15-214 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Newly landed U.S. paratroopers greet 1st Cavalry Division tank crewmen at Sukchon, North Korea, during the Korean War in October 1950. Just a week later, the division's 8th Cavalry Regiment was caught in a trap by two Chinese divisions at Unsan, suffering heavy casualties. The U.S. command had abandoned efforts to rescue the regiment. About 260 Unsan soldiers remain listed as missing in action.

Information

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[Bob Seijas]

Is that an M41 Walker Bulldog?

[RT Ellis]

Tank M24 Chaffee, probably the finest light tank ever fielded. Armed with 75mm gun it gave the armored cavalry the capability to effectively "move, shoot, and communicate." May well be some still in service somewhere.

[Mark in Rochester]

[Bob Womack]

Weren't these used in the movie Patton as the German tanks?

Bob

[RT Ellis]

Regarding the tanks, and most of the vehicles tracked or wheeled in the film "Patton", were U.S. WWII and later equipment sold to Spain, and rented by the Spanish Army for the production. In the scene in North Africa where Patton "kicks Rommel's butt" the "German" tanks were either American M47 or M48 medium tanks painted tan, but otherwise no attempt was made to make the tanks look German. However, I recall the "American" tanks in those scenes were M24s, and I vaguely recall there were some scenes later in the film in which M24s appeared, but I think in those scenes they were "American." I hope someone that has viewed the film more recently than I have can provide more definitive answers to the quiz.

BTW in Post #4 the top image is a tank M24, and the bottom image is a tank M41, and what appears to be two M48s in the background. The first tank I ever rode in as a kid around 1960 was an M41 named "SLO MO SHUN" of a USAR armor unit in San Diego, California.

[Bob Seijas]

The M41 was the sports car of tanks, they called it "medium" but it was little and fast. IIRC it was the last tank with sticks instead of a wheel.

[RT Ellis]

I did a quick search and fast forward, with a few stop frames on the film "Patton." The tanks used by the "Germans" in the North Africa scenes were tank M48 painted tan. The "American" tanks through most of the film, including the tank that runs into a fountain during the strafing episode just after Patton assumes command of II Corps, the Rommel battle, and later scenes were tank M41. Tank M47 appear briefly in a few scenes. The only scene that included tank M24 was a distant background shot with the actor portraying Montgomery in the foreground, so I guess it could be said that tank M24, owned by the Spanish Army, represented a British tank.

[Bob Womack]

Perhaps it was Battle of the Bulge. I know they used them in one Ive seen.

Bob