The official AHF Allies & Neutral States quiz thread

[iffig]

Thank you. Let us pause a moment with insignia and badges questions and go back to the basics. What is this ?

[The Edge]

M5 "Cletrac" 3-Inch Self-Propelled Gun (1942):
Early in 1941, the U.S. Tank Destroyer Board was experimenting with different designs for a self-propelled anti-tank gun. Brigadier General Andrew Bruce, commander of the Tank Destroyer Force, was a strong proponent of self-propelled weapons. However, when the Ordnance Department sent out requirements for a self-propelled, full-track carriage for the M3 3-inch anti-aircraft gun, which was much improved and plentiful compared to the older M1918 weapon, the results were less than impressive. General Bruce did everything in his power to assure that this horrid machine would not reach the hands of his troops or anyone elses.
The new machine, designed and built in 1941 at the Cleveland Tractor Company, where it was nicknamed the "Cletrac", was a failure. It was slow, offered no armor protection for the gun crew, was certainly not the most stable in the world, it had very poor reliability, and, perhaps most importantly, loved to catch fire. The chassis was based on Cleveland's successful M2 high-speed tractor, also called the Cletrac (as were all of their products), and used at Army Air Corps bases for towing aircraft.
The gun was mounted at the rear of the 12-ton vehicle, with a large, angled armored gun shield surrounding the barrel, which stretched forward to the front of the vehicle. The M3 weapon was an improvement on the M1918 3-inch gun, and was used mostly for anti-aircraft purposes. For use against ground targets, it could deliver a shell more than nine miles, firing up to twenty rounds every minute for short bursts. The crew had 33 rounds at their disposal, stored beneath the gun mount at the rear.
The M5 Cletrac had a crew of four. The 22,570-pound machine was 15 feet long, 8 feet 3 inches wide and 5 feet tall. The Cletrac was not long compared to its width, and like the M2 HST, it had hard rubber-padded steel tracks. A 404ci Hercules inline six-cylinder gasoline-powered truck engine provided 150 hp to the Clark five-speed manual transmission; steering was through a controlled differential unit. The Cletrac could attain a 24mph top on-road speed. The crewmen operated at the rear, with no armor protection, and were therefore exposed to the enemy.
The Ordnance Department, in their usual infinite wisdom, loved the design and convinced the War Department to adopt the Cletrac. They did so; the Cletrac was designated the M5, and 1,580 vehicles were ordered in January 1942. As Cleveland Tractor was gearing up for production, the Cletrac was further tested at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in July 1942, where it was finally proved that it would not be acceptable as a tank destroyer or a self-propelled gun. In fact, the machine itself had been largely destroyed in the vigorous Aberdeen testing. The M5 was therefore declared obsolete before ever being issued to an Army unit. It therefore never fired a shot in anger.

From: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-te ... -were.html

[iffig]

A tank destroyer that never was, so to speak (and fortunately for the unhappy crew who would have to ride this unprotected device on the battlefield....)!
So, over to Serbia.... .

[The Edge]

Another unsuccessful marriage of tracked vehicle & artillery:

[iffig]

Looks like a turretless M 22 Locust.
A modification or a prototype designed as artillery observation vehicle ?

[iffig]

or maybe an artillery tractor ?

[Ironmachine]

T18 prime mover! This turretless M22 was intended to tow the 105mm howitzer, but never progressed beyond pilot stage.

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/a ... asp?a=3740

[The Edge]

Uh! This is tough - Iffig is basicaly right (M22 tank shasis used as prime mover), so only one more step was needed to discover "T18" (the wanted answer, given after by Ironmachine). Since both contenders are known for their "torture questions", the choice was nothing to favor for, so I had to rely on "the flat solution" (coin thrown in the air) and the Iffig's side turned on.

So, over to France - at least Ironmachine was spared from one of my horrible Spanish compositions.

Photo source: http://www.maquetland.com/v2/index.php? ... ion&id=736

Regards, Edge

[iffig]

"Torture questions"? Me? I can't believe it .....
And this is a rather easy one, as a proof of what I have just said.

[AVV]

Good afternoon, iffig!

This is M3A3 Stuart of Yugoslav People's Liberation Army 1st Tank Brigade armed with German 20-mm. Flakvierling.
P.S. Really easy, indeed, even if you had covered Yugoslav flag on this vehicle...

Best regards, Aleks

[iffig]

You are right! You see, an easy question .....
Your post now.

[AVV]

Thanks, iffig!

This time a softskin.

Best regards, Aleks

[iffig]

It's a DAF MC 139. One prototype built in the Netherlands (1939).

[AVV]

Good afternoon, iffig!
Well done! Photo source: http://www.dafmilitair.nl/html/daf_mc139.html
Over to you!

Best regards, Aleks

[iffig]

Thanks Alex. But remember: I have recently been given the privilege of posting a question after Edge made a coin tossing "jugement de Dieu". I think it would be fair if Iron Machine (the unfortunate challenger in the coin tossing procedure) could have the opportunity to post a new question. And even maybe a torture question!