M3A1 Halftrack
The idea of the halftrack, which combined the capacity and speed of a truck with the mobility of a tank, gained favor with several armies in the 1930s, namely Germany and the United States. In 1938, the US Army contracted with the White Motor Company to convert one of its M3 Scout Cars (known better as the "White Scout Car") to a halftrack. Results were not all that favorable, and the Army went back to the drawing board. A purpose-built halftrack by Firestone, the M2, was better and put into production, but the Army felt the M2 was too short. White was once more approached about a lengthened version of the M2, designated M3. The Army was finally satisfied with the result and ordered it into production in 1940.
As the United States was likely to enter World War II at some point, the M3 used as many commercially available parts as possible, including its drivetrain and engine. The M3 had good road speed (up to 45 mph), could carry a squad of troops or nine tons of cargo, and was reliable, aside from issues with the track sprockets, which were quickly rectified in the field. Though by no means meant to engage in pitched battle, the M3 was given adequate armament in the form of a pintle-mounted M2HB .50 caliber machine gun, and provision for two smaller M1919 .30 caliber machine guns attached to the rear deck. Space was at a premium, but lockers were installed beneath the infantry seating for ammunition and equipment.
One thing that the M3 was not was armored. Though it did have some armor, the vehicle did not stop bullets above rifle caliber, if that. After the debacle at Kasserine Pass in February 1943, the M3 got the derisive nickname "Purple Heart Box." In the movie "Patton," General Omar Bradley (played by Karl Malden) relates that he asked a soldier if German machine gun bullets went straight through the M3. The soldier replied that they did not--they went through one side and "rattled around." Though it was not Bradley who actually related this story to Patton (in real life, Bradley correctly reflected that the M3 had been poorly used by untrained troops at Kasserine), it was true. The fighting compartment was also open-topped, which left it vulnerable to the cold of winter and the heat of a grenade.
That aside, the M3 overcame its detractors and turned out to be one of the war-winners for the Allies. Over 65,000 would be built by White Motors, Autocar, Diamond T and International Harvester, and were adapted in to several dozen different variants, namely antitank gun carriers and mobile antiaircraft guns. As the former (the T12 and T30), the M3 left a lot to be desired, but as the latter (M16 and M15A1), the M3 was superb--even if it ended up being used more in the antipersonnel role than against Axis aircraft. Many were supplied to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union; the latter liked their M3s so much that they built their own version, which formed the basis for the BTR series used to modern times.
With so many halftracks produced, it was inevitable that they would be passed on to other armies and used after the war. Israel in particular loved the M3, and produced their own variants; IDF M3s were used as late as the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Several hundred still exist, and many are still operable.
This M3A1 serves as something of a "gate guard" for the Miracle of America Museum just east of Polson, Montana. It shows some wear and tear and rust, the product of sitting outside in Montana winters, but otherwise is pretty intact, complete with a M2 .50 caliber machine gun.
Though some of the Miracle of America's collection resembles a junkyard, it is still very much worth a stop, even with the modest entrance fee. The museum is a bit kitsch, but they have an excellent collection of militaria from around the world, as well as probably the largest motorcycle collection in the Pacific Northwest. The interior displays are very well-maintained; the outside displays are hit and miss, but still worth a look.
M3A1 Halftrack
The idea of the halftrack, which combined the capacity and speed of a truck with the mobility of a tank, gained favor with several armies in the 1930s, namely Germany and the United States. In 1938, the US Army contracted with the White Motor Company to convert one of its M3 Scout Cars (known better as the "White Scout Car") to a halftrack. Results were not all that favorable, and the Army went back to the drawing board. A purpose-built halftrack by Firestone, the M2, was better and put into production, but the Army felt the M2 was too short. White was once more approached about a lengthened version of the M2, designated M3. The Army was finally satisfied with the result and ordered it into production in 1940.
As the United States was likely to enter World War II at some point, the M3 used as many commercially available parts as possible, including its drivetrain and engine. The M3 had good road speed (up to 45 mph), could carry a squad of troops or nine tons of cargo, and was reliable, aside from issues with the track sprockets, which were quickly rectified in the field. Though by no means meant to engage in pitched battle, the M3 was given adequate armament in the form of a pintle-mounted M2HB .50 caliber machine gun, and provision for two smaller M1919 .30 caliber machine guns attached to the rear deck. Space was at a premium, but lockers were installed beneath the infantry seating for ammunition and equipment.
One thing that the M3 was not was armored. Though it did have some armor, the vehicle did not stop bullets above rifle caliber, if that. After the debacle at Kasserine Pass in February 1943, the M3 got the derisive nickname "Purple Heart Box." In the movie "Patton," General Omar Bradley (played by Karl Malden) relates that he asked a soldier if German machine gun bullets went straight through the M3. The soldier replied that they did not--they went through one side and "rattled around." Though it was not Bradley who actually related this story to Patton (in real life, Bradley correctly reflected that the M3 had been poorly used by untrained troops at Kasserine), it was true. The fighting compartment was also open-topped, which left it vulnerable to the cold of winter and the heat of a grenade.
That aside, the M3 overcame its detractors and turned out to be one of the war-winners for the Allies. Over 65,000 would be built by White Motors, Autocar, Diamond T and International Harvester, and were adapted in to several dozen different variants, namely antitank gun carriers and mobile antiaircraft guns. As the former (the T12 and T30), the M3 left a lot to be desired, but as the latter (M16 and M15A1), the M3 was superb--even if it ended up being used more in the antipersonnel role than against Axis aircraft. Many were supplied to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union; the latter liked their M3s so much that they built their own version, which formed the basis for the BTR series used to modern times.
With so many halftracks produced, it was inevitable that they would be passed on to other armies and used after the war. Israel in particular loved the M3, and produced their own variants; IDF M3s were used as late as the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Several hundred still exist, and many are still operable.
This M3A1 serves as something of a "gate guard" for the Miracle of America Museum just east of Polson, Montana. It shows some wear and tear and rust, the product of sitting outside in Montana winters, but otherwise is pretty intact, complete with a M2 .50 caliber machine gun.
Though some of the Miracle of America's collection resembles a junkyard, it is still very much worth a stop, even with the modest entrance fee. The museum is a bit kitsch, but they have an excellent collection of militaria from around the world, as well as probably the largest motorcycle collection in the Pacific Northwest. The interior displays are very well-maintained; the outside displays are hit and miss, but still worth a look.