United States' M15 and M15A1 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

Photos

M15 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage used in North Africa U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951

M15 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

M15A1 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

Design

The M15 was to replace the M13 and M14 as they weren't meeting expectations.²

The M15 was made from a M3 Half Track chassis. It had the rear compartment removed and the M42 multiple gun mount was mounted on the flat bed.² The guns could rotate a full 360°.²

Armament

The 37 mm could fire 40 rounds per minute and the MGs 500 rounds per minute.²

The M15 had a 37 mm M3E1 and two .50 cal MGs in a combined mount.

37 mm gun had ceiling of 6,200 yards, range of 8,875 yards. The .50 cal MGs had range of 7,200 yards.

Production

• M15: 600²
  • Manufacturer: Autocar
  • Production: February 1943 - April 1943²
• M15A1: 1,652²
  • Manufacturer: Autocar²
  • Production: October 1943 - February 1944²

Variants

• M15: Used a M6 Sighting System. Entered service in May 1943.²
• M15A1: Used M54 gun mount.² 37 mm M1A2 Gun in a M3A1 Gun Carriage with a M5 Sighting System. Was lighter and had lower silhouette than M15. Platform provided for the loader and lead setter. Rail is provided at rear to help crew get into gun mount. There was more room for the crew.²

Usage

M15

The M15 was used in Sicily, Italy, and north western Europe.²

M15A1

The M15A1 was used in Italy and north western Europe.²

Post World War II

The M15s were used in the Korean War and remained in service until the late 1950s.²

Specifications

	M15	M15A1
Crew	72	7
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10 tons2	20,800 lb
Length w/gun	20' 3"2 6.14 m2	20' 3.5"
Length w/o gun
Height	8'2 2.44 m2	7' 10"
Width	8' 2"2 2.49 m2	7' 4.5"
Ground clearance		11 3/16"
Ground contact length		3' 10.75"
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm M1A22	37 mm M1A2
Secondary
MG	2: 0.5" Browning MG2 2: 12.7 mm Browning MG2	2: M2 .50
Side arms		4: .30 cal Carbines
Quantity
Main	2402	200
Secondary
MG	3,4002	1,200
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	0.5"2 12.7 mm2
Hull Front, Upper		6
Hull Front, Lower		6
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front		6
Turret Sides		6
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	White 160AX2	White 160AX
Cylinders	62
Net HP	1282
Transmission
Fuel type	Gasoline2
Octane
Capacity
Performance
Traverse	360°2	360°
Speed - Road	45 mph2 64 kph2
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	200 miles2 280 km2
Speed - Cross Country
Turning radius
Elevation Limits		-5° to 85°
Fording depth
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width
Track centers/tread