M16A2 WWII Army Half-Track

IRON YANKEE | IRON ANGEL | HAMMERED METAL | IRON MAN

AFRICAN QUEEN DATA SHEET

MODEL: M16A1 MGMC (Multiple Gun Motor Carriage) - As originally built -

MANUFACTURER: White Motor Company

PRODUCTION MONTH / YEAR: September 1943

M16A2 CONVERSION: Bowen and McLaughlin July 1952

ENGINE: White 160 AX Hercules 6 Cylinder; 147 Horse Power

TRANSMISSION: Spicer 001863 4 speed

ARMOR: Primary 1/2 Inch Hardened Steel; Secondary 1/4 Inch Hardened Steel (Diebold Safe Co.)

WEIGHT: 10 Tons

TOP SPEED: 45 MPH

LENGTH / WIDTH / HEIGHT: 22.5 ft / 7 ft / 9ft With Turret Installed

SUSPENSION: Half Track, Vertical Volute Springs

ARMAMENT: M45F MAXON Electric Turret with 4 50 CAL Browning Heavy Barrel (HB)

Air Cooled Machine Guns, 2 M1 Garands, 2 M1 Carbines, 1 M1928A1 .45 CAL

Thompson Machine Gun, 5 Colt M911 .45 Pistols, 20 Hand Grenades

CREW: Half-Track Commander, Driver, Gunner and 2 Canoneer’s

FUEL-GASOLINE: 2-30 Gallon Self-Sealing Gas Tanks

COMBAT RANGE: 174 Miles

RADIO: SRC 528 Receiver / Transmitter

COST TO US WAR DEPARTMENT IN 1943: $10,310. USD (Excluding Weapons)

NUMBER OF KNOWN SURVIVING M16A2 MODELS: 1

ADDITIONAL HT MANUFACTURES: Autocar; Diamond T; International Harvester

AFRICAN QUEEN WAR / SERVICE HISTORY

WWII:

History of the African Queen’s WWII service is under Research with assistance from the Military Preservation Organization G503. Due to a fire several years ago at the US Government records warehouse complex in St Louis, MO, WWII records were destroyed and unfortunately any official records of the African Queens WWII service history were lost. There may be an opportunity to search for duplicate records that are rumored to exist in the archives of the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

KOREA:

The African Queen was one of 419 Half Tracks converted for service in Korea. She was converted by the Bowen McLaughlin Corporation in July 1952 from her original WWII M16A1 configuration to her current configuration as an M16A2. The conversion included installation of the updated M45F MAXON Turret with 6” extension ring, gunner’s armor shield and Canoneer’s platform, installation of a rear troop door and modified rear armor, installation of 2 additional rear wall storage boxes and an intercom system for the turret gunner. The African Queen was shipped to Korea saw service with 4^th Platoon, Charlie Company (C-4), 25^thAAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) AW (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 24^th Infantry Division (Indian Head) from 1952 to 1954.

INDO CHINA:

In 1954 the African Queen and three additional M16A2’s were transferred to French Military Forces for service in Indo-China (Vietnam) where she served in various roles until 1958.

DJIBOUTI - HORN OF AFRICA:

In 1958 the African Queen was sent to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa for service with the French Foreign Legion. In 1962 the African Queen was driven or towed into the Djiboutian desert and abandoned by the French Foreign Legion as repair parts were not readily available and the African Queen had become obsolete.

AFRICAN QUEEN RECOVERY AND PRESERVATION

USA:

In November 2005 LTC Mark A.R. Koloc SR, US Army Reserve was assigned to the US Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa as the Director of Future Operations (J-35). In January 2006 while conducting a mission LTC Koloc came across the African Queen’s resting spot in the Djiboutian desert. As a WWII history buff and a former Infantry / Armor Officer, LTC Koloc recognized the historical significance of the African Queen. After 9 months of negation and administrative challenges, legal possession of the African Queen was transferred to LTC Koloc in November 2006**. The African Queen arrived in Norfolk VA, via container ship in January 2007. After clearing customs the African Queen was shipped February 2007 by flat bed semi-truck to St. Paul, where she remained in storage. In April 2007 the African Queen was reunited with LTC Koloc when he returned from Africa and she was moved to her new home in River Falls, Wisconsin. After 45 years of abandonment and neglect the African Queen started and ran on the 4^th of July 2007.

**Note: The African Queen is privately owned and all expenditures for her transportation, fees and repairs are the financial responsibility of LTC Koloc. Per US Government regulations, no US Government tax dollars, equipment or personnel were utilized for transportation and preservation.

PRESERVATION WORK TO DATE:

The African Queen still retains her original WWII / KOREA era paint and markings. The front tires are the original 1952 Michelin “Invincible” Combat tires and are solid rubber “Run-Flats.” The African Queens rear rubber tracks are original and were manufactured in 1943 by the BF Goodrich Tire Company, Ohio. The addition of the 5 sided stars, registration numbers (USA 4049386) and unit identification markings (24-25AAA (AW) C-4 are the only changes made to the African Queens exterior. These markings were added as the US markings were removed by the French in 1954 and they are regulation size, color and placed as they would have been in 1943 or during rebuild in July 1952. The following components on the African Queen have been rebuilt, repaired or installed as part of the restoration process. All installed parts are original parts (New Old Stock-NOS) from WWII and have been purchased by LTC Koloc or donated from various sources and parties.

REBUILT / REPAIRED: Delco Remy 12 Volt Starter; Delco Remy 12 Volt Generator; AC Fuel and Vacuum Pump; Delco Remy Distributor; Stromberg Duel Downdraft 2 Barrel Carburetor; Modine Radiator and Overflow Tank; White Motors Water Pump; Stewart Warner Tachometer; Stewart Warner Main Instrument Cluster; Stewart Warner Speedometer

NEW OLD STOCK (NOS): 2 Vacuum Operated Wiper Motors; 2 of 4 Wire Harness’s; 2 Tail Lights; 2 Windshield Screens (Glass); Sun Volt Meter; 4 of 5 Gearshift Knobs; Glove-Box Door; 2 of 4 Headlights; 1 Armored Windshield Prop Rod; Driver and Passenger Seat; 1943 Briggs and Stratton 1 Cylinder 4 Cycle Engine with Generator, M18 Reflex Gun Sight

FABRICATED PIECES: Battery Box Cover � Inch Steel; Battery Box Side Panel � Inch Steel; Gun Compartment / Drivers Compartment Partition � Inch Steel (Metal fabrication and radiator repair courtesy of MRB Radiator Repair, River falls WI, Welding courtesy of Todd Bierstadt)

REMAINING PRESERVATION: Complete the installation of 2 remaining body wire harness and dashboard harness. Rebuild and install fuse-block for wire harness. Complete installation of rebuilt / NOS dashboard instruments (Instrument Cluster, Speedometer, Volt Meter). Install newly fabricated canvas seat cushions / seatbacks in drivers and gunner’s compartment. Mount passenger and jump seats in driver’s compartment and 2 jump seats in gunner’s compartments. Fabricate and install new radio and ammunition drum storage shelf in gunner’s compartment. Rebuild Hydraulic brake system to include Hydro-van power unit. Purchase and install SRC 528 radio, power supply components, cables and antenna. Install new hinges on existing storage compartment doors in gunner’s compartment and rear storage boxes. Fabricate 4 missing storage doors for gunner’s compartment and the 2 rear storage boxes. Fabricate and replace wiring harness for M45F MAXON Gun Turret. Fabricate and install new canvas gunner’s seat in M45F MAXON Turret. Mechanically Tune 1943 Briggs and Stratton engine. Repair 2 stripped head bolts (#1 cylinder) on engine.

AFRICAN QUEEN FRENCH DOCUMENTS

Je, soussign� Colonel Phillipe Prevost Commandant des Forces terrestres stationn�es � Djibouti d�clare c�der la propri�t� de la demi piste comme �tant dans son statut actuel situ�e N821 201 � la bordure Nord-Est de la piste de l'a�roport au Colonel Mark Koloc afin de la restaurer pour un �ventuel placement d’exposition au Etats-Unis.

Cette cession est men�e en �change de la bonne et importante consid�ration des services du Colonel Mark Koloc en enlevant la demi piste de son ancienne localit� comme une nuisance attrayante et pour la somme de 20,000 francs Djibouti qu'il a d�pens� pour couvrir les co�ts fortuits associ�s au d�placement. La semi-piste n'a aucune valeur except� pour la d�limitation de terrain. Il a �t� convenu que les Forces terrestres francaises stationn�es � Djibouti ne seraient tenues pour responsables en cas d’incident qui peut survenir pendant le d�placement du v�hicule de sa position actuelle � sa destination finale, et absolument aucune garantie express ou implicite accompagne ce transfert. Ce d�placement et tous les co�ts financiers qui y sont associ�s ont �t� et continuent d’�tre de la responsabilit� du Colonel Mark Koloc.

Fait � Djibouti le 09 Nov 06

I undersigned COL Philippe Prevost, Commander of the Ground Forces stationed in Djibouti declare the handover ownership of the Half-Track in an “as-is” status located N821 201 at the northeast border of the airport trail in Djibouti to LCOL Mark Koloc in order to have it restored for eventual placement for display purposes in the United States.

This handover is conducted in exchange for the good and valuable consideration of LCOL Koloc’s services in removing the Half-Track from its former location as an attractive nuisance and for the sum of 20,000 Djiboutian Francs that he has spent to cover incidental costs associated with removal. The Half-Track has no value except for scrap purpose. It is agreed that the French Ground Forces stationed in Djibouti would not be held responsible in case of any incident that may arise during movement of vehicle from its actual location to its final destination, and absolutely no warranties, express or implied, accompany this “as-is” transfer. This movement and all financial cost associated with it have been and continue to be the responsibility of LCOL Mark Koloc.

Done in Djibouti, 09 Nov 06.

MISSION STATEMENT

TO PRESERVE THIS 1943 WHITE M16A2 MGMC TO ORIGINAL OPERATING CONDITION BY UTILIZING THE ORIGINAL COMPONENTS, PAINT AND MARKINGS TO PRESERVE HER HISTORICAL VALUE IN ORDER TO HONOR THE SOLDIERS OF THE “GREATEST GENERATION” WHO SACRIFICED ALL TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND DEFEAT TIERNEY SO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS WOULD ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND LOVE FOR OUR GREAT NATION AND TO SHARE THIS PIECE OF HISTORY WITH PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS SO THAT THEY MAY APPRECIATE AND TRULY VALUE THE SACRIFICE AND SELFLESS DEDICATION OF THESE HERO’S

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