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SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:34 am Post subject: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

This M3 sits in front of the Range Control at Ft Hood, beside the M4A3E8. The frame serial number is M15A1-2121, USA number is 92G29257. As you can see, there is no engine / transmission. I'd like some one to tell me what the serial number means. I've lost my contact that could tell me. He could tell where and when it was built and what the correct USA number should be just by that frame number. That number is in the front left wheel well, just behind the shock mount. It's also in that same location on many Dodge powerwagons of that time, ie; WC-27 ambulances and such.

bsmart · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:47 am Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

If I remember correctly the M15 series was an antiaircraft vehicle with a 37mm and twin 50 cals in a turret (similar to the M16 Quad 50 system). The plaque doesn't seem to be right about the engine. I thought most halftracks used a Hercules engine. I may be wrong about that but I don't think it would be a 'Detroit Diesel' engine. I didn't think that division showed up under that name in GM until after the war.

palic · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 172

Definitely, M15(A1) were AA Combination Gun Motor Carriages with flat bed and armament turret.
Superstructure of this "preserved" vehicle seems to be a former M16 Quad AA - with fixed/welded extensions instead of folding upper parts of side and rear armour walls. I suspect rear door to be too shallow, too.

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

This is the only other picture I have of this track, a shot of the bed area. At Ft Irwin I researched an M2, serial number 232411. The engine was a White 160AX, 6 cylinder which produced 147hp@ 3,000rpm. Transmission was a Spicer 3461 cinstant mesh 4 speed. It was built by White Motor Car sometime after May 1941. My experts on Half Tracks were Gary Hebding and Lloyd White. I may try and contact them this week and see if they can help.

bsmart · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

I suspect that this may have been put together frompieces (Chassis from one body from another) but that is only a guess. Hopefully the experts can clear things up. Hey invite them to join up here, we can use some 1/2 track experts.

binder001 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 363

A wild guess would put part of this ancestry of the track or at least its rear body as an M16A1 or M16A2 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage. After the end of factory production for the M16 MGMC ("quad fifty halftrack") was completed, there was additional demand. Excess M3A1 APCs were converted to the M16A1 and M16A2. The floor was plated over up to the seat level. The production M16 had the top 9-12" of armor be able to fold down so the guns could depress to engage ground targets, however the APC halftrack did not have this fold down armor, so the M55 mount was raised up (M45F mount). Word of mouth info told me that many of these were Korea War era conversions and since a primary use was against ground troops a number of the vehicles had extra "bat wing" armor shields added to the mount to protect the loaders.

That's just my quick assessment.

Gary Binder

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:14 am Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

I have contacted and sent pictures of this M3 to Gary Hebding, who specializes in restoration of Half-Tracks and armored cars. I'm hopeing to hear from him soon and I post the results here. I invited him to the DG as well.

Roy_A_Lingle · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

Hi Folks!

I would guess, based on that wall to wall flat floor and the rods for a canvas top, that vehicle was put together from a number of parts for use as a 'mounted inspect the troops' vehicle.

I would also guess the reason the engine, transmission, and part of the diff. are missing is someone was going to try and repair or replace them with something newer.

My 2 cents. Smile

Sgt, Scouts Out!

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:06 am Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

Mr Hebding looked at the pictures and suspects that this is a vehicle put together from many others. I am awaiting a "de-codeing" of the frames serial number however.

tankdriver · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: M3 Half Track at Ft Hood...

I own 2 I'm starting to restore now. ! is a Diamond T, The other is a Autocar. The sign is incorrect, as they all had a White 160 engine or a International Red Devil engine. None were built with a diesel for the US. Iseral converted some to diesel.

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