I have recently read in one of my reference books that the M3 75mm GMC was used in north-west Europe. It did not dawn on me the significance or curiosity of this till later on. Now I must go back through my references to find "who" said it. Ughh!
Anyway, I'm building this vehicle for the TD GB. While I had originally planned to do this vehicle in Italy, I would much rather build an unusual one from NW Europe.
My question is, does anyone have any further info on this or was the author drinking at the time he wrote it? Were maybe the Free French using it? Any chance of the U.S. using it?
I do know the vehicle was considered obsolete by D-Day with the advent of better equipments.
Any thoughts or info would be greatly appreciated!
TIA

There is a picture of an M3 75mm GMC disembarking from an LST in Squadron Signal's "D-Day to Berlin". Hope this helps.

Mike

Mike, any chance you could tell me who is using it? U.S., French?

Unforunately I am at work right now, but I will check when I get home and post the details tomorrow.

Mike

Kencelot,
I'm just about done with the KMC conversion of this kit and from what I remember reading about the vehicle the US Army gave up using it when the Priest became available. My bet is it's French.
Eric

Kencelot,I think after N.Africa the only use of them was by the Marines in the pacific or the British In Italy mainly as SP artillery #:-) (++)

Hi ken,
From what I have read if I remeber right the french used it. I don't think it was a favourite of the US AT crews. Hope this helps

I have seen a number of pics of the Free French force using them, that is a clear fact. I doubt that the U.S. were using them in NW Europe and I have seen nothing to indicate that Commonwealth troops had them either. An interesting question....Jim

Here is what the Squadron/Signal book on the M3 Half-Track has to say about the M3 75mm GMC in action.

“Following North Africa the Allies invaded Sicily and Italy. Again the various versions of the half-track were committed to action, but for the special purpose types, such as the M3 75mm GMC, T30 and T19, their use was coming to an end. Newer armed vehicles, like the M10 Tank Destroyer, M7 Priest and M8 75mm HMC were replacing them and the remaining vehicles were relegated to training or given to the British or French. In particular the M3 75mm GMC saw extensive service with the British forces in Italy as self-propelled artillery, rather than a tank destroyer.”

The book has several pictures of 75mm GMCs but none in action.

Hope this helps.

Follow-up to my last post. I incorrectly said that the source of the picture was in D-Day to Berlin, I found the picture last night in WW2 Fact Files Self-Propelled Anti-tank and Anti-Aircraft Guns. The picture only had a caption that it was an M3A1 75mm GMC. Sorry for any confusion.

Mike

Steve Zaloga just answered my question. He states that the British were still using it into and from D-Day.
Now the next question, does anyone have a copy of the his (Steve Zaloga) Concord book on US halftracks? Yeah, yeah I know, I can't believe I don't have it either. There is supposed to be a picture of one in British service in there.

Kencelot,I have that book with me I will look at it tonite and post an answer for you in the am #:-) (++)

GZod, no need to trouble yourself ( I certainly appreciate it though), but my question was already answered.
"Two British armoured car regiments, the Royal Dragoons and 11th Hussars who had eight each in their Regimental HQ to provide close fire support to their Daimler armoured cars. The 11th Hussars still had theirs at the end of 1944." - Peter Brown

With the somewhat disappointing news of no U.S. troops using her in NW Europe, I decided to build it as one representative of the 601st TDB in Tunisia '43.

I just need to find further info on their markings...

If you don't mind a little fantasy you could always do the M3 from Kelly's Heroes, perhaps the opening scene in the barn? It gives you an excuse to do it US colors in NW Europe and I'm guessing would be fairly unique.

Aaron,weren't the ones in Kelly's Heroes the 105mm HMC? Or at least the one Cowboy was in I did see a pic of the 105mm howitzer variant,T19,being used as fire support for the 7th Army in Operation Anvil That was the invasion of southern France in August of 1944
I am suprised that type was still around then #:-) (++)

You know, I think your right. Now that I think about it I don't recall a gun shield. It's been awhile since I've seen it, I'll have to remedy that tommorow.

The halftracks - HMC's in Kelly's Heros are supposed to be T19's. I only say supposed to because the ones in the movie show the vehicle with the windscreen in place. These were removed and an armored shield was installed in it's place. One blast from that gun would have shattered that glass. In most cases the crews even removed the headlamps for the same reason.
Cool for the movie, nonetheless.

GZod, it certainly is odd to see the T19 still being used so late in the game. In fact, I remember seeing a picture of a T30 being used as fire support in Operation Dragoon!