page_title: 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion / History
caption_attribution_description: English: L.S.T.'s lined up and waiting for tanks to come aboard. Two days before invasion of Sicily. La Pecherie, French Naval Base. Tunisia, July 1943. (OSS) Exact Date Shot Unknown NARA FILE #: 226-FPL-2665(A) WAR &amp; CONFLICT BOOK #: 1022
context_page_description: The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was a part of the 2nd Armored Division, and was activated July 15, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia, for World War II. The organization was made up of trained men, from cavalry and reconnaissance units. The reconnaissance battalion was known as the "eyes and ears", of the 2nd Armored Division.
context_section_description: The battalion mainly used the M-8 Light Armored Car, as it was fast, up to 56 mph (90 km/h), and gave some protection from small arms fire. M8 was equipped with a 37 mm gun and 6X6 wheel drive. The M8 was the main reconnaissance vehicle used by the US military in World War II. Also used was M20 scout car, which was a M-8 without the 37 mm gun and turret. In its place was an anti-aircraft ring mount for a .50-caliber machine gun. A bazooka was provided for the crew to compensate for its lack of anti-armor weaponry. With this vehicles, the 82nd could scout ahead of the slower M4 Sherman tank with a top speed of 25 mph to 30 mph. Also used for reconnaissance and to run messages Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycles were used by the 82nd as well. Almost all units used Jeeps as they were fast four-wheel drive utility vehicles.
caption: Waiting to load tanks and 82nd M8s in La Pècherie French base in French Tunisia.
exif: {}