dad’s squad on the way to Rome, June 5, 1944; 19th Engineer Combat Regiment, “B” Company, 2nd Pltn, 4th Squad, US II Corps, under Major General Keyes. They are towing a 37mm gun. These men are featured in a documentary named, “The 19th Engineers No Longer Exist.” here on KZitem.
@derekmills1080
2 жыл бұрын
My late father (2nd Lothians and Border Horse, B sqdn; N. Africa and Italy) had great praise for these utilitarian, rugged vehicles. Many thanks, again, David.
@CJFCarlsson
Ай бұрын
Infantry tend to appreciate all things other than walking, a lot.
@brianlinke1856
2 жыл бұрын
White Corp. Half-Track...My grandfather, Alexander Linke was a service man for White Steam Cars (same company) in Canada... and earlier had driven a steamer from Cleveland , Ohio to St, Louis, Missouri as a reliability test. As steam cars phased out White turned to trucks and buses (later Half -Tracks as well). Special note: IDF obtained a wide selection of these from salvage yards in Europe in the late 40's & early 50's. All were made operational, many can be seen in extensive use on all fronts in the Middle East.
@tomsenior7405
2 жыл бұрын
There was an extremely popular and highly sought after Airfix M9 Half Track Kit back in the early 1970's. I made lots of these Models. Then Matchbox produced their Variant along with the Hanomag.. Suddenly Table-Top Wargames had a whole new level of realism. As a 10 year-old child, I thought this Vehicle was the Bees Knees. Obviously, I wanted a Real One! Having researched the M9, M16 and White Scout Vehicles since then; I think I will stick to my Trusty, Rusty old Jag, thank you very much.
@strontiumstargazer103
Жыл бұрын
Airfix called it’s 1/72 model an M3 half track - came with a trailer. Looked identical to this vid. Do you know what the difference is?
@tomsenior7405
Жыл бұрын
@@strontiumstargazer103 You are correct. Thank you for correctly me. All I can tell is what I have read on Wikipedia, if that is even worth a damn. The M3 was an updated version of the M2. The M9 was an improved M5: Larger fuel capacity etc. Basically, they all look very similar (Except the M2 "Car"). Different Manufacturers were involved and this could account for minor differences. It has been 50 years since I was an enthusiastic Wargamer.
@strontiumstargazer103
Жыл бұрын
@@tomsenior7405 Thanks Tom. I had that model 45 years ago and loved it. I’m after the Tamiya 1/35 version but cannot find it. Maybe it needs another manufacturing run.
@tomsenior7405
Жыл бұрын
@@strontiumstargazer103 Happy Hunting. Rare, out of production Tamiya kits appear on eBay from time to time. I have had to wait 5 years in some instances. A quick glance shows several already built Tamiya US Half Tracks on eBay. If you are none too fussy, there are a few "Dragon" Kits as well. I have only ever built one Dragon kit and it was pretty good. No flashing, clean crisp mouldings and decent instructions. However, they are made in China.
@strontiumstargazer103
Жыл бұрын
@@tomsenior7405 I have been wondering who will bring to market first the Queen Elizebeth aircraft carrier, UK’s Airfix or China’s Dragon. My money is on the Chinese.
@nonamesplease6288
2 жыл бұрын
Another great video, Mr. Fletcher! American troops, at least in North Africa, used to call this thing a Purple Heart Box because the armor protection was very thin.
@kyle857
2 жыл бұрын
Better than a standard truck I imagine.
@shanepatrick4534
2 жыл бұрын
@@kyle857 It wasn't enough to stop an 8mm MG round from coming in but it was(the armor) enough to stop the round from going out the other side, so it tended to ricochet about inside the troop compartment.
@bigblue6917
2 жыл бұрын
Purple Heart. They must have been the lucky ones.
@nonamesplease6288
2 жыл бұрын
@@bigblue6917 KIAs get Purple Hearts too.
@kirkstinson7316
8 ай бұрын
@@shanepatrick4534 I see you get your information from old movies (Patton). The 1/4 armor plate used on the half track could stop 7.92 ball ammo (8mm Mauser). Germany used the same cartridge in both machines guns and infantry rifles. They DID have AP rounds though. Don't know if they were loaded in MG belt like in the US though
@GrandDungeonDad
2 жыл бұрын
A versatile, rugged platform that served in multiple roles throughout its service life. It seems like a very successful ans dependable machine to me.
@thunderK5
2 жыл бұрын
As an aside, International Harvester did build 1000 anti-aircraft halftracks called M17s, mounting the same Maxon turret. These were all export to the Soviet Union and around 920 arrived there. The Red Army used these extensively for air defense in 1944-45. The quad-HMG variant of the post-war BTR-152 was based on the M17.
@kenporter614
Жыл бұрын
Keep the history alive so we can learn from it and not repeat it, great job.
@nickraschke4737
2 жыл бұрын
You ripper. Greetings from Australia-. Can’t wait to get back to the museum
@paulfrantizek102
2 жыл бұрын
From what I understand the TD versions of these weren't entirely useless. There were a couple of instances where they were used as intended and did well.
@ICECAPPEDSKY
2 жыл бұрын
You were probably better off using HE shells against infantry and soft targets with it
@lamwen03
2 жыл бұрын
They used the M4's short barrel 75. And I believe U.S. armor piercing at that time sucked.
@TheChieftainsHatch
2 жыл бұрын
@@lamwen03 They used an older version of the 75mm, with slower operation, but otherwise was pretty similar. Plenty good enough to destroy any tank in the German inventory at the time.
@Dutch_Uncle
2 жыл бұрын
Fort Lewis in the US state of Washington has a military museum. One of the objects on display was a truck, with a sign advising that the soldiers frequently mounted "wenches" on the front bumper. I don't dispute that description of GI behavior, but in a visitor comment card I noted that "winches" were also mounted on the bumper, for more official military purposes. Yes vowels are important. Nitpicking museums and postings is one of my hobbies, but I don't do it orally.
@scockery
2 жыл бұрын
After the war when the donut chain opened, Winchell's were mounted. The crullers being popular as they could be inflated and used as spare tires.
@Orangefan77
2 жыл бұрын
To whomever decided upon the much louder adverts in the middle of the video, jarringly louder and much more frenetic than David Fletcher's presentation, I lay the following curse upon thee: *I hope you are assigned to drive an A38 Valiant for the rest of your days*
@screamingcactus1753
Жыл бұрын
If I had stupid money I would love to buy and renovate one of these. Definitely my favorite vehicle of World War 2
@tonnywildweasel8138
2 жыл бұрын
''White trucks you don't stear, you aim! was the slogan i think? Was able to ride in one a while ago. Thanks for the vid, appreciate it a lot! Greets from the Netherlands 🌷, T.
@pavarottiaardvark3431
2 жыл бұрын
7:19 one of the main advantages of half-tracks is that they require much less training than a full-track vehicle. This is a big plus for nations who have conscription. Half-tracks fall out of favour as nations more to professional armies, but some countries don't
@Dutch_Uncle
2 жыл бұрын
In training I heard the half track described as as "combining the disadvantages of a truck and a tank." The instructor's view.
@pavarottiaardvark3431
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dutch_Uncle From the instructors point of view it probably did. But he doesn't have the wider perspective of training times and costs, and factory costs (half tracks are much cheaper than tracked vehicles). Think of it like all those german tanks. Sure, each individual one was a brilliant vehicle, but there are wider problems in a war.
@allangibson2408
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dutch_Uncle Half tracks have much lower maintenance requirements than fully tracked vehicles because the brakes aren’t used for steering.
@mbr5742
2 жыл бұрын
Germany had a "almost 500.000 guys" conscript army till 1990 but only used the M16A1 half track for a very short time. So there must be more to the switch
@allangibson2408
2 жыл бұрын
@@mbr5742 The M16A1 is a special anti aircraft gun variant. Almost certainly useless against jet fighters.
@douglasruss2889
2 жыл бұрын
Bravo !
@AsbestosMuffins
2 жыл бұрын
half tracks were actually really popular in the US for commercial vehicles in the 20s and 30s before ww2
@b2tall239
2 жыл бұрын
Let the contest between the "Upvote Vultures" begin with their effusive and over-the-top praise for our host! Interesting and informative video, as always. Thanks.
@jep77ray
2 жыл бұрын
Yay! I've even waiting for a new tankchat
@raucousindignation5811
2 жыл бұрын
I need more Richard Smith OBE content. The only thing that could ever make Richard better would be a large moustache!
@scoutdogfsr
2 жыл бұрын
To our European counter parts. Americans often refer to International Harvester products as "Cornbinders". Not a derogatory term in any way.
@Dutch_Uncle
2 жыл бұрын
As a guy from the Grain Belt, think the word is "combine," in reference to the machine combining the cutting of the grain and the gleaning of the grain, the separation of the seeds from the chaff. I also heard the term used in Russia for the machine. A combine does not bind corn. I have see WWII vintage rifles made by International Harvester, with their name on the weapon. It was indeed an international harvester, also made by International Harvester. A true but sad description.
@Canis_Lupus_Rex
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dutch_Uncle before the combine and corn picker, corn use to be cut and put in "shocks", basically bundles. Same was done for wheat. Corn and wheat binders were machines created to cut the corn and wheat and place it in these bundles. That's were the term cornbinder came from.
@scoutdogfsr
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dutch_Uncle no disrepect my friend. IH Scout guys call them "cornbiners". We still have 4 IH products (1 scout 2, 2 scout 800's a 67' dump and a flatbed that I don't remember the year or model) on our central Colorado ranch. All of the old guys still call them "Binders" after the old slang name. P.S. The M1 Garands made by IH were not produced for ww2 but the Korean conflict along with Iver Johnson as comercial (non Springfield) rifles.
@paulstewartcrane
2 жыл бұрын
At 2:22 is that pic taken in South Korea ? Because there are at least 2 Centurians in the background. I know they were used Very late in 1945, Just curious, Tank Chats.
@matemate873
2 жыл бұрын
Pleas do a Yw-701A
@Oliver66FarmBoy
2 жыл бұрын
Just imagine being Fritz and your wehrmacht buddies taking a stroll through France on a beautiful summer day in 1944 and you walk smack into the firepower of a very angry quad .50 mount on a half track.
@thekinginyellow1744
2 жыл бұрын
"Awe look; The cute little American halftrack has four pop-guns!" --Wirbelwind Commander, probably
@stephen9869
2 жыл бұрын
Showing the credits before the film is finished is a bit distracting! There must be a good reason for it I guess.
@WEC8198
2 жыл бұрын
I’m sure you can cope with the full 10 seconds ?
@riff2072
2 жыл бұрын
IT'S A GOOD DAY
@hamishneilson7140
2 жыл бұрын
I wish the Tank Museum would stop putting the ads for the gift shop in the middle of these videos, it feels very tacky and detracts from the perceived authority of the video. I really like sending these videos to friends and family as references to vehicles and so on that we talk about, and I've heard from a few of them that they're put off by it. I understand the struggle of trying to promote interest in a niche subject like this, but I believe it would be more beneficial to the Tank Museum to maintain a clean, authoritative image. I'd love to see the museum do more deep dive videos on them in a documentary form, similar to these tank chats but in a more standardized version. Maybe use some graphs to show production numbers and specifications, list relevant sources and links to where people can access or find them, maybe some anecdotes and so on, etc. I'd just love to see the Tank Museum focus more on becoming a more reputable source, not that it isn't already, but one that is seen by a layman as being a trustworthy source.
@AndyTernay
2 жыл бұрын
Odd. I'd rather the Tank Museum survive as an institution and if the price of their doing so is a brief ad ... I can live with that.
@Theogenerang
2 жыл бұрын
@@AndyTernay I support musical venues as institutions too but having someone break in in the middle of a performance to do an ad for the gift shop isn't the way to win friends and influence people. Its harsh and abrupt and very much a turn off.
@nigelpollard1304
2 жыл бұрын
Seeming authoritative on KZitem doesn't pay staff salaries. They need the funding, especially after being closed for a while due to COVID. As far as I'm concerned, they can put the adverts wherever they think works best.
@benjaminwoods510
2 жыл бұрын
I wish people were less obnoxious
@cmck472
2 жыл бұрын
For £4/$5 a month you can watch ad-free. Just saying...
@markheeney5502
2 жыл бұрын
Great video, full of info as ever, but once again, the presentation is great for insomnia. Never a look inside, never opens a door, not a look in the cab or the back, just stands there and talks. Same with the tank reviews So frustrating, come on guys, it's all there, show us. Stop it with the static camera angle, it's boring. Sorry!
@badkneesone
Жыл бұрын
I didn’t hear it but is this known as the “deuce and a half”?
@jakekaywell5972
Жыл бұрын
Nope. Those were GMC CCKW and Studebaker US6 6X6 trucks.
@tomgray3739
2 жыл бұрын
The M9, M9A1, M5, M5A1, M3 and M3A1 will all carry 13 men, it's only the M2 and M2A1 which will only carry 10 men because the rear bodies are shorter. I respect and really enjoy his videos but there's a lot of information that is incorrect . . . don't get me wrong if I had to remember half of what he knows then I am sure I'd get some things wrong!
@HM2SGT
2 жыл бұрын
No ‘damning-with-faint-praise’ back-handed compliment Fletcherisms? 🙀😩😞
@wazza33racer
2 жыл бұрын
The Sdkfz 251 is much sexier.
@tonyromano6220
2 жыл бұрын
Armored infantry.
@mavfan1
2 жыл бұрын
BBQ crisps.
@wst8340
2 жыл бұрын
Must be good if the Israeli military. Kept using them
@maximilianrpm2927
2 жыл бұрын
or cheap :)
@comentedonakeyboard
2 жыл бұрын
13 men to fight superstition?🤔
@jeremygibbs4080
2 жыл бұрын
When he talks about the rounded corners shows how little he knows about these
@heartland96a
Жыл бұрын
? The rear of the compartment is rounded , rounded rolled one piece corners if you like. Where the Whites were 90 degree flat bolted corners in the rear
@BaronEvola123
Жыл бұрын
The Israelis used this and Centurions to great effect. It's amazing what can be done with aging kit when used correctly.
@T.S.Birkby
2 жыл бұрын
A ubiquitous and aesthetically pleasing war fighting machine
@lalucre1803
2 жыл бұрын
David Fletcher is the David Attenborough of tanks.
@AyebeeMk2
2 жыл бұрын
I think you have it wrong; David Attenborough is the David Fletcher of the animal world.
@joshpalmer7416
2 жыл бұрын
Well said, other commenter, also well said
@Jimbob7595
2 жыл бұрын
I'd like to see Fletcher's top 5 tanks fight Attenborough's top 5 animals lol
@gusgone4527
2 жыл бұрын
Anything the IDF "acquired" and then kept in service long after an alternative became available. Is obviously a good piece of kit.
@roceye
2 жыл бұрын
The IDF used them into the 1980s. Many soldiers preferred them to the M113.
@andrewclayton4181
2 жыл бұрын
For our American cousins, REME stands for Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. They do all the fixing and mending, and also vehicle recovery.
@whirving
2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like an ideal vehicle for that sort of thing at the time. Now where I live they use Haggelund track vehicles for some of their "hard to reach" lines.
@dougjb7848
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. I had the Royal and Engineers figures but the M and second E were giving me fits. Motorized? Memorable? Elegant? Extreme?
@AttiliusRex
2 жыл бұрын
@@whirving Hägglund ;)
@johneenglish300
2 жыл бұрын
No, it's "Rough Engineering Made Easy", at least to the rest of the army
@mbr5742
2 жыл бұрын
Aka the guys that come to dig the Chieftain out of grandmas front yard after REFORGER
@alexfogg381
2 жыл бұрын
I have seen a real on at the Cole land transportation museum in Bangor Maine, the founder of the museum Mr. Cole served in Europe during ww2 and while riding in a half track he had traded seats with another GI, after doing so an German 88mm shell hit the vehicle killing everyone but Mr. Cole. Had he not changed seats he would have been killed too. I heard that story from the man himself.
@sonoftherabbitpeople4737
2 жыл бұрын
The last place you would want to be when being fired upon by anti-tank guns was in a half-track. The Lord was watching over him that day for sure. Purely luck that anyone survived that hit at all.
@gusgone4527
2 жыл бұрын
@@sonoftherabbitpeople4737 Odin works in mysterious ways.
@williamjohnson7963
8 ай бұрын
I'm going to have to take a trip to the Cole Land Transportation Museum some day. I've driven by it quite a few times. As an aside, just down Route 1-A from Bangor, in Hermon, is the Maine Military Supply store. In the back of their parking lot is a MIG 21 jet with Polish markings. They also have a Dodge WC 3/4 ton truck and a Daimler scout car.
@lairdcummings9092
2 жыл бұрын
There was a gentleman who drove a half-track around Kenosha, back in the early 1980s. Especially in the winter, he was a notorious sight.
@lairdcummings9092
2 жыл бұрын
Even in the deepest snow, he never had problems.
@PitFriend1
2 жыл бұрын
US half tracks are street legal in many areas of the US because their rubber tracks don’t chew up roads and they’re not so heavy they damage bridges.
@jimmehjiimmeehh9748
2 жыл бұрын
I wonder how a WW2 era halftrack compares to a modern 4x4 in terms of offroad abilities. Also I wonder if a modern halftrack would be markedly better.
@johncartwright8154
2 жыл бұрын
there were a few around in England used on farms I recall. I think the cost of fuel here, especially after the oil crisis of the 1970s caused their demise!
@lairdcummings9092
2 жыл бұрын
@@johncartwright8154 yeah, not exactly fuel efficient. Re-engined with a good diesel engine, might still be useful, but... all that armor... Pricey.
@anumeon
2 жыл бұрын
I cannot help but hear the theme to Kelly's Heroes whenever i see one of these half-tracks.. :)
@KoolKman
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah and it got strafed and destroyed by one of their own fighter planes while they were resting on a hill top..but the real heroes of course were the Sherman tanks and 'Oddball' outwitting the Tigers
@inisipisTV
2 жыл бұрын
I for one remember the ending of Dirty Dozen where the survivors drive off on that "German" Half-track.
@KoolKman
2 жыл бұрын
@@inisipisTV and that had Donald Sutherland in it too!
@anumeon
2 жыл бұрын
@@KoolKman He had the positive vibes after all.. :D Woof, Woof. (Personally though i really love Don Rickles as Crapgame)
@TheSaturnV
2 жыл бұрын
Or hear that guy complain about taking his gun out in the rain and letting it rust up!
@barrytaylor6565
2 жыл бұрын
Again, dont interrupt David when he's in mid -flow, wait till the end !!!!!!!
@kenitaycordromp9843
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly! It ruins the flow for me.
@MrHws5mp
2 жыл бұрын
"It's only a small detail; hardly worth bothering with really..." - This has now been identified by NASA as the moment when global weather patterns changed significantly, due to thousands of model-makers simultaneously taking a sharp intake of breath and then reaching for their keyboards in unison...
@jlvfr
2 жыл бұрын
I felt a great disturbance in the Force...
@kenbrown2808
2 жыл бұрын
"we're going to make a model with FOUR machine guns on top to shoot at airplanes with." yes, that is definitely an American vehicle.
@bigblue6917
2 жыл бұрын
Surprised to see them so restrained. There was battleships which carried less guns then an early American tank.
@kenbrown2808
2 жыл бұрын
@@bigblue6917 not american battleships.
@GrandDungeonDad
2 жыл бұрын
And then lets shoot at ground targets with it because damn it we love guns!
@kenbrown2808
2 жыл бұрын
@@GrandDungeonDad there's loads of other American things, too, like folding down the side armor so you can drive with your arm out the window.
@GrandDungeonDad
2 жыл бұрын
@@kenbrown2808 I love them I feel like vehicles like this do not get the recognition in history they deserve. Much like a dagger when compared to a sword.
@bryansavage9700
2 жыл бұрын
They were used by the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion in North Africa quite well against the Africa Korp Panzer 4 Special that carried the 75mm long gun . There is a Video on it
@ironseabeelost1140
2 жыл бұрын
My father recieved his second Purple Heart and a Silver Star in Tunisia, the first Purple Heart and a Bronze Star was during the landings in Morocco. They retired him, after he recovered enough, in 1944! He was fighting in the new mechanized units, halftracks.
@jeffthebaptist3602
2 жыл бұрын
13 men is a full 10 man rifle section and the three man halftrack crew.
@Caratacus1
2 жыл бұрын
Probably didn't need much adjustment looking at the size of your average Yank. 13 Brits = 6 Yanks.
@JohnSmith-yv6eq
2 жыл бұрын
@@Caratacus1 They resemble that remark...
@peteranderson037
2 жыл бұрын
@@Caratacus1 Modern Americans, yes. But these were skinny WWII Americans.
@jacquesstrapp3219
2 жыл бұрын
@@peteranderson037 In the 1940s, American farm boys were huge by European standards.
@marvwatkins7029
5 ай бұрын
International Harvester was actually best known for their farm tractors then just trucks. And their rather clever logo proves it.
@larrybrown1824
2 жыл бұрын
White created 2 versions of the half-track: M2 & M3. The M2 was shorter, carried 6-8 men and was generally used to pull light artillery or anti-tank guns. The M-3 was, I believe, a foot longer and could carry 13 men. 12 was the size of an American infantry squad, the 13th man being the driver. You're M9 might be an International copy M3A1, although A1's usually had the bustle for a .50 cal Ma Deuce. There were a few minor upgrades on the A-1's, but the bustle was the big one.
@shad6644
Жыл бұрын
I still have about the 1/72 Hasegawa M3 half tracks where I shaved of the mud guards, filed the back corner edges and scrapped our some of the rivets on the side. Rather than looking like an M5/M9 they look like, ‘what the heck happened here?’😂
@trailrunnah8886
7 ай бұрын
Every year for the Thanksgiving parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts, there's a guy who drives one of these as part of the parade. It has the quad gun mount, super impressive seeing and hearing it roll down the street.
@CockadoodleDont
7 ай бұрын
It is an M16 halftrack. There’s also one in the American heritage museum in Hudson, Ma. Amazing tanks and vehicles there, if you haven’t been you should make the trip.
@trailrunnah8886
7 ай бұрын
@@CockadoodleDont it's on my list of things to do! I'm also planning on doing a drydock tour of battleship New Jersey in May.
@CockadoodleDont
7 ай бұрын
@@trailrunnah8886 That sounds like a fun time, I want to see that ship at some point in my life! They have a great KZitem channel as well. I keep thinking about the tanks in the heritage museum, I might have to go today lol
@mikereger1186
2 жыл бұрын
Hooray! A new Fletch video to watch at lunchtime :)
@VosperCDN
2 жыл бұрын
If I could have a wartime vehicle, but have to maintain it on my own budget, it would be one of these halftracks. I think they've always looked cool as it is.
@allangibson2408
2 жыл бұрын
The tracks are becoming very hard to find now the Israelis have withdrawn them from service…
@kevinbaker6168
2 жыл бұрын
The version I always liked was the motor howitzer one. These trucks lead to the armored deuce and a half gun trucks of Viet Nam era and the current armored fighting vehicles used by the military.
@lynnwood7205
2 жыл бұрын
There is the NDQSA, National Dusters Quads Searchlights Association which is about the Air Defense Artillery units deployed to and in Vietnam. Also includes the Vulcan minigun system and Hawk missile batteries. Extensive material about the M42 Duster and the M55 Quad 50 which was often in a Gun truck configuration on 2 1/2 tons, M35s ( Deuce and a Half) and later 5 ton trucks M54s. The Quad 50 half track also saw extensive service in the Korean War. When the Quad 50 was paired with the twin 40mm of the tracked Duster, it was a formidable system of complimentary interlocking fire.
@andrewclayton4181
2 жыл бұрын
In the earliest days of tracked vehicles they came up with the notion of steering the things with wheels, before they worked out track steering. There was an agricultural machine called the Gyrotiller which had a large iron wheel on the front to guide it. That's why WWI tanks were fitted with a pair of wheels behind, as steerage. They soon found they were superfluous but the idea hung around.
@knoll9812
11 ай бұрын
Did more than hang around. Track steering in tanks is complex and expensive and needs training. Steering by front wheels makes everything simpler.
@HeedTheLorax
Жыл бұрын
Big thumbs down for begging in middle of introduction
@joshpalmer7416
2 жыл бұрын
The man, the myth, the uncombed hair. He's my spirit animal
@Halinspark
2 жыл бұрын
Nobody is so universally, unapologetically blunt. The more things a vehicle has that he doesn't like, the funnier the video gets.
@06colkurtz
2 жыл бұрын
We want the Director to present again!!!!
@NotoriusMaximus
2 жыл бұрын
I remember them in middle 90th IDF still used them as 81 mm mortar platform
@christhesmith
2 жыл бұрын
that sudden patreon advert made me crap myself
@johnc2438
2 жыл бұрын
Had a squadron of M9s for my backyard army. Always won every battle against neighbor kids' forces they went charging into (helped along be several M26 Pershing tanks and my awseome ATOMIC CANNON, of course!). 💥
@Crashed131963
2 жыл бұрын
Was hoping he could tell us what the round heavy cylinder did on the front. Most did not have a winch in ww2 photos just the steel rolling pin looking thing.. Did the steering wheel steer by the tracks or front wheels or both?
@heartland96a
Жыл бұрын
It’s was built with either a winch which was ment for self recovery. Of course it could be used for a lot more . Or a anti ditch roller it would help the front keep from digging in when going down into a ditch. The roller turned/ rolled on the opposite side of the ditch till the front wheels could make contact. All American half track were steered by the front wheels only.
@knoll9812
11 ай бұрын
@@heartland96athe roller rolled up the other side of the ditch pushed by the tracks. Roller stopped into digging into side of dirch
@tuckcuttertuck6802
2 жыл бұрын
Always a pleasure David. Thank you.
@tbmike23
2 жыл бұрын
Charming as always, David. Miss the Typewriter.
@AndyTernay
2 жыл бұрын
Me also!
@jondoutt9834
2 жыл бұрын
YES! Please bring back the typewriter intro and I will forgive the bothersome mid chat advert.
@buckshot6481
2 жыл бұрын
Are you chaps going to do another Christmas special ?
@getinthevantim
2 жыл бұрын
International Harvester were also known for their Farmall agricultural tractors.
@garymuse9009
Жыл бұрын
And their construction Equipment too
@knoll9812
11 ай бұрын
Major agricultural machinery company. Good capability for building something that wears more than a car
@garycb8592
2 жыл бұрын
My old neighbor served with the 50th Armored Infantry, 6th Armored Division in one of these. RIP Jim.
@robinbrowne5419
4 ай бұрын
The rubber tracks are the grandfather of the snowmobile, many smaller construction machinery and Wall-E 👍
@vicpecka7356
2 жыл бұрын
Aren't some of the pictures used actually pictures of M3 halftracks?
@mitchellsmith4690
2 жыл бұрын
Was at Bindlach BRD in the 80s with 1/2 ACR...had one in running order that came out on the 4th oh July...don't know who actually owned it.
@tire26
11 ай бұрын
This is perhaps the "coolest" looking military truck I've seen.
@robertwalton7307
2 жыл бұрын
Many of these flooded the local US Government scene after WW2. The Philadelphia ,PA fire dept converted one as a fire engine.I guess for winter work. Parts availability and maintenance costs doomed most to the scrap yard in civilian use.
@josephlannert969
8 ай бұрын
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it a 75mm-equipped one of these that managed to disable and capture a Tiger 1 for the first time ever in North Africa? If thats the case their crew must have had serious b*lls of steel!
@davidbeattie4294
2 жыл бұрын
There is alot to be said for a vehicle that is reliable, available in quantity, and good enough for purpose. Today we tend to go overboard in search of perfection and end up with overly complex, hard to maintain vehicles that are too expensive to purchase in quantity. And then find out that what we created isn't suitable for the current conflict situation.
@coloradostrong
Жыл бұрын
_Alot_ is a town in India. _A lot_ is more than one of something; multiples of.
@scockery
2 жыл бұрын
At least one German Afrika Corps unit under the command of Colonel Hans Dietrich used those half-tracks. Dietrich survived the war, emigrated to the USA, changed his name and moved to Genoa City.
@scockery
2 жыл бұрын
@@nickdanger3802 I can see why. She was young; he was restless.
@BA-gn3qb
2 жыл бұрын
American soldiers called them "Purple Heart Boxes" A bullet wound pierce one side, and rattle around inside.
@joshuafroughton4171
2 жыл бұрын
I wonder if they sell David fletcher replica mustaches at the museum gift shop?
@DocTommy1972
2 жыл бұрын
if this man isn't knighted soon, there's a problem with the honours system. Whenever the world becomes too much for me, I turn on a Tank Chat. DFs voice calms me down instantly and there's always a tidbit of information you missed the first time.
@paulstewartcrane
2 жыл бұрын
at 9:53 were those pics of 37mm guns in those M9's just a curious Yank !
@strontiumstargazer103
Жыл бұрын
What’s the difference between the M3 and M9 half-tracks?
@9_19Ming
Жыл бұрын
m2 m3 m5 m9 half track are my biggesssssst love ❤️ 😍 💖
@tomstarcevich1147
2 жыл бұрын
They still make international trucks I drove a international workstar dump truck for over 20yrs 👍
@nickdsnik1675
2 жыл бұрын
Where was the pic at 2:26 taken? The MBTs look like centurions.
@anthonylee6322
2 жыл бұрын
The quad 50 was used in Korea to stop waves of Chi coms attacks.
@knoll9812
11 ай бұрын
Not one of his better talks. Would line a bit more on why it was important for the ys to make these and how they wete actually ysed.
@phillipriggs8299
2 жыл бұрын
My grandfather commanded a recon and repair unit from the .50 cal gunner's spot on a half track. 5th Armored. "Find em, fix em, fight!" was their motto. Thanks for this video, and good on ya, Brits!
@firefox5926
2 жыл бұрын
6:47 i just hope they're not forcing him to present these videos...
@de_baard_van_Bart
2 жыл бұрын
The decal on the mudgaurd of the halftrack in the video seems to be the insignia of the 15th Scottish Infantry Division, does anyone know if this vehicle was used by them or that I'm just confused.
@blockstacker5614
2 жыл бұрын
I think some of these still do work in places.
@whiskeysixindigo7371
Жыл бұрын
White still makes commercial trucks here in the USA
@rexfrommn3316
2 жыл бұрын
These halftracks were good vehicles as long as their limitations were understood. These halftracks were fine at hauling infantry close to the front or keeping up with the friendly tanks then dismounting them within range of the enemy giving some protection. It was important to have some mechanized infantry with armor for the infantry in armored units to keep close to the tanks at all times. These halftracks also made excellent 81mm mortar carriers or 4.2" mortar carriers. So these were excellent vehicles as long as the commander understood their limitations of open tops and light armor. These halftracks were NOT assault vehicles but could take infantry and support weapons into combat zones giving some protection against small arms and shrapnel. The 75mm gun version on the halftrack as a talk destroyer were a failed concept. Yet, these 75mm guns had some ability to support infantry with moveable artillery support. The howitzer version probably was the most useful version for this sort of thing in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. But you didn't want to think you could knockout Tiger or Panther tanks with such vehicles. Overall, the mortar carriers were the most useful version. The 81mm mortar was a battalion mortar in the US Army. It would have been a Godsent to have the 81mm mortar on a halftrack with all the mortar shells towed in a trailer. The weight this would save some poor GI soldier from lugging it around would have been a real labor saving device. I know 105mm guns were put on halftracks but I don't know if such things were successful or not. Again, if properly used to engage the enemy from the reverse slope for cover the halftrack with a 105mm or 75mm gun would have been okay. But these halftracks with guns on them were NEVER going to be successful assault guns. These 75mm gun halftracks had good utility as scout support vehicles with the shoot and scoot concept. I always wondered why the American Army didn't develop an enclosed version of the Lee/Grant tank or Sherman tank with a 105mm gun loaded in the front without a turret in an assault gun variant. A .30 caliber and .50 caliber machine gun turret could have been put on top of the assault gun. I think three or four 105mm assault guns per battalion could have been quite useful during WW2 as infantry support vehicles. A shortage of shipping space was probably the answer to my question. The Germans made good use of these Stug vehicles on a chassis of a Panzer III or Panzer IV tank. The US Army could have used a "Sherman105mm" Stug in WW2 with four in every infantry battalion. These Sherman assault guns would have been ideal for close quarters infantry support against dug in enemy machine guns, pillboxes, trenches and defensive strong points.
@knoll9812
11 ай бұрын
Americans had a strong lobby for their tank destroyers. They slammed everything else
@thekameleon9785
2 жыл бұрын
This man is a walking national treasure with all hes knowledge.
@pickeljarsforhillary102
2 жыл бұрын
WWII: simple solutions to simple problems WWIII: expensive overly complex solutions to simple problems
@Caratacus1
2 жыл бұрын
WWIV: Fought with sticks
@HM2SGT
2 жыл бұрын
I saw one of these for sale on eBay some years ago that somebody had replaced the original cab and bonnet with that of a regular pick up truck. Kind of nifty!
@aaronwilkinson8963
Жыл бұрын
The soviet Union made a copy of that after the war
@nickpapa1721
2 жыл бұрын
Kelly's Heroes features a couple of these...
@maxkronader5225
2 жыл бұрын
A sort of "Jack of all trades, master at none" type of vehicle. Utilitarian, and very handy to have, but not specialized for any one task.
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