M103 tank (US/USMC)

[Basileus Ioannis]

quote from a now defunct discussion group:

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Per an aritcle in Journal of Military Ordnance, March 2002 by Thomas D. Dinackus.

508th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Ft. Hood Texas was issued 72 x M103s in late 1956 or early 1957 for testing. "The tests were a qualified success"...

M103s shipped to Amsterdam, Netherlands beginning in early December 1957.

Issued to 899th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Group, 7th Army.
Battalion HQ & HQ Company and D Company stationed in Hanau.
A Company stationed in Aschaffenburg.
B Company stationed in Frankfurt, moved to Kirch Goens (Feb 58<>Feb 59), moved to Kitzingen (Feb 60<>April 60).
C Company stationed in Erlangen.

When the Army switched to the CARS system (changed the name of most all units), the 899th Battalion became the 2nd Heavy Battalion, 33rd Armor.

Dec 1958, HQ Company was dissolved. The four remaining companies remained designated as 2nd Bn. 33rd Armor.

December 10, 1962, 2nd Heavy Tank Battion was converted to the 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, 33rd Armor and converted to 105mm Medium Gun Tank M-60.
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battalion level info is corroborated by www.usarmygermany.com

however, on page 42 of Tankograd American Special No.3015, "U.S. Army Germany 1945-1969", there is photographic evidence of M103s also used by E Company, 34th Tank Battalion, 24th Infantry Division out of Munich (A-D companies had M48A1s at that time)

John