|
The M3 Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) was a United States Army tank destroyer equipped with one 75 mm M1897A4 gun based on a M3 Half-track chassis. After the fall of France, the U.S. Army decided to make a self-propelled artillery piece from the M1897A4 gun on the M3 chassis, which was designated the T12. After some improvement, it came into production as the M3 Gun Motor Carriage. However, the supply of M2A3 gun shields was insufficient for production needs, so a new gun shield was used. This was designated the M3A1 GMC. The T12/M3 first served in the Philippines Campaign in 1942. It served with the Provisional Field Artillery Regiment in the anti-tank and the fire-support role. It then served in North Africa in "tank destroyer battalions". It was used ineffectively in the Battle of Kasserine Pass and a few others, but was used with success in the Battle of El Guettar. It also served in the Allied invasion of Sicily, but were eventually superseded by the M10 tank destroyer. A total of 1,361 were converted back into M3A1 half-tracks. The M3 GMC also served in the Pacific theater, starting with the Battle of Saipan. It proved effective against the Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go and Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks. It later served in the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Peleliu and many other island battles. ==Specifications== The M3 GMC was 20.46 feet (6.24 m) long, 6.45 feet (1.97 m) wide, 8.17 feet (2.49 m) high (including the gun shield), and weighed 20,000 pounds (9.1 t). Its suspension consisted semi-elliptical longitudal leaf springs for the wheels and vertical volute springs for the tracks, its transmission consisted of constant mesh, and its ground clearance is 11.2 inches (280 mm).〔Hunnicutt, p. 218.〕〔Ness, p. 204.〕 It had a White 160AX 147 horsepower (110 kW), 386 cubic inch (6,330 cc),〔Hogg & Weeks, p. 94.〕 6-cylinder with a compression ratio of 6.44:1. It had a 150 mile (240 km) range,〔Berndt (1993), p. 152.〕 60 US gal (230 l) fuel tank, and a power to weight ratio of 14.7 hp per ton. It was armed with one 75 mm M1897A4, had 0.25–0.625 in (6.4–15.9 mm), and a crew of five (commander, gunner, two loaders, and a driver).〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「M3 Gun Motor Carriage」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|