Multiple Gun Motor Carriage M131-9

M13: General
Date of first acceptance January 1943 Total acceptances 1,103
(628 converted to MGMC M16)
Manufacturer White Motor Co. Crew
5 men:
  • Commander in cab right
  • Gunner in turret
  • Two cannoneers on right and left of turret
  • Driver in cab left
M13: Dimensions
Combat weight 18,500lbs
8,390kg		 Height 88"
220cm
Length with winch 256"
650cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 77.9"
198cm		 Front tread 64.5"
164cm
Rear tread 63.8"
162cm		 Wheelbase 135.5"
344.2cm
Ground clearance 11.2"
28.4cm
M13: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
Two .50cal M2TTHB MG M33 5,000 rounds 360°
(electric)		 60°/sec +90° to -10°
(electric)		 60°/sec
Aiming equipment
Reflector sight Mark 9 Model 1 or reflex sight M18 for gunner
M13: Armor
Assembly
Bolting
Hull
Rolled face-hardened steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Radiator louvres .25"
.64cm		 26°
Windshield cover .50"
1.3cm		 25°
Sides .25"
.64cm		 0°
Rear .25"
.64cm		 0°
Hood top .25"
.64cm		 83°
Turret
Rolled face-hardened steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Shield .25"
.64cm		 0° to 35°
M13: Automotive
Engine White 160AX; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, in-line gasoline
Horsepower Net: 147@3,000rpm Torque Net: 325 ft-lb@1,200rpm Fuel capacity 60gal
230L
Transmission Spicer 3461 constant mesh, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Steering wheel
M13: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Front: Semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring
Rear: Vertical volute spring		 Front: Steel ventilated disc
Rear: 1 bogie/track;
4 dual/bogie		 1 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
18-tooth front drive Spring-loaded at rear of track On front wheels
M13: Track
T68E1
Center guide band type
Width 12"
30cm		 Pitch 4"
10cm		 Pitches/track 58 Track ground contact length 46.75"
118.7cm
M13: Performance
Max level road speed 45mph
72kph		 Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 12"
30cm		 Min turning diameter 59'
18m
Max fording depth 32"
81cm		 Cruising range ~200mi, roads
~320km, roads

The M13 was based on the half-track personnel carrier M3, and used the M33 Maxson gun mount also used in the MGMC M14. The M13 was actually developed before the M14, and the M3 half-track was the vehicle used to test the M33 gun mount, but the first M14 was accepted a month before the first M13s.

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References

  1. TM 9-710 Basic Half-Track Vehicles (White, Autocar, and Diamond T). Washington, DC: War Department, 23 February 1944.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  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. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  8. Siemers, Cary. "USA's Half Track Gun Motor/Mortar Carriages." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 4 Jul 2001. 18 Sep 2001 <http://www.siemers.com/wwii/USA/GunMotorCarriage.htm>.
  9. Track Data. Warren, MI: Track & Suspension Laboratory, Components Research and Development Laboratories, Research & Engineering Directorate, US Army Tank-Automotive Center, 23 June 1965.
Last updated 3 Mar 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners