Tag: half-track

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Old Trusty

We went to Clay Center, Nebraska, over the weekend to check out the Old Trusty Antique and Collectors Show. It was the 37th annual event, and it did not disappoint. If you like anything (or everything) with wheels, you will appreciate the acres and acres of antique cars, trucks, tractors and engines. The show included classic vehicles with four-wheels, two-wheels and even a half-track, early engines of all kinds, original horse (and donkey) power and a veritable sea of red, green and orange paint. Here is just some of what we saw:

1958 Dodge M37
1955 Ford Customline
1955 Ford Customline
1957 Oldsmobile
1957 Oldsmobile
Deuce Coupe
1931 Ford Pickup
1960 Nomad
’40 Ford Truck being hauled by a Mack Truck
WWII half-track


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World War II M2 Halftrack

Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles in Lexington, Ne
Photo credit: Delaney Tracy
Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles in Lexington, NE
Photo credit: Delaney Tracy

This M2 half-track is on display at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles in Lexington, Nebraska. The half-track was produced by American truck manufacturers White, Diamond T and Autocar. It had an endless belt track instead of rear wheels, and power from the 147-hp gas engine was delivered to both the track and the front wheels. The crew was protected by armor plate and a steel visor could be dropped over the windshield to protect the driver. It was designed to carry three machine guns that were mounted on a swivel for firing in every direction. In a June 30, 1943, story, the half-tracks were credited with contributing to the Allied victory in North Africa by Brig. General Joseph E. Harriman. Harriman reported that, “Half-tracks attached to the Second Corps downed 78 German planes for sure – possibly more than 100 – in Tunisia in a three month period. “

In gratitude to all who have served.