Question on the M-31 or M-32 Recovery vehicles. Were they used at D-Day? Would they have had wading gear? would they have been used with mine clearing equipment? OR was recovery of tanks at D-Day not as important as pushing out the bridgehead and they came ashore later?
The M-32 did not show up until after D-Day is what I seem to be finding out. Does anyone have any references to these vehicles being used?
Hosted by Darren Baker
M-31/M-32 Recovery Vehicles at D-Day
AikinutNY
Joined: October 21, 2003
KitMaker: 683 posts
Armorama: 630 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 02:16 AM UTC
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 02:26 AM UTC
Neither the M31/M32 would have been fitted with mine-clearing gear. Very simply, their were sufficient numbers of Crabs/flails available to do the job they were designed for....
Now something tells me I have just seen a pic of an M31 with wading gear..perhaps it was a Priest though...Jim
Now something tells me I have just seen a pic of an M31 with wading gear..perhaps it was a Priest though...Jim
ShermiesRule
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 10:38 AM UTC
Just my opinion but I would think that functional tanks like mine clearing and bridging/breaching type tanks were more priority during the assault. Also, where the heck you gonna put a recovered tank while you're storming the beach when every square inch was under fire?
jRatz
Joined: March 06, 2004
KitMaker: 1,171 posts
Armorama: 541 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 12:25 PM UTC
Without going back & rooting around for the exact reference, I can remember seeing something about M-31 landing on 7 or 8 June at the earliest.
Hollowpoint
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,748 posts
Armorama: 1,797 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 04:11 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Without going back & rooting around for the exact reference, I can remember seeing something about M-31 landing on 7 or 8 June at the earliest.
That sounds right to me, too.
I do believe the British had some BARVs (Beach Armored Recovery Vehicles) for pulling and pushing vehicles around in the surf, but these are not M31s or M32s ... they are based on a M4A2 chassis.
Hut
Joined: July 14, 2003
KitMaker: 285 posts
Armorama: 238 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 05:33 PM UTC
Actualy the M32 was fitted with a mineroller, I don't think it was used during D-Day. But later (maybe even after the war) it could be fitted with one. The crane was used in its operation. I can only find this link to a model of it, but I have seen B&W pictures of it.
http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/small/m32_szaloga.html
Hut
http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/small/m32_szaloga.html
Hut
Hut
Joined: July 14, 2003
KitMaker: 285 posts
Armorama: 238 posts
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 05:39 PM UTC
Found one:
T1E1 Earthworm
T1E1 Earthworm
TreadHead
Joined: January 12, 2002
KitMaker: 5,000 posts
Armorama: 2,868 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 01:52 AM UTC
Howdy fellas,
Ooooooooooooo
........another interesting Sherman variant!!........no, I can't. I've got to many projects (unfinished) as it is........drat! 
Thx for the pic Hut.
Tread.
{...although it does remind me of my 'LuLu'...}
Ooooooooooooo
........another interesting Sherman variant!!........no, I can't. I've got to many projects (unfinished) as it is........drat! Thx for the pic Hut.
Tread.
{...although it does remind me of my 'LuLu'...}
AikinutNY
Joined: October 21, 2003
KitMaker: 683 posts
Armorama: 630 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:11 AM UTC
Thanks for the info I'm working on both recovery vehicles and was trying to work them into a D-day theme. But, maybe I could work the M3 based M-31 into a breakout theme towing a M-4/M-5 with a Rhino plow or extracting one from a hedge. The M-32 will have to wait for . . . bringing a Panther to a future DragonWagon? HUMMM!!!!
Loved the picture of the Earthworm mine clearing device Any more pictures to build one? And my wife thinks I look at dirty pictures on the Internet! Them are a nice set of tracks!
Loved the picture of the Earthworm mine clearing device Any more pictures to build one? And my wife thinks I look at dirty pictures on the Internet! Them are a nice set of tracks!
ShermiesRule
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 10:55 AM UTC
An M31 or M32 pulling a shot up M4 or M5 that did not have a hedge cutter might be cool. You could show the results of bellying up in front of German defenses before the cullen was designed
jRatz
Joined: March 06, 2004
KitMaker: 1,171 posts
Armorama: 541 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:16 PM UTC
The M32 version of the "Earthworm" is called the T7E1.
I have a book "Searching for Perfection" which gives a (usually poor) picture & small blurb about each T- vehicle in the US Army .... Some of these T- vehicles became production ( ie, the M31 is also known & commonly referred to as the T-2), others just .....
I have a book "Searching for Perfection" which gives a (usually poor) picture & small blurb about each T- vehicle in the US Army .... Some of these T- vehicles became production ( ie, the M31 is also known & commonly referred to as the T-2), others just .....
Ranger74
Joined: April 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,290 posts
Armorama: 658 posts
Posted: Friday, June 11, 2004 - 05:21 AM UTC
I have at least one photo of a T-2 or T-5 recovery vehcile being loaded onto an LST full of deep wading Shermans from the 70th Tank BN. The 70th landed with the 29th INF DIV at OMAHA. Evidently the assualt tank battalions were equipped with three T-5 recovery vehicles.
The 741st Tank Battalion landed a T-2 in the afternoon of 6 D-Day. It was used to slavage tanks knocked out on the beach.
I have found references to the T-2 and T-5 which I am assuming from teh one picture of the rear of a T-2 to be different names for the M31 and M32.
The 741st Tank Battalion landed a T-2 in the afternoon of 6 D-Day. It was used to slavage tanks knocked out on the beach.
I have found references to the T-2 and T-5 which I am assuming from teh one picture of the rear of a T-2 to be different names for the M31 and M32.
jRatz
Joined: March 06, 2004
KitMaker: 1,171 posts
Armorama: 541 posts
Posted: Friday, June 11, 2004 - 02:24 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I have at least one photo of a T-2 or T-5 recovery vehcile being loaded onto an LST full of deep wading Shermans from the 70th Tank BN. The 70th landed with the 29th INF DIV at OMAHA. Evidently the assualt tank battalions were equipped with three T-5 recovery vehicles.
The 741st Tank Battalion landed a T-2 in the afternoon of 6 D-Day. It was used to slavage tanks knocked out on the beach.
I have found references to the T-2 and T-5 which I am assuming from teh one picture of the rear of a T-2 to be different names for the M31 and M32.
Correct, the T-2 became the M31 and the T-5 became the M32.
Could you post your references for the pictures/info on the 70th Tank and the 741st Tank above -- I'd be interested in tracking them down for study. Thanks in advance.
John
Ranger74
Joined: April 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,290 posts
Armorama: 658 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 06:04 AM UTC
I can get you the reference on Tuesday the 14th when I gat back to work.
Jeff
Jeff
 |
WEB HOSTING BY
Copyright ©2021 Armorama and Kitmaker Network, a subsidiary of Silver Star Enterprises
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
All Rights Reserved. Please read our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.