Post Your WW2 Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

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Post Your WW2 Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:13 pm

I notice there are not many images of the US M3A1 Scout Car posted on the various sites. I was hoping anyone who had some interesting shots would post them here with any info on the unit, color scheme etc. Most were of course employed in North Africa and Sicily. There have to be a smattering of images from the European Continent after 6 Jun 44. I could not find much, :cry: so here are the common ones.

Post any M3A1 images you have here please.
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7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily.JPG
7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily.JPG (150.61 KiB) Viewed 3173 times
USM3WhiteScoutCar.jpg
USM3WhiteScoutCar.jpg (94.63 KiB) Viewed 3173 times
ww2 a.jpg
ww2 a.jpg (97.79 KiB) Viewed 3173 times
ww2 b.jpg
ww2 b.jpg (88.65 KiB) Viewed 3173 times
Last edited by 17thAirborne on Thu Aug 16, 2018 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 7:36 am

The detail on this image has some great info. The General's vehicle displays a star/ring that are both white, while the escort vehicle has a white star and a yellow ring. I do like the variations in the camouflage patterns on the two M3A1s. While the Army was very explicit in markings and colors and published TMs on the matter, these were done most likely as an emergency or hasty measure around the time of TORCH or even as late as HUSKY. It appears that the tan colors between the two cars vary noticeably in shade. Here is a period color image representing the yellow/white combo markings.

Notice that the POM (Preparation for Overseas Movement) markings on the color image of the truck were painted on BEFORE the Yellow Ring, There is a great Thread and site on the POM markings.

https://www.med-dept.com/pom/index.php? ... ode`%20ASC
https://med-dept.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... &start=105
7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily details.jpg
7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily details.jpg (153.28 KiB) Viewed 3155 times
yellow white star 1.jpg
yellow white star 1.jpg (124.17 KiB) Viewed 3155 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 7:59 am

More details on the Sicily image.

You can see a bit of overspray on the fuel can
The upper door armor was in the down position when painted. (Wonder if it has paint also in the up position?)
It appears that the Pioneer Tools were removed before painting.
It looks clear to me that a spray gun was used, not a brush or roller
7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily Detail 2.jpg
7-30-43 Scout Car Sicily Detail 2.jpg (130.85 KiB) Viewed 3153 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:26 am

Clintm20 posted this image with a good discussion in the following thread:
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viewtopic.php?t=176382
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m3a1 dark reg no 1.jpg
m3a1 dark reg no 1.jpg (173.04 KiB) Viewed 3150 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:33 am

This image depicts an M3A1 in use in France. If this is the 705th TD, this could possibly be during the drive into Brest or somewhere in Brittany given the French store fronts.

Note also the ring around the hood star is not of the broken invasion style, rather the full closed ring.
USM3WhiteScoutCar detail 1.jpg
USM3WhiteScoutCar detail 1.jpg (149.24 KiB) Viewed 3149 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:58 am

This image taken of the assembly of armored reconnaissance vehicles Scout Car M3A1 at the American plant White Motor Company in Cleveland, Ohio shows only the USA number to be painted on at this point in the assembly. It does appear to be done in lusterless Blue Drab. A close up of the imae does not help as the original resolution is not fine enough.
cleveland reg no.jpg
cleveland reg no.jpg (133.49 KiB) Viewed 3149 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:06 am

This image is purported to be taken near Ft. Ord, CA. Note the absence of any tactical markings at all. None the less, the image shows the various ways that bed rolls and gear was stowed on the vehicle.
lined up 1.jpg
lined up 1.jpg (171.94 KiB) Viewed 3149 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:22 am

From a LIFE magazine which indicates Tunesia Feb 1943 taken by Eliot Elisofon


There are several great details in the image. The fuel tank has a large "W" stenciled on it (Water). There is an Armored Unit Triangle on the door, the star is barely visible on the radiator louvers and the camo was done with a brush not a spray gun. Great image.
cactus 1 small.jpg
(228.85 KiB) Downloaded 1391 times
cactus 1 small can.jpg
(98.26 KiB) Downloaded 1391 times
cactus 1 small star.jpg
(97.48 KiB) Downloaded 1391 times
cactus 1 small triangle.jpg
(131.82 KiB) Downloaded 1391 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:33 am

A very small image originally, but here is an M3A1 in Tunisia 1943. It could be a yellow star, but it is hard to tell.
tunesia color small.jpg
tunesia color small.jpg (104.48 KiB) Viewed 3144 times
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by judyronM » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:37 pm

Looks like a M49 gun ring on the scout car in picture #3, possible in field GI upgrade?? Would be interesting to see it without the cover.

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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by judyronM » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:40 pm

Also looks like the canvas is made to open for the gun ring.

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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Apr 28, 2018 5:40 pm

Good observation. I just glossed over that :oops:
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by Hired Goon » Sun Apr 29, 2018 2:57 am

23A60E2C-9493-45EE-A1C0-208453A50AFF.jpeg
23A60E2C-9493-45EE-A1C0-208453A50AFF.jpeg (98.43 KiB) Viewed 3091 times
From Spearhead in the West 3rd Armored 83rd recon. Caption was something to the effect of removing waterproofing after coming ashore at Normandy.
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by clintm20 » Sun Apr 29, 2018 5:33 am

I think picture two is a modern pic made to look old, saw a reference to it on another forum.
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Re: Post Your WW2 ETO Images of US M3A1 Scout Car

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun Apr 29, 2018 5:34 am

Excellent Image and proof again that US units had the M3A1 on the continent.

Here are some details of your image showing the pulpit armor and the door art "PANTHER"
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pulpit armor.jpg
pulpit armor.jpg (71.18 KiB) Viewed 3081 times
panther door.jpg
panther door.jpg (69.01 KiB) Viewed 3081 times
mp helmet.jpg
mp helmet.jpg (53.84 KiB) Viewed 3081 times
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