| M16 multiple gun motor carriage | |
|---|---|
 An American M16 in 1945 | |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943–53 |
| Used by | Seeusers list |
| Wars | World War II,Korean War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | White Motor Corporation |
| Designed | 1940–42 |
| Manufacturer | White Motor Corporation |
| Produced | 1942–44 |
| No. built | 3,550 (including ones that were converted from the M13 and T10) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.9 short tons (9 t) |
| Length | 21 ft 4 in (6.5 m) |
| Width | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 12 mm (0.5 in) on sides and front |
Main armament | 4 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns |
| Engine | White 160AX, 386 in3 (6,330 cc) 6-cylinder,gasoline,compression ratio 6.3:1, 128 hp (95 kW) |
| Power/weight | 15.8 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | vertical volute springs; leaf springs for wheels |
| Fuel capacity | 60 US gal (230 L) |
Operational range | 175 mi (282 km) |
| Maximum speed | 41.7 mph (67.1 km/h) |
TheM16 multiple gun motor carriage, also known as theM16 half-track, is an Americanself-propelled anti-aircraft weapon built duringWorld War II. It was equipped with four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in anM45 Quadmount. 2700 were produced byWhite Motor Corporation from May 1943 to March 1944, with 568 M13 MGMCs and 109 T10 half-tracks being converted into M16s as well.
The chassis was derived from the T1E2 chassis, an earlier version of the M13. Based on anM3 half-track chassis, it replaced theM13 MGMC half-track after early 1944. As aircraft became more advanced, the usefulness of the M16 was reduced. In theKorean War, it was relegated primarily to the ground-support role, being put out of service in the U.S. Army in 1958.[1]
Nicknamed the "Meat Chopper",[2] the M16 was famous for its effectiveness against low-flying aircraft and infantry, making it extremely popular with soldiers. It was used by theUnited States Army, theBritish Commonwealth, andSouth Korea. A similar version of the M16, theM17, was based on theM5 half-track and exported viaLend-Lease to theSoviet Union.[1]
The specifications of the M16 were similar to those of theM3 half-track. It was 21 ft 4 in (6.5 m) long (with awheelbase of 135.5 in (3.44 m)), 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) wide, and 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) high and weighed 9.9 short tons (9 t).[3] It had suspension consisting ofvertical volute spring suspension for the tracks andleaf springs for the wheels.[4]
It was powered by a 128-horsepower (95 kW) White 160AX 386 cubic inch (6,300 cc) 6-cylindergasoline engine. It had a compression ratio of 6.3:1 and a 60 US gallon (230 L) fuel tank. It could reach a top speed of 41.7 mph (67.1 km/h) and a range of 175 miles (282 km) and a power to weight ratio of 15.8 horsepower per tonne.[4] It had a main armament of four 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in aM45 Quadmount and 12 millimeters ofarmor on the front and the sides.[3]
The M16 was an improvement on the twin .50 caliberM2 Browning heavy machine gun equippedM13 MGMC andM14 MGMC (built on an M3 and M5 half-track chassis respectively).[5] It was based on an earlier model of the M13 (the T1E2),[a] but the M33 Maxson mount was replaced with the M45 Quadmount and the M2 half-track chassis was replaced by the M3 chassis.[6]
This prototype was originally designated as the T61 MGMC, but after trials atAberdeen it was accepted as the M16 multiple gun motor carriage. A few corrections were made on a pilot vehicle in early 1943 (including the addition of agun shield) before production started.[7]
A total of 2,877 were produced by theWhite Motor Corporation during the period from May 1943 to March 1944, while 568 M13s and 109 T10 half-tracks were also converted into M16s.[8][9] Further production of the M13 and M14 was ceased in favor of production of the M16 and M17 (an M16 built on a M5 half-track chassis).[6]
The M16 MGMC entered service in early 1944, with the M13 taken out of action soon after. The M16 was nicknamed "The Meat Chopper" for its deadly firepower, and was extremely popular with troops. In addition to its anti-aircraft role, the M16 was used in an infantry support role, frequently accompanied by theM15 half-track. The M17 MGMC primarily served with the Soviet Union as part ofOperation Bagration and a few other battles.[2]
The M16 saw service with U.S. forces in theItalian Campaign, andOperation Overlord, theBattle of Arracourt, and theArdennes Offensive in northern Europe.[5][10] Small numbers were supplied to the United Kingdom and France underLend-Lease.[11] The vehicle was also used widely in theKorean War by theSouth Korean army, theUnited States Marine Corps, and theU.S. Army.[6]
As aircraft became more advanced over the M16's lifetime, its role as a mobile anti-aircraft weapon became limited, and the newerM19 MGMC was more heavily-armed with more powerful and longer-range guns. During the Korean War, it served mainly in the ground-support role, at which it was highly effective.[b] In late 1951, it was declared as "limited standard" and largely taken out of service from the U.S. Army in Korea, although a few examples served until the end of the war.[12] It was declared obsolete by the U.S. Army in 1958.[7]
USA: United States –United States Army,U.S. Marine Corps[6]
UK: United Kingdom – Two received through theLend-Lease program[11]
Free France:Free French Forces – Seventy received through the Lend-Lease program[11]
France - the French Army still had 300 in service in 1984[13]
Nazi Germany:Wehrmacht – Captured from the U.S.[14]
Germany:Bundeswehr 1956 - 1962[citation needed]
Belgium:Belgian Army – post-war use[citation needed]
Israel:Israel Defense Forces – few units during its early ages[citation needed]
Japan:Japan Ground Self-Defense Force – Lent by the U.S.[14]
Philippines:Philippine Army[citation needed]
Poland:Polish People's Army M16 used during World war II. M17 variant delivered from USSR in 1945.[15]
Portugal:Portuguese Army[citation needed]
South Korea:Republic of Korea Army – 50 vehicles received from the U.S. foreign military aid program.[16]
Thailand:Royal Thai Army – Still using in some anti-air unit[citation needed]
Netherlands:Royal Netherlands Army – Several bought from war dumps and used in the anti-air units[citation needed]