×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
  ☰   

World War II Database

M3 Half-track file photo [10287]

M3 Half-Track

CountryUnited States
Primary RoleTransport

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3 transports were developed in 1940 as an attempt by the United States Army to improve tactical maneuverability; they were accepted for service in May 1941. The design was developed to use as many commercially available component as possible in order to simplify production. They had the capacity to transport 13 men (ie. one rifle squad), carrying 3 men in the cabin and 10 men in the rear. Total production quantity was just shy of 41,000 vehicles. The M5 variant of the M3 Half-track was manufactured for Lend-Lease for the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and the Soviet Union. The design was also used as the foundation for several self-propelled guns. They remained in service in US, UK, Israeli, and other friendly forces long after WW2.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jun 2010

SPECIFICATIONS

M3
MachineryOne White 160AX 6-cylinder inline gasoline engine rated at 147hp
SuspensionFront: Semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring; Rear: Vertical volute spring
Armament1x7.62mm .30cal Browning M1919A4 machine gun
Armor13mm windshield cover, 6.4mm sides, rear, hood, and over radiator louvres
Crew1
Length6.16 m
Width1.96 m
Height2.30 m
Weight9.1 t
Speed72 km/h
Range282 km off-road; 320 km on-road

M3A1
MachineryOne White 160AX 6-cylinder inline gasoline engine rated at 147hp
SuspensionFront: Semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring; Rear: Vertical volute spring
Armament1x7.62mm .30cal Browning M1919A4 machine gun, 1x12.7mm .50cal Browning M2HB machine gun
Armor13mm windshield cover, 6.4mm sides, rear, hood, and over radiator louvres
Crew1
Length6.34 m
Width2.22 m
Height2.69 m
Weight9.3 t
Speed72 km/h
Range282 km off-road; 350 km on-road

Photographs

US 75mm gun on exercise, Tennessee, United States, Jun 1941US 75mm gun on exercise, Tennessee, United States, Jun 1941
See all 31 photographs of M3 Half-Track Transport



Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word:

 Reddit
 Bluesky
 Mastodon

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Visitor Submitted Comments

1. marc says:
23 Feb 2011 05:20:53 AM

we have a Halftrack m3 with framenumber m3 1591,is it possible to know the date of delivery and where it has served during the war,we are not abble to find any more details,kind regards

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name 
Your Webite 
Your Email 
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type 
Your Comments 
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.
Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
News

M3 Half-Track Transport Photo Gallery
US 75mm gun on exercise, Tennessee, United States, Jun 1941US 75mm gun on exercise, Tennessee, United States, Jun 1941
See all 31 photographs of M3 Half-Track Transport


Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Winston Churchill, on the RAF


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!