Halftrack M2A1!!!

[appel]

Hello i have an halftrack M2A1with serial number M-7988
how can i find its registration number?
thanks gery

[Viking27]

Gery,

Are you sure the serial number is not: "M2-7988" ??

You can see a database list on top of the Tracke forum:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=84473

Joe Demagio a member here can maybe help you.

Reg
Hinrik

[appel]

yes its m2-7988

[algor]

Joe Demagio a member here can maybe help you.

"Joe DeMarco"

Alberto

[yd328]

Gery,
Some of the halftracks that went through a rebuild in the states have the registration number stamped on the right side of the bogie frame and also on the right side on top of the bumper on some. I have also found the number on the rear armor plate strapping where the two plates come together. I am not sure if they did the same with the ones over there.

Gary

[appel]

thanks a lot!! i know but not every HT has that
doesn't anyone have a database on the registration numbers?
thanks gery

[appel]

thanks a lot!! i know but not every HT has that
doesn't anyone have a database on the registration numbers?
thanks gery

[Joe DeMarco]

Hello Gery,

M2-7988 would have been built as a straight M2, so it must have been converted to M2A1, either in the US or in the field. Do you have any ideas about that?


Not long ago, Olivier in France reported he had M2-7958. That was probably made during the same week as yours, so I will just repeat what I wrote to him... It would have been made by Autocar on their third Production Order for 1400 units. About half were made with winches. What does yours have? As best I have been able to determine, the serial numbers ran from 6601 thru 8000. At 7988, yours would have been one of the last ones built on this P.O., & it helps the research a bit that the stamping is in the Autocar format. (Presumably, 8001 would have been a White built M2.) 7988 would have been accepted in the second half of 1943. The theory is that the "key" number for the range 6601 thru 8000 is 4012931. However, I have only been able to record a single definitive confirm of this so far. If the key number is correct, yours would have been assigned USA 4020919. (7988 + 4012931 = 4020919.) If you uncover a USA Number from the hoods, or stamped into the bumper or one of the bogies, would you let us know, please? A surviving half track in Europe has a much better chance of having served during WW II than one in the US. If you learn anything of the history of 7988, please let us know.


Regards,

Joe

[appel]

Hello yes, it should have ben rebuilt to an m2a1!
it has a winch!
half 43? mine has the early style headlights, and all other early things on it thanks gery

[mb109069]

I have a data base on the four different halftrack manufactures and have been keeping a serial number listing and other data for several years. I feel the factory Registration number for your halftrack is U.S.A. 4020919

Lloyd White

[Joe DeMarco]

>half 43? mine has the early style headlights, and all other early things on it

That's a fine, intelligent question, Gery. Another good question that owners should ask is "What is original to my HT?"

>it should have ben rebuilt to an m2a1!

OK, so we know that was a later addition. Do you see any evidence that yours ever had the pedestal headlamps? If not, it raises the kind of wonky questions I like, such as "When did Autocar transition from the fender mounted headlamps (FMH) to the peds? Could the FMH have been reintroduced into production due to supply shortage? Anybody else have any ideas??

Does yours have a skate rail? Are the sides of the step in the rear open? Olivier posted some pix of his French rebuilt M2-7958, & it too has fender mounted headlamps (FMH). Can't tell about the skate rail. As mentioned previously, my research on this particular Autocar Production Order is mostly theoretical at present. That is one of the reasons why it is helpful when a Museum or owner can find both the Serial Number & USA Number on a unit, along with anything else that might establish dates & places. Period photos with known good Serial or USA numbers can be helpful to the research. For instance, there are a few Summer 1945 snapshots of M2 USA 4020534 of the 89th CRSM / 9th AD. It carries the name "Dooth." It can be seen to have FMH, skate rail & what I call the "open step." If my theory is correct, that would have been made a few months before yours, & would have had M2-7603 stamped on the frame.

I take all the exclamations points in your posts to signify great enthusiasm. Hope you will keep us updated if you discover anything of interest on your track. If I come across any info that would lead me to backdate your M2's original acceptance ( July / August, 1943, for now ), will certainly let you know.

Joe

[appel]

Hello joe, it think it was always an fmh type,what do you mean with open step?
the skate rail is removed for putting on the pullpit of the m2a1
i'am still looking for rear tripod brackets