The most massive armored vehicle of World War II is not German "Ganomag", which the, in fact, He became the first full-fledged pioneers of the genre, launched into mass production before the outbreak of war, and the American M3 armored personnel carrier. Like its German analogue, American war machine was a half-track armored personnel carrier with similar characteristics: combat weight 9 tons and capacity to 10 people plus crew.
all with 1940 by 1945 year American industry produced 31 176 M3 armored personnel carriers, as well as various military vehicles, built on a single database. This record was surpassed only mass post-war production of armored vehicles. M3 remained the main armored vehicle of the US Army during the Second World War. Also the machine to actively supply the US allies in the program lend-liza, except the USSR, which received only two APCs.
Sometimes it is confused with a light wheeled reconnaissance vehicle M3 Scout, which is really massively delivered to the Soviet Union during World War II and was used in the Red Army, As a light armored vehicle. In addition, the USSR received a number of special vehicles on the chassis of the M3, for example, tank destroyer T-48, armed with a 57 mm gun and get in the Red Army designation Su-57.
armored M3A1
The history of the armored M3
As in Germany, the first American armored vehicle was born full line of half-track tractors. To create a half-track armored artillery tractors and vehicles with a wheel-crawler gear in the United States began in the early 1930s. On new machines worked just four American company James Cunningham and Sons, GMG, Linn, Marmon-Herrington.
The progenitor to the United States developed by machines was the French half-track Citroen-Kegresse P17. Several such vehicles, as well as the license for their production is purchased by the James Cunningham and Sons.
On the basis of the French chassis Americans developed their own means of transport, which were designated T1 to T9E1. First American half-track was designated as Half-Track Car T1, he was ready in 1932 year. Further similar craft continuously evolved.
The most successful of the first prototype was considered a model T9, which is based on a chassis "Ford" truck 4x2, instead of the rear axle on the car installed caterpillar mover production company "Timken", It was rubber-track.
Citroen-Kegresse P17
Half-track vehicles were interested primarily US cavalry, and later tank units. This technique had a high cross, and could do better in rough terrain and off-road compared to conventional trucks. After appearing in 1938 year light wheeled armored reconnaissance M3 Scout, the US military decided to combine this machine with existing designs of wheel-track tractors. In this case the car body, naturally, It has been increased.
The first version of the new combat vehicle, Combining the elements of the chassis and body armored reconnaissance M3 Scout and rear crawler tracks Timken, M2 has received designation. This machine is marketed as a half-track armored artillery tractor. The machine is used extensively in this capacity throughout the Second World War, Only the United States has been compiled 13 691 similar to tractor, which could carry anti-aircraft, anti-tank guns and field together with the calculation of 7-8 human.
The tests of the new machine showed great potential as a specialized means to transport infantry. Fast enough to light a complete M3 armored personnel carrier, which looks a little different from the semi-tracked armored artillery tractor. The main difference was in the increased length of the M3, which could carry up 10-12 Marines, thus subjected to reflow the entire interior of the body. Serial production of the new armored personnel carriers began in 1941 year.
Already during the war, the US military the idea to combine the models M2 and M3, not to keep the troops in two structurally very close combat vehicles. Uniting was supposed to be an armored personnel carrier M3A2, start of series production is planned for October 1943 of the year. But by this time the production of the program half-track armored seriously reconsidered. According to initial plans they planned to collect more 188 thousand, This astronomical figures.
However, by mid 1943 it became clear, that is more appropriate for weapons intelligence units wheeled cannon armored car M8, and for artillery units fast tracked tractor M5. In this context the need for wheeled tracked vehicles is seriously reduced, and from the production of a single armored M3A2 refused.
M3A1 Scout
The design of armored M3
American armored personnel carrier M3 was a classic car bonnet layout. In front of the war machine was installed engine, all this was a part of the engine-transmission compartment, Further there is a control compartment, and aft - troop compartment, which can accommodate up to free 10 human. In this case, the crew of an armored personnel carrier could consist of 2-3 human. In this way, under normal conditions APCs transported to 12-13 fighters and crew.
The design of armored vehicles have been widely used automotive assemblies and components, which gave great development of the American automotive industry. Mass production of armored wheeled crawler tractors and armored vehicles is largely due to the presence of such a production base, which allows combat vehicles on a large number of companies not to the detriment of the production of trucks and tanks.
APCs were distinguished by the presence of simple manufacture in an open box-shaped casing, bead and feed housing are arranged vertically, rational angles armor slope is missing. Housing going using rolled bronelistov surface hardened steel armor, armor thickness on the sides and stern not exceed 6,35 mm, the highest level was booking in the frontal part of - to 12,7 mm (poldyuyma), this level of protection provided only bulletproof book.
Rational angles have a sheet engine compartment (26 degrees) and the frontal sheet of the driver's compartment (25 degrees). Reservations bottom missing. For the embarkation and disembarkation of crew used two doors on the sides of the hull, and paratroopers landed through the door in the aft hull plates, from the front enemy fire paratroopers were protected by armored corps.
The crew consisted of 2-3 human, Troopers - 10 human. On the sides of the body was located by five seats, under which the luggage compartment, Marines sat facing each other.
As the power plant used in armored M3 inline six-cylinder gasoline engine liquid cooling White 160AX. The engine gave maximum power 147 HP. at 3000 rpm. This power is enough, to disperse the APC with a combat weight 9 tons to speed 72 kmh (so the maximum speed has been designated in the instruction manual). The stock of machines running on the highway was 320 km, fuel capacity - about 230 liters.
All American armored vehicles differed powerful enough small arms. The standard was the presence of two machine guns. Launcher 12.7mm Browning M2HB gun was mounted on a special machine M25 between the seats of the commander and the driver, and the body was located aft of 7.62-mm machine gun Browning M1919A4.
On the version M3A1 heavy machine gun was located has a special ring M49 turret with additional armor. In this case, each machine was transported at least 700 cartridges of caliber 12.7 mm, up to 4 thousand rounds to 7.62 mm machine gun, and hand grenades, sometimes laying were also anti-tank rocket launchers "Bazooka", in addition to the weapons themselves paratroopers.
Assembling the half-track armored artillery tractors M2
One of the features of APCs M3 was located in front of the machine-drum winch or drum buffer, whose diameter was 310 mm. Machines with such a drum favorably differed from armored personnel carriers with machine its maneuverability, because they could surely overcome wide trenches, trenches and scarps.
The presence of the drum allows US armored personnel carriers to overcome the enemy trench width to 1,8 m. Such as drums can be found on the wheel "scouts", which were delivered to the USSR. In this case, the German half-track armored personnel carriers Sd Kfz 251 such devices have not.
Previous operational use and evaluation armored M3
The initial experience of combat use M3 armored personnel carriers in North Africa can not be called a success. Debut of new combat vehicles occurred in the operation "Torch". From the outset, armored personnel carriers used by the Americans enough mass, in each armored division there were 433 armored M3 or M2 tractor: 200 in tank regiments and 233 in an infantry regiment.
Fast enough American soldiers called these machines "Purple Heart", It was undisguised sarcasm and a reference to the eponymous American medals, which were given for the war wounded. Having an open body is not protected paratroopers from the air blasting ammunition, a book often pass even before the machine gun fire of the enemy.
However, the main problems were not associated with the technical features of the machine, and improper use of armored vehicles and inexperience of US troops, who have not yet learned how to use all the advantages of the new technology, involving armored personnel carriers to the solution of non-core tasks. Unlike the soldiers and junior officers, General Omar Bradley once estimated the possibilities and potential of such technology, noting the high technical reliability armored M3.
In its overall dimensions, combat weight and other characteristics of the American wheel-tracked APC M3 was comparable to the most massive armored vehicle Wehrmacht Sd Kfz 251, entered into the post-war history under the nickname "Ganomag". The internal storage capacity of the American armored vehicle was greater by about 20 % due to more simple forms of housing, which ensured the landing better comfort and convenience.
At the same time a German armored personnel carrier has a more powerful armor, including through the installation of armor plates for rational angles. Thus, due to more powerful engine and the availability of the front roller American counterpart German car superior in mobility and cross-country passability. On the plus side it was possible to add equipment as almost all US armored vehicles with large-caliber 12.7-mm machine guns.
But the absence of an armored roof was a total lack of mass production of armored vehicles during World War II.
Over time, Americans have developed a tactical model and methods of use of new technology, children's fixed sores and M3 armored personnel carriers used actively in all theaters of war.
Already during the fighting in Sicily and in Italy the number of complaints about the new technique decreased substantially, and from the troops gave way to positive reviews. During "Operation Overlord" armored personnel carriers were used especially in large quantities in the future are actively used by the Americans and their allies until the end of hostilities in Europe.
About, The car turned out quite successful, It shows as a huge release of both the M3 armored vehicles and special equipment on their base, and half-track armored artillery tractors M2, total production has exceeded for the war 50 thousand units.
/Sergey Yuferev, topwar.ru/
