CCKW-352 Machine Gun Turret & M2A1 105mm Howitzer

Plastic model kit for building a U.S. CCKW-352 with machine gun hatch and M2A1 105 mm howitzer

• Scale 1:35
• Dimensions LxW (built): 346.8 x 66.2 mm
• 460+ parts
• CCKW truck and 105 mm howitzer included
• Wheels with good details
• Not built/not painted
• Paint and glue not included

The GMC CCKW is a 2.5 ton 6x6 U.S. Army truck that saw service in World War II and the Korean War, often referred to as the "Deuce and a Half" or "Jimmy". The CCKW came in many variants based on open or closed cab and long (LWB 353) or short (SWB 352) wheelbase. Initially all versions had a closed cab (with metal roof and doors) with steel bed surfaces. However, as the war progressed an open cab version was developed which had fixed "half doors" and a fabric top/side walls, and the steel bed was replaced with a wooden one to save steel. The wooden bed proved unsatisfactory and a "composite" bed was developed with steel side walls and frame but with wooden slats for the bed. Later, the "wood/steel" composite bed was replaced with a fully steel composite bed. With a trailer hitch, the GMC CCKW was able to tow various loads. One of these loads was the M2A1 105 mm howitzer.

The M2 105 mm howitzer has a long history of development and use. Development began shortly after World War I, but it was not until after World War II that it was introduced into the U.S. Army. By 1953, over 10,000 guns of this type had been built and used by many countries until long after the end of World War II. With an eight-person crew, 3-10 shots per minute could be fired. There were fourteen different shells that could be fired between 11.2 and 16.3 km.