Hobby Master Archive

Late in WWII the M24 replaced the M5 Stuart and with its 75mm main gun became one of the first US designed tanks to be able to take on the German armor. The M24 was one of the first tanks to cross the Rhine as the Allies pushed deeper into Germany. The tank was quite unique by being able to house five persons in a light tank. The designers made sure the crew were able to provide adequate self-defense by providing two 7.62 mm machine guns, one anti-aircraft 12.7mm heavy machine gun and 51mm smoke grenade-launchers. There were over 4,000 M24s built and because of its speed, agility and reliability over 30 countries added them to their arsenal well into the 1970s. This tank would prove to be more than adequate during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

After the tide turned and the during the “Battle of the Bulge” in late 1944 the 18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron 14th Cavalry Group was tasked with the traditional cavalry missions of screening to the front and reconnaissance. On Dec16, 1944 the Germans launched their final attempt to change the outcome of W W II. The initial attack was so surprising and devastating that half of the 18th Cavalry Squadron had been killed or captured. When the Germans finally were repelled the remainder of the 18th was stationed in Petit Tiers, Belgium. On February 3, 1945 they received the first of their new M24 and by mid February the 18th were fully equipped and trained on the new tanks. Since it was winter a white-wash was applied to help camouflage the tanks. At this point in the war the standard M5A1 was so disliked that an Armed Forces observer was told that M5A1 companies were so useless that they were only used as “anti-tank gun bait”. The group left Belgium and pushed toward the Roer River and into Germany.

Specifications for Cadillac/Massey Harris M24 Light Tank Country of origin - USA Production - over 4,000 units Crew - 5 Dimensions Length - 17.98ft (5.48m) Width - 9.68ft (2.95m) Height - 8.04ft (2.45m)

Weight - 19.9 US short tons (18,070kg)

Performance Engine - 2 X Cadillac 44T24 V-8 100hp gasoline Speed - 35mph (56km/h) Range - 99 miles (160km)

Armament 1 X 75mm main gun 48 rounds carried 1 X 12.7mm machine gun on pintle 420 rounds carried 2 X 7.62mm machine guns - 1 in bow / 1 coaxial 4,125 rounds carried 1 X 51mm smoke mortar

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3606 M24, 18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron 14th Cavalry Group Petit Tiers, Belgium, 1945

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72) Weathering and insignias Turret turns Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks

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