At this time i am making a diorama who represent a M26 Dragon Wagon loading a LCM in Maastrich - Holland, in March of 1945.
For i make this diorama more realistic i want to know the shipment process of LCM (if they placed bars wooden in the tow for make the process better,....and other things).
Other things i need is to know what is the Battalion, numbers and simbols of the M26 Dragon Wagon at this time.

If you can help me or know who can help me i would be very thankful!!

Since already i tthank you for your help.



Salu2,
Ussyyy

Hi Ussyyy,

Welcome to Armorama

Coincidence or what, I have been working on a similar project, and last weekend I got the base for the presentation base. The Dragon Wagon is about finished, as is the LCM 3.

I can help you with the transport question, the LCM's were lifted out of the water with a crane, and then the DW's Winch was used to pull the LCM over the trailer. The trailer was prepared by removing the hinged ramps at the rear, and by securing large wooden beams and blocks on the deck to clear the rear wheels. The LCM seems to have been secured to the trailer only by a chain at the front., and one at the back. (obviously on both sides). The LCM's were used to shift cargo at the same time, and all the photos I have here show a large tarpaulin covering the cargo area for at least half the space. Some LCM's have the .50 cal MG's mounted, others have them removed. Most seem in very clean condition, indicating that they had been repainted only recently. Those fresh out of the water would of course have a darker (wet) section below the waterline.
As to the unit's involved, IIRC at least two of the Tamiya kit decal options can be used, but unfortunately the most photographed one (Old Ruts and Glory) is not... .
I will dig out my Dragon Wagon book in a mo, and check on the details.

Cheers
Henk

Thank, you have some photographs that can send me ??



Salu2,
Ussyyy

First off, it is "old mud & ruts", not Old ruts and glory... so much for working from memory..

Old mud. (registration USA W-536584) is shown in great detail, with some intersting things like the names of crew members sweetharts stenciled on the inside of the armoured window shutters. Unfortunately the unit is not mentioned. Old Mud use long timbers lenghtways on the trailerbed, with shorter timbers across (at 90degree) on which the LCM was rested.
The LCM's were loaded either way, with the front facing forward or backward. Old mud. has the LCM facing forward, but the pics of the loading area in Maastricht show both LCM's there being loaded facing backwards.

The Tamiya decals have markings for Cat Mouse, (USA 535230, 458 Ordnance Maint. Comp.) which are correct, but Catmouse is shown to be moving an LVT (albeit for the same operation).
Incidentally, if you would want to model Cat Mouse, you would need to move the large spot lights from the rear of the cab to the front window shutter corners, as the crew had moved them. There is also a large container mounted on the front window shutters, indicating that the shutters were permanently open, and deemed redundant for protection. The initial Armoured design of the DW was changed into the soft cab version later, after combat experience showed that it was very rare for the Allies to actually need to recover tanks under fire...

Further to my initial reply, it appears from the photos that the LCM's were dirty and worn when they came out of the water in Maastricht, but later on, during transport, they are clean, so it seems that they were painted after they were taken out of the water.

I'll PM you later, I need to pop out for a mo...

Cheers
Henk

Thanks, i will wait your PM.



Salu2,
Ussyyy

You guys stole my idea !:_| Oh well, it is a good idea isn't it?

My wife asked why I always have to do tanks? So, now I have my DW and LCM, PE for both.
Does anyone know who makes the rope bumpers to hang on the LCM?

It's not a tank and one is a boat, Dear!