It's been awhile since I've built WW2 stuff but I would like to start a long term project which includes an M8. My questions are as follows.

1)what was the make up a a recon patrol Mechanised?
2) would it include an M20 and or a jeep?
3) what would resupply these teams at the front? I mean to say would a truck be sent forward ? were there gas and ammo mini dumps along the road?

where would they receive orders, from battallion, brigade or division.

the answers will help me dicide my final plan of whether the team will at rest along a road, getting orders at a battallion command post or resupplying at a forward dump.

thanks for any help

shiryon

Josh-- I will take a stab at your question. I assume that you will utilize the M-8 HMC along with armored cars in a dio representing the reconnaissance assets of a WW II unit. If so, the M-8 HMC would have been assigned a supporting role and not been part of the advanced recon elements. The armed cars (M-8 and M-20) would have been forward along with motorcycle elements and jeep mounted patrols. Having them positioned at a cross road check their maps somewhere in Europe would appear to be a realistic setting.
HTH
DJ

Josh, I've been getting interested in the recon units in the US army in WWII. I asked a while ago on here on a thread, US Army T&0

There are a couple of good sites listed there.

From what I understand the M8 was in separate SP batteries assigned to recon units. They weren't in a "recon patrol." They could of course be assigned to a patrol. The smallest unit was a recon troop, an M8, a M.G. Jeep, and a motor Jeep. (by the way in one book I have it says that Jeeps were called Bantams in the cavalry.)

The M20 could also be used as a cargo truck, though I haven't seen any pictures of one like this. With the seats removed it could carry a fair amount. It could be used to resupply recon units.

I am wondering if we all need to agree on the term "recon." The US Army in WW II had reconaissance elements located in a variety of unit all armed basically with the same vehicles. I am thinking here of divisonal cavalry squadrons, anti-tank battalion and regimental (or group) cavalry units. What type unit is going to be portrayed? If it is a divisional cavalry unit, then they would report to the division. Resuppuly would take place using the M-20 and 2 1/2 ton trucks (even a Weasel or DUKW could be doing it). Anti-tank battalions used their recon elements to survey firing positions for the weapons. They would report to the battalion who in turn would report to the unit they were supporting. The vehicle would be loaded with binoculars and survey related items like road markers, aiming stakes and aiming circles. Lastly, a Group recon elements would report to the Corps level and place M-8s and jeeps in positiions were they could observe or transmit messages to forward unit or any number of possibilities. They did not have trucks. So, you would have to use the M-20 to resupply them. I am open to challenges, but I believe this is the gist of the recon during WW II.
DJ

I must apologise, when I said M8 I meant M8 armoured car( turrreted version of M20) not the tracked
75mm turret on Stuart chadssis as in the kit fom Tamiya. so putting the m8 armoured car along the road to say St. Lo with a m20 and or .cal Machine gun jeep wouldn't be out of the question.Seeing that site on the armoured unit in ITaly gives me even more Ideas. which concidering I plan on spending some years building this is alright. thanks DJ and halfyank I at least have a start. If they used M20s to resupply I wonder how what 37mm ammo crates looked like as well as .30 & .50 cal crates not just cans. just more to research.


todah
Shiryon

Josh-- that is an interesting point on the 37mm ammunition. I wonder how it was shipped. I have to tell you that if they did in an ammo crate, you could put a great many rounds in the box. Does anyone have an idea or reference for 37mm ammunition containers?
DJ

You know it's funny you made that mistake about the M8 armored car, and M8 SP gun. The book I have that mentions the thing about Bantams is Steve Zaloga's Osprey book on the M8 armored car. It mentions how when they were designing the M20, turret-less AC, they were going to call it a M10 but the tank destroyer people objected, saying it would be confused with the M10 T.D. So why do they call the M8 SP THAT, didn't it conflict and confuse people with the M8 AC?


I think it's perfectly fine to put a M8 AC, a M20 utility car, and a jeep all together in the same dio. The units got mixed up all the time, depending on circumstance. That's really along the lines of a dio I'd like to do.