Pineapple Armor - 11th Tank Company, Schofield Barracks, T.H. 1922-1941

[Salvage Sailor]

 

Aloha Everyone,

 

These photos are from my Pineapple Army (Armor) archive depicting the men and vehicles of the 11th Tank Company.  They were the armored component of the Hawaiian Division & Department, attached to the Special Troops and HQ of the HD at Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

 

As you can see I've been experimenting with some colorizing programs and though the true colors may not be quite correct, it does add some appeal to the photos I'll be posting.

 

 

So, here we go Treadheads, let's see what the 11th Tank Company rode in the 1920's

 

11th Tank Company Static Display at Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The 1925 Hawaiian Department Review - 11th Tank Company in 'V' Formation

Colorized - For those of you familiar with Schofield Barracks, this is now called "Area X", Waianae Mountains in the background

 

1925 Department Review, 11th Tank Company from the Reviewing Stand

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

1925 Department Review, 11th Tank Company 'Dog & Pony' Display

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

11th Tank Company Open House

Tank, Machine Gun, Spare Part Crate and Tools, 11th Tank Company Guidon, Fixed Displays

 

.30 Caliber air cooled Tank Machine Gun with Periscope Sight

 

[Salvage Sailor]

1925 Hawaiian Department Maneuvers

Kole Kole Pass, Waianae Mountains

11th Tank Officer walking the track as the Tanks follow in trail

First Tank in line, followed by three more.  Note that the Officer is now at the pass on the left rounding the corner.

 

Tank Guides fore and aft watching the drivers

 

 

 

Descending Kole Kole Pass on the Waianae Coast side (Westside of Oahu)

 

Keeping a watchful eye on his treads and drivers

 

Sliding down hill

 

11th Tank Company Hawaiian Department Maneuvers 1925

[Salvage Sailor]

Now, let's try that in crummy AI color...red dirt and lava rock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The New Armored Steeds - The M2A2 Arrives on Oahu, 1936

 

Along with the new M1 Armored Cars

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

11th Tank Company, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

M2A3 Tanks at Schofield Barracks, note the Hawaiian 'Taro' Division insignia

 

[Salvage Sailor]

11th Tank Company 1935, still had the old armor too

[rayg]

Great Photos, thanks for posting them!

[Salvage Sailor]

11th Tank Company, Putting them through the paces

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

More from the 3rd Engineers Tank Trap Testing

 

11th Tank Company

Log Tank Trap Barrier

 

11th Tank Company

Steel Rail Barrier

 

Note the Brass Infantry Tank Plate on the Turret

photo from the Lewis Archive, USMF member General Apathy

[Salvage Sailor]

Same brass Infantry Tank plate on another tank turret & armored car turret

[dskjl]

Last pic looks a bit like a king armored car, a bit anyway.

[Salvage Sailor]

M-1 Armored Car (1931) 12 built

USA (1931) Armored car - Replacing horse cavalry - Traditional cavalry was still the norm in the 1920s in the US Army. Tanks were used by the US army, but only kept as a wartime necessity and confined to infantry support. By law, like in most Western countries, the cavalry was forbidden from having tanks. This did not prevent it to try the motorized cavalry concept. In 1931, the US Army Ordnance ordered two prototypes from James Cunningham, Son and Company of Rochester, New York. The vehicles were delivered in 1931, tested until 1934 as the T4. Ten were produced afterward and standardized as the M1 Armored Car at Rock Island Arsenal (chassis numbers W-60114 to W-60125).

 

M-1 ARMORED CAR W-60125 - 11th TANK COMPANY, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, T.H.

 

M1 Armored Car specifications

• Dimensions (L-w-h)    15 x 6 x 6.9 ft (4.57 x 1.83 x 2.10 m)
• Total weight, battle ready    4.6 tons (10,233 lbs)
• Crew    4 (driver, commander, gunner, loader)
• Propulsion    Cunningham Gas. V8 479 cu.in, 133 hp @ 2800 rpm
• Speed    55 mph (89 km/h) on-road
• Range and fuel    250 mi (402 km) at cruise speed, 114 liters
• Armament    Main : 0.5 in HMG (12.7 mm) M1921
• Secondary: 0.3 in (7.62 mm) Browning M1920
• Armor    From 0.25 to 0.37 in (6.35 to 9.53 mm)

 

Design

Cunningham was a famous car maker and former coach builder, in business since 1908, known to have developed the first American V8 engine, back in 1916. This 4x6 armored car was relatively "standard" in general configuration, with the massive Cunningham V8 liquid-cooled engine at the front, occupying roughly a half of the length of the vehicle, protected by vertical armored shutters. The hull was angular, made of flat welded steel plates (9.5 mm/0.37 in at the thickest), assembled by bolting and welding. The driver and fighting compartments were at the rear. Forward and side vision was provided by armored shutters with sight slits. Access was granted through side doors. The one-man turret was conical in shape, with a single .50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M1921 heavy machine gun supplied with 2000 rounds, and fore and aft firing ports for an additional 0.3 in (7.62 mm) Browning M1920 with 3750 rounds. In addition, the turret had fittings for two more machine-guns, to be used for AA defense. Steering was done with the front axle only. The transmission gearbox comprised four forward/one reverse speeds. The vehicle was tested off-road, but performed only reasonably well on flat and solid surfaces. It had two spare wheels, able to rotate freely on stub axles, which could provide some extra contact in some cases. Its turning radius was 56ft 3in (or 17 m) to the left and 48ft 4in (or 14.7 m) to the right. Equipment comprised headlamps on the front mudguards, storage boxes over the rear twin axles, and a 6 volt battery. There was no radio. The vehicle had a ground clearance of 7.85 in (199 mm), wheelbase of 141 in (3581 mm), wheel tread of 59.75 in (1518 mm), and was found capable of fording 21 in (533 mm) water depth and climb a maximum slope of 23 degrees.

 

Fate

These vehicle served, for all their career, with the 1st US Cavalry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.  (EDIT: Not correct, as this M-1 is clearly depicted as being assigned to the 11th Tank Company, note the Hawaiian 'Taro' Division insignia on the hull.  Two (2) of the M-1 armored cars were posted to Schofield Barracks, T.H.). There is no certitude about their ultimate fate, whether they were deactivated in 1939 or kept for training during the war. In either case they never left US soil. However, through numerous reports, they provided precious indications, that were taken in account when designing the next generation of US armored cars during the war, like the T17 Staghound and M8 Greyhound.

 

source:  tanks-encyclopedia.com

[Salvage Sailor]

Unknown Fate?

 

Of the ten (10) M-1 armored cars produced, two (2) were assigned to the 11th Tank Company at Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

 

Photo:  11th Tank Company on Parade, Schofield Barracks, T.H. circa 1937

Note both M-1 Armored Cars in the photograph

[Story]

"Sorry, you cannot add any more reactions today."

[Backtheattack]

Great pictures! Thank`s for posting. Like the turret plate.

[Salvage Sailor]

 

TANK PARK - 11th Tank Company, Schofield Barracks, T.H. 1930

Note the '11th Tank' & faded Hawaiian 'Taro' Division insignia on the turrets

 

 

Colorized

Colorized

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

Here's another rare US Army experimental fighting vehicle from my Pineapple Army photo archives.

Experimental CHRISTIE COMBAT CAR T4 at Schofield Barracks, T.H., Hawaiian Division, 11th Tank Company

 

Inscription on Photo Reverse

 

Colorized (not true color) - Nice 'Ooogah!!' horn, may have had a siren too

[Salvage Sailor]

11th Tank Company Carrier, 1935

 

Also of note, the early use of the Armor Triangle

(Hawaiian Taro Division) - 11th TANK CO - (Armor Triangle Symbol)

 

 

[Cadre Co A 740th TB son]

My dad was in the 11th Tank Co. He showed me pictures and talked about driving the tank at high speed to see how far they could jump over tank traps. I need to go through his old albums.