---------

---------

Vickers M1934

The helmets in this photo are actually made of fiber with plastic like impregnation that made them appear to look like steel from a distance. The Vickers Model 1934 tanks were purchased in 1937 and as Dr. Georg V. Rauch, Argentine historian, points out that they were merely intended as training vehicles. There was a requirement for 160 tanks, of which the leading contender was the Czech THNP 38. That tank was never ordered due to the Munich Agreement.

---------

---------

---------

---------
Nahuel (Medium Tank Nahuel D.L. 43)

The Tanque 'Nahuel', Modelo DL 43 was a medium tank designed and built in Argentina in 1943. The name means Tiger in Araucano, an native langauge of the south of Argentina. Contrary to what is popularly believed, it was a totally indigenous design, and not a copy of the U.S. M4 'Sherman'. It's design was "inspired" by the M4, but it was not a copy. The photo on the left above shows Teniente Coronel (Lt. Colonel) Alfredo Baisi, the designer of the tank. Both photos above were taken on July the 9th, though, 4 years apart. July 9th being Argentina's independence day.

Like the M4, the 'Nahuel' was armed with a 75mm main gun, and there was a co-axially mounted 12.7mm, and
three hull-mounted 7,65mm machine guns.

This tank had a 5-man crew, and was powered by a 500 hp engine giving it a top speed of 25 mph and a range of approximately 150 miles. It had armor of 80mm maximum.

Ironically, after only 16 of these tanks were produced, production of the Nahuel ceased and U.S. M4s were supplied to Argentina. More detailed information about this tank can be found in the 1972 article "Ancora dal Sudamerica"- by Dr. Georg von Rauch in the magazine Eserciti e Armi.

---------

---------

------------

---------

------------

------------

The U.S. M4 "Sherman"

Note the "British style" helmets in the right photo. In truth, the helmets are that in appearance only! They are in fact they are just a protective  ring of cork built encased in cloth, just like tropical helmets. Note that they have built in ear pads which enclose the earphone. Lt.Cnl. Carlos R. Doglioli advised TANKS! that "about the Sherman tanks bought by the Argentine Army in 1946 and whose delivery begun in 1947, they included a number of AFVs mounting the excellent British 17 pounder, known here by its caliber in mm., that is 76,2 mm. I am quite sure that Argentina was the only S. American country to field these Sherman with British 17 pounders. All the other S. American countries had Sherman's with 75 mm. guns."

U.S. M31 Recovery Vehicles

2 units obtained from the United States.

---------
Thornycroft  "Amazon" 6x6 Truck/Half-Track

Thornycroft "Amazon" 6 x 6 trucks/half-tracks of the Argentine Army used as artillery prime movers. These are part of a batch of 12 units acquired in 1938 and converted into artillery tractors (note the armored hood over the engine) at the Esteban de Luca Arsenal. You'll note that by slipping a track, provided by the manufacturer, over the two rear axles these vehicles were easily converted into half-tracks (a feature common to Thornycroft and certain types of French trucks as far back as the early 1920s). The US version of this type of track was called the "Chase Track System". J. Walter Christie also experimented with a version of this track as well. I understand that the helmets were based on the Swiss design and are made of steel as can be seen the the left photo. More detailed information about this tank can be found in the book "Ancora dal Sudamerica"-by Dr. Georg von Rauch. Click HERE to see more detailed photos of the helmet.

------
U.S. M7

Argentine M-7self-propelled howitzers (6 purchased in 1950) note the Crusader self-propelled guns in the background) taken during a parade held in August 1950 marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Gral. José de San Martí, liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru.

------
Crusader Mk.1 SPG

The Argentine Army converted the British Crusader Mk.1 into a self propelled gun. Lt.Cnl. Carlos R. Doglioli advised TANKS! that "on British Crusader chassis were mounted 105 mm  French Schneider Creusot Model 1928  Howitzers and 75 mm Swedish Bofors Model 1935 guns. The design was ¨authored¨  by the by now  deceased Colonel Bidone (an Artilleryman who also was a Military Engineer, his two sons are also retired Army Colonbel, one of them was my Artillery  instructor in our  Staff School and that is how I know this)." He also adds "The picture with the lady in front of one of the 105 SP guns was a quite known one from September  1955 taken during a revolutionary movement of those days and it became public in magazines of those days. I remember that quite distinctly. It was published originally in a special issue of a news magazine called ESTO ES. The other two pictures of these SP guns on Crusaders, notice the colonial type cork helmets, are from typical spring maneuvers (usually performed during the second half of October). None of these vehicles has survived, they were all scrapped a long time ago. Most likely sometime in the ¨60´s¨."

------

------
Crossley Armored Car Model 1926

6 units were purchased in 1927 and remained in service until 1945.

(no picture possible)
Czech THN-38P

The Argentine War Ministry had given the "green light" for the purchase of these tanks. Preliminary talks had begun but talks broke down as Hitler ocupied Czechoslovakia by stages.

---------

---------

------
British (Ford) Bren Gun Carriers, T-16

9 July 1947, Argentine T.16s. In 1946-47 the Argentine government was able to procure hundreds of AFVS (including 302 T.16s, 280 for the Army and 24 for the "Infantería de Marina" (Marines). they carried 1 x 7.65 model 1928 Colt water-cooled MG and 1 x Madsen 7.65mm model 1927 MG. The Madsen was carried on operational missions on a spintle mount (rather like the British mounted their Bren guns aboard these vehicles) (note the Vickers mod. 1934s in the background). These were US (Ford) built Bren Gun carriers, meant for "Lend Lease"/ rm and were British surplus stock disposed by the Belgians in Antwerp.

---------
U.S. LVT-4

This vehicle was used by the Argentine Marine Corp.

---------

---
US M9 Half-Tracks

Cañones de Asalto ( "Assault Guns") which like the Crusader SPGS were issued to the reconnaissance detachments of the Argentine Army. These were local conversions of M9 half-tracks armed at Esteban de Luca with the Krupp mod. 1909 7.5cm L.30 gun (the former standard artillery piece of the Argentine Army until replaced by the Bofors 7.5cm L.40 Mod. 1935). During 1946-47 the Argentine Army took delivery of 327 half-tracks of various types, among which the M9 predominated. These were issued to cavalry regiments serving with the "1st División Blindada" (1st Armored Division) at Campo de Mayo, about 10 miles from Buenos Aires, and others to infantry and recon infantry units. Of these 226 were still operational in 1961. In 1978, when war with Chile seemed imminent, around 150 surviving vehicles were upgraded, and their power plants replaced by an Argentine-built Fiat CP-3 160hp diesel engine, new electronics were provided ands well as a VCR-3600 radio. Some half-tracks were fitted with Oerlikon model 1938 20mm L.70 A.A. cannon, others later on with DGFM-built 105mm model 1974 recoilless rifles. In the 1990s, when large numbers of Argentine-built VCTP and MDAP supplied M-113 armored personnel carriers the veteran half-tracks were passed on to several mechanized infantry regiments (including the 15th and 20th) - Altogether around 120 of these timeless vehicles, which work better than there were new still remain operational. Lt.Cnl. Carlos R. Doglioli advised TANKS! that "of all those WWII vintage armored vehicles the Argentine Army still maintains in active service more than one hundred Half Tracks. Most of them armed with 20 mm Oerlikon guns They're used in an APC role in some Mech. Infantry Regiments."

US M5 Half-Tracks

No data.

------
Bash Armored Car

According to historian Dr. Georg V. Rauch, "In the early 1930s, the Federal Police of Buenos Aires ordered three armored vehicles from the Adolfo Bash firm, a local firm which had been building safes and armored vaults for banks and official institutions since 1882. Two of these were mounted aboard International B-series medium truck chassis and featured a rotary turret armed with a pair of Thompson submachine guns, which revolved over ball bearings. The third vehicle constructed over International A-series light truck reassembled a roadster of the period; but was fully armored and fitted with a two-way radio. The introduction of the larger Bash armored cars in 1933 led several foreign observers (including the US. Military Attaché) to conclude that the Army had transferred its Crossley model 1926 armored cars to the Federal Police; but this simply was not the case." The firm kept building armored cars for banks well into the late 1970s, many of them are still in use; but did not build any more armored vehicles for the Federal Police of the military.

Yacaré Armored Tractor

These were International Harvester commercial tractors purchased by the Army, and converted into armored artillery tractors at the "Esteban de Luca" Arsenal, which also produced the "Nahuel" tanks. At least the Argentinians did not try to fool the world into thinking that these were front line battle tanks like New Zealand, the United States, and Afghanistan (read about the NZ Semple and the US Disston in each section of TANKS!)!

Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Harley Davison motorcycles with side cars. The crews are armed with Argentine-designed and built "HAlcon" model 1946 sub-machine guns, in 9mm Parabellum, with folding stocks, Note the Willys Jeep and GMC 2 1/2 ton trucks in the background.

FN Armored Motorcycle

No details.

---
Canadian Chevrolet 3cwt, Willis Jeep, GMC 6 x 6 2.5 Ton

No details.

Dodge Command Car

Dodge Model 1938 or 1939 command car. This was an extensively modified  Dodge commercial pick up undertaken at produced at the Esteban de Luca Arsenal, which also produced the  "Nandu " command car and the "Nahuel" tank. The standard bearer wears the leather jerkin of the troops assigned to the ?Escuela de Tropas Mecanizadas" (Armored Troops School).

---
Studebaker Trucks

No details.

Bofors 40mm AA Gun

No details.

Volvo Trucks

No details.

The German Tempo 1200

The German Tempo 1200 reconnaissance car of the Argentine Army's "Batallón de Arsenales". Note the Vickers M1934 in the background.

---
The Nandu

The Nandú, an Argentine-built jeep/command car was first exhibited publicly on 9 July 1945. Produced at the "Esteban de Luca" Arsenal, in conjunction with private manufacturers. This sturdy vehicle was powered by what is thought to be a 76 hp engine manufactured by HAFDASA (Hispano Argentina Fabrica de Automobiles) an armaments concern which produced small arms, engines etc. Their .45caliber pistol, inspired by the Colt 1911A1 model, was produced in large quantities throughout the war, and supplied to the British Army. A pre-production batch of 10 units was ordered, and these surpassed grueling field tests for over a year. By that time, the availability of surplus US Jeeps brought plans to manufacture this promising model to an end. The Nandú is the South American Ostrich.

HAFDASA Prime Mover

1939 HAFDASA 6 x 6 artillery prime mover. This truck was produced at the HAFDASA (Hispano Argentina Fabrica de Aumotobiles) plant in Buenos Aires during 1939 and 1942 was an original design, powered by a 150 HAFDASA diesel engine.  

---
U.S. M4 Prime Mover

No details.

Thorleif Olsson
Author of
Baltic AFV's & Armored Trains 1918 - 1940
Red Steel! - Soviet tanks 1920 - 1945

David Barrett

Roberto Digliodo

Stefan De Meyer

Dr. André Louis Maurois

Dr. Georg V. Rauch
Author of
Conflict in the Southern Cone

Victor Almeida

Bill Morran

Daniella Carlsson

Lt.Cnl. Carlos R. Doglioli

Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003

Biography