Missing in action US HS Tractors!

[RaccoonEmpire]

An odd type to be MIA from the GHQ lists...U.S. High Speed Tractors!!
The M4, M5, & M6 tractors would be nice to have. Considering that GHQ already makes the M5 to go with the 155mm howitzer( in pack "US80"), it would be nice to have a pack of tractors only. These would be great for post-war armies as well (the JGSDF kept their old U.S. arty tractors well into the 1980's).
My arty crews would love to be dragging their Long Toms and 8in Howitzers with a nice M6!!

[Orion320]

I second the motion on the high speed tractors!

[piersyf]

In the meantime CinC's M10 makes a decent substitute for an M35... just chuck the turret. They use a full turret ring hole in the hull casting to fit the turret to, so just clean up the hole a bit and away you go.

Or you can buy the hulls alone... $1.25 I think each.

[Donald M. Scheef]

The posting from RaccoonEmpire got me started with the general topic of artillery tractors. Here is my compilation of WW II-era vehicles commonly used as artillery tractors. Actually, I was surprised at the relatively good coverage provided by GHQ. At the end, I will provide personal comments on what I think GHQ should provide in the future.

Austria:
Truck, Light, 6 x 4 (Steyr 640) [G79, German Command Pack, has a Steyer 4 x 4 that will do]

Czechoslovakia:
Tractor, Light, Full-track, Artillery (Praga T3)
Tractor, Medium, Full-track, Artillery (Praga T6)
Tractor, Heavy, Full-track, Artillery (Praga T9)
Tractor, Heavy, Semi-track (Tatra SWS) [GHQ G502]

France:
Tractor, Light, 4 x 4 (Laffly V15) (intended for use with 25 mm AT gun)
Tractor, Tracked, Light (Renault UE Chenillette) (sometimes used with 25 mm AT gun) [in FR13 with 25 mm AT gun]
Truck, Light, 4 x 2 (Renault AHS) [this vehicle was not used as a gun tractor – it was a commercial 4 x 2 truck with limited (if any) of-road capability – included here only because of GHQ’s FR14]
Truck, Light, 6 x 6 (Laffly S15T) (intended for use with 75 mm gun and 105 mm howitzer)
Truck, Light, 6 x 6 (Laffly W15T) (low-silhouette version of S15T) [in FR18 with 47 mm AT gun mle.37]
Tractor, Semi-track, Light (Laffly S15T) (modification of 6 x 6 truck) [similar to C4P in P9]
Tractor, Semi-track, Light (Unic P107) [in FR12 with 75 mm field gun mle.36]
Tractor, Semi-track, Medium (Somua MCG) (intended for use with 105 mm gun and 155 mm howitzer) [FR6 and in FR16 with 105 mm Schneider mle.13]
Tractor, Wheeled, Heavy, 4 x 4 (Latil TARH – a few survived from WWI)

Germany:
Car, Medium, 4 x 4, Kfz.12 (e.g., Auto-Union/Horch) (used to tow light artillery before specialized vehicles were developed) [Kfz.15 in G77 will do]
Car, Heavy, 4 x 4, Kfz.69 (e.g., Auto-Union/Horch 1a) (used to tow light artillery)
Truck, Light, 6 x 4, Prime Mover, Kfz.69 (Krupp L2H43) (intended for light AT gun) [G97 and in G96 with 20 mm Flak]
Tractor, Motorcycle Semi-Track, Sd.Kfz.2, kleines Kettenkraftrad (used by airborne, etc. for recoilless guns) [in G515 with light AT weapons – early war, and in G40, Command/Recon]
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 1-ton, Sd.Kfz.10 (Demag D7) (used for variety of purposes, including light artillery) [G108]
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 3-ton, Sd.Kfz.11 (Hanomag H6) [in G54 with 105 mm howitzer, G109 with PaK 40, G120 with PaK 38, G122 with FlaK 36, G123 with FlaK quad 20 mm, and G516 with PaK36 (r)]
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 5-ton, Sd.Kfz.6 (Bussing-NAG BN)
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 (Krauss-Maffei KM) (88 mm Flak, 10 cm gun, 15 cm howitzer) [G132 and in G69 with Flak 36, G130 with PaK 43/41, G134 with sFH m.18, G135 with leFK m.18, and G526 with PaK 43]
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 12-ton, Sd.Kfz.8 (Mercedes-Benz DB) (for 17 cm gun or 21 cm howitzer)
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 18-ton, Sd.Kfz.9 (Famo F) (relatively few with prime-mover bodywork) [G136 has Sd.Kfz.7 with spade – this would not be on the prime mover version]
Truck, Semi-track, 2-ton, Gleisketten-Lkw Maultier (Opel Blitz with half-track) [G65]
Truck, Semi-track, 4½-ton, Gleisketten-Lkw Maultier (Mercedes-Benz L4500R) [G524 - note: this is not an Opel as described in the on-line catalog]
Prime Mover, Semi-Track, 5-ton, Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (Bussing-NAG) [G502]
Tractor, 4 x 4, Ostradschlepper (Skoda 175)
Tractor, Fully-tracked, Raupenschlepper-Ost (Steyr RSO) [G71]

Hungary:
Truck, 6 x 6 (RABA Botond 38M) (note: “Botondâ€￾ means “all-terrainâ€￾ [in H6 with 47 mm AT gun] (Note: this may actually be the RABA 41M, a specialized gun-tractor version of the 38M truck)

Italy:
Autocarretta da Montagna, 4 x 4, Ansaldo 32 (short-wheelbase truck designed for mountainous terrain)
Autocarretta Leggero, 4 x 4, Fiat/SPA CL39 [in IT12 with Breda 20 mm AA and IT13 with 47 mm AT]
Trattore Leggero, 4 x 4, Fiat/Spa TL37 [in IT20 with 100 mm Obise, IT25 with 105 mm Cannone, and IT28 with 75 mm Cannone]
Autocarretta Medio, 6 x 4, Fiat/SPA Dovunque 35 (Note: Dovunque means “cross-country’) [IT15]
Trattore Medio, 4 x 4, Pavesi P-4-110 (articulated chassis)
Trattore Medio, 4 x 4, Fiat/Spa TM40
Trattore Pesante Campale, 4 x 4, Breda 40
Autocarretta Pesante, 6 x 6, Fiat/Spa Dovunque 41

Japan:
Truck, 1½-ton, 6 x 4, type 94
Tractor, Artillery, Half-track, Type 98
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track, 4-ton, Type 94 [J9]
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track, 6-ton, Type 98 (used for 105 mm field gun and 150 mm howitzer)

Poland:
Tractor, Artillery, 4 x 4 (PZluz302) [in P11 with 37 mm Bofors AT gun]
Tractor, Artillery, Semi-track (C4P – Laffly-style modification of light truck) [in P9 with 105 mm Armata wz.13]
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (C7P – adapted from 7TP tank chassis with large enclosed body) [similar to T-26T in R59]

Soviet Union:
Truck, 1½ ton, 4 x 2, Cargo (GAZ-AA) [in R42]
Truck, 1½-ton, 6 x 4, Cargo (GAZ-AAA)[in R42]
Truck, 2½ ton, 4 x 2, Cargo (ZIS-5) [R43]
Truck, 2½ ton, 6 x 4, Cargo (ZIS-6)
Truck, 1¼ ton, Half-track, Cargo (GAZ-60; adapted from GAZ-AAA)
Truck, 2¼ ton, Half-track, Cargo (ZIS-42; adapted from ZIS-5/6) [R57]
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (STZ Komsomolets) [in R38 with 45 mm AT]
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (Stalinets-65) (commercial type configuration) [this may be what is in R19 with howitzers and R31 with 203 mm howitzer]
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (Ya-12 and Ya-13) (light cab & cargo configuration)
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (STZ-5-2TB) (medium cab & cargo configuration)
Tractor, Artillery, Full-track (Stalin, Komintern) (heavy cab & cargo configuration)

UK:
Carrier, Universal (“Bren Carrierâ€￾) (Mk II version sometimes used to tow light artillery) [UK14]
Carrier, Universal, (T16 and “Loyd Carrierâ€￾) (with extra road wheel – commonly used for 2 pdr and 6 pdr anti-tank guns)
Truck, 8-cwt, 4 x 4, GS (Humber F.W.D. or Morris PU) (early-war general service)
Truck, 15-cwt, 4 x 4, GS (Guy Quad-Ant) (general service) [UK42 is the CMP version – there is a difference in the appearance]
Truck, 30-cwt, 4 x 4, GS (Fordson WOT8) (general service)
Truck, 3-ton, 4 x 4, GS (Albion FT11N, Austin K5, Bedford QLD, Fordson WOT6) [UK24 and UK26] [UK43 includes CMP version with 6 pdr AT gun]
Tractor, 6 x 4, Light (Morris CD) [in UK54 with 40 mm Bofors AA]
Tractor, 4 x 4, Artillery (Thornycroft Hathi) (small number built in 1920s and used by Australians)
Tractor, 4 x 4, Field Artillery (Guy Quad-Ant)
Tractor, 4 x 4, Field Artillery (Morris C8) [UK28 and in UK64 with BEF 25 mm AT & in UK79 with 37 mm Bofors AT]
Tractor, 4 x 4, Field Artillery, Ford (Canadian Military Pattern) [in UK49 with 25 pdr]
Tractor, Gun, Crusader II (Crusader II tank hulls modified to tow 17 pdr anti-tank guns) [in UK63 with 17 pdr]
Tractor, Gun, Sherman (British conversion of M4A2 chassis for towing 17 pdr) [could use US21 or US24]
Tractor, Gun, Wolverine (British conversion of M4A3 chassis for towing 17 pdr) [could use US74 or US75]
Tractor, 4 x 4, Medium Artillery (AEC Matador) [in UK66 with 5.5â€￾ gun/howitzer]
Tractor, 6 x 4, Field Artillery (Albion FT15N)
Tractor, 6 x 4, Heavy Artillery (Albion CX22) (competitor to and less popular than Scammel)
Tractor, 6 x 4, Heavy Artillery (Scammel Pioneer R.100) in UK72 with 7.2â€￾ gun/howitzer]

US:
Tractor, Light, M2 (International TD9)
Tractor, Medium, M1 (Allis Chalmers HD7W)
Tractor, Heavy, M1 (Allis-Chalmers, Caterpillar, and International)
Tractor, High-speed, 7-ton, M2, 7 ton, Cletrac (used for towing aircraft more than for artillery)
Tractor, High-speed, 13-ton, M5 (based on M3 Light Tank chassis) [in US80 with 155 mm howitzer]
Tractor, High-speed, 18-ton, M4 (based on M2A1 Medium Tank chassis)
Tractor, High-speed, 38-ton, M6 (unique suspension but similar to M4 medium tank)
Prime Mover M33 (based on M31 tank recovery vehicle (M3 Medium Tank chassis) less gantry crane plus air brakes) [could convert US30]
Prime Mover M34 (based on M32 tank recovery vehicle (M4A1 chassis)) [could convert US23 or US90]
Prime Mover M35 (based on M10A1 tank destroyer (M4A3 chassis)) [could convert US 17, US74, US75, or US96]
Vehicle, Armored, Utility, M39 (used to tow 3-inch anti-tank gun) [N529]
Carrier, Personnel, Half-track, (M2) (Often used to tow light artillery) [US51 and in US88 with 76 mm AT]
Carrier, Personnel, Half-track (M3, M4, and M5) (sometimes used to tow light artillery) [US52, US56]
Truck, 5-ton, 4 x 4, Prime Mover (Walter ADUM or Oshkosh TR) (specifically built for 155 mm gun and 8-inch howitzer, but relatively few built and not widely used in the field)
Truck, ¼ ton, 4 x 4, Cargo, GMC (Jeep) (widely used as light artillery tractor) [US11 and in US61 with 75 mm pack howitzer]
Truck, ¾ ton, 4 x 4m Weapons Carrier (Dodge T214-WC) (used as light artillery tractor) [US39]
Truck, 1½ ton, 6 x 6, Cargo and Personnel (Dodge T223) (used as light artillery tractor) [US38]
Truck, 2½ ton, 6 x 6 Cargo, GMC (widely used as medium artillery tractor) [US7, US37]
Truck, 6 ton, 6 x 6, Cargo and Prime Mover (White 666)
Truck, 6 ton, 4 x 4, FWD (initially cargo, but many provided to UK converted to artillery tractor)
Truck, 7½ ton, 6 x 6, Prime Mover, Mack NO (widely used as heavy artillery tractor) [US70 and in US68 with 155 mm gun]


What is missing and wanted (personal opinion):

Czechoslovakia: What if the German occupation had been opposed? Skoda made some very nice artillery and the Praga artillery tractors would be natural accompaniment. Of course, if playing this hypothetical scenario, the Pz 35(t) and Pz 38(t) would be fighting against the Germans.

France: My only real issue here is that the intended prime mover for the 25 mm AT gun was the Laffly V15. This was much faster than the Renault UE provided in FR13 by GHQ. The Renault UE was really intended as an ammunition supply vehicle for infantry and field artillery.

Germany: I would like to see the 5-ton Sd.Kfz.6 and, in particular, the 12-ton Sd.Kfz.8. The Sd.Kfz.8 would be needed (included) if GHQ makes limbered versions of the 17 cm K18 in Morser Lafayete and the 21 cm Morser m.18.

Italy: There are some nice vehicles here. The Ansaldo 32 was used by the Germans in Italy. If GHQ ever gets around to making models of some of the Italian heavy field artillery, they will need to include one of the Pesante (heavy) truck/tractor types.

Japan: The Type 94 1½ ton truck would be worth having in general. If GHQ ever makes a 105 mm field gun or 150 mm field howitzer for the Japanese, it should include one of the Type 98 artillery tractors.

Soviet Union: The ZIS-6 would be nice, but GHQ already provides Lend-Lease Studebaker 6 x 6 trucks. More importantly, the “cab & cargoâ€￾ configuration fully-tracked artillery tractors would be useful in late-war, Wehrmacht ’47, and early cold-war scenarios.

UK: I see one major deficiency in GHQ’s coverage of British artillery tractors of WWII - the lack any of the extended Universal Carriers (T16 or “Loyd Carrierâ€￾). This type of vehicle was often used for moving light anti-tank guns in front line situations where the much-higher 4 x 4 artillery tractors were too large a target. The shorter “Bren Carrierâ€￾ was used more for carrying light weapons such as machine guns or mortars.
Any of the following would be nice but not necessary: Truck, 8-cwt, 4 x 4, GS; Truck, 30-cwt, 4 x 4, GS; Albion FT15N

US: It surprises me that GHQ has not produced many of the US tracked artillery tractors. Although the US widely used their excellent 4 x 4 and 6 x 6 trucks in this role, it was the tracked vehicles that were the intended tractors. Here is a prioritized list of what I would like to see for US artillery tractors:
1: Tractor, High-speed, 18-ton, M4 (introduced earlier than the M6)
2: Tractor, High-speed, 38-ton, M6
3: Truck, 6-ton, 6 x 6, Cargo and Prime Mover
4: Tractor, Light, M2; Tractor, Medium, M1; Tractor, Heavy, M1 – separately or together
5: Truck, 6-ton, 4 x 4, FWD (as modified by the British)
5: Tractor, High-speed, 13-ton M5 (in a separate pack from 155 mm howitzer)

Don S.

[Mk 1]

Don:

Great list.

If I might suggest an addition or two ...

For the Soviets:

Halftracks M5 and M9 (Lend-Lease) - many hundreds provided, used primarily as prime-movers for medium field artillery. (GHQ UK33)

For the French:

Horse Limber and Caisson - I think almost every army in WW2 except the US and Brits used horse-limbers in substatial numbers. I believe that the current Polish 75mm Armata Polowa wz 1897 kit is not only a French-supplied gun, but a French-supplied limber too. As the Poles used French style Adrian helmets, I expect that the whole kit (P10) could be used for French forces, both in 1940 France and 1942 North Africa / Levant games.


I would urge GHQ to consider adding new product numbers to the catalog with just the tractors, where they are currently available only in kits with the guns. No need to take the existing kits out, but I suspect many of us would be buyers of tractors-only sets in addition to whatever we have in guns-and-tractors sets. I know I would buy many of the horse-limbers. I'd love to see some added for other nations too (particularly for the Soviets).