An M3 Gun Motor Carriage manned by African-American soldiers.
Type
Tank destroyer
Place of origin
United States
Production history
Designer
Ordnance Department
Designed
1940–41
Manufacturer
Autocar Company
Produced
August–September 1941 February 1942 – April 1943
No. built
2,202
Specifications
Mass
20,000 lb (9.1 t)
Length
20.46 ft (6.24 m)
Width
7.29 ft (2.22 m)
Height
8.17 ft (2.49 m) (including gun shield)
Crew
5 (commander, gunner, two loaders, and a driver)
Elevation
M3: 29° up, 10° down
M3A1: 29° up, 6.5° down
Traverse
M3: 19° left, 21° right
M3A1: 21° in both directions
Armor
0.25–0.625 in (6.4–15.9 mm)
Main armament
1 × 75 mm (3.0 in) M1897 gun 59 rounds
Engine
White 160AX, 386 in3 (6,330 cc), 6-cylinder, compression ratio: 6.44:1 147 hp (110 kW)
Power/weight
14.7 hp/ton
Transmission
Constant mesh
Suspension
Semi-ellipitical longitudinal leaf spring for wheels and vertical volute springs for tracks
Ground clearance
11.2 in (280 mm)
Fuel capacity
60 US gal (230 L)
Operational range
150 mi (240 km)
Maximum speed
47 mph (75 km/h)
The M3 Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) was a United States Army tank destroyer equipped with a 75 mm M1897A4 gun, which was built by the Autocar Company during World War II.
After observing the new and often decisive, uses of armored vehicles on both sides during the French campaign of 1940, the US Army decided that it required a 75 mm self-propelled gun, based on the chassis of the M3 Half-track. This was initially known as the T12. However, after the addition of features such as the gun shield from the M2A3 (a carriage for the M1897A4), the new vehicle entered production under the name M3 Gun Motor Carriage (or M3 GMC). Because the number of M2A3 gun shields available was insufficient for the M3 GMC order, a new gun shield was designed. Variants featuring the new shield were designated M3A1 GMC.
The T12/M3 first served in the Philippines Campaign in 1942 with the Provisional Field Artillery Brigade in the anti-tank and the fire-support role. It then served in North Africa in tank destroyer battalions. It was used ineffectively in the Battle of Kasserine Pass and several other engagements, but was used with success in the Battle of El Guettar. It also served in the Allied invasion of Sicily, but was eventually superseded by the M10 tank destroyer. A total of 2,203 were produced, of which 1,361 were converted back into M3A1 half-tracks.
The M3 GMC also served in the Pacific theater, starting with the Battle of Saipan. It proved effective against the Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go and Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks. It later served in the Battle of Okinawa, the Battle of Peleliu and many other island battles.
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