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M15
CGMC M15A1

Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M15^1-11

The M15 was based on the MGMC T28E1. Modifications included that air-cooled MGs were substituted for the earlier vehicle's water-cooled weapons, the lead setter's handwheels were reversed, larger handwheels were mounted, the vertical handwheel was mounted parallel to the guns, a seat for another lead setter was added, empty casings were enabled to be corralled and removed, the boresighting procedure was improved, and an armored enclosure open at the top and rear was mounted around the gun mount. There was also initially an armored gun shield through which the gun barrels protruded, but this was later removed to improve the gun crew's visibility. The guns still could not be depressed below +20° when aimed over the cab. The machine guns used 200-round ammunition chests, and the 37mm used 10-round clips. The 37mm gun could be fired semi- or fully-automatically at 120 rounds/minute, and any of the guns could be fired alone or in concert. The 37mm gun needed cooled via a water delivery hose after approximately 50 rounds of sustained fire at maximum rate, or after about 100 rounds when firing single shots or bursts of under 30 rounds.

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Combination Gun Motor Carriage M15A1^1-12

Supplies of the combination gun mount M42 ran low, so the upper portion of the 37mm gun carriage M3A1 was substituted, creating the combination gun mount M54. The position of the guns was reversed on this new mount, with the .50cal MGs mounted below the 37mm gun. The minimum elevation when firing over the cab remained ~20°. The top armor flaps on either side of the guns were hinged and could be folded down to improve visibility. A rail was provided at the rear of the mount to aid in mounting and dismounting the vehicle, and the 37mm gun loader and lead setter were also provided with platforms.

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References

1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Half-Track: A History of American Semi-tracked Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 2001. Reprinted from Half-Track, R.P. Hunnicutt ©2001, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
2. FM 4-159 Antiaircraft Artillery Field Manual Service of the Piece Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M15. Washington, DC: War Department, 28 September 1943.
3. Doyle, David. U.S. Half-tracks: The Development and Deployment of the U.S. Army's Half-track Based Multiple Gun Motor Carriages and Gun Motor Carriages, Part two. Ed. Pat Stansell. Delray Beach, FL: The Ampersand Publishing Group, Inc., 2016.
4. TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Department, 1 September 1943.
5. TM 9-710 Basic Half-Track Vehicles (White, Autocar, and Diamond T). Washington, DC: War Department, 23 February 1944.
6. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
7. Tank Data, vol. 3. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: US Army Ordnance School, July 1958.
8. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
9. SNL G-102 Service Parts Catalog for Cars, Half-track, M2 and M2A1; Carriers, Personnel, Half-track, M3 and M3A1; Carriages, Motor, 75-mm Gun, M3 and M3A1; Carriers, 81-mm Mortar, Half-track, M4 and M4A1; Carrier, 81-mm Mortar, Half-track, M21; Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M13; Carriages, Motor, Multiple Gun, M15 and M15A1; Carriage, Motor, Multiple Gun, M16; Carriage, Motor, 105-mm Howitzer, T19; Carriage, Motor, 75-mm Howitzer, T30; Carriage, Motor, 57-mm Gun, T48. 30 September 1943.
10. Siemers, Cary. "USA's Half Track Gun Motor/Mortar Carriages." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 4 Jul 2001. 19 Sep 2001 <http://www.siemers.com/wwii/USA/GunMotorCarriage.htm>.
11. Track Data. Warren, MI: Track & Suspension Laboratory, Components Research and Development Laboratories, Research & Engineering Directorate, US Army Tank-Automotive Center, 23 June 1965.
12. TM 9-710/TO 19-75A-77 Half-track Vehicles Car M2A1; Personnel Carrier M3 and M3A1; 81-mm Mortar Carrier M4, M4A1, and M21; Combination Gun Motor Carriage M15A1; and Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M16 and M16A1. Washington, DC: Departments of the Army and the Air Force, 8 May 1953.

Last updated 12 Mar 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners