During & after WWII the US government asked all the major vehicle
manufacturers to participate in a program to build wreckers larger than
the M1A1. Roughly, there were 10 different designs made for testing.
They were both soft-skinned & armour plated. After a period of years the
project was terminated.
All of these units went to Aberdeen Proving Grounds except the Ward
LaFrance Model M2 or B which was sent to Camp Young or Camp Seeley. I
checked with the museum at Aberdeen & gave them the MCV numbers of each
vehicle. According to their files all of the experimental wreckers are
shown in their inventory but, mysteriously, their records do not show
where the vehicles are now or what happened to them. I wonder if anyone
knows whether they still exist & where? Is there a possibility they were
sold to civilians &, if so, who?
Thanks,
John Bauer
bauer@internetni.com