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M103A2 Heavy Tank

Part 9 - Decal Decisions

Dragon Model provides Cartograf decals for two M103A2s. In the instructions, both tanks are listed as being from unidentified units in Guantanamo during 1970. The units can be identified and more details provided on accuracy issues with the decals themselves.

M103A2s did deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on a six month rotation basis. This task was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. A five tank platoon of M103A2s and two additional M67 Flame Tanks supported the reinforced Infantry Battalion. Originally C Company deployed and then it was re-named D Company. One of the M103A2s the decals depict is for a tank deployed to Guantanamo Bay. This is "D12". This would be an M103A2 from 1st Platoon, D Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. This particular tank is shown in a colour plate in the Osprey M103 Heavy Tank book. The "D" is poorly displayed on the decals. It looks almost like a 0 (zero) or a capital O. The registration number is correct. There are a series of yellow stars that are applied to the side of the turret. These are supposed to be personal commendation marking given to the crew by the Platoon Leader. The instructions show the stars on the left and sides of the turret but the colour plate and an additional image in the Osprey book show the stars on the right side of the turret.

I was very fortunate to make contact with the Platoon Leader of 1st Platoon and he provided me excellent details to further expand my knowledge of “D12”. Tank “D12” was commanded by Sergeant D.R. Brown. It was confirmed for me that the crew commendation stars which were awarded for excellence in gunnery and tank inspections were only on the right side of the turret.

The other M103A2 depicted in the instructions/decals is not another tank deployed to Guantanamo Bay. It is the fourth M103A2 in 2nd Platoon, D Company, 5th Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. There are images of this particular tank in the Osprey book and the Ampersand Book. The “D24” markings look good. The D is properly shaped (swap this D for the O on D12 if you chose that tank). The registration number is correct.

The M103A2s of D Company, 5th Tank Battalion had been tanks with C Company, 1st Tank Battalion. When C Company, 1st Tank Battalion deployed to Vietnam they exchanged the M103A2s for M48A3s. The M103A2s remained in Pendleton and became D Company, 5th Tank Battalion.

Also included in the decals for this tank are the 1st Tank Battalion crests. According to the instructions, these decals are supposed to be applied to the center of the glacis plate, on each air cleaner, on both jerry cans, and on both rear fenders. That is a total of seven crests. The bad part is that Dragon only included three of the crests on their decals sheet.

Now, here is where there could be even more confusion. Would the D Company, 5th Tank Battalion M103A2s have 5th Tank Battalion crests or would they have retained the 1st Tank Battalion crests? Reference images are not quite good enough to tell. In fact, in reference images it almost appears the D Company tanks simply have blank crests with no insignia on them at all.

Add to that, the markings for D24 are not completely correct in the instructions. On the right rear fender there should be a small D24 and not the crest. I would expect this would be in yellow to follow the standard call sign marking. The small D24 can be clearly seen in the Ampersand book.