M3 Half-Track Personnel Carrier of World War Two, 1941–1945

M3A1 Half-Track Personnel Carrier.

In 1940, the armoured body of the American M3 Scout Car was used to build M3 Half-Track Personnel Carriers. The photo shows an upgraded M3A1 Half-Track of the French Foreign Legion, with M49 ring mount. Nearly 41,000 half-tracks were built for the US Army and Allied forces during World War Two. The British, Canadian, and Soviet army received similar Lend-Lease M5 Half-Track Personnel Carriers.

Available Scale Model Kits

  • M3 Half-Track & Crew 1941–43, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/156
  • M3 Half-Track (1942), 1:76 Milicast US27
    • Half-Track Stowage Kit, 1:76 Milicast ACC-1
  • M3 Half-Track, 15 mm Battlefront Miniatures US201
  • M3 Half-Track, 1:300 Heroics & Ros US14
  • M3 Half-Track with Infantry, 1:300 Heroics & Ros US14A
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army), 1:18 21st Century Toys 10126-S2
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army), 1:18 21st Century Toys 10126-S4
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army, Bastogne, 1944), 1:50 Corgi HC60408
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army, Germany, 1945), 1:50 Corgi HC60412
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army, Normandy, 1944), 1:50 Corgi US60401
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Marine Corps), 1:50 Corgi HC60409
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army) 1:32 21st Century Toys 20442
  • M3A1 Half-Track (US Army, France, 1944), 1:72 Unimax 85048
  • M3A1 Half-Track, ¼ ton Amphibian, and Harley Davidson Motorcycle, 1:72 Academy 13408
  • M3A1 Half-Track, 1:72 Hasegawa MT6
  • M3A1 Half-Track & Crew 1943–1945, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/158
  • M3A1 Half-Track with Radio, .50 cal. HMG & Crew, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/160
  • M3A1 Half-Track (1943), 1:76 Milicast US28
  • M3A1/M13 Half-Track, 1:76 Nitto
  • M3A2 Half-Track, 1:35 Tamiya 35070
  • M3A2 Half-Track (American), die-cast, 1:72 CDC 3150
  • M3A2 Half-Track (French), die-cast, 1:72 CDC 3152
  • M3A2 Half-Track (British, Africa 2-colour camouflage) die-cast, 1:72 CDC 3155
  • M3A2 Half-Track (British, Europe 2-colour camouflage) die-cast, 1:72 CDC 3159
  • M3A2 Half-Track Ambulance (American), die-cast, 1:72 CDC 3158

Technical Specifications

  • M3A1 Half-Track with M49 Ring Mount
  • Motor: White 160AX 6-cylinder Petrol Engine with 110 kw (147 HP)
  • Speed: 64 km/h
  • Cruising Range: 280 km
  • Transmission:
  • Wheelbase:
  • Length: 6180 mm
  • Width: 2220 mm
  • Height: 2260 mm
  • Weight: 9300 kg
  • Armour: 6 bis 12 mm
  • Armament: .50 Caliber M2 Browning Machine Gun
    and one or two .30 cal M1919.A4 Browning MMG
  • Crew: 13 Mann

Bibliography

  • Hunnicutt, R. P.: Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles

Historical Employment

Possible Conversions

  • M3 Half-Track with White 160AX Engine, and M2HB Machine Gun on M32 Mount
  • M3A1 Half-Track with M49 Ring Mount
  • T29/M3A2 Half-Track, 1943
  • M3E2/M5 Half-Track with IHC RED-450-B Engine
  • M5A1 Half-Track with M49 Ring Mount
  • T31/M5A2 Half-Track, 1943

M3 Half-Track Personnel Carriers were among the most common armoured vehicles of the American and Allied forces of the Second World War.

US Army Miniatures of World War Two