Article by Ed
On my work bench now: a M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer kit by AFV Club Models in 1/35 scale. I'm building this Jackson as serving with US forces during the Korean War.
While tank destroyers had repeatedly proven their versatility and effectiveness in combat, especially in assigned support roles, their long-term viability was becoming highly doubtful by 1945. Especially given the changes to post-WW2 Army doctrine which shifted focus towards improving armored warfare and increasing combined arm roles. Generals McNair & Bruce believed the US Tank Destroyer forces primary mission was to destroy enemy armor and quickly gather in defense to prevent enemy breakthroughs, but this role was now usurped by newer, improved tanks.
In 1943, the most powerful US TD and best hunter of Nazi heavy tanks during the war, the M36 Jackson (aka Slugger) reached the European Theater of Operations (ETO). This new TD, which largely replaced the M10 Wolverine, mounted the M3 90mm anti-aircraft gun; the same gun carried by the newest US heavy tank, the M26 Pershing, which didn't reach front-line units until almost the end of WW2 hostilities. However, an urgent need was found for an improved 90mm Armor-Piecing round. This led to a limited fielding of new higher-velocity, tungsten-cored, AP rounds to all M36 GMCs. Eventually, as M36s went into action and despite the new AP round, the need for an improved main gun was identified. This was a direct result of combat against German heavy tank frontal armor. A new, T14/15 gun with a recoil-reducing nozzle brake was rapidly developed and field. This new gun could match or surpass the performance of the German 8.8cm KwK4 L/71 cannon, which was the famous long 88 gun found on Tiger tanks. The M36’s hull came from converted M10 hulls.
In addition to shifting doctrine, the Army was reducing its massive size very rapidly after the war. The Tank Destroyer Branch's dollar cost was the equivalent of almost four US infantry divisions, and this cost was prohibitive given the branch being recently deemed a non-essential military organization. Finally in mid-1945, the War Department's wartime evaluation report, titled the "Study of Organization, Equipment, and Tactical Employment of Tank Destroyer Units" led to the eventual disbandment of all TD units. And on 10 November 1945, the Tank Destroyer Center at Camp (later Fort) Hood was closed, effectively ending all future prospects for TD forces and closing out an odd and often criticized, but effective and awe-inspiring chapter of US military history. Post-war critics failed to realize TD forces were often employed poorly by commanders who didn't fully understand their role (and TD crews paid the price).
The last TD battalion, the 656th which returned home after the war to Camp Campbell, was de-activated in late 1946. The WW2 656th AAR is available online and covers their actions from March to May 1945, in which they supported the 9th Armored Division crossing the Rhine and Lahn Rivers, driving deep into Germany and then Czechoslovakia (the 9th AD also liberated several Nazi concentration camps). Reading this After Action Report makes it very clear how often TD forces were expected to preform several different roles (sometimes within the same assignment), the good and bad of the M2 Browning MG (the factory position was terrible), how often the main gun jammed, and how they were routinely left on the line even when the units they supported were rotated back to rest and refit. Indeed, my research into WW2 US Tank Destroyers and their crews convinced me of their extreme heroism during the war.
> World War II & the M36 Jackson Much has been written and published (I tried to read most of it), about US Tank Destroyer forces, their formations, operations, and amazing courage during WW2. Oddly, I found a lot more information available for the famous & speedy M18 Hellcat and the earlier TD, the M10 Wolverine, then I did for the M36 Jackson. And sadly, I discovered even less M36 information about their Korean War actions and overall impact. With almost no images found of Korean War M36s in action or with the ROK forces. Perhaps the 1945 banishment of the Tank Destroyer Branch had a negative impact on the M36's written and photo history availability.
> Korean War & the M36 Jackson
When North Korea invaded its neighbor in June 1950, the ability to stop highly capable Soviet-built, Chinese-upgraded tanks quickly become obvious and paramount. To this end the M36 Jackson was used by the US and South Korean militaries during the Korean War. It could destroy any tank deployed in that theater of operations. Due to shortages of M26 Pershing and M46 Patton tanks in Korea, the M36 and its improved variants became one of the preferred armored vehicles for combat operations. Especially given the out matched M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Shermans serving on the early front lines against NKPA and Chinese T34s.
The first major battle by US forces against the invaders took place mid-July 1950, during the Battle of Taejon. This battle occurred shortly after Task Force Smith, a poorly equipped and trained advance element of the 24th Infantry Division rushed to Korea. TF Smith was badly defeated by overwhelming NKPA forces in the Battle of Osan, on 5 July, and defeated again on 6 July, during the Battle of Pyongtaek. They paid the price for the Army's post-WW2 negligence. The 24th ID had no tanks: its M26 Pershing and older M4A3 Sherman tanks were still aboard ships bound for Korea. All these forces had at hand to fight armor were bazookas and Chaffee light tanks brought from their easy occupation duty in Japan. The 24th ID in Japan was a low priority, under manned unit, and 5 years after WW2 ended, it still had aging WW2-era equipment.
Despite not holding the city of Taejon, the 24th Infantry Division achieved a strategic, but costly victory by delaying the North Koreans until 20 July; thereby providing time for US forces to establish a defensive perimeter around the crucial deep-water port city of Pusan further south. The delay achieved by the 24th's desperate Taejon fighting prevented a huge US military disaster during the subsequent Battle of Pusan Perimeter. During the Taejon action, the NKPA captured Major General William F. Dean, commander of the 24th ID, during the US's under-fire bugout of the city. He was the highest-ranking Prisoner of War (POW) during the Korean War. MG Dean was held until September 1953 and later he was awarded a much-deserved Medal of Honor.
As mentioned, due to the overall lack of available tanks, the US Army turned to M36 Jackson TDs left over from World War II and were now rusting in military depots; immediately rushing them to the Korean Peninsula. The 90mm Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) M36 quickly made an impact against T-34 and T-34-76 tanks after China's massive military joined the war in late 1950. Throughout the war, M36 Jacksons provided both critical direct and indirect fires support to US and Republic of Korea (ROK) forces.
Notable combat actions by the M36 TD include the 10-day Battle of White Horse, in October 1952, when the ROK 9th Infantry Division's tank company M36s contributed to the victory by bombarding with high-explosive shells the large Chinese 38th Army offensive force and suppressing heavy weapons deployed along the enemy-occupied highlands. Later, against Chinese forces attacking US and ROK positions along the Kumsong River, 15–16 July 1953 (one of the last large-scale battles of the war), the M36s of the ROK 3rd Infantry Division's Anti-Tank unit provided direct & indirect fires support for US and ROK infantry defending the hilltops overlooking the river. These actions tell a true tale of TDs in both wars, HE shelling against bunkers, dug-in positions, & infantry was the most often role they performed, but of course TD units did well against armor targets also.
> Kit Building
This 1/35 scale model of the Gun Carriage M36 Jackson was assembled from the AFV Club kit. Assembly of this tank destroyer model took a lot of time and effort, as the kit provides very poor instructions with almost no assistance given to the modeler with necessary information for a detailed & good quality build experience. Plus major fit issues with the two piece turret and the engine deck not matching up the rear end.
The color applied for the model's base coat was aimed towards the end of WW2 Flat Olive Drab. I wanted it to look like an older M36 rushed to Korea and attached to the 73rd Tank Battalion. Later, after WW2, US equipment was painted a Semi-gloss Olive Drab that was darker in tone. And the Semi-gloss finish made it "read" even darker. The color was in widespread use during the Korean War, and all the tanks that were hurriedly refurbished in workshops in Japan were finished in Semi-gloss. The color would of course dull down as soon as it received a coat of dust.
A color photo from early in the Korean War depicts a line of Army vehicles with some in earlier WW2 OD and some in the newer post-WW2 OD color and the difference is very apparent and stark. For the Vietnam War, an even darker green OD color was used (Korean War era was Semi-gloss OD #2430 and was used from 1950-1956, when it was replaced with darker OD #24087). After Vietnam, the Army's new Mobility Equipment Research & Design Command (MERDC) developed a system of camouflage patterns; 4 colors--two primary and two secondary colors. This was aimed at the Warsaw Pact & USSR future battlefields of central and eastern Europe.
For modeling purposes, Military Modelling magazine stated that Tamiya's Olive Drab was the most true to the actual hue of the US Army's WW2 OD. However, they said it should be cut it down with some Tamiya German Panzer Yellow to add scale effect for 1/35 vehicles. For my early Korean War M36, I started with Tamiya's OD and added in Tamiya's Khaki Drab and then some Khaki and Buff. As always, I use ISO 70% or 90% for airbrush thinning.
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