Massy-Harris in World War Two

Massey-Harris US Racine Tank Division in World War Two
Racine, WI
1942-1993
Rest in Peace

This page updated 10-17-2019.

Massey-Harris was a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The plant in Wisconsin was indentified by the parent company as the US Racine Tank Division during WWII.

Massey-Harris US Racine, WI Tank Division World War Two Production Statistics: (250) M5 tanks, (1,084) M5A1 tanks, (1,139) M24 tanks, (85) M41 155mm Motor Carriages, (500) conversions of M10A1s to M36, (14,000,000) tank track end connector links (As January1945.), (154) M10 37mm tank gunnery trainers

Spare Parts: For each 100 M5/M5A1 tanks shipped there were 188,898 spare parts packed into 3,657 boxes that accompanied the new tanks.

Here it is! The first tank off the Massey-Harris assembly line almost three months ahead of schedule. This is M5 serial number 3268 with USA registration number 3064984. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Massey-Harris won the won the Army-Navy "E" Award one time. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

M5 Serial Number 3373 was built by Massey-Harris in November 1942. It is seen here on outside display at the 2018 MVPA Convention in Louisville, KY. Author's photo added 10-17-2019.

Author's photo added 10-17-2019.

This is Massey-Harris built M5 serial number 3459 that was built in December 1942. Today it is located at American Legion Post 83 in Sandusky, OH. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

This M5A1 was built by Massy-Harris in June 1943. It is Serial Number 9876 and is part of the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA. Author's photo added 7-30-2019.

Author's photo added 7-30-2019.

The table below provides production information on the M5/M5A1 series tanks produced during WWII by Massey-Harris. This information has been painstaking researched and gathered by Joe DeMarco. We thank Joe for allowing this website to use this information.

The M5 and M5A1 Stuart tank information provided by Joe includes monthly production figures, serial and registration numbers, and the purchase order numbers. This information is almost non-existent in the literature or on websites.

Massey-Harris M5/M5A1 Production Information Courtesy of Joe DeMarco
Model	Date	Monthly Production	Serial numbers	USA Registration Numbers	Purchase Order
M5	7-1942	4	3268 - 3271	3064984 - 3064987	T-3347
	8-1942	7	3272 - 3278	3064988 - 3064994
	9-1942	16	3279 - 3294	3064995 - 3065010
	10-1942	50	3295 - 3344	3065011 - 3065060
	11-1942	84	3345 - 3428	3065061 - 3065144
	12-1942	89	3429 - 3517	3065145 - 3065233
Total M5		250	3268 - 3517	3064984 - 3065233

M5A1	12-1942	7	3518 - 3524	3065234 - 3065240	T-3347
	1-1943	61	3525 - 3585	3065241 - 3065301
	2-1943	60	3586 - 3645	3065302 - 3065361
	3-1943	62	3646 - 3707	3065362 - 3065423
	4-1943	58	3708 - 3765	3065424 - 3065481
	5-1943	2	3766 - 3767	3065482 - 3065483
			3518 - 3767	3065234 - 3065240

	5-1943	58	9768 - 9825	3059072 - 3059129	T-3886
	6-1943	60	9826 - 9885	3059130 - 3059189
	7-1943	86	9886 - 9971	3059190 - 3059275
	8-1943	66	9972 - 10037	3059276 - 3059341
	9-1943	60	10038 - 10097	3059342 - 3059401
	10-1943	60	10098 - 10157	3059402 - 3059461
	11-1943	60	10158 - 10217	3059462 - 3059521
	12-1943	50	10218 - 10267	3059522 - 3059571
			9768 - 10267	3059072 - 3059571

	12-1943	10	15501 - 15510	30102715 - 30102724	T-8089
	1-1944	60	15511 - 15570	30102725 - 30102784
	2-1944	60	15571 - 15630	30102785 - 30102844
	3-1944	60	15631 - 15690	30102845 - 30102904
	4-1944	60	15691 - 15750	30102905 - 30102964
	5-1944	60	15751 - 15810	30102965 - 30103024
	6-1944	24	15811 - 15834	30103025 - 30103048	SN 15834 was the last of all M5A1s built by the four suppliers of the tank by calendar date.
			15501 - 15834	30102715 - 30103048
Total M5A1		1,084

This Massey-Harris built M24 Chaffee is on display at the Memorial Park at Fort Polk, LA. It is serial number 3494 and was built in February 1945. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

The table below provides production information on the M24 tanks produced during WWII by Massey-Harris. This information has been painstaking researched and gathered by Joe DeMarco. We thank Joe for allowing this website to use this information.

The M24 Chaffee tank information provided by Joe includes monthly production figures, serial and registration numbers, and the purchase order numbers. This information is almost non-existent in the literature or on websites.

Massey-Harris M24 Chaffee Production Information Courtesy of Joe DeMarco
Model	Date	Monthly Production	Serial numbers	USA Registration Numbers	Purchase Order
M24	7-1944	10	1001 – 1010	30119020 – 30119029	T-12367
	8-1944	16	1011 – 1026	30112030 – 30119045
	9-1944	34	1027 – 1060	30119046 – 30119079
	10-1944	40	1061 – 1100	30119080 – 30119119
	11-1944	40	1101 – 1140	30119120 – 30119159
	12-1944	50	1141 – 1190	30119160 – 30119209
	1-1945	60	1191 – 1250	30119210 – 30119269
	1-1945	65	3349 – 3413	30121877 – 30121941	T-13781-1
	2-1945	155	3414 – 3568	30121942 – 30122096
	3-1945	140	3569 – 3708	30122097 – 30122236
	3-1945	52	5452 – 5503	30139011 – 30139062	T-13781-2
	4-1945	138	5504 – 5641	30139063 – 30139200
	5-1945	190	5642 – 5831	30139201 – 30139390
	6-1945	35	5832 – 5866	30139391 – 30139425
	6-1945	44	5867 – 5910	30142464 – 30142507	T-13781-3
	7-1945	40	5911 – 5950	30142508 – 30142547
	8-1945	30	5951 – 5980	30142548 – 30142577
Total M24		1,139

This M36 was rebuilt from the M10A1 configuration by Massey-Harris and is at the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum in Huntsville, AL. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

It was the 94th M10A1 converted into an M36 by Massey-Harris, and is M36 Serial number 394. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

The tank destroyer was obtained from Yugoslavia and currently has a T-54 diesel engine. The U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum will have a Ford GAA V-8 engine installed in the M36, taking it back to its original configuration. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

The four square block plant that Massey-Harris had in Racine, WI was purchased from Nash-Kelvinator. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

An operator works on an M5 turret. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

An M5 turret is being installed into an M5 tank. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

This is the second M5 built by Massey-Harris and can be identified by the USA registration number 3064985. This corresponds to serial number 3269. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

This is a size comparison photo at the Racine plant. From left to right is an M10A! tank destroyer, M4A1 Sherman tank, and a Massey-Harris M5 Stuart tank. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

The tank tow truck. An M32B1 tank retriever was located at the test track to tow in any tanks that broke down during testing. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Pictured here are two M24 Chaffees and two rebuilt M36 tank destroyers at the test track. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

An M24 on the test track at Massey-Harris. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

A train load of M10A1s has arrived for rebuilding into M36s. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Six M10A1s await their turn to be taken into the plant and converted to M36s. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Massey-Harris rebuilt 500 M10A1 tank destroyers in M36 tank destroyers in 1944. Here the M10A1 hulls have been stripped down to the base hull. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

New engines are being installed at this work station. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

The engine is in, and the radiator fans are next installed at this station. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

A new M36 undergoes testing at the plant's track. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Post WWII: (250) M44 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriages, (300) M19 Multiple Gun Carriages

This Massey-Harris built M44 is on display at the AAF Tank Museum in Danville, VA. Author's photo.

M44s on the production line. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

An M44 undergoes testing at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

Photo courtesy of Massy Collectors Association.

This is an example of an M19 on display at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles. Author's photo.