I concur. Not sure the designation, but it soldiered on through at least North Africa though. Each mechanized infantry (half-track) platoon was supposed to have one, although as they were fairly ineffective by ’43, it usually ended up getting “lost.”
A quick check of my sources reveals that it’s the “M3,” but was known to its crews as the “door knocker” for it’s effect on the German tanks of the time…
Easiest way to tell the difference between the WW2 American 37mm and the American 57mm from a distance is the American 57mm had the “wavy” shield, while the 37mm had a straight top edge.
Don’t forget the M3 grease gun and M3 “White” Scout Car as well. It seems to me that the US Army just used the alpha-numeric designator as an additional identifying feature amongst similar types of equipment, as opposed to the sole identifier for the equipment. Full names usually read something like “Gun, Anti-Tank, M3.” For an additional example of what I mean, take the case of the M1 Garand, M1 carbine and M1 Thompson SMG, or the M8 gun motor carriage and M8 scout car.
I think this is a 37mm American AT gun from pre WW2, soon to be replaced by the 57mm.
I concur. Not sure the designation, but it soldiered on through at least North Africa though. Each mechanized infantry (half-track) platoon was supposed to have one, although as they were fairly ineffective by ’43, it usually ended up getting “lost.”
A quick check of my sources reveals that it’s the “M3,” but was known to its crews as the “door knocker” for it’s effect on the German tanks of the time…
Easiest way to tell the difference between the WW2 American 37mm and the American 57mm from a distance is the American 57mm had the “wavy” shield, while the 37mm had a straight top edge.
Which means of the first 3 pics of US equipment, all are designated the M3…
Wikipedia claims that the gun is the same one as mounted on the M3 Stuart, though in a tank mount it is the M5.
Just in case you thought the designations of US equipment of WWII was straightforward
Don’t forget the M3 grease gun and M3 “White” Scout Car as well. It seems to me that the US Army just used the alpha-numeric designator as an additional identifying feature amongst similar types of equipment, as opposed to the sole identifier for the equipment. Full names usually read something like “Gun, Anti-Tank, M3.” For an additional example of what I mean, take the case of the M1 Garand, M1 carbine and M1 Thompson SMG, or the M8 gun motor carriage and M8 scout car.