I recently picked up Acadamys M12 GMC. I'd like to put it in a diorama in France '44 and I was wondering if anyone knows which vehicle(s) were used as ammo carriers?
Thanks!

Let me get back to you on that, Cob. I've got a bunch of Sherman stuff at home to look over. I don't think that they used full-tracked conversions of tanks for that role, though. We did make a few for the late-war T83 155mm guns on the stretched HVSS hull. For the M12 units, they might have used trucks or half tracks. But I'll see what I can dredge up and post again tomorrow. I've got one of those Academy kits myself, but hadn't planned to model it in a dio with another vehicle.

Greg

Thanks Greg. I wasn't very specific so to clarify, I'm wondering if any tracked vehicles were used as ammo carriers that early (summer of '44) in the ETO.
I'm not an any rush. I'm working on an M-20 right now but it's summer and the weather is nice...in the Puget Sound you take advantage of every day that it doesn't rain.

Cob
I work in a nursing home and one of the residents was an M10 gunner in WWII. I asked him your question and he says as far as he saw ammo of all types was transported by 2 1/2 ton truck or by jeeps with trailers. Before he became a gunner he was an ammo truck driver.
HTH

Thanks, Sounds like a good excuse to go get another model :-)
Good thing I have an understanding wife!

Hi,

Didn't they use also M30 Ammunition Carrier ?

Yes it was the M30 ammo carrier it was based off the M12 I'm not sure when it came into service i know at one time Bandai made an M30 in 1/48 I'm suprised their isn't a conversion kit for the M30 yet
Chad #:-)

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/usa/m12_gun_motor_carriage.html

I looked for the M30. Couldn't find a pic, but it is mentioned here.

I just picked up Tamiya's 2½ ton truck this afternoon... It looks like a pretty nice kit. Maybe I'll build an ammo carrier? Hmmm. So many possibilities!
Unfortunately, the space for the 'Jumbo Sherman' at the local Hobby Lobby is always empty, so I don't yet own an M4. I wanna buy a Sherman!

YodaMan

Jumbo Sherman is on stock at Model Expo for $20.

PS: here's a review of the Academy M12...
Kithobbyist review

YodaMan

The M30 was identical to M12 except no gun. There was on M30 for each M12. The crew primarily traveled in the M30. There was a tailgate to help unload the ammunition. A ring mount for a .50 cal MG was installed in the rear.

Here's the best pic I could find thus far:



This is the Fujimi 1/76th scale kit

If you can locate the book in the link below it might prove helpful, although the book may be harder to find than scratch building an M30.

Scroll down to "22":
Bellone Military Prints

You guys are great. I've got a lot of leads to track down now. I've never really done any scratch-building but if I can find some photos of the tailgate and rear compartment I think I'll give it a go.
Thanks again.

Hi,

Here M30 rear you can find a photo from M30 rear.

HTH

Yep, these guys got it right...we did build the M30 for the ammo role. Keep us posted if you do the conversion. I won't be starting my M12 for quite a while but the thought of adding a second kit for the carrier is enticing.

Greg

Very interesting discussion. Research for the T14. This may lead to better sources. The ammo carrier for the M12 was originally called the T14. Baldwin Locomotive Works rebuilt 74 T14's in 1944, and they were re-designated the M30. This vehicle used the VVS suspension from the M3 medium tank. The T30/T30E1 used the HVSS of the late M4 tank. None were put into production.

Don

Military Modelling Magazine has scale plans for the M30 available on their website. I ordered a set of these about 20 years ago and they seem to be very good. They are not just an M12 without the gun, but it would be a fairly simple conversion.

Jim

Should have included this in the post above. There are some photos of the T14.
http://communities.msn.ca/WWIIMILITARYVEHICLERESOURCECENTREII/spgs.msnw?Page=6

Jim