USMC and the M38 (MC)

Modifications by service branch
MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:43 pm

Did the Corps ever operate/use the 1950-52 M38 (MC). I don't ever recall seeing photos of this happening.


Thanks
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38


User avatar
seacon
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:04 am
Location: NW Italian Riviera

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by seacon » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:22 am

Ciao Major, how are you?
The Navy and the Corps did use some M38 but pics are extremely scarce. One specific M38 version were the 1000 CJV-35/Us built in the first half of 1950 for use by the USMC. I should have a picture on my home computer. Will post it when I'll go home next weekend.
ciao
m

MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:21 am

Hey brother! I'm still at DLM until early APril. Then headed back to Cali. How are you?

Thanks for the info. I'll be looking for the pic.

Well...I'm shopping for an M38 that has been nicely restored and am looking for ideas for paint/unit markings and such. I've got a line on a jeep, just need ideas is all.

-Maj
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:13 am

There sure were a lot of USMC and US Navy M-38's released thru DRMO during the 50's-70's. I still have the catalogs stashed away.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:39 am

Ben D,

A1's or M38 MC's?

Maj
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:24 am

M-38. The Navy and Marines were issued M-38 Jeeps during the same period the other armed forces in the US got them.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

User avatar
Mark Tombleson
MZ Radio Operator
Posts: 9836
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2002 7:58 pm
Location: Selah, Washington

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by Mark Tombleson » Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:20 pm

seacon wrote:Ciao Major, how are you?
The Navy and the Corps did use some M38 but pics are extremely scarce. One specific M38 version were the 1000 CJV-35/Us built in the first half of 1950 for use by the USMC. I should have a picture on my home computer. Will post it when I'll go home next weekend.
ciao
m
I saw you all discussing Korea and thought this photo of A CJV-35/U in Korea would add to the discussion.

Image

My friend Bob sent me this.

"Identify it as a Marine 4.5 Inch Rocket Battery vehicle.

Those were personal photos by a Vet who was there in the first half of the War."

Can anyone tell which unit this was from? That insignia on each side of the windshield sure look like the 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Division.
MB-NAVY-MZ-1 352625 - 07/20/44 (DOD est.)
U.S.N. 133818
2nd place Restored Class 2008 Portland Convention
MVPA Hall of Fame - 2013

MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:24 pm

That's a great photo. You would think I would know the insignia since my current Higher Headquarters is 7th Marine Regiment. I don't recognize it however. That's the first photo of a USMC M38 (MC) I've seen.
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38

gearhead
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4210
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:42 am
Location: Middletown,Pa

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by gearhead » Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:17 am

Jeep above is not M38, as stated is a CJ-V35U. 1000 were built by Willys for the Marines. It is actually a factory modified CJ-3A. Has deep water fording equipment and waterproof ignition. Generator PTO. Combat wheels (M38 did not have combats). Similar but different than M38.
This model is sort of the "missing link" between MB/GPW and M38 jeeps. Somewhat rare today, there is a website dedicated to tracking down survivors and listing them.

Ed 8)
Last edited by gearhead on Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
54 CJ-3A/B
56 DJ-3A for sale
45 GPW 271022, USMC 46 CJ-2A 2WD"gasser"
50 CJ-V35
58 CJ-3B
57 DJ-3A chassis for sale

MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:40 am

I stand corrected. Thanks for pointing that out. It's amazing how much shhhhtuf I don't know. I'm just getting into this and I think I've caught the disease.

Maj
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38

User avatar
seacon
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:04 am
Location: NW Italian Riviera

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by seacon » Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:04 am

Hey Major! You have already made G-Private!!! :D
Over the years I have seen a few ex USMC M38s for sale in the US. I am sure that there are some pics in the Navy Dept Archives or at NARA. You can try to apply for a free search by e-mail on their websites (even from "sunny" DLM). The only problem is that they will not have a clue @ what a M38 is but will definitely be able to pull something out and provide you xerox copies of USMC jeeps photos in a given time bracket (eg 1952-1956). There will be a lot of WWII jeeps too but you might be able to ID some M38s.
ciao
m

t price
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:22 pm
Location:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by t price » Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:25 pm

I have a book on the reactivation of the Third Marine Div. and all the 1/4 ton are M 38. I also have a former Marine Corps M 38 which I am restoring right now. Came out of Calif. Tom

MajorAR
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am
Location: SoCal
Contact:

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by MajorAR » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:01 pm

Tom,

That's great to hear about your jeep. I can't wait to see pics!
USMC Infantry Officer

1951 M38

User avatar
Mark Tombleson
MZ Radio Operator
Posts: 9836
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2002 7:58 pm
Location: Selah, Washington

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by Mark Tombleson » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:29 pm

Hi Tom, long time no see! How are you doing?

Here is another rocket unit photo of the different jeeps they had.

Image

By the way, there were only 1000 of the CJV-35/U made and there are quite a few still around. :)
MB-NAVY-MZ-1 352625 - 07/20/44 (DOD est.)
U.S.N. 133818
2nd place Restored Class 2008 Portland Convention
MVPA Hall of Fame - 2013

gearhead
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4210
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:42 am
Location: Middletown,Pa

Re: USMC and the M38 (MC)

Post by gearhead » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:49 am

Hi Mark, I corrected my post. I actually know there were 1000 V35s! Small keyboard on my laptop and clunky fingers!?
I have seen several that were yellow overall on top of the forrest green. Joe Hall of Vintage Wiring had one for sale.

Ed 8)
54 CJ-3A/B
56 DJ-3A for sale
45 GPW 271022, USMC 46 CJ-2A 2WD"gasser"
50 CJ-V35
58 CJ-3B
57 DJ-3A chassis for sale


Post Reply

Return to “Jeeps used by: USMC, USN, USCG (-NO EBAY-CRAIGSLIST-COMMERCIAL SALES-)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 57 guests