M38A1D's

[BigEd]

I am new to the military vehicle world and the website. I just recently purchased my first military vehicle and after some research have determined it to be a M38A1D manufactured in 12/52 and then overhauled in 7/59. I have been told the "D" version is rare and there were not many produced. Can anyone direct me to the production figures so I can determine how many were actually produced. It is a long way from being back on the road but appears to be complete. I have tried to read the bumper markings as well and have had only limited success. The right side appears to be HQ 138. The left side is much harder to make out. The hood is US Army 20972118.

Thanks

[ocwd]

I think that Ron Fitzpatrick has a bunch of NOS M38A1D parts.

[wesk]

His parts were A1C parts for the recoiless rifle setup.
The production estimates in the following article are interesting. I believe Detroit Arsenal did all the conversions.

http://www.m38a1.com/Models/models_nuclear.htm

[BigEd]

Thanks for the update. Anyone know where I can find a missle launcher like that one. That is the only site I have been able to find on the "D" model. I will keep looking. I have read the front bumper numbers may hold the key to the vehicle history. Mine looks to have a triangle on the left side along with a B, a 5 and other numbers I cannot read. The right side has HQ 138 and it looks to be on there twice. Any ideas how I search on those?

Thanks

[wesk]

The unit numbers on the bumper, bumperettes and sometimes on the cowl sides and the windshield skin are the only way you can determine some of the jjep's assignment history. Even then you may only be looking at a very small piece of it's history.

Two pubs are the primary source for Army markings found on M38's and M38A1's.

AR 850-5 Feb 45 w/chg's thru 1949.


TB 746-93-1 Oct 64

A triangle on the passenger side of the front represents Armor but it is usually preceded by an Arabic numeral for a division or a Roman numeral for a Corps. The triangle first with no prefix numeral is usually a armored Battalion but the "B" you have after the triangle should have been a number..

Keep in mind when the jeep changed units or shipped overseas the first two group of markings were required to be removed (not painted over). So the markings you find may well only relate to the jeeps last few years of service. Since the Army abandoned the M38A1D in the early 70's it stands to reason that most likely the jeep changed hands before leaving the service.

[BigEd]

Wes,

Thanks for the info.