3.7" AA and 90mm M1 AA

[sultanbev]

I put this in the wrong place before, I think.
Request for British 3.7" AA guns (turns out they were used in the anti-tank role more often than is thought, especially in Normandy) and US 90mm M1/M2 AA guns, as these were used in the ground role too, as KG Peiper found to his cost in the Ardennes.

[fsn]

I'd definitely go for some 3.7" guns.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

According to Ian Hogg the 3.7" was only offically used as AT during the Gazala battle, one battery at Knigsbridge. They certainly used as feild artillery, often in a counter mortar role in the 1944 campaign, since their attatched radar could pick up the bombs. The US did similar with their 90mm. I suspect that most occasions of AT use were accidental.

That said, add my vote for both.

[sultanbev]

Hogg as a source is very out of date. There's a very long thread here where actual veterans chip in and war dairies consulted:
http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/3-7in-aa-gun-not-used-as-at-gun.3970/
with one of the links:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2012/10/09/use-of-the-3-7-aa-gun-in-the-ground-role/

although you'd have to wade through the posts where people confuse the references to ground-firing artillery role with anti-tank direct fire. It is clear that there was a systematic training programme set up for HAA regiments to operate in the anti-tank role when required, with APHE being issued from 1941.

Interestingly, I recently saw a photo of a Stuart tank pulling one of the last surviving 3.7" AA gun from the Knighsbridge box.

Mark

[Leon]

Votes added!