OK, the "GI freak" is here and ready to go!
1) US 105mm howitzer M2 on carriage M2A1 (or carriage M2A2) - the most common US artillery piece from 1942 through Korea and into Viet Nam. It's no secret that Andy mentioned interest in this weapon at his talk at OTSN. The gun was usually drawn by a 2 1/2 ton truck, the CCKW-352 (short wheelbase version of the classic GMC). This gun could be issued with crews from Normandy (likely to be applicable to North Africa and Italy as well) or Winter as well as USMC or whatever.
2) Yes, a US halftrack APC - the M3A1 was the standard in Europe (the earlier M3 was used in North Africa, etc. and the M3A2 never entered production). This vehicle carried the US armored infantry as well as part of the armored engineers as well as other uses (such as support vehicles for HQs, armored artillery batteries, towing 3" AT guns, etc). Each US armored division had hundreds of these plus their "cousins" the M2A1. Figures are still the real strength of King & Country and the halftracks offer LOTS of opportunities for figures in and around them. Of course we need summer AND winter versions!
3) A new Dodge command car. The previous "Patton Command Car" was good, but Andy's gang has gotten better at vehicles and this could use a make over.
4) US 155mm howitzer - Andy built the towing vehicle, the M5 High Speed Tractor, now we need the gun. Each infantry division had 12 of these to back up the three battalions of 105s. Also used in limited numbers by the USMC late in the war.
5) M26 (T26E3) "Pershing" - while this is later than most of Andy's stuff (these tanks didn't arrive in ETO until late 2/45) the T26E3 is an impressive beastie and would look good in 1/30th.
6) 4.2 inch Chemical Mortar - another weapon that isn't modeled often. The 4.2" mortar was intended to be used to throw gas shells for the Chemical Corps. Thankfully not used for the intended task, but used to great effect in tossing HE and WP from Italy, through Europe to the Pacific. Later the 4.2 was taken from the Chemical Corps and made organic to infantry and armored mortar platoons. Another opportunity to model the crew in action.
7) M4A3E8 - we haven't had one in 1/30th yet (the old DD27 was mislabeled). Introduced in limited numbers right before the Ardennes fighting, this tank was a common replacement vehicle in the spring of 1945.
8) 40mm Gun M1 (Bofors) - the Luftwaffe didn't both the US Army much, but they were around and the Army had many AntiAircraft Automatic Weapons (AAAW) Battalions both selp propelled (M15 and M16 halftrack carriages) and 40mm guns with quad fifties on trailers for the towed versions. A Bofors is a cool gun and isn't seen in the "toy soldier" arena.
9) 90mm Gun Motor Carriage M36 - introduced in the fall of 1944 the M36 brought the 90mm gun into action before it was placed in "real" tanks. This would be a nice addition to the "Battle of the Bulge" line to counter the German armor. Plus, the addition of the M36 would give Andy a "hat trick" - all three major US self-propelled tank destroyers from the ETO!
10) 3" AT gun M5, the towed tank destroyer (yes, the US got cheap and formed towed TD units which were deployed to Europe). These guns combined the barrel of the pre-war 3" AAA gun with the carriage and breech of the 105mm howitzer. The gun wasn't bad but its heavy weight led to problems. Towed by an M3A1 halftrack and used from Normandy through the Bulge. The towed units were found wanting badly in the Ardennes fighting and as self-propelled TD units got M36s the extra M10s were used to change the towed TD units to self-propelled.
11) WC54 3/4 ton ambulance. This was done earlier in the DD series and the figures were very dramatic. One of the nicest pieces that K&C ever did. This common little ambulance deserves a re-do with better detail and needs to be made available again to new collectors. The colorful markings help it stand out in a group.
12) M4A3 medium tank. The M4A3's started coming to the ETO in the late summer of 1944 supplementing the M4 and M4A1 models. K&C did an M4A3 with 105mm howitzer (DD45). Perhaps an M4A3 with 76mm gun. This and its "brothers" with the 75mm guns equipped a number of the late arriving armored divisions and were a common replacement tank in the fall of 1944, making them very common in photos of the Bulge fighting. One possibility - an M4A3 76mm Wet Stowage from the 761st Tank Battalion (Colored) the premier black tank outfit. Again an opportunity for some different figures and a chance to honor a famous American unit.
13) A Waco CG4A troop glider - hey the boat guys want a 80' PT, I can ask for a glider! This would be big, perhaps it could be built as a "partial" model for background use?
14) Multiple gun Motor Carriage M15A1 - the halftrack with a turret on the rear that mounted a 37mm automatic cannon and two .50 cal MGs. A very different looking halftrack.
15) US Army medics in action - as well as a new ambulance we could use some new medics for the DD series.
That's it for now, I'm sure we can think of more.
Gary B.
Wouldn't turn down some field artillery for any T.O. -- lancer
