Introduced in 1943, this comfortable vehicle utilized the suspension components of the M2 Light Tank.and were used as the Prime Mover for 155mm Howitzers (US109) and 90mm AA Guns (US100).
Although 285 of these twin 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Tanks were built before wars end, they did not see combat until the Korean War where they proved invaluable in their ground support role. Additional ammunition was normally carried in a One Ton ammunition/Cargo Trailer (see Related Products below).
Our model has open hatches, stowage, a rotating turret and an additional pintle mounted .50cal often seen on these vehicles.
Painted model by John Murphy.
Of the 250 ordered, sixty were built before WWII ended but they did not see service until the Korean War. Known as the "Gorilla" this 155mm HMC had a top speed of 30mph and carried 22 rounds. Additional ammunition was carried either in a M8 Armoured Trailer or in M39 Utility Vehicles (see Related Products below).
Based on the late hull type of the M4A1, this was widely used by the Americans in the latter stages of WWII. It was also used in small numbers by the British and Canadian armies and remained in service to see action in the Korean War.
This is a highly detailed model and the lifting boom can be built in the forward or stowed positions.
Three sets of rollers, each with six heavy armoured discs, were suspended from the boom of the M32B1 Recovery Tank to produce the mine exploder variant known as the "Earthworm". Weighing 18tons, a limited number of these cumbersome contraptions were built and saw service in the ETO in 1944-45. Later the more successful T1E3 "Aunt Jemima" mine exploder became available but the "Earthworm" still continued to be used until late in the campaign finishing their service in Germany. Our model of this unusual AFV is based on the earlier, more common, hull type of the M32B1 Recovery Tank also available separately (see Related Products below.)
The photograph of the diorama above also used Milicast Figures and Accurate Armour Fortress '44 parts was built and painted by Steve Zaloga. This photograph, part of a 10 page article, featured on the cover of the April, 2004 issue of Military Modelling and was, we understand, the first ever small scale resin kit ever to receive this accolade.
Between October 1942 and December 1943 a total of 509 of the now almost redundant petrol M3's were converted to the M31 TRV's with a further 300 diesel types later converted as the M32B1 & B2. They were used on all fronts from late 1942 by the US Army and were also supplied in small numbers to the British and Free French. Some were also used by the Canadians in Italy. In late 1943 133 M31's were converted to the Prime Mover role for heavy artillery and were redesignated as M33. In June 2006 we simplified the construction of this kit by reducing the number of parts by moulding them in situ. The result is a more easily constructed model but still retaining all the detail you would expect from a Milicast Premier kit.
The British invented the Duplex Drive or DD system for tanks being used in amphibious operations and gave their detailed drawings to their American counterparts in early 1944. The US tank of choice for conversion was the M4A1 of which 100 were of the later "Big Hatch" type and used the famous Firestone company to produce their conversion kits. A total of 350 were so converted and differed from the British pattern by having additional struts including 2 on the turret and a raised splash curtain on the rear of the apron. American planners revised their plans and decided that 350 vehicles were more than would be required for Operation Neptune and resultantly agreed to transfer 80 to the British of both M4A1 types. The American DD tank experience on D-Day was mixed in contrast to the British who managed to deploy most of their DDs successfully. In total only 55 of the 96 American DDs launched reached shore but proved invaluable with many accepting that their intervention saved the day on Omaha beach. Later 36 American M4A1 DDs were used in Operation Dragoon, the landings in Southern France with 16 swimming ashore and the balance landing directly on the beach from LCTs. Their final amphibious operation was the Rhine crossing but due to shortages of M4A1s, the British supplied the Americans with some of their Mk.III (M4A2) & Mk.V (M4A4) DDs. A total of 28 of this mixed bag were used in the crossing by the Americans. The kit includes the British pattern rear turret stowage bin so that the British version may be built if desired. This model is also very suitable for use with Accurate Armour's superb 1/76 scale LCT4 which is also available from Milicast.
A 105mm SP was planned from early 1941 as soon as the M3 entered production and by February 1942 the M7 "Priest" was standardised with just over 200 built by the end of 1942. The vehicle mirrored the production improvements of the M4, and later vehicles had one-piece differential housings and late suspension. In late 1943 the M4A3 was used as the hull resulting in the M7B1 - note that this version has the "Deep" pulpit style but early suspension pattern. The British version is also available.
