Ivo Rigter Sr.
Founder & Co Owner of BAIV and Tracksandtrade
+31 6 518 22 502 ivosr.rigter@tracksandtrade.com1945 T14E1 (M4A3) ARV
- Reserved
It is believed that this is the only surviving example of a T14E1, the pilot model of the M32A1B3. The US Marines ordered 50 ARVs with HVSS for the anticipated invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall). To start, in April 1945, 30 new M4A3 (105) HVSS were diverted from the line at Chrysler and sent to Baldwin Locomotive for the conversions. The contract was for T14E1s, not for M32A1B3s; what distinguishes a T14E1 from an M32A1B3 is that they had factory HVSS, not a retrofit. The lifting drum was re...
It is believed that this is the only surviving example of a T14E1, the pilot model of the M32A1B3. The US Marines ordered 50 ARVs with HVSS for the anticipated invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall). To start, in April 1945, 30 new M4A3 (105) HVSS were diverted from the line at Chrysler and sent to Baldwin Locomotive for the conversions. The contract was for T14E1s, not for M32A1B3s; what distinguishes a T14E1 from an M32A1B3 is that they had factory HVSS, not a retrofit. The lifting drum was removed from the right idler and replaced with a boom lifting arm mounted on the glacis. It was once a roadside advertisement for the Imperial Palace Car Museum in Las Vegas. Later it belonged to the Military Vehicle Preservation Group of Spooner, Wisconsin.
Location
Nederweert, The Netherlands
Year of construction
April 1945
Country of origin
United States of America
Manufacturer
International Harvester Company
Type
T14E1 (M4A3) ARV
Condition
Good runner/ In complete condition
Margin Goods
No margin goods;
VAT applicable
€ 265.000,-
Incl. commission
Details
Condition
It is an older restoration, and the ARV had been standing still for some time, but it was made running again in early 2024 using a separate fuel tank.
Overall, the quality and condition of the restoration are excellent. Many NOS parts were used; something that would be nearly impossible to achieve today.
Older restoration;
Runs, drives and steers;
Needs maintenance;
Has two 12V NATO batteries;
Runs on separate fuel tank.
Technical details
- Manufacturer
- International Harvester Company (M4A3 (105) HVSS: Chrysler)
- Model
- T14E1 (M4A3) ARV
- Manufacturing date
- 30 April 1945
- Serial number
- 50
- Length (without boom)
- 232 in (5,89 m)
- Width
- 8.9 ft (2,70 m)
- Height (top up)
- 116 in (2,95 m)
- Weight
- 64,100 lb. (29.075 kg)
- Max. speed (land)
- 26 mph (41 km/h)
- Operational range
- 103 mi (165 km)
- Main armament
- 81 mm mortar, note mortar not included.
- Secondary armament
- 1x cal .30 (7,65 mm) and 1x cal .50 (12,7 mm) machine gun. Note secondary armament not included.
- Engine
- Ford GAA, 8 cylinder, DOHC 60°V8 gasoline, Displacement: 1,100 cu in (18 L), Power output: 525HP at 2.600 RPM, Torque: 1,100 lbs. (1.400 Nm)
- Crew
- 4
- Armor
- 0,5 – 1,9 in (13-51 mm)
- Production numbers
- Baldwin Locomotive and International Harvester completed 50 Tank Retriever conversions
History
Why is this T14E1 TRV so special?
For that, we have to go back to 1944 and in particular to the war against Japan in the Pacific and at that time still current plans for an invasion of Japan under the name ‘Operation Downfall’.
The tanks that the American Marines would use for the invasion of Japan were M4A3(75) and M4A3(105) with HVSS. For the sake of uniformity, the USMC requested 50 Tank Recovery Vehicles based on the M4A3 with HVSS in April 1945.
To that end, Baldwin Locomotive and International Harvester completed 50 Tank Retriever conversions based on the new production M4A3 (105) HVSS Shermans that were actually pulled off the Chrysler production line in the spring of 1945. These conversions were given the nomenclature "T14E1" (Source Joe DeMarco).
As is well known, the invasion of Japan never happened. With the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, this meant the end of World War II. But not for long. On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. A war that lasted until July 27, 1953 and cost the lives of more than 1 million people.
Of the 50 T14E1 TRV, a large number were shipped to Korea. This is evidenced by the photo below with the caption; 'a T14E1 Tank Retriever pulling back up onto the road after bypassing a bridge on the road to Hamhung Korea'.
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