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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