Full Name M3A1 Scout Car
Class Light Vehicle
Movement 8
Armor Value 1
Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) 5/4
Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) 4/3
Traits
Period 1940-1945
Theaters of Service
  • Eastern Europe
  • Far East
  • North Africa
  • Pacific
  • Southern Europe
  • Western Europe

The M3A1 Scout Car was the main production variant of an evolving family of lightly armored, open topped, machine gun armed, four wheel drive vehicles designed to be used in the reconnaissance role; the type also served as the basis for the M2 and M3 half-tracks. A driver and commander crewed the vehicle, and there was seating for six additional occupants in the rear. The vehicle was typically armed with a .50 cal M2 Browning heavy machine gun and one or two .30 cal M1919 Browning medium machine guns, all mounted on a skate rail upon which the pintle mounts could be moved. It had a maximum speed of 50 mph. The White Motor Company produced 20,918 M3A1s between 1939–1944. It was the only version to see service outside of the United States (primarily in North Africa and Europe). Crews found it to be fast and reliable, but its weaknesses were that it had poor off-road performance and lacked overhead protection. The U.S. government supplied 11,401 units its allies under lend-lease: the British Commonwealth (6,987); Soviet Union (3,310); and Chinese Nationalist Army (104); the Free Belgian, Free French, Czechoslovak, and Poles also received examples.

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