|
Lima
Locomotive Works in World War Two
Lima, OH
1877-1956
This page added 10-29-2019.
An American Auto
Industry in World War Two Special Edition
The Lima Locomotive Works, like several other American manufacturers of
steam locomotives, was picked by the U.S. Army to produce tanks and
self-propelled guns during World War Two. Because the tanks it
produced were similar to those produced by Chrysler, Fisher Body, and
Ford, and were used by many American tankers, Lima is being added to this website.
The Lima Locomotive Works was a manufacturer
of locomotives originally named the Lima Machine Works. It later
became the Lima Locomotive Works. During World War Two, it
continued to build steam locomotives for the domestic use, as railroads
were the prime means of transportation in the United States during World
War Two. The company also build 1,000 locomotives for the American
military during the war.
Originally designated to build the M3
Lee/Grant medium tank, Lima Locomotive Works could not tool up in time.
Therefore its efforts were directed to tool for the newer M4 Sherman
tank. The company was the first manufacturer to produce a Sherman
tank, building one M4A1 in February 1942. It would go on to build
another 1,654 M4A1 Sherman tanks, until it stopped production in
September 1943.
Like several other manufacturers of steam
locomotives, it could not compete in the new diesel-electric locomotive
business after World War Two and went out of business in 1956.
The photo from April 1941 show an addition
being added to the Lima Locomotive Works plant for the production of
medium tanks during World War Two. Photo courtesy of the Sherman
Minutia Website.
This is the Lima Locomotive Works plant in
Lima, OH in its prime. It was located on the south side of Lima.
This satellite view of the same area as show
above today. Everything that was once the Lima Locomotive Works is
gone. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Lima Locomotive Works World War Two Production: 1,655
M4A1VVSS(75) Sherman tanks, 26 M32B2 and 20 M32B3 tank recovery vehicle
conversions. The company built 1,000 steam locomotives for the war
effort.
|
Lima
Locomotive Works Tanks
Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945."
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
|
Type |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
| M4A1, 75mm |
|
|
820 |
835 |
|
|
1,655 |
| M32B2 Tank
Recovery - Conversion |
|
|
|
14 |
12 |
|
26 |
| M32B3 Tank
Recovery - Conversion |
|
|
|
|
20 |
|
20 |
Author's Note
and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office
of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for
vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII. It also purchased vehicles
for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were
other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army
Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy
Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries
making direct purchases.
Inside the new building are M4A1 Sherman
tank hulls in the foreground and a tank retriever conversion in
front of the open doors in the background. Photo courtesy of
the Sherman Minutia Website.
Of the 1,655 M4A1 Sherman tanks that Lima
built, only nine are known to still exist. This is one of three
that are in the United States. It is believed to be Serial Number 7321,
which was built in February 1943. It was converted to a
flamethrower tank and is on display at the Fort Leonard, MO museum
complex. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
This is an example of a M32B3. This
was converted to this configuration by another company but shows to some
extent how the Ford-built M4A3(75)s looked after the conversion.
The American Legion in Circleville, OH has done its own post war
conversion by placing a flagpole through the middle of the tank and
adding a false barrel. Author's photo.
Lima Locomotive Works is well known for being the
builder the Shay Locomotive, which is a geared locomotive. This
one is on display at the Allen County Historical Museum in Lima, OH, not
far from where it was built. It is serial number 3288 and was
built in August 1925. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
The next three photos show the pistons,
drive train, and gearing of the Lima built Shay engine. Author's
photo.
Author's photo.
The gears that transfer the power from the
drive shaft to the wheels can be seen in this photo. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
|