Design/Production
First created by the White Motor Company in 1938. It was based on a commercial truck chassis. Was designed for high speed scouting.
Description
MGs were on skate rail around interior body and could be removed and placed on tripod mounts.
Had a roller mounted in front of the bumper to help it not bog down in soft ground. Armored shutters protected the radiator and could be opened and closed by the passenger as there was a lever by their right foot.
The windshield is made of shatter proof glass and an armor plate of 0.5" could be swung down into place and had slots for vision.
The fenders in the front were made from heavy sheet metal. The hood could be opened on each side. The battery was on the right side and had an armored cover.
On the outsider was placed an ax, a shovel, and a pick. There was storage over each rear fender that carried ammunition, tools, and spare parts. Doors had hinged upper halves that folded down with vision slots that had covers. The rear was a solid armor plate with no door.
A standard military taillight was installed on the left and on the right were blackout lights. There were 6 bucket seats behind the driver. There was a SCR506, 508, or 510 radio set with the antenna base in the center of the rear section. Fuel was under driver's seat.
M3A1E1: Buda diesel engine.
M3A1E2: Armored roof.
M3A1E3: Pedestal mount for 37 mm
M3A1 Command Car: Built in 1943 with armored screen, .50 cal MG and more armor on the sides.
Usage
From Hear:
http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/usa/m3a1_scoutcar.html This Scout car is often refere to as the "White" scout car, they were not as common as the M3 half track's the later being more widely adopted and used for troop transport and for a number of other duties, the halftracks were far more mobile in rough terain than the White scout car was, their is a beautifuly preserved White Scout car at the Oregon Military Museum btw. The M8 and the M20 were 6 whealed afair's and were much more mobile compared to the 4 whealed White and saw more service in the Scout role paticularly in the later war years in that role.
The prototype T14 Halftrack was created by converting a White Scout car , and thus became the M3 this is why they have similar superstructure's.
