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M16
M16A1

Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M16^1-11

The M16 was based on the half-track personnel carrier M3, and was essentially an MGMC M13 with four .50cal guns. The new weapon mount was designated as M45D, and introduced a 6" (15cm) adapter ring so that the guns could fire to the sides and rear when the armor flaps were unhinged. The mount also had a platform at the rear to support two cannoneers.

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Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M16A1^1-7,12

M16A1s were converted from M3 half-tracks during the Korean War. These vehicles were fitted with a large folding shield on the front of the gun mount to protect crewmen when servicing the weapons. The M45F mount sat on a 6" (15cm) ring to ease firing over the cab and unhinged sides of the converted M3 half-tracks. The rear door present on the M3 was not deleted in the conversion to M16A1. M16A1 also introduced an intercom system between the commander in the cab, the gunner, and a field telephone mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

Four hundred nineteen M16s were converted to M16A1 standard, accepting the M45F mount and with the addition of a rear door. These vehicles were designated M16A2.

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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. TM 9-223 Twin Cal. .50 Machine Gun Mount M33 and Multiple Cal. .50 Machine Gun Mount M45. Washington, DC: War Department, 27 July 1944.
3. TM 9-1223 Ordnance Maintenance--Twin Cal. .50 Machine Gun Mount M33 and Multiple Cal. .50 Machine Gun Mount M45. Washington, DC: War Department, 1 June 1944.
4. TM 9-2010 Multiple Cal. .50 Machine Gun Mounts M45, M45C, M45D, and M45F; Multiple Cal. .50 Machine Gun Trailer Mount M55; and Mount Trailer M20. Washington, DC: Deptartment of the Army, 4 December 1953.
5. 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.
6. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
7. Track Data. Warren, MI: Track & Suspension Laboratory, Components Research and Development Laboratories, Research & Engineering Directorate, US Army Tank-Automotive Center, 23 June 1965.
8. TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. Washington, DC: War Dept., 1 Sep 1943.
9. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
10. 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.
11. Siemers, Cary. "USA's Half Track Gun Motor/Mortar Carriages." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 4 Jul 2001. 22 Sep 2001 <http://www.siemers.com/wwii/USA/GunMotorCarriage.htm>.
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 3 Mar 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners