b'M103A2 Heavy TankThe US Marine Corps assigned one M103 company to each of its 3 Marine tank battalions, including its Marine reserve units. The M103 was never used in combat. While the US Army deactivated its heavy armor units with the reception of the new M60 series in 1963, the remaining M103s stayed within the US Marine Corps inventory until they began receiving the M60 series main battle tank.Photo: A Marine M103 on American-Spanish naval exercises, October 1964. (Wikimedia Commons)THE MAGNIFICENT MARINE MACHINE MUSEUMBy Faye Jonason, Director The collection started with a Mechanical Mule forgottenCamp Pendleton History and Museum Division in the weeds and has developed into the worlds largestGreetings from the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum! Itcollection of Marine Corps vehicles. Veterans bring their is the home of two Mules, a Goat and an Otter, as well as afamilies and friends to show them the equipment thatDUKW (pronounced duck), a tank killer and a movie star.supported their fight against the enemy, carried them This is a place to get a close-up of Marine Corps historythrough battle and sometimes saved them. These mechanized from 1942 to the present.artifacts are hard evidence of the Marines time spent in the The Marine Corps Mechanized Museum, fondly calledmud, on volcanic ash, in the jungles, on the sand and in the the Mech, is a place where children learn how Marinessea to get the job done.use protective camouflage designs and colors on their oftenThe Bases first large display of Marine Corps vehicles monster-sized machines to increase survival and tacticalwas established in April 1975 on an outside lot at the top success.Marines and Sailors who come to the Mech forof Rattlesnake Canyon. It consisted of 30 mostly very large Professional Military Education (PME) learn about the vehicles including several of the original experimental Marine technological developments of these machines and how hydrofoil crafts. These had metal skirts instead of the rubber they function.Visitors who come understand the importanceskirts currently utilized by hovercraft. of these mechanical advancements and how they relate toThey were built by FMC (Food Machinery Corporation), the accomplishments of the Marine Corps from 1942 toa residual development from World War II contracts from the present. Veterans bring their families to share their ownthe United State Department of War to design and build hard-to-talk-about wartime pasts. amphibious landing vehicles. Due to moisture damage at In a collection of more than 130 vehicles and artillery, thesethat exhibit site, most of those vehicles were transported to treasures reflect Marine Corps history from World War II,Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, CA.A select few have through the Korean, Vietnam and Cold wars and into the been brought back to Camp Pendleton to become part of the War on Terror. collections exhibited at the museumcontinued on page 2220 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine HOctober 2020 H Thank You For Your Service'