Opened the box this afternoon
Brief History from Wilki.
| Specifications (3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10/M10A1[2]) | |
|---|
| Production history | |
|---|
| Service history | |
|---|
| pe | Tank destroyer |
|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
|---|
| Wars | World War II
1948 Arab–Israeli War |
|---|
| Designer | U.S. Army Ordnance Department |
|---|
| Designed | 1942 |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Fisher Body division of General Motors
Ford Motor Company |
|---|
| Unit cost | US$47,900 (equivalent to $857,908 in 2022)[1] |
|---|
| Produced | September 1942 – December 1943 |
|---|
| No. built | 6,406 |
|---|
| Variants | see Variants |
|---|
| Mass |
- M10 – 65,200 lb (29.1 long tons; 29.6 t)
- M10A1 – 64,000 lb (29 long tons; 29 t)
|
|---|
| Length |
- 19 ft 7 in (5.97 m) hull
- 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m) including gun
|
|---|
| Width | 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
|---|
| Height | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) over antiaircraft machine gun |
|---|
| Crew | 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver) |
|---|
| |
| Armor | 0.375 to 2.25 in (9.5 to 57.2 mm) |
|---|
Main
armament | 3-inch gun M7 (76.2 mm) in Mount M5
54 rounds |
|---|
Secondary
armament | .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun
300 rounds |
|---|
| Engine | |
|---|
| Power/weight |
- M10 – 12.68 hp (9.46 kW)/metric ton
- M10A1 – 15.50 hp (11.56 kW)/metric ton
|
|---|
| Transmission | Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
|---|
| Suspension | Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) |
|---|
| Fuel capacity |
- M10 – 165 US gal (620 L)
- M10A1 – 192 US gal (730 L)
|
|---|
Operational
range |
- M10 – 200 mi (320 km)
- M10A1 – 160 mi (260 km)
|
|---|
| Maximum speed |
- M10 – 25–30 mi (40–48 km)/hr on road
- M10A1 – 30 mi (48 km)/hr on
|
|---|
Then this from Scalemates.
The Lend-lease program supplies allies of the US with various materials including weaponry, which is the subject of this M10. While most of the M10s went to the UK (1648) and Free French forces(443), 52 of them went to the Soviets, which is the subject of this vehicle. According to material written in 1982 by Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Ivanovich Finyutin, he “speaks glowingly of the M10's firepower, excellent optics, and easy turret traverse. He does complain about the open-topped turret and compares the M10's mobility and armor unfavorably with the T-34, although it was certainly no worse than the SU-76. He also praises the usefulness of the .50-cal heavy machine gun, which he specifically mentions as being mounted atop the turret counterweights.” Finyutin was a driver of one the the M10's in his unit, who became Heroes of the Soviet Union following an action in which they engaged and knocked out a column of 6 Panthers in dense fog . Apparently they hid until the Germans had passed by, then came out and took the last tank out followed by the others in quick succession.
Right this was first made in 2001, this version came out in 2018 including some new parts. It's certainly a cleanly produced kit, I couldn't see any flash any where. The tracks are one piece, not popular with many I know apparently these vinyl tracks are made of a somewhat rigid material that gave good detail definition and paint adhesion . The only seem mentioned of course is the two part barrel.
Laid out the sprues and marked up .
Included is a Master box set of figures, might be able to use, might not as these seem to be relaxing.
Track look ok to me, in fact anything is better than separate links
The instructions look uncluttered, so hopefully I'll be ok.
For Dave , yes it does have a 50 cal.
Photo and written information from Scale mates and Wilki for discussion only.
Thanks for looking in.
John.
