M2 Half Track Car:
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Standardized in 1940.1 Was to be used primarily for gun towing.1
Could carry 10 men.5 No rear door and shorter than M3. Skate rail for AA MGs on the inside. Unditching roller or winch (10,000 lb capacity) attached to front. Radio equipped.
Could be used to tow 105 mm howitzer.5
M2A1:
Had M49 ring mount for .50 cal MG over co-driver's seat.1 Rail was removed. 2 pintles were fitted on the sides and one on the rear for optional .30 cal MG.
| M2 | M2A1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, passengers (7) 101,5 |
|
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 17,600 lb5, 19,800 lb, 19,195 lb 9 tons4 |
19,600 lb |
| Length w/gun | w/roller: 19' 6.75" w/winch: 20' 1 5/8" 19' 6.75"5 6.12 m4 |
|
| Length w/o gun | ||
| Height | 6' 0.5"5, 7' 5" 2.26 m4 |
8' 10" |
| Width | 6' 5.25"5, 7' 2.5", 7' 3.5" 1.96 m4 |
|
| Width over tracks | ||
| Ground clearance | 11 3/16"5, 17 1/8" | |
| Ground contact length | 46.75", 60"5 | |
| Ground pressure | ||
| Turret ring diameter | ||
| Armament | ||
| Main | .50 cal Browning M2-HB .50 cal MG4 .50 cal HB M2 MG5 |
|
| Secondary | ||
| MG | .30 cal Browning M1919A4 2: .30 cal MG4 1 or 2: .30 cal M1917A1 or M1919A4 MG5 |
|
| Side arms | .45 submachine gun 10 grenades5 14 M1 anti-tank mines5 |
|
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 5405, 700 | |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | 7,7505 | |
| Side arms | 540 | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 124 Side: 84 |
|
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.5"@0°5 12 |
|
| Hull Front, Lower | 6 | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.25"@0°5 6 |
|
| Hull Sides, Lower | 6 | |
| Hull Rear | 0.25"@0°5 6 |
|
| Hull Top | ||
| Hull Bottom | ||
| Turret Front | ||
| Turret Sides | ||
| Turret Rear | ||
| Turret Top | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | White 160AX5 | |
| Bore / stroke | ||
| Cooling | Water5 | |
| Cylinders | 65 | |
| Capacity | ||
| Net HP | 1284, 1475 | |
| Power to weight ratio | ||
| Compression ratio | ||
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse5 Double range transfer case5 |
|
| Steering | Front wheels, Ross steering gear5 | |
| Steering ratio | ||
| Starter | ||
| Electrical system | ||
| Ignition | ||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline5 | |
| Octane | ||
| Quantity | 60 gallons5 | |
| Road consumption | 3.3 mpg5 | |
| Cross country consumption | ||
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | ||
| Max speed | 40 mph, 45 mph5 67 kph4 |
|
| Cross country speed | ||
| Road radius | 175 miles, 200 miles5 | |
| Cross country radius | ||
| Turning radius | 30'5, 59' | |
| Elevation limits | -15° to +85° | -15° to +85° |
| Fording depth | 2' 8"5 | |
| Trench crossing | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 1'5 | |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope5 | |
| Suspension (Type) | Front wheels: Semi elliptic springs5 Rear tracks: Vertical volute springing5 |
|
| Wheels each side | Tires: 15 Tracks: Dual wheel 4 wheeled bogies5 |
|
| Return rollers each side | 15 | |
| Tracks (Type) | Endless band5 | |
| Length | 5' 3 13/16" | |
| Width | 1'5 | |
| Diameter | ||
| Number of links | ||
| Pitch | 4"5 | |
| Tire tread | ||
| Track centers/tread | 63 13/16"5 | |
| Tire size | 8.25 x 205 | |
| Wheel centers | 64.25"5 | |
| Wheel base | 135.5"5 | |
| Production | Autocar White 3,7001 |
Autocar White 2,3001 |
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
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- M3 Infantry Half-Track 1940-73, Steven J. Zaloga, 1994
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