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3" M5 howitzer prime mover?

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  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
3" M5 howitzer prime mover?
Posted by GlennH on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:53 PM

I've begun on the howitzer and am thinking of finally doing one in the towed position. Would the GMC CCKW jive with the time period? It seems to and I know a 2 1/2 ton is more than capable. Probably could be towed under average terraine with a 3/4 ton easily but the only kits I know of are Roden which I've heard are nightmares. Shame because an RVN era 3/4 ton is really a kit I want. I built one maybe 30 years back not sure who made it though.

Also any ideas on ammo crates that won't bankrupt me? I'd like to have maybe 20 crates on the back of the truck. I'd think something like 1/35 105 would be close to the saize.

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 4:45 PM

The 3" M5 was actually an AT gun, not an artillery howitzer.  It was the same caliber as Sherman tanks, 76.2mm.   It was usually pulled by a halftrack, M3 or M5.  I guess a 2 1/2 ton truck could pull it.

Since the ammo is basically the same as a Sherman, any Sherman ammo would work fine on it.  105mm ammo boxes will be a bit too big.

DToys makes a set of five boxes w/decals for them.

AFV Club does just brass rounds, w/decals.

Verlinden used to do a set of rounds and boxes.  You may be able to still find them.

A couple boxes came in the Academy AFV Accessory set 1.

 

As to the 3/4 ton Dodge WC series, the best is the AFV Club or new Zvezda WC51. 

The Zvezda one looks to be pulling a Russian 76mm Field Gun.

The Roden one is a Vietnam era M37.  It is actually a pretty good kit.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: N. Burbs of ChiKawgo
Posted by GlennH on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 5:34 PM

THanks again. You're right, anti tank. I can't get out of my head that anything with trails is a howitzer. THat Roden kit may just well have been the one I built all those years back. When I got to skate a few moths hauling ammo to FSB's I was sent one day to pick up a brand new 3/4 ton and bring it back to the battery. Another guy was send to drive back the second new one and next thing ya know we are jerking around on the way back from Hue. I flipped the brand new truck! Kids on side of road laughing hysterically at number 10 GI's. Don't recall how many cases of beer it ran to have the guy in the motor poool cover for me.

Maybe I'll see if they have the half track instead. I've never built one and I won't have a bare cargo area to fill with ammo crates. Those look nice though.

A number Army Viet Nam scans from hundreds yet to be done:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestdreams/albums/72157621855914355

Have had the great fortune to be on every side of the howitzers.

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