M3A1 Scout Car
General George S. Patton (standing in vehicle):
US Army
First created by the White Motor Company in 1938. It was based on a commercial truck chassis. Was designed for high speed scouting and called the T7.1
It was standardized in June 1939 as the M3 scout car.1
MGs were on skate rail around interior body and could be removed and placed on tripod mounts.
Had a roller mounted in front of the bumper to help it not bog down in soft ground. Armored shutters protected the radiator and could be opened and closed by the passenger as there was a lever by their right foot.
The windshield is made of shatter proof glass and an armor plate of 0.5" could be swung down into place and had slots for vision.
The fenders in the front were made from heavy sheet metal. The hood could be opened on each side. The battery was on the right side and had an armored cover.
On the outsider was placed an ax, a shovel, and a pick. There was storage over each rear fender that carried ammunition, tools, and spare parts. Doors had hinged upper halves that folded down with vision slots that had covers. The rear was a solid armor plate with no door.
A standard military taillight was installed on the left and on the right were blackout lights. There were 6 bucket seats behind the driver. There was a SCR506, 508, or 510 radio set with the antenna base in the center of the rear section. Fuel was under driver's seat.
A few saw action in the Philippines in 1941-1942. Was used for rear area road patrol work, convoy escort, and rarely to scout roads ahead of advancing units.1
The Russians and Free French received many of them.1
M3 Scout Car:
Did not have a roller in front.2
M3A1E1:
Buda diesel engine.
M3A1E2:
Armored roof.1
M3A1E3:
Pedestal mount for 37 mm.1
M3A1 Command Car:
Built in 1943 with armored screen, .50 cal MG and more armor on the sides.
| M3 Scout Car | M3A1 Scout Car | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 11, 7 passengers1 | Commander, driver, 6 passengers 82 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 5.58 tons1 5,670 kg1 |
12,400 lb, 13,000 lb2 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 6"1 5.63 m1 |
18' 5.25"2 |
| Length w/o gun | ||
| Height | 6' 7"1 2 m1 |
6' 11 1/8"2 |
| Width | 6' 8"1 2.1 m1 |
6' 5.25"2 |
| Width over tracks | ||
| Ground clearance | 11 7/8"2, 15.5", 15.75" | |
| Ground contact length | ||
| Ground pressure | 60 psi | |
| Turret ring diameter | ||
| Armament (mm) | ||
| Main | 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1 | .50 cal HB M2 MG2 |
| Secondary | 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1 | |
| MG | .30 cal M1917A1 or M1919A4 MG2 | |
| Side arms | .45 cal submachinegun | |
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 6002, 750 | |
| Secondary | 5,000, 8,0002 | |
| MG | ||
| Side arms | 540 | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.5"@0°2 12 |
|
| Hull Front, Lower | 6 | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.25"@0°2, 6 | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 6 | |
| Hull Rear | 0.25"@0°2, 6 | |
| Hull Top | ||
| Hull Bottom | ||
| Turret Front | ||
| Turret Sides | ||
| Turret Rear | ||
| Turret Top | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Hercules JXD1 | Hercules JXD2 |
| Bore / stroke | ||
| Cooling | Water2 | |
| Cylinders | 62 | |
| Capacity | ||
| Net HP | 1102 | |
| Power to weight ratio | ||
| Compression ratio | ||
| Transmission (Type) | Combination sliding and constant mesh Dual range synchromesh2 4 forward, 1 reverse2 |
|
| Steering | Front wheels, cam and twin lever2 | |
| Steering ratio | ||
| Starter | ||
| Electrical system | ||
| Ignition | ||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2 | |
| Octane | ||
| Quantity | 30 gallons2 | |
| Road consumption | 8 mpg2 | |
| Cross country consumption | ||
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | 360° | |
| Max speed | 50 mph1 81 kph1 |
55 mph2, 60 mph |
| Cross country speed | ||
| Road radius | 250 miles1 403 km1 |
250 miles2 |
| Cross country radius | ||
| Turning radius | 28.5', 30'2 | |
| Elevation limits | ||
| Fording depth | 2' 4"2 | |
| Trench crossing | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 1', 1' 2"2 | |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope2 | |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf springs Semi elliptic springs2 |
|
| Wheels each side | 4x42 | |
| Return rollers each side | ||
| Tracks (Type) | ||
| Length | ||
| Width | ||
| Diameter | ||
| Number of links | ||
| Pitch | ||
| Tire tread | ||
| Track centers/tread | 65.25"2 | |
| Tire size | 8.25 x 202 | |
| Wheel base | 131"2 | |
| Production | 1939-1944: 20,918 6/1939: White Motor Co.2 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
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