Evening star., 1943-09-02
14-Ton MS Tank
Arrives for Army
War Bond Show

An Ms tank. with rubber treads
and weighing about IA tons, is the
newest exhibit to arrive at the Army
Treasury War bond show at the
Washington Monument grounds
starting September 9. 1t will be
an exhibit of the Army Engineers.
The tank experienced difficulty in
reaching its display position to the
west of the grounds, and when ex-
have all the wiring on one OF its
dual motors burned off.
Its armament consists of a 27-mm
cannon in the center of the turret
and a small gun mounted to the
left and above the right tread. The
cabin compartment is painted white.
Housekeeper's Dream.
Inside. it has the appearance of
meticulous housekeeper's dream,
since every cabinet, shelf and box
like compartment is labeled in black
paint, telling what sort of ammuni-
ton is to be found within.
Powered with twin Cadillac mo-
tors, the vehicle is equipped with
powerful hooks for towing. Its pro-
tective armament consists of an
anti-aircraft gun on the right rear,
Just behind the turret. The guns
operator, when in position, can not
be seen from outside the tank,
This particular tank differs from
most in Army service in having
blackout lights attached. Installed
at a cost of $8, they are small black
and-white grids behind thick lenses
and when in operation are visible
up to rs feet when seen directly.
They can not be seen when the
observer is at an angle from their
beam, however, according to 1st 1t.
Robert J. O'Callaghan, 29, of Pitts
burgh.
Captured Land Mines.
Another feature of the engineers
exhibit will be captured German
teller. or land mines. These pam
cake shaped discs weigh 10 pounds
when charged with load of TINT,
and are buried in the ground, often
to a depth of less than a foot. The
mines on display bear German
labels. They were seized in the
African campaign and have been
decontaminated. They must be
sought out in territory that has
been mined, and then rendered
harmless by hand.
American explosive charges to be
shown at the exhibit include a
Shaped Charge M" which is
equipped with decorating fuse
arrangement and then placed
against the concrete in the side of
a pillboX They are so powerful
that a single charge can blast
hole through a 5-foot concrete wall.
Still another charge weighing 40
pounds and known as ''cratering
charge is employed in making
roads impossible. A single one of
these cannisters imbedded in
highway will make such crater |
that no truck can negotiate the |
road.
The American counterpart of the |
German teller mine is known as an
Ms. This is thicker than the Ger
man explosive, and some of its parts |
are made of plastic. Each mine is !
equipped with small ring made of
spring wire which is used to take
up the slack in the fuse after the
mine has been placed They are
even more deadly than the mines
in use by the German Army, engi-
neers said.
PoOfhS Ncor Cnr,r,Icfion
The Monument grounds began to
take on the appearance of a car
nival site today, as many small
booths and a dozen or more large
tents neared completion. Military
police are now stationed on the !
grounds and spectators are told |
to keep moving. They may cut |
through the grounds, but they may |
not inspect the equipment already |
assembled there.
Guards at the Monument itself !
said that the display, strangely
enough, had attracted many native
Washingtonians to the obelisk for
the purpose of viewing the exhibit
from on high.
Expected to arrive today or
tomorrow at the grounds was a
60-mm mortar, called "the little
terror" by its operators. 1t will be
shown together with a larger, more
deadly mortar of 81-mm size.
The little terror weighs AZ
pounds, is only 2 feet in length and
has a smooth bore for high-angle
fire. 1t is capable of firing 18 high
explosive charges in minute, and
two men are required for its opera
ton.
The 81-mm mortar weighs 1876
pounds, and when it is transported
three men are necessary. Between
80 and 35 rounds per minute can
be fired in this weapon which is
particularly effective in demolishing
shelters and light defense installa-
t1ons. 1t had its most intensive
workout when American forces
drove the japanese from Attu.
Combat Zone Gas Job.
When 1000 gallons of gasoline
are broken down into 300 5-gallon !
cans in an hour, some sort of an
outstanding performance is being |
made. This is one of the jobs the |
Quartermaster Corps does in COM
bat zones, and how it is done will |
be shown visitors to the show.
One Of the biggest jobs in the
Army is the handling of gasoline
and oil supplies for our mechanical
forces. From tiny jeeps to mechani-
cal giants, the American Army
moves on gas and Oil, which usually
is supplied first in bulk and then
distributed in small containers to
the front lines.
Maj. Gen. Eurico Gaspar Dutra, |
Brazilian War Minister, inspected !
the Army's war show exhibit this
afternoon, accompanied by other
mem hnrs of Era ziliar, ini1,t !