Airfix 1/72 M3 HalfTrack Personnel Carrier US Army kit (02318)

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Airfix 1/72 M3 HalfTrack Personnel Carrier US Army kit (02318)

The M 3 Personnel Carrier was designed and produced by the White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio and was developed from their four-wheeled Scout Car which equipped the American Army before its entry into the Second World War. The hallf-track design gave a cross-country performance, close to that of a fully-tracked vehicle, without the disadvantage of a complex steering mechanism, so that in production standard commercial components could be used.

During the war, more than 41,000 vehicles were produced by the White Motor Company, along with international Harvester and other contractors. The M3 served in great numbers with the U.S.

Army and infantry units of the British Armoured Divisions, together with the Canadian and Soviet armies. The mobility and protection offered by the half-track was a great advance over the conventional army truck that it replaced and, in addition, to its normal role as a personnel carrier, it was employed as a weapons carrier, signals truck, command vehicle and combat zone ambulance. In service, the M3 often towed a trailer such as the one ton type included with this kit and was also capable of towing a gun. On the basic chassis of the half-track, a variety of guns were mounted, including twin and quadruple .5 in anti-aircraft machine guns, 75 mm guns and 105 mm howitzers.

The M3 A1 normally carried one .5 in machine gun on a flexible mounting beside the driver's compartment, along with further armament, depending on its role. After the war, the M3 continued to serve in many countries world-wide, most noticeably with the French Army in Indo-China and with the Israeli Army. The loaded weight was almost 10 tons and the 127 hp White six cylinder engine gave a maximum speed of 49 mph.

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