M3 Scout Car of World War Two, 1939-45

The M3 Scout Car was designed and manufactured by the American White Motor Company in 1938 to serve as an armoured reconnaissance vehicle, command car, ambulance, and gun tractor. The first 64 production vehicles underwent field trials with the 7th Cavalry Brigade, and in 1941 the US Army adopted the improved M3A1 Scout Car which had a larger crew compartment. The M3A1 Scout Car transported seven infantrymen, and it had three machine guns to provide fire support. From 1941 to 1945 a total of 20,918 M3 Scout Cars were produced for the army. From 1940, the armoured superstructure of the M3 Scout Car was used to build M3 Half-Track Personnel Carriers.

Available Scale Model Kits

M3 Scout Car, 1:72 ESCI 8356
M3 Scout Car & Crew, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/165
M3 Scout Car, 1:300 Heroics & Ros US13

Technical Specifications

M3A1 Scout Car
Engine: Hercules JXD 6-cylinder Petrol Engine with 81 kw (110 PS)
Speed: 81 km/h
Cruising Range: 403 km
Wheelbase:
Length: 5630 mm
Width: 2100 mm
Height: 2000 mm
Weight: 5670 kg
Armament: .50 cal M2 Browning HMG
and one or two .30 cal M1919.A4 Browning MMG
Crew: Driver and seven Infantrymen

Historical Employment

Belgian Army
Brazilian Army
British Army, 1943–1945
Chilean Army
Columbian Army
Dominican Army
French Army
Cambodian Army
Laotian Army
Philippine Army
Polish Army
Portuguese Army
Soviet Army, 1943–1947
South Vietnamese Army
Israel Defence Force, 1948 –
Armée du Liban-Sud (ALS), 1982-1984
Czechoslovak Army
US Army, 1941–1945

Possible Conversions

M3 Scout Car, 1938
M3A1 Scout Car, 1941
M3A1 Command Car with improved armour, 1943
M3A1E1 Scout Car with Buda diesel engine
M3A1E2 Scout Car with armoured roof
M3A1E3 Scout Car with 37 mm M3 gun

By 1942, the US Army considered the M3A1 Scout Car to be obsolete, and began replacing the vehicle with the M20 Armoured Car. After World War Two, many M3A1 Scout Cars were sold to Latin American and South East Asian countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

For further information on the subject, please contact the editors of Military Miniatures Magazine in the Miniatures Forum.

US Army Miniatures of World War Two