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cbo said:
I've been doing a lot of research in Danish Army archives over the years, primarily the motor vehicles of the early NATO period (1950-1960). Let me know if there are some items on which you need additional info.
The US halftracks are an interesting lot, btw. The first batch of 16 arrived in 1946 and were used as tractors for the 17-pdr anti-tank guns found exclusively with the Infantry Pioneers (Fodfolkspionererne, later 9. regiment) in southern Jutland. These were all from the M5 and M9 series, but hardly two were alike, some being A1s, other former anti-aircraft artillery mounts etc.
Anway, they were withdrawn in the early 1950ies and were then re-issued to the Jutland Dragoons in 1955 and used in the light squadron of the armoured battalion. In 1958 a number of M3 halftracks were delivered and used in the light squadrons of both GHR and JDR. Several of these were M16 anti-aircraft vehicles rebuilt as APCs. The M5s were rebuilt as mortar carriers and maintenance vehicles for the mechanics. It would appear that some M3s were also rebuilt as mortar carriers, but AFAIK we never had any M21 proper, all mortar carriers were built in Denmark on the available chassis.
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I had a feeling this was so, based on the material I have seen so far, but itīs very nice to get it verified. The mortar carriers all carried the M/57 mortar on the M/57 Armoured mounting (Panseraffutage M/57) mount afaik, though some of the earlier types might have had the M/48 mortar (not that there is much difference between the two, provided that they both use the same charge system).
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Do you know anything about the status of the Leopard 1A5 btw? It has been said that they were all to be scrapped, but the latest defense agreements speaks of a reduction from 230 to 50. Wonder what their intentions are with the last 50?
Claus B
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Most of them are to be scrapped. 50 or so are to be kept in mothball, to replace the Leo 2A5 in mission areas where the the latter is either too large or the support for it not available. The Leo 1A5 is used still by those armoured squadrons that havenīt transferred to the Leo 2A5 yet, and will be scrapped or mothballed thereafter. In my version of the Danish OOB, I have set en end availability date of 2010, but depending on how things work out in "reality", this is of course subject to revision.