German Tanks at the Armor and Cavalry Open House, Fort Benning April 2023

The US Army Armor and Cavalry Collection at Fort Benning, Georgia held an Open House and featured two WW2 German vehicles.

The first was a Jagdtiger (serial number 305020). It was produced in October 1944 and was attached to the 3rd Company of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653, bearing the vehicle-number of 331. It was captured by American troops near Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany in March 1945. Shell damage is still visible on the gun mantlet, glacis plate and lower-nose armor. This vehicle used the later-version nine-tooth drive sprockets for use with the ‘contact shoe’ and ‘connector link’-style continuous track it shared with the Tiger II on which it was based.

The second was Jagdpanther (chassis number 303018) which was produced by MNH in November/December of 1944 and took part in the Ardennes Offensive, where it was captured and eventually taken to USA.

M4A3 (75) in Ocala, Florida

This M4A3 (75) can be found at the Florida National Guard Armory in Ocala, Florida. Serial Number is 62075 and Registration Number is 30115097.

Vehicle was built in September 1944 by Fisher Body. The gun and mantlet are fake.

Trip report, Fort Benning, The U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection Open House

In December 2022, the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection held its first Open House in the new facility to allow the public to see the collection. This collection is not open to the public as the mandate to teach current and future armor troops. There is no funding to make this a day-to-day museum.

Staff and volunteers gained permission from Post leadership to have this event. Additional Open Houses are planned with the next one at the end of April 2023.

I have had the opportunity to see this collection 3 times and every time, I see more amazing things each time.

Images below are from the The U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, Patton Park and the National Infantry Museum.