Have you wondered where to start with your US armoured support platoon? We’ve assembled some easy-start units with their transport ready for action:
US Winter Infantry Squad with Dodge 2½ ton Truck
Sometimes referred to as the ‘deuce and a half’ the 2½ ton truck was the standard US general purpose army cargo truck used for haulage as well as troop transportation and as a prime mover for howitzers and anti-tank guns. Nicknamed “Jimmy” at General Motors, over 800,000 were built and these vehicles contributed enormously to the Allied victory. Here it comes with the US Winter Infantry squad ready for action!
Cost: 41pts (Inexperienced), 51pts (Regular), 61pts (Veteran)
Weapons: none
Damage Value: 6+ (soft skinned)
Transport: 18 men
Tow: light, medium or heavy anti-tank gun; light or medium howitzer; light anti-aircraft gun
Options: May have a pintle-mounted MMG with 360º arc of fire for +15pts. May upgrade the MMG to an HMG for +10pts.
Dodge ¾ ton Truck with M1 57mm Anti-tank gun
This light 4×4 truck was used for as a staff vehicle for high-ranking officers, weapons carrier, and in a variety of non-combatant roles such as ambulances and signals trucks. They were known as the WC series ‘W’ being the letter code for 1941 and ‘C’ designating the ½ ton truck – the same designation was retained for the ¾ tonner. They were also referred to as ‘Beeps’ or ‘Big Jeeps’. Although some were use for reconnaissance, the ¾ tonner was mostly used in the transport and tow configurations.
Cost: 25pts (Inexperienced), 31pts (Regular), 37pts (Veteran)
Weapons: none
Damage Value: 6+ (soft skinned)
Transport: 8 men Tow: light, medium or heavy anti-tank gun; light or medium howitzer; light anti-aircraft gun
Options: May have a pintle-mounted MMG with 360º arc of fire for +15pts.
Dodge 3/4 ton Truck with M3A1 37mm Anti-tank gun
This little combo allows those of you who like to convert your pieces to take a step further – instead of towing your AT gun why not pop it on the back of the truck portee style and you’ll have the M6 Gun Motor Carriage GMC. The M6 GMC mounted a rear-facing 37mm anti-tank gun on the bed of a Dodge ¾ ton truck. It was the first tank destroyer to be used in the Tunisian campaign. The truck’s complete lack of armour and the small calibre gun made it less than ideally suited to its designated role, but over 5,000 were built as a stop gap measure.
M6 GMC
Cost: 52pts (Inexperienced), 65pts (Regular), 78pts (Veteran)
Weapons: 1 light anti tank gun covering the right, left and rear arcs
Damage Value: 6+ (soft skinned)
Dan Hewitson
Conor Trainer
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon