They served as supply vehicles, ambulances, convoy escorts, and MP vehicles. Each car had a driver, a commander, and seating for six. Closer to a light armored truck than a 4x4. They were lightly armored and equipped with a machine gun that could be fired from its open top. It had side armor, up .5 in thick, which provided decent armor protection from small arms but the open or canvas top left its crew vulnerable. The underside plating was also of little protection from land mines.
The Lightweight Mobile Armor Vehicle
The M3 Scout Car, also known as the White Scout Car in the UK, was produced by the White Motor Company in small quantities compared to other similar vehicles. However, the M3A1 model remained in service even after the war. It is closer to a light armored truck than a 4x4, and it was built on a commercial truck chassis. It featured a Hercules JD 6-cylinder engine with 110 hp and could drive a maximum road speed of 50 mph. Its 30-gallon fuel tank gave it a range of 250 mi.
Each car had a driver and a commander, with seating for six more.
The M3A1, the last version produced, was lightly armored and was equipped with a machine gun that could be fired from its open top.
The Diebold Lock and Safe Company made the side armor, up .5 in thick, which provided decent armor protection from small arms.
However, as the Scout Car was either completely open or topped only with canvas, its crew was vulnerable.
The underside plating was also of little protection from land mines.
A M3A1 Scout Car was typically armed with a 0.5 cal M2 Browning heavy machine gun and one or two 30 cal M1919 Browning machine guns, which were mounted on a skate rail. Crew could also fire any weapons they had on them if needed.
The M3A1 was used by cavalry units during the North African campaign, and a few were used in Normandy for command transport. They served as supply vehicles, ambulances, convoy escorts, and MP vehicles. Many Scout Cars were also given to Allied forces.
M3 Scout Car
WIKIPEDIAThe M3 Scout Car
Known as the White Scout Car in British Commonwealth Service
Was an American-produced armored car. The original M3 Scout Car was produced in limited numbers, while the improved M3A1 Scout Car saw wide service during World War II and after.The main production variant, the M3A1 Scout Car, was a lightly armored, open topped, machine gun armed, four wheel drive vehicle designed to be used in the reconnaissance role. The M3A1 Scout Car was crewed by a driver and commander, while there was seating for six additional occupants in the rear.
The M3A1 Scout Car was the final development of the series. Primary external differences from the M3 were a widening of the body over the fenders, the removal of the rear door of the M3 and the addition of the front roller. Internally, the M3A1 had an improved engine and was fitted with the machine gun skate rail. A total of 20,918 were produced between 1939–1944. It was the only version to see service outside of the United States, with the exception of Philippine Scouts in the 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) who were issued the M2 variant before 1937.
They served as supply vehicles, ambulances, convoy escorts, and MP vehicles. Each car had a driver, a commander, and seating for six.