World War II Military Vehicles

[RandyRFJP]

World War II Days: Dellwood Park; Lockport, IL - 2016-09-10

These photos were taken at the same military battle reenactment as were the photos I posted of military aircraft. Any identification information regarding the vehicles would be appreciated, as would any C&C.

Photo 1 - Allied Forces Half-Track:




Photo 2 - Allied Forces Jeep:




Photo 3 - Axis Forces Volkswagen Kübelwagen:
Corrected ID thanks to Trev (Tronhard)




Photo 4 - Axis Forces German SdKfz 222 Armored Car:
Corrected ID thanks to Phil Page (dubaiphil)

[Wavelength]

Very nice images

[RandyRFJP]

Nandakumar, thanks again! The reenactors are very serious about accuracy. The event lasts two days, and a great number of them sleep overnight, in tents, at the site. They also have to undergo an "authenticity" check before being allowed to perform in a "battle" by someone with expert knowledge of the uniforms, weapons, vehicles, etc.

[Tronhard]

Photo 3: is not actually an armoured car, it is a Volkswagen Kübelwagen, the military version of the VW, originally designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). It was the German equivalent of the jeep.

Kübelwagen is an abbreviation of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning "bucket-seat car" because all German light military vehicles that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. Obviously this model HAS doors, but that was not the original design.

Post war the many surplus vehicles were sought after by occupying troops for their simple construction, reliability, and modification-friendly design, and led to a VW culture that spawned such variants as beach buggies!

VW even resurrected the basic Kübelwagen in 1969 as the Type 181. It was developed for the German Federal Armed Forces but also for the civilian market. Distributed in the US it was nicknamed the “Thing” in the US, “Trekker” in the UK, and “Safari” in Mexico.

[RandyRFJP]

Photo 3: is not actually an armoured car, it is a Volkswagen Kübelwagen, the military version of the VW, originally designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). It was the German equivalent of the jeep.

Kübelwagen is an abbreviation of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning "bucket-seat car" because all German light military vehicles that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. Obviously this model HAS doors, but that was not the original design.

Post war the many surplus vehicles were sought after by occupying troops for their simple construction and reliability, and modification-friendly design, and led to a VW culture that spawned such variants as beach buggies!

VW even resurrected the basic Kübelwagen in 1969 as the Type 181. It was developed for the German Federal Armed Forces but also for the civilian market. Distributed in the US it was nicknamed the “Thing” in the US, “Trekker” in the UK, and “Safari” in Mexico.

Thanks, Trev. I corrected the ID on the post of the vehicles. I appreciate the corrections and information you and the other members so graciously have provided.

[madcrow]

Great series and very realistic. Sharp with lots of detail, well done.

[rpcrowe]

Very interesting and sharp images. I am wondering about one thing in image #2.

The barrels of the M-1 Garand rifles carried by the soldiers in the jeep seem to have an extended barrel...


The M-1 rifles I have used did not have a protruding barrel. Their barrels looked like this...


It looks as if these M-1 rifles were actually equipped with a T-37 flash supressor.


The T-37 was part of The M1D sniper rifle and was of Korean War vintage. I have not be able to ascertain if the T-37 flash suppressors were attached to any M-1 rifles during World War II. Obviously, these Garand rifles were not equipped with telescopic sights. So were they either M1D rifles without scopes or M1 rifles with the T-37 added...

Thousands of M1 rifles were sold to he public by the U.S. Director of Civilian Marksmanship (note - none have been used in crimes).

So much for information which you probably never cared about in the first place...

[dubaiphil]

The last one's an SdKfz 222 - a German armoured car, sometimes with a fully enclosed or semi enclosed turret.

[RandyRFJP]

Great series and very realistic. Sharp with lots of detail, well done.

Thanks, Maurice. I'm glad you enjoyed viewing the photos.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[RandyRFJP]

Very interesting and sharp images. I am wondering about one thing in image #2.

The barrels of the M-1 Garand rifles carried by the soldiers in the jeep seem to have an extended barrel...


The M-1 rifles I have used did not have a protruding barrel. Their barrels looked like this...


It looks as if these M-1 rifles were actually equipped with a T-37 flash supressor.


The T-37 was part of The M1D sniper rifle and was of Korean War vintage. I have not be able to ascertain if the T-37 flash suppressors were attached to any M-1 rifles during World War II. Obviously, these Garand rifles were not equipped with telescopic sights. So were they either M1D rifles of M1 rifles with the T-37 added...

Thousands of M1 rifles were sold to he public by the U.S. Director of Civilian Marksmanship (note - none have been used in crimes).

So much for information which you probably never cared about in the first place...

Thank you, Richard, for the information, and for sharing it with me and other members of the site. I can't explain the extended barrels. I know that all the participants have to undergo an "authenticity" check to verify that everything used during the battle reenactments is "correct" for the period (WW II, in this case), and safe. Perhaps the extension has something to do with rendering the rifle unable to fire live rounds, or the "expert" checking the rifles somehow missed the flash suppressor???

[RandyRFJP]

The last one's an SdKfz 222 - a German armoured car, sometimes with a fully enclosed or semi enclosed turret.

Thanks, Phil, for identifying Photo 4 as a German SdKfz 222 armored car. I'll correct that photo's information with the information you were so kind to supply.

[RandyRFJP]

Thanks for your kind comment, John.