Posted by Brian in Oregon on Sunday, November 12, 2000 at 17:14:31:
In Reply to: Welcome to Forum #33 posted by Joe Cimoch on Saturday, November 11, 2000 at 14:05:56:
The tank to the right is an M5A1 Stuart. The view is from the rear, and the turret is swung so the barrel is pointing at the right rear. You can't see it because the photo is clipped. It has been swung because the M5A1 has a longer turret than the M5, and it had to be swung to allow access to the engine compartment.
The engines are Cadillacs with automatic transmissions. The M5 and M5A1 used TWO caddy engines and transmissions in each tank.
No doubt both of these are from the tank in the photo.
The objects on the turret side are track grousers, which could be bolted to the sides of the tracks to lessen ground pressure in soft soils and mud. They seem to have been primarily used as additional protection for the turret. About the only place where they got used as intended was in some locations in Italy, due to chronic mud. They tend to snap off easily, particularly on rocky ground or even when a driver got carles and drove too close to a curb.