MIGHTY MITE SERIAL NUMBERS

[acmack]

Wow! Learn something new all the time here on the G. Even the article said that in 30 years he had yet to meet another marine who knew about their existence.
If this is just a mortar why does it retain what looks like the heavy breech from the original Howitzer?
My time was spent in the Army Medical Corps so my knowledge base is poor regarding weapons particularly this heavy stuff. David

[B.C.]

David, the M98 Howtar was another of the Marine Corps only weapons. Basically, they adapted a 4.2 inch mortar tube to the M33 light gun carriage from the 75MM pack howitzer. The photo is not very clear, especially of the area where the breech of a normal artillery piece would be. They had kind of a complicated recoil system, and that may be some of the bulk you're seeing, as opposed to just looking at a mortar tube. Howtars were a very effective weapon for jungle warfare and were used to great advantage in Vietnam.

My time was spent in the Army Medical Corps so my knowledge base is poor regarding weapons particularly this heavy stuff.

Don't feel bad - I spent from July of '69 to February of '71 with the Ordnance School in Quantico, VA, and I've forgotten about 75% of what I knew back in those days!

[Cpl. Ski]

I have a 1962 m422 a1 with s/n 1962 don't know the hood number

[Outsider]

Hi, Just on the way home to Michigan with my 3 latest purchases:

M422, 517, dod 12-21-60, notice the tire carrier, it's painted green, but not sure of it's origin.


M422, 538, dod 12-27-60, USMC 242373


M422, 1300, dod 4-18-61
As you can see I'm going to need lots of parts! My goal is to make 2 out of 3 then sell / trade off the extra parts to help get the ones I need. For starters I will be needing a set of front fenders / grill / inner fenders, an engine, a extra coil, 2 seat backs, and 3 seat bottoms to start with.

Steve

PS: FOR SALE 4 SAND TIRES ON JEEP RIMS! HIGHLY COLLECTABLE AND AUTHENTIC (?) FOR YOUR M422!

[mstrmstr]

Outsider- so YOUR the one who outbid me on that "modified " 422!!!!
Ran with a knock but it did run!
Ya still got it as a steal.
Good luck on the resurrection

[Outsider]

Mstrmstr, I actually bought all three from a guy in Missouri off from Craig's list. When I got the red one it didn't have a starter in it so I haven't even heard it run yet so I'll have to deal with the engine once I get a starter for it. It's been switched to 12V and I'm going to put it back to original. So as soon as it got unloaded at home we started stripping out the bubba wiring and other mods. The red one's body and frame are in excellent condition and will be easy to restore once we weld all the extra holes up.


As I understand it the tail gates with the seats built in them are "early"? I have one of each on the green ones, and as I'm going to steal one of the tail gates for the red one so I need to know which one I should use on it.

Anyone with extra parts let me know what you have and what you want for it as I am already on the hunt for parts.
Steve

[diamondjim]

just picked up 1960 m422 #366 dod 12-20-60,jim

[Jim Gilmore]

Steve,

All three of your Mites are M-422.

Tailgate with seats is for M-422, tailgate without seats is for M-422A1.

Sand hood very carefully on red Mite and get USMC number.....

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA

[Outsider]

Jim, Whoever repainted the red one stripped all of the paint off before they repainted it with the end result being only red oxide primer and red top coat remaining on the Mite's body. Thanks for the other info.

Anyone else have a 422 (not A1) with a serial number higher than my 1300?

Steve

[joyprice]

FYI I have 242386 ser# 401 dod 12-20-60, 242487 ser#474 dod 12-21-60, 309294 ser#2943, 308181 ser#3785. 308181 appears to have never been issued to any unit. Came out of Albany in 1971. Has small windscreen,no modifacations,1963 dated tires. I was told by previous owner it went to Civil Air Patrol for a short time then to another party who drove it for a number of years then sold to gentleman I bought it from. It has 4000 plus miles. Tom Price

[Jim Gilmore]

Steve,

Highest M-422 serial number I have recorded so far is 1287, DOD 4/14/61.

Yours is the highest I have seen.

Can you post a good photo of the data plate?

TOM....

Which one of those Mites was my old one?

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA.

[Outsider]

Jim, Here is a photo of the serial number plate from M422 1300.



Steve

[jeeper81]

THe S/N for my M422A1 is 2169 hood # si USMC 306773 No date of dilivery stamped on the Data Plate.

[1958 M274]

I have M422A1 3344 with hood number USMC 309734. No date of delivery stamped.

The Montgomery County Military Museum has M422 1261 with a date of delivery of 4-11-61. The original hood number is gone. Does anyone have a M422 close to this serial number that has the original hood number so we can get a close estimate? Thanks!

[jeeper81]

Made a mistake on my last post the SN# is 2196 not 2169 the USMC # is still 306773