M3 Half Track Personnel Carrier:

USA's M3 Half Track
Aberdeen Tank Museum

Standardized in 1940.1 Was to be used primarily for carrying troops.1

10 passengers and 3 crew. Had rear access door and the body was lengthened. Pedestal mount M25 in rear for .30 cal. Had winch or unditching roller.5

M3A1:

M3A1 1/72 Diecast Armor
Forces of Valor:
95024:
Forces of Valor 85048, United States' M3A1 Half Track and Howitzer Set

Fitted ring mount M49 and pulpit for .50 cal MG.1 Had 3 pintle sockets on each side and at the rear for mounting a MG.

M3A2:

United States M3A2 Half Track

Manufactured by Autocar Co., Diamond T Motor Co., and White Motor Co.

Was designed to take place of M3, M3A1, M2,and M2A1. 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

  M3 M3A1 M3A2
Crew Commander, driver, co-driver, passengers (10).2
Commander, driver, co-driver, passengers (2-9)
2 (10 passengers)1
133
2 crew, 11 passengers5
Commander, driver, co-driver, passengers (10).2 3 (10 passengers)1
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' 9"1
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" 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' 3.5"2 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
.50 cal MG2 12.7 mm (.50 cal) MG1
Secondary      
MG .30 cal Browning M1919A4
7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG2,3
.30 cal MG2 2: 7.62 (.30 cal) MG
Side arms .45 submachine gun
24: M1 rifles or carbines5
22 grenades5
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, 12.722  
Hull Front, Upper 12
0.5"@0°5
   
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 6.35    
Turret Front      
Turret Sides      
Turret Rear      
Turret Top      
Engine (Make / Model) White 160AX1,2,3,5 White 160AX2  
Bore / stroke      
Cooling Water5    
Cylinders 63, I-65    
Capacity      
Net HP 1284, 1473,5    
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    
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 45 mph1
72 kph1
Cross country speed      
Road radius 175 miles3, 180-215 miles2, 200 miles, 220 miles5
282 km3
180-215 miles2 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    
Production Autocar
Diamond T
White
3,7881
   

Sources:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  5. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  6. M3 Infantry Half-Track 1940-73, Steven J. Zaloga, 1994
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