Anti-Tank Platoon vehicles

Hello Gentlemen,

Could you please tell me what types of vehicles, other than the half tracks, were used in an Armored Infantry Battalion's Anti-Tank Platoon in 1945?

Thanks!
James

 

AFAIK, the only other vehicle in an armored infantry company's AT platoon would be a 1/4ton Jeep. As far as I know, the armored infantry battalion did not have a dedicated AT platoon, but it did have an assault gun section of 3 M8 howitzer motor carriages, later changed to 3 105mm M4 Shermans.

 

Thanks for the info! Would the platoon's 1/4 ton Jeep have towed a weapon or ammo? I'm asking because I saw a pic of a Jeep (front only), that appeared to be part of an AT platoon and had a Bridge Plate on its grill. I couldn't read the number. I wasn't aware of US Jeeps having Bridge plates unless towing something?

Thanks again,
James

 

In a particular instance almost anything goes. I.e. Normallly the jeep may have been the commanders vehicle but when push comes to shove ....

 

Makes sense, thanks!

 

AFAIK, the Jeep was the Platoon leader/HQ vehicle. Although I doubt he would be transporting ammunition and supplies, it might not be out of the question. Usually, ammunition would be supplied by the parent Battalion's Service Company.

WRT, bridge plates.
No, jeeps at the front usually did not have bridge plates, however jeeps in the rear usually carried them.

Usually, if a jeep did have a bridge plate, it was marked with a black "2". If the jeep was towing a trailer it would be either "3/2" or "2/2"

As always, there are exceptions.

 

George Forty in his US Army Handbook (p.80) has:

Armored Inf Battalion> Atk Pl:
1 x 1/4 ton truck
3 x M3 halftracks (possibly safer to say 'halftrack' definitely pics of M2s towing 57s)
3 x 57mm guns


View attachment 22731


Unlikely the Jeep was a beast of particular burden?
HTs quite capable of carrying gear and ammo to service 57mm.






Wonder if there might be stowage diagrams out there for Gun-towing halftracks.

 

Thanks gentlemen, great information, I appreciate it!!