Scout Cars [Author's Note]

Scout Car

The M3 Scout Car was an armored car in U.S. service during world War II. It was also known as the White Scout Car, after its manufacturer, the White Motor Company. It was used in various roles including patrol, scouting, command vehicle, ambulance and gun tractor.

History

Design of the vehicle began at the White Motor Company, based in Cleveland, in 1937. It had .25 in (6.4 mm) face-hardened armor, full-time four-wheel drive (with no way to disengage it), four-speed manual constant-mesh (non-synchromesh) transmission (with one reverse gear) and two-speed transfer case, leaf spring suspension, manual steering, and (unusually for the period) vacuum-assisted (power) brakes. The wheelbase was 131 in (3.3 m), tread 65.25 in (1.657 m). The wheels were 8.5 in (220 mm) wide, 20 in (510 mm) diameter, and used standard 12-ply military non-directional tires. Fuel capacity was 30 US gal.


The original order was for 64 units, all of which were given to the 7th Cavalry Brigade. Eventually the Army decided to adopt an improved version, designated M3A1. The new version had a longer and wider hull. In front of the bumper an unditching roller was mounted. The M3A1 could carry up to seven infantry and provide fire support with three machine guns - one .50 caliber (12.7 mm) and two .30 caliber (7.62 mm) - mounted on a skate rail around the hull.
Production of the M3A1 started in 1940 and lasted until 1944, with 20,918 vehicles built.
The design influenced the later U.S. halftrack designs such as the M3 halftrack and the post-World War II Soviet BTR-40. The early M2 halftrack copied the armor layout as well as the skate rail machine gun mounts.

Combat history

White scout car converted to ambulance.

 

 

The M3A1 first saw combat in the Phillippines in 1941-1942, and was also used by the cavalry units of the US Army in the North African Campaign and the invasion of Sicily. It was used in traditional cavalry roles such as scouting and screening; also as an armored command vehicle. By mid-1943, the drawbacks of the design - its open top, poor off-road mobility, and poor armament - were evident. During 1943 most US Army units replaced the M3A1 with the M8 armored car and similar M20 Utility Car. A small number of M3A1s were retained and employed in Normandy. A few M3A1s were used by the US Marine Corps in the Pacific theater, but none saw combat.


The M3A1 was also supplied via lend-lease channels to the Soviet Union (3,034; these vehicles remained in service until at least 1947) and Britain, and used to equip Free French Forces, Belgian, Czechoslovak, and Polish units. After the war, many vehicles were sold, mostly to Asian and Latin American countries. In Red Army service it was used primarily as a reconnaissance vehicle, but also as gun tractor for the ZIS-3 76-mm field gun. It remained in wide service throughout the war. In British and French service M3A1s were used as observation vehicles for field artillery observers, as ambulances, and as scout vehicles.
A few vehicles were used by Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. At least one Israeli M3A1 was modified with top armor and a revolving turret.  France employed its M3A1s in the First Indochina War and the Algeria War.

By late 1990, the only country to keep the M3A1 in service was the Dominican Republic.

July 8, 1943

Desert Training Center, California
July 8, 1943
Thurs. Eve.

Darling Mark –

Hello Sweetheart!!! I got your em ah nice letter today. I could say something honey, but I guess I’ll just forget about it. Fighting one battle is enough.

I just got back this evening from our overnite problems. Tired as hell! I’m laying on my cot ready for bed.

We traveled all over this damn hot desert all morning & afternoon. About 10:00 we halted & camouflaged our vehicles. We stayed there till 1:00 & started back. We got here at 5:00 P.M. A little more of this desert riding & I’ll be another dead-end kid.

From 10:30 till chow time this morning, I crawled under a scout car & went to sleep. Kinda hard & rocky, but I was tired enough not to mind.

Boy, was I plastered last week-end – only kidding honey – Ha-Ha. I only had 1 Tom Collins. I’ve got a lot of reasons for not getting drunk here. Thanks for the gum honey, & more than you probably realize it does take the place of a drink when you’re out on a desert. It keeps your mouth from getting dry. I’m thinking of you all the time anyway honey.

I promise you I’ll be good & have been good ever since I got here. There’s no other way to be.

I guess I should make out my navigation course tonite, but it’s getting too late – too tired no-how. It’s easier getting gigged by the Louie anyway.

Well, honey, I’d better close for tonite – I’ll write tomorrow nite if I’m able. Goodnite now.

Answer Soon.

All My Love Johnny XOX

XXXXXXXX OOOOOO XXXXXXX

OOOOO XXXXXXX

December 21, 1942

Fort Riley, Kansas

Dec. 21, 1942

Hi Sweetheart!!

I received your letter Sat. morn. I had just come back from another overnight hike. I wasn’t so cold. I had 2 blankets & a comforter. That ground was sure hard as H*XX.

I came home Sat. nite, till Sun. noon. I guess you’ve heard by now. I called up but you weren’t home. I think I’m coming home Xmas. I’ll try & see if I can catch you home for a couple of minutes.

Today we moved again, into our old co. The next time we move it’ll probably be Louisiana or Death Valley for our maneuvers. Tomorrow we go on the rifle range. Thurs. we go on the 30 cal. machine gun range.

This morning we took the Scout cars cross country. Talk about rough riding, this can’t be beat. I got a twisted knee out of it. Every time I get in shape something happens & I’m limping around again.

Well, honey, I’ve got to do some arranging & unpacking so I’ll close. See you Xmas? Write soon.

Love,

Johnny

XOXXXOX

(I’m coming to collect these)

December 13, 1942

Fort Riley, Kansas

Dec. 13, 1942

Sun 2: P.M.

Hi Honey!

I received your letter yesterday. I know you won’t believe this either, but I really look forward for your letters. How do you know I don’t mean what I say? I won’t bother to explain, it would do no good I know. I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.

I just came back from the P.X. I just had a couple of beers. It sure is making me sleepy. I’m writing on my bunk again. You’ll have to figure out this code I’m writing in.

This week we studied & dissembled the 30 cal machine gun & 45. cal. Sub Thompson. I’ve been taking them apart in my sleep. We had our rifles issued us Friday. Sat. we went on a hike with them, & do they get heavy.

I had about 4 hours driving instruction this week on the Armored Scout car. Those baby’s weigh about 6 tons. I’d like for a “jig” to get in front of me when I’m behind that wheel. I got paid Fri. nite. I’ll probably be tight for a week.

I got a card from Lu. yesterday too.

There’s a rumor going around today, that we’re going on another overnight hike tomorrow. I hope it’s only a rumor! I don’t care much for sleeping under those tents on the ground. It’s really not much fun. NO kidding!

Boy am I getting sleepy! I can hear a crap game going on upstairs. I think I’ll go up and watch it a while.

What you been doing for you yourself? I know you don’t do anything for anybody else. (only kidding). Or don’t ya?

You said you’d wait for my picture, so how about sending yours, while I’m waiting. I mean till I get a chance to get out of camp & have some taken? I’ll expect it in your next letter.

My hand is getting kind of wobbly so I had better sign off.

I know some moron jokes but I’d better not send them to ya now. I mean, moron jokes besides me.

I got some laundry to do & shoe polishing & rifle cleaning. So bye sweetheart – write soon.

Love – Johnny

OOXXO