Does anyone know what military vehicles of either the Army or Marines those were located on Midway Island during the Battle of Midway?
I'm making three models for entry into the Triathlon (Models from three different classes) category at the IPMS Nationals this year. I have a plane and ship and need a third category.
My search of the internet has not been fruitful.
Please share your knowledge of this battle.

Thanks,
Tom Moon

Most of the building/rebuilding of the runways and revetments were done by-

If it was the Seabees then the most common vehicles was probably the SWB International tipper along with bulldozers and other construction mahinery. They were also likely to have had a few jeeps as well.

Unfortunately there is no kit of this International.

Cheers
Cliff

There was a platoon of early M3 Stuart light tanks on the island. Marine Light Tanks

I was looking in the Concord book just yesterday and they showed a US Marines M3 (Diesel) Stuart in sand color on Midway Island during the battle for Midway. This is exactly the kit that Tamiya produced. (Hooray, a use for it.)

You might also try either a Dodge Staff car, a "Beep" or a 1 1/2 ton weapons carrier. These might be in battleship gray rather than olive drab.

Well that was a bit of a surprise. I would have gone with jeeps and small dodge trucks never realizing that they had put a few tanks on the island as well.

Hi Tom,

Prior to and during the attack most branches of service were present on the island with the exception of the Coast Guard? The SeaBees did not arrive until July of 1942. Initial infrastructure on the islands were done mostly by civillian contractors for years prior to December 7th 1941since Midway was also a stopping point for Trans-Pacific flights and was part of the cable system as well.
Any vehicle then in use by the various branches was probably present in small numbers (Midway Islands combined are only two square miles in size) Jeeps, fuel trucks, cargo carriers, construction vehicles both private and those aquired by the military and yes even some Stuarts as previously mentioned. Here is some pictures of vehicles on the island after June 6th 1942.






Sincerely,
Brian

It would depend on what year you wished to use these as they would only be there in the later years (1943 on). Also they would have been more likely painted OD as most of these were used by the Army and not the navy.

Cheers
Cliff

Slightly OT:

Jacques,
Sand color? Sounds like a really good idea for a diorama. Anything that will get me close will help.

Thanks,

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

I have seen two photos from two books that state the tanks are probably at Midway. It seems logical they were being M3 Diesels. Here is a photo of one. Note that the jeep in the background also appears to be sand colored as well.

Image from US Light Tanks at War


This photo is the inspiration for my "Halls of Montezuma" campaign entry..................



I just realized I should have left the storage boxes off the rear of the tank but then I need to make rivets for the exposed areas....

Sincerely,
Brian

Hiya Guys...well Shaun, Brian just showed you the picture I saw. Looks good to me.

I am currently working on the research for a Army M3 or M3A1 in the PI for the 194th TB. They were MN Nat Guard troops from my neck of the North Minnesota Woods (well, within 2 hours ride anyhow...) Seems fitting to do a tribute to them after I just got a really nice Jody Harmon art piece of it.

Of course the Bataan Death March was their "reward"...

I'd bet you'd find some of these there, as they were the predecessors to the later 3/4 ton series.

...and it's a real shame
Talking about International trucks used by Marines, CGM Productions has released a resin kit of the M2-4 that may be used in such a dio :

They have also released some early Dodge light trucks kits (WC 11, WC 15, WC 17 and WC 21).
More pics on specialeast.com (which is one of CGM Productions retailer) :
SpecialEast
There's a review of the WC 15 and WC 21 (shown on Dave's pictures #1and #2 ) on PMMS :
Dodge review

HTH
Frenchy

What is the title of the Concord book?
I actually have the Tamiya kit and would like to model it after this acutal photo.

Thanks,
Tom

Tom,

The actual (and only) photo was posted by BF443. That's it. Concrod wrote it was a Marine M3 (Diesel). This is in the Concord book #7038 "US light tank at war 1941-45".

Happy modelling.