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

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 and 1/4 ton Amphibian, 1:72 Academy AC13408
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 cal M2 Browning HMG
and one or two .30 cal M1919.A4 Browning MMG
Crew: 13 Mann

Bibliography

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

Historical Employment

French Army
Israel Defence Force, 1948 –
US Army, 1941–1945

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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US Army Miniatures of World War Two