Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > M-H Tanks/Racine
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Two more graffiti shots from the MH Racine tank builders at the end of 1942 as they celebrated the New Year with some sharp messages for Adolf Hitler!


The group shot shows the men round the 110th M5 off the line.  It is the tank body of the 110th with the rough work completed.  This 110th tank was 10 ahead of the government programme for that year.


John 
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

John

Would Massey-Harris have put a name plate onto a tank which was of course was a war machine. If it were captured by the enemy the less information on it the better I would have thought.

Alan

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Alan,

I had thought that this might be the case with military equipment but I have been assured by someone who knows his Shreman tanks that they were all badged so I live in hope.  He sent me details  of a web site with them on so I could see them.

I am still hoping that somone in the Racine area will  call to see that tank that Malcolm and I saw in a museum near there - Malcolm posted a picture on this site.

There is an M24 "Chaffee" tank in the museum in Devon (Bovington???).   MH was one of the manufacturers of this model as we have seen.  Just need someone to call in and investigate

John

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Today we have two shots of the MH built M44 155mm Howitzer under test at the Aberdeen proving Grounds in Maryland (are these still there I wonder?)

The first shot shows it mounting an obstacle.  The M44s could climb 30 inch high obstacles, cross trenches 72 inches wide or ford streams 42 inches deep.  Note the exhaust right at the front coming from one of the two Cadillac V8 engines - I reckon that would have had a nice note!

The second shot, also at the proving grounds in Maryland shows the M44 on the "washboard" - a teeth shattering test to check the toughness of the machines.  Engineers of the development and proof services were expert in dreaming up torture tests like this

John
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

I think I found a Stuart M5 in a city park in Gas City, Indiana!!  Gas City is between Indy and Ft Wayne.  I will again make a trip to see what I can see.  Doubt if they will allow me to climb all over it but we will see if I can find a tag somewhere!!

I might take one of my grandkids and let them climb on it as a decoy!!

Gary

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Gary,

That's good news - presumably it is not too far away from you???  At least in US terms!

I reckon the tag must be inside somewhere so I suggest you send the grandkids in with a camera.  Access to the aged and portly might be a bit restricted?????!!!!!

John

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

Gary, Don't be too surprised if all access entries to the M5 are welded shut. Any military items like a tank is required to have the engine remove and all access welded shut. You may get lucky and be able to access the inside of the tank.

Steve
Steve

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

The best I will dedicate to this would be my head looking in!!!  My fat butt wouldn't even get close to going in someof those holes!! I doubt if they are  assessible but someone might know some history of the tank!!

We can only ask!!

GTE

RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

In these two shots the M5 produced at Racine and on the right is being compared with an M4 in the centre.  The M4 is a Sherman which was one of the allies primary battle tanks of world war 2.  On the left is an M10 which is a tank destroyer and based on a Sherman chassis.  The differences between the M4 and M10 are most apparent when viewed on the full frontal shot


John  
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RE:M-H Tanks/Racine

I'm coming to the end of the tank story with only a few photos left. Here's another of the M5 M-H tanks coming to the end of the production line in Racine.  On the left line the drivers seem to be in place ready to drive them off and on the right line track fitting is in progress - see how the tracks on the front tank are loose and arcing forward of the front drive wheel.

The second shot shows a completed M5 tank coming out of the factory with what looks like an operational team of three in position.  I'm not sure what the total staffing of these tanks was.

John
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