Were Jeep-mounted 37mm anti-tank guns ever used outside the Americas?

[Sid Guttridge]

I have seen occasional photos of 37mm anti-tank guns mounted on Jeeps.

They seem to have been developed by the Tank Destroyer Command in about 1941, prior to the issue of tank destroyers.

Were they only ever a training aid in the Americas, or were they actually deployed overseas?

If yes, did any see action?

Many thanks,

Sid.

[Gary Kennedy]

If you're thinking of the 37-mm gun mounted on the 3/4-ton truck, the M6, they were certainly used in North Africa in late 1942 going into 1943 by the first Tank Destroyer Bns to go into action. I think they were also supposed to pop up elsewhere in US Armd Divs for rear echelon security. USMC Divs were supposed to have them in 1942, never been sure it they did though.

Gary

[LineDoggie]

I have seen occasional photos of 37mm anti-tank guns mounted on Jeeps.

They seem to have been developed by the Tank Destroyer Command in about 1941, prior to the issue of tank destroyers.

Were they only ever a training aid in the Americas, or were they actually deployed overseas?

If yes, did any see action?

Many thanks,

Sid.

My understanding is no officially.

The 37's recoil damaged the Jeeps suspension, and the muzzle blast played havoc with the dashboard instruments, lights and windshields.

[Knouterer]

According to "Tank Destroyer Forces - WWII" by L. Gill (p. 16), when the new Tank Destroyer Board met for the first time in early December 1941 there were eight different types of 37 mm Gun Motor Carriages under development, most of them based on the jeep, including a halftrack version. It was however found that the 1/4-ton chassis could not withstand prolonged firing, so only the T-21 (redesignated the M4 GMC in Feb. 1942, and then M6 shortly thereafter) on a 3/4-ton chassis went into production and service.

[Gary Kennedy]

To my surprise there are a few photos of 37-mm guns on 1/4-ton trucks -

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j& ... 3311424778

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j& ... 3434306827

I'd never even heard of them being mounted on a Jeep, rather than a Weapons Carrier, so would assume that they never did exit the US.

Gary