What Halftracks Did The USMC Use During WW2

I have color pics of an M3 Halftrack, repainted in USMC green, with yellow reg numbers, near a supply dump on some tropical beach.  I do not believe I've seen IHC half tracks (M5 and M9) in USMC service, however.  

As an overall generalization, USN/USMC bought IHC and Ford products.

The IHC is a boxy, rectangular thing, celarly not at all like the GMC product at all.



I want to remember that MC bought some M5/M7 half tracks--the IHC versions of the M3 and M6, which are primarily identifiable by having radiused corners on the cargo bed.  Something like 7/8 of the IHC halftrack production went off as Lend/Lease to French and Russian use.

As noted above, MC did not bring many vehicles with their trains.  Which makes sense with the "combat loading" (last in is first out; packing combat-ready rather than transport-ready) used for AKs and later AKAs.

As a line Company delpleted it's resouces, a fresh company would pass the lines up to contact as the depleted company retired to the beach logistics point to resupply.  By the time a stabilized front, with established flanks occured, trains could then be built; or would accompany the Army units as they landed.

The MC used half tracks a bit more 1950-53, in Korea, for applications where the LVT4 & 5 were not appropriate.

The Marines' primary mechanized armored infantry carrier was the LVT of various marks. While they did use the GMC versions, the infantry carrier half track was an Army vehicle mainly in WW2.

Marine formations differ in doctrine than Army formations. Whereas US Army battalions have half tracks as an integral part of the mechanized infantry battalions, Marines' mechanization (amphibious tractor battalions) is a separate unit that just taxis the infantry to the fight.

A lot of operations in the PTO were joint with Marines in the beach landing and army landing ashore as well so you'll see army units passing through and it might be tough to tell them apart.

It wouldn't surprise me if they had the same vehicles as the Army in that at that time the Corps basically received any cast-offs and surplus as supplies.