Lee/Grant Tractor

[Grant Bowker]

Thank you Hanno,
My first reaction (based on memory) was that it was a recovery vehicle based on the dummy gun and the rear deck stowage but I didn't have references to back this impression...

[Patrice DEBUCQUOY]

Hi Hanno,

This official file says "no winch" but we can see a little bit of the winch on the photo, so ???
For more infos (browse to the middle of the page) : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...y/m31_trv.html

Cheers,
Patrice.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Patrice DEBUCQUOY

Hi Hanno,

This official file says "no winch" but we can see a little bit of the winch on the photo, so ???
For more infos (browse to the middle of the page) : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...y/m31_trv.html

Hi Patrice, indeed the version of the photo on Sherman Minutia clearly show the winch was left fitted in the hull. It most likely came in handy to position the gun.

trv_22.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more photos found on facebook, posted by World War Pictures:

M33 Prime Movers towing M1 8” / 203mm guns near Cori Italy - May 1944
The M33 was an M31 TRV (Based on the M3 Lee/Grant) converted into an artillery tractor role, with turret and crane removed, note dummy 75mm gun.
LIFE Magazine Archives - Carl Mydans Photographer WWP-PD

445569517_1498340754223288_3882660237689875309_n.jpg 445627864_1498340744223289_2296732483535488838_n.jpg

445634795_1498340647556632_5594162493575700926_n.jpg 445620273_1498340667556630_870782455437963932_n.jpg 436266951_1498340680889962_7611707049660348701_n.jpg

To which José-Daniel Cabanilles added:

C Btry, 697th FA Bn 5th Army. 697th FA Bn equipped with 240mm How. with the II Corps 697th FA, with the VI Corps 698th attached with the Brazilian force det 697th & 698th FA Bn (240mm How)
932th FA Bn (with the II Corps as the 697th), 194th FA (with the VI Corps), attached with the Brazilian force 630th & 995th FA Bn (8inch How)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

Thank you Hanno,
My first reaction (based on memory) was that it was a recovery vehicle based on the dummy gun and the rear deck stowage but I didn't have references to back this impression...

Well, it is a recovery vehicle converted into a towing vehicle, so in a sense you're right.