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United States' M3 half track personnel carrier:
M3 |
M3 |
M3 |
M3 |
M3 |
M3 Aberdeen Tank Museum |
M3A1 |
M3A1 |
M3A2 |
M3A2 |
M3A1 Forces of Valor 1/72 Diecast Armor model, #95024 |
Design
The M3 half track was designed to be an infantry carrier1 for motorized artillery and armored divisions.7
Body
The M3 had a rear access door.7 A .30 cal MG was mounted on a M25 pedestal mount. M3s had either a winch or an unditching roller.5 There were racks on the outside of the passenger compartment that held 24 anti-personnel mines.7
Passengers
The passengers were carried on two benches in the back that faced each other.7
Prototype
Production
Standardized in 1940.1 Autocar was the lowest bidder and was selected for production.7 They were later joined by Diamond T. and White.7
- M3: 3,7881
- Production: 1941 - February 19447
- Manufactured by: Autocar, Diamond T, White7
- M3A1:
2,8627
- Production: October 1943 - January 19447
- Manufactured by: Diamond T.7
- M3 upgrades: 2,2707
- M3A2:
- Manufactured by Autocar Co., Diamond T Motor Co., White Motor Co.
- Total: 12,4997
Variants
- M3A1: Fitted ring mount M49 and pulpit for .50 cal MG.1,7 Had 3 pintle sockets on each side and at the rear for mounting a MG.7
- M3A2: Was designed to take place of M3, M3A1, M2,and M2A1.7 Stowage arrangements internally could be changed to carry 5 to 12 men.1 Some variations were to be a machine gun squad carrier which would carry additional ammunition and water cooled machine guns. Fuel tanks were moved to be behind the passenger and driver seats.
- M3, M3A1 Gun Motor Carriage: Carried 75 mm.1
Usage
Post World War II
M3s were still being used in the 1980s by 22 different countries.7
| M3 | M3A1 | M3A2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, co-driver2 Commander, driver, co-driver 21 133 2 crew5 |
Commander, driver, co-driver2 37 |
31 |
| Passengers | 2 - 9, 101,2, 115 | 102,7 | 101 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 20,000 lb2,5, 20,500 lb3 9,299 kg3 9.1 tons4 |
20,000 lb2, 20,500 lb | 21,200 lb 9.33 tons1 9,477 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | w/roller: 19' 6.75", 20' 3.5"5 w/winch: 20' 9 5/8" 20' 2 5/8"2 , 20' 3.5"3 6.18 m3, 6.32 m4 |
20' 2 5/8"2, 20' 3"7, 20' 9"1 6.14 m7, 6.34 m1 |
w/roller: 19' 6.75" w/winch: 20' 9 5/8" M3A2: 20' 9"1, 6.34 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 6' 9"5, 7' 5"2,3, 8' 10" 2.26 m3,4 |
7' 5"2, 8' 10"7 2.69 m7 |
8' 10" 7' 6"1, 2.28 m1 |
| Width | 7' 1"5, 7' 2.5", 7' 3.5"2,3 1.96 m4, 2.22 m3 |
7' 3"7, 7' 3.5"2 2.22 m7 |
7' 4"1, 2.22 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |||
| Ground clearance | 11 3/16"5, 17 1/8" | 11 3/16", 17 1/8" | 11 3/16", 17 1/8" |
| Ground contact length | 46.75"5 | ||
| Ground pressure | 12.3 psi5 | ||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | .50 cal Browning M2-HB 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG2,3 .30 cal M1919A4 MG5 |
1: .50 cal MG2 1: 0.5" Browning MG7 1: 12.7 mm Browning MG7 |
12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | .30 cal Browning M1919A4 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG2,3 |
1: .30 cal MG2 3: 0.3" MG7 3: 7.62 mm MG7 |
2: 7.62 (.30 cal) MG |
| Side arms | .45 submachine gun 24: M1 rifles or carbines5 22 grenades5 24 anti-personnel mines7 26 anti-tank mines |
||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 7002, 4,0005 | 7002 | 330 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 4,000, 7,7502 | 7,7502 | 2,000 |
| Side arms | 540 | ||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6.352, 12.722 Front: 124 Side: 84 |
6.352, 12.77, 12.722 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.5"@0°5 12.77 |
||
| Hull Front, Lower | 6 | ||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.25"@0°5 6, 77 |
||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 6 | ||
| Hull Rear | 0.25"@0°5 6 |
||
| Hull Top | |||
| Hull Bottom | 6.35 | ||
| Turret Front | |||
| Turret Sides | |||
| Turret Rear | |||
| Turret Top | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | White 160AX1,2,3,5 | White 160AX2,7 | |
| Bore / stroke | |||
| Cooling | Water5 | ||
| Cylinders | 63, I-65 | 67 | |
| Capacity | |||
| Net HP | 1284, 1473,5 | 1287 | |
| Power to weight ratio | |||
| Compression ratio | |||
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse Syncromesh5 Dual range5 8 forward, 2 reverse5 |
||
| Steering | Cam and lever, front wheels only5 | ||
| Steering ratio | |||
| Starter | |||
| Electrical system | |||
| Ignition | |||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3,5 | Petrol7 | |
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | 60 gallons5 | ||
| Road consumption | 3.6 mpg5 | ||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | |||
| Max speed | 40 mph3, 45 mph2,5 64.4 kph3, 67 kph4 |
45 mph2,7 64 kph7 |
45 mph1 72 kph1 |
| Cross country speed | |||
| Road radius | 175 miles3, 180-215 miles2, 200 miles, 220 miles5 282 km3 |
180-215 miles2, 200 miles7 280 km7 |
200 miles1 322 km1 |
| Cross country radius | |||
| Turning radius | 59' | ||
| Elevation limits | |||
| Fording depth | 2' 8"2,3,5 0.81 m3 |
2' 8"2 | |
| Trench crossing | 30'5 | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 1'2,5 | 1'2 | |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope5 | ||
| Suspension (Type) | Tracks: Vertical volute springs2,5 Wheels: Semi elliptic spring5 |
Vertical volute springs.2 | |
| Wheels each side | 4 Dual wheeled, 4 wheel 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 | 5' 3.25"2, 63 3/16"5 | 5' 3.25"2 | |
| Tire size | 8.25 x 205 | ||
| Wheel center | 64.5"5 | ||
| Wheel base | 135.5"5 |
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
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
