M3A1 Armored Scout Car - White Motor Co.
Link
to Western Reserve Historical Society page on White Motor Co., Cleveland
OH
First created by the White Motor Company
in 1938. It was based on a commercial truck chassis. Was designed for high
speed scouting and called the T7.1
It was standardized in June 1939 as the
M3 scout car.1
Machine guns 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.1
M3A1E3:
Pedestal mount for 37 mm.1
M3A1 Command Car:
Built in 1943 with armored screen, .50 cal MG and more armor on the sides.
A few saw action in the Philippines in
1941-1942. Was used for rear area road patrol work, convoy escort, and
rarely to scout roads ahead of advancing units.1
The Russians and Free French received
many of them.1
