Half-Track Personnel Carrier M3 Multi-Purpose Armored Personnel Carrier (1941)
The M3 half-track became synonymous with American involvement in World War 2.
The basic half-track concept was originally showcased by the British in World War 1. By then, however, the combination of tracks an wheels seemed impractical when fully-tracked or six-wheel, four-wheel drive vehicles were favored. The half-track saw a come back in the 1930's with development occurring on both sides of the ocean. The German Army made tremendous use of such vehicles in their route of enemy forces by blitzkrieg and the Americans took particular note of a French made type known as the Citroen Kegresse P17. Such was the American interest in the system that several models were purchased for additional testing and development.
The P17 was soon spawned into the T14 army half-track prototype by 1931. The T14 - produced primarily by the Army Ordnance Depot among others - was nothing more than a White Scout Car M2 series chassis melded to the Kegresse half-track suspension system. The resulting design proved adequate enough to become the newly-minted Half-Track Car M2 (Even on casual observation, the M2 scout car can clearly be seen in the M2 half-track design). Production of the Half-Track Car M2 was already underway by 1941, with Europe embroiled in the global conflict for some years.
The M3 soon appeared by 1941 and began to supplement the M2 types. The M3 differed somewhat in that it was of a lengthened hull design when compared to the M2. The M3 initially featured a pedestal mounted .50 caliber machine gun at center but this was later replaced by a more traditional pulpit type assembly in future models. Beyond the M3 came the M5 which differed little more than in production methodology used. The M9 was nothing more than a half-track car.
The American half-track was spawned into a myriad of roles from the base M3 personnel carrier. One of the most fearsome was the Quad-50 anti-aircraft platform which saw an array of 4 x .50 caliber Browning heavy machine guns mounted on a turning pedestal. This formidable array proved exceptional in the air defense role and quite fearsome in the anti-personnel role as well. Other variants of the M3 series went on to become gun carriers mounting calibers from 57mm to large 105mm self-propelled gun types. Mortar carriers, armored ambulances and engineering vehicles were also produced.
The M3 series was far from a perfect machine. Though robust, it was never deemed as highly reliable as other systems available. The thin floor armor made the passengers extremely susceptible to enemy mines and the fabric covering did not assist much in the way of protection from enemy artillery or air attacks. Despite these issues, the M3 operated without complaint, being exposed to the harshest of elements and conditions to the point of the system achieving legendary status by war's end. The American half-track was produced to the tune of some 41,000 systems by 1944 and saw continued use even afterwards. The M3 was seen in service with the new Israeli forces and in some forms still continues in supplementary roles around the world. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M3
Multi-Purpose Armored Personnel Carrier
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: White Motor Company / International Harvester / Autocar / Diamond T / Army Ordnance Depot - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1941
Production: 41,169
Focus Model: Half-Track Personnel Carrier M3
Crew: 3 + 10
Overall Length: 20.28ft (6.18m)
Width: 7.28ft (2.22m)
Height: 7.41ft (2.26m)
Weight: 10.3 US Short Tons (9,299kg; 20,501lbs)
Powerplant: 1 x White 160AX 6-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 147hp.
Maximum Speed: 40mph (64.4 km/h)
Maximum Range: 175 miles (282 km)
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Armament:
OPTIONAL:
1 x 12.7mm machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun
Other mission specific variants included:
1 x 81mm mortar
1 x 57mm anti-tank gun
1 x 75mm field gun
1 x 105mm howitzer
2/4 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns
2/4 x 20mm Bofors cannons
2/4 x 40mm Bofors cannons
Ammunition:
700 x 12.7mm ammunition
7,750 x 7.62mm ammunition
Variants:
T14 - Prototype Army Designation appearing in 1931; White Scout Car M2 hull with Kegresse half-track suspension system.
Half-Track Car M2 - Base Production Model based on the T14 prototype; production beginning in 1941 and operational service by May of that year.
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M3 - Lengthened hull; dedicated personnel carrier variant developed from the M2; White 160AX engine.
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M3A1 - Circular pulpit gun mount introduced
Half-Track M3A2 - Designed as mortar carrier, APC or air defense system.
Half-Track M3 - Communications Variant
Half-Track M3 - Ambulance Variant
Half-Track M3 - Artillery Tow Vehicle
Half-Track M3 - Mortar Carrier
Gun Motor Carriage M3 - Self-Propelled Gun Platform; fitted with 75mm main gun (M1897A4).
M16 MGMC - Quad-50 Air Defense Variant; 4 x .50 caliber heavy machine guns.
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M5 - Alternative production methodology; Lend-Lease production model.
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M5A1 - M5 with M49 machine gun mount
Half-Track Personnel Carrier M5A2 - M5 and M5A1 combination production
Half-Track Car M9
T-12/M3 GMC - 75mm Gun Motor Carriage
T12 HMC - 75mm or 105mm Pack Howitzer
T48 GMC - 57mm Gun Motor Carriage
T30 HMC - M1A1 75mm Gun Motor Carriage
T38 HMC - T7 105mm Pack Howitzer
T19 HMC - M2A1 105mm Howitzer
M21 MMC - 81mm Motor Mortar Carriage
T21 - 4.2 inch mortar carrier (never produced)
M13 MGMC - 2 x 12.7mm machine gun AA variant.
M16 MGMC - Shielded 2 x 12,7mm gun AA variant.
M16A2 MGMC - Addition of rear door to hull.
M17 - Based on M5 chassis for Lend-Lease to Soviet Union.
T58 - Quad-Fifty mount with electrically powered turret (prototype)
M15 CGMC - 2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns fitted above 37mm autocannon with added crew protection.
M15A1 CGMC - 2 x 12.7mm machine guns fitted under 37mm autocannon.
M15 Special - Fitted with 40mm Bofors L/50 guns.
Various other minor prototype versions as well.
M3 Mk.A - Israeli Variant based on M5; RED-450 powerplants; various machine guns on M49 mount.
M3 Mk.B - Israeli Variant based on M5; used as command carriers.
M3 Mk.C - Israeli Variant based on M3; fitted with M1 81mm mortar.
M3 Mk.D - Israeli Variant based on M3 mortar carrier; fitted with 120mm Soltam mortar system; first appearing in 1960.
M3 TCM-20 - Israeli Variant based on M3 and M5 half-track series; fitted with Israeli-made TCM-20 turret mounting twin 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS404 cannons on Maxson turret systems.
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