KStudio Photography
M2A2 Light Tank & T3E4 Light Tractor (East Base, United States Antarctic Service Expedition)
In 1939, the United States Antarctic Service Expedition was organized under the leadership of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd and sponsored by the United States Navy, U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Treasury. The expedition had scientific motives but also political in which the U.S. desired to maintain a permanent presence in Antarctica by establishing two bases as a means to support any future claims to the territory. West Base, located on the Ross Ice Shelf, was occupied on January 20, 1940 by 33 men under the command of Dr. Paul A. Siple while East Base (built on Stonington Island) was occupied on March 19, 1940 with 26 men commanded by Richard B. Black. Included in the equipment manifest were two M2A2 light tanks and two T3E4 tractors. Prior to departure, both tanks had all armaments taken out and some armor removed to lighten them. Each base had one tank (and one tractor) and it was quickly found that the tanks could not operate effectively in the icy conditions. To lighten the tanks still further and enhance stability, the twin turrets on each tank were removed but while this did help to a degree, the ground pressure was still too high. The tanks were further modified by removing the armored vision plates that covered the driver and machine-gunner's vision ports and replacing them with glass windows as snow often clogged the vision slits. Still, the glass tended to ice up as there was no means to defrost it. Other modifications included removing the air filter which tended to freeze up and in the air environment of the Antarctic, wasn't needed. Oil filters were also removed as the oil in them froze and burst the filters. Again, it was seen they were not needed. Swedish built Primus heaters were used to warm up the tank and tractor engines. Another issue was the clutch which in temperatures of -50 degrees or lower tended to freeze up, bringing the tanks to a halt until the clutch was warmed. Interestingly, the Soviet military attache in the U.S., one Major Barayev, received a complete report of the usage of the M2A2 tanks in Antarctica and forwarded it on to his superiors as a means to support Soviet use of Lend-Lease Canadian-built Valentine III tanks and U.S. M3 light and medium tanks as winter temperatures in Russia could be as brutal as those in Antarctica. The further escalation of World War 2 saw both bases evacuated by March 1941 though much of the equipment was left behind in the hopes that they could be reoccupied at a later time. This would never come about. West Base sank into the ocean in 1963 (along with the unique but ultimately fruitless Antarctic Snow Cruiser) but East Base remains and it is a Historic Site (HSM-55) and thus protected. The photograph shows the remains of the M2A2 tank and the T3E4 tractor as they currently sit today. The site can be visited. Both the tanks and the T3E4 were used to pull loads though the T3E4 did much of that work based on existing photographs of East Base in operation. At East Base, the tank and tractor were assigned U.S. Army drivers PVT Clarence Steele and PFC Anthony J. L. Morency. The T3E4 is an exceptionally rare vehicle with only six having been built and this is the only known survivor so it is a pity it must be left to rust away.
M2A2 Light Tank & T3E4 Light Tractor (East Base, United States Antarctic Service Expedition)
In 1939, the United States Antarctic Service Expedition was organized under the leadership of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd and sponsored by the United States Navy, U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Treasury. The expedition had scientific motives but also political in which the U.S. desired to maintain a permanent presence in Antarctica by establishing two bases as a means to support any future claims to the territory. West Base, located on the Ross Ice Shelf, was occupied on January 20, 1940 by 33 men under the command of Dr. Paul A. Siple while East Base (built on Stonington Island) was occupied on March 19, 1940 with 26 men commanded by Richard B. Black. Included in the equipment manifest were two M2A2 light tanks and two T3E4 tractors. Prior to departure, both tanks had all armaments taken out and some armor removed to lighten them. Each base had one tank (and one tractor) and it was quickly found that the tanks could not operate effectively in the icy conditions. To lighten the tanks still further and enhance stability, the twin turrets on each tank were removed but while this did help to a degree, the ground pressure was still too high. The tanks were further modified by removing the armored vision plates that covered the driver and machine-gunner's vision ports and replacing them with glass windows as snow often clogged the vision slits. Still, the glass tended to ice up as there was no means to defrost it. Other modifications included removing the air filter which tended to freeze up and in the air environment of the Antarctic, wasn't needed. Oil filters were also removed as the oil in them froze and burst the filters. Again, it was seen they were not needed. Swedish built Primus heaters were used to warm up the tank and tractor engines. Another issue was the clutch which in temperatures of -50 degrees or lower tended to freeze up, bringing the tanks to a halt until the clutch was warmed. Interestingly, the Soviet military attache in the U.S., one Major Barayev, received a complete report of the usage of the M2A2 tanks in Antarctica and forwarded it on to his superiors as a means to support Soviet use of Lend-Lease Canadian-built Valentine III tanks and U.S. M3 light and medium tanks as winter temperatures in Russia could be as brutal as those in Antarctica. The further escalation of World War 2 saw both bases evacuated by March 1941 though much of the equipment was left behind in the hopes that they could be reoccupied at a later time. This would never come about. West Base sank into the ocean in 1963 (along with the unique but ultimately fruitless Antarctic Snow Cruiser) but East Base remains and it is a Historic Site (HSM-55) and thus protected. The photograph shows the remains of the M2A2 tank and the T3E4 tractor as they currently sit today. The site can be visited. Both the tanks and the T3E4 were used to pull loads though the T3E4 did much of that work based on existing photographs of East Base in operation. At East Base, the tank and tractor were assigned U.S. Army drivers PVT Clarence Steele and PFC Anthony J. L. Morency. The T3E4 is an exceptionally rare vehicle with only six having been built and this is the only known survivor so it is a pity it must be left to rust away.