The M-10 Ammo Trailer

With war looming on the horizon was decided by the Army that a Caisson to carry additional ammunition was needed by it’s evolving mechanized force. In 1941 at the request of the Chief of Field Artillery a two wheeled trailer capable of carrying sufficient quantities of ammunition. The trailers were to be towed behind 2.5 ton trucks and larger, Light and Medium Tanks, and Halftracks.

The Army issued orders for design and construction of Ammo trailer, T-8. Two pilot models were constructed by the Chevrolet Division, or General Motors Corporation. And delivered to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in January 1942

Tests revealed several deficiencies and Chevrolet built 2 additional upgraded prototypes to address these problems. They included reducing the carrying capacity to get the trailer under the Army’s minimum brake requirements and strengthening the drawbar.

In April 1943, after further tests and refinements Caisson T8E1 was accepted by the field Artillery Board as Trailer Ammunition M-10.This trailer could be towed behind an vehicle could be equipped with the correct pintle hook.

The trailer consisted of a nearly un-armored  nearly square body riding on a single axle equipped with  900x20 tires. The trailer was equipped with a lunette at the front and a pintle on the rear (so that trailers could be towed in tandem). No running brakes were on the trailer but there was a parking brake, lever engaged, located on each wheel. A hinged tailgate was provided with a hold in the tailgate so that when lowered the rear lunette did not interfere. A Canvas cover was provided to shield the ammunition from the elements.

Empty weight was 2235 lbs with a payload of 2,750 lbs. A sample of Ammunition carried would be 18 155mm projectiles with 36 powder charges or 45 complete rounds of 105mm howitzer ammunition.

Three different companies manufactured the M-10 they being Fruehauf Trailer Company, Schelm Brothers, Inc. and Youngstown Steel Door Company. M-10 trailers were only built during 1944 and 1945 with an estimated 7000 being constructed.

These trailers were hauled behind 2.5 ton trucks and larger, half tracks particularly the M-15 and Light and Medium tanks. Since Armor did not necessarily come equipped with a Pintle hitch a special trailer bracket with pintle was developed for the Sherman . It had a superstructure that mounted the hitch mechanism on the rear tow pins of the Sherman with a release mechanism that could jettison the bracket and trailer if engaging in battle.

The M-10...an interesting trailer and great piece to pull behind your CCKW or Half-track.