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M3 Scout Car - USA: books - history, types and construction

A book on M3 Scout Car armoured cars? Explore here illustrated books on the history, types and construction of armoured cars from USA.

M3 / M3A1 Scout Car and M2 Mortar Motor Carriage - Technical Manual (TM 9-705)

Designed and built by the White Motor Company, the M3 Scout Car saw service as a command vehicle, ambulance, gun tractor and patrol and scout vehicle during WWII. Over 21, 000 were built between 1937 and 1944 - the vast majority of them the M3A1 variant, which had a longer and wider hull than the original production vehicles.

Both the M3 and M3A1 had a six cylinder gas engine (a diesel variant M3A1E1 was produced for a short time), and could carry up to seven men at a top speed of 55-65 mph depending on configuration. Both had a radiator protected by an armored shutter, and a shatter-proof windshield.
The M3A1 also carried a front-mounted roller to prevent it from bogging down on muddy ground, and could carry three machine guns (two .30 calibers and one .50) on a hull-mounted skate rail. The M3A1 saw service in the Pacific, North Africa and Europe, with over 3, 000 handed to the Soviet Union via lend-lease.
While it performed admirably enough in the field the open top design, light armament and poor off-road characteristics led most Army units to replace it with the M8 armored car and M20 utility car by 1944.

Originally produced in 1941, this technical manual TM 9-705 was standard issue to M3, M3A1, and M2 crews. Originally restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form.

Product details

Author:	U.S. Army War Department
Details:	230 pages, 20.5 x 12.5 cm / 8.1 x 4.9 in, paperback
Illustrations:	numerous photos and drawings
Publisher:	Periscope Film (USA, 2012)
ISBN:	9781937684716

M3 / M3A1 Scout Car and M2 Mortar Motor Carriage - Technical Manual (TM 9-705)

Language: English

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M3A1 Scout Car - The US Cavalry's Primary Reconnaissance Vehicle in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

The M3A1 Scout Car, produced by White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio, served as the US Cavalry's primary scouting and reconnaissance vehicle during the early days of the US entry into WWII. A powerful Hercules engine, four-wheel drive, and relatively light weight gave the vehicle both impressive on-road speed and reasonable off-road maneuverability.

Typically armed with a trio of heavy and light machine guns, the vehicle was not intended to "slug it out" with the enemy, but rather to locate the enemy and, through its impressive array of radio equipment, report the positions to more heavily armed forces.

Through dozens of archival photos, including previously unpublished images, as well as details of some of the finest existing examples, this iconic vehicle is explored and its history is explained. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

Product details

Author:	David Doyle
Details:	112 pages, 23 x 23 cm / 9.1 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2019)
Series:	Legends of Warfare
ISBN:	9780764356612