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M17 ZSU - Air Defense from the West
Introduction
The M17 Half-Track, an American-made vehicle originally designed for anti-aircraft use during World War II, was equipped with a quadruple .50 caliber Browning M2 machine gun mount. Delivered through the Lend-Lease program, it served as a versatile air defense unit for the Soviet Union, providing essential support against enemy aircraft and enhancing the Red Army’s anti-aircraft capabilities on the Eastern Front.
History
The American M16 Half-Track, developed during World War II, was a highly effective self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle. It was built on the M3 half-track chassis and mounted with a quad .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun setup. Initially designed to counter air threats, the M16 provided mobile anti-aircraft defense for U.S. and Allied forces, proving particularly valuable during the invasion of Normandy in 1944 and in the European theater. Its mobility and heavy firepower allowed it to engage both air and ground targets effectively. After the war, the M16 saw use in various post-war conflicts and was widely respected for its versatility.
Soviet M17 ZSU History
The Soviet Union acquired the American M17 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (M17 MGMC), a self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery (SPAA) vehicle, in 1943.
The Soviet M17 ZSU, a self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle based on the American M17 half-track, was supplied through the Lend-Lease program during World War II to bolster the Soviet Union’s air defense against the overwhelming threat of German aircraft, especially during the intense battles on the Eastern Front, where the vehicle’s quad .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns provided valuable mobile anti-aircraft firepower, offering crucial protection to Soviet infantry and armored units against German strafing and bombing runs, particularly in key engagements like the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk, where the M17 ZSU was used to counter low-flying enemy aircraft and provide fire support in a rapidly changing battlefield; however, despite its high rate of fire and mobility, the M17’s slow speed and vulnerability to enemy fire from both ground and air targets limited its effectiveness in certain situations, and it was eventually outclassed by more advanced Soviet designs in the post-war years, yet its role in the defense of critical Soviet positions during the war cannot be understated, as it helped the Red Army mitigate the impact of German air superiority while showcasing the Soviet ability to adapt and integrate foreign equipment into its military strategy, with the M17 ZSU becoming one of the many Lend-Lease vehicles that contributed to the eventual Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, and despite its obsolescence in the later years of the war, the M17 ZSU’s legacy as a part of the Red Army’s air defense efforts remains significant in the context of Allied cooperation during the conflict.
Specifications
General Information
- Origin: United States (Lease for the USSR)
- Crew: 6
- USSR Received: 1,500
Dimensions
- Weight: 9.8 tons
- Length: 5.60 m (18.4 ft)
- Width: 2.50 m (8.2 ft)
- Height: 2.80 m (9.2 ft)
Armament
- Primary: 4 × .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine guns (mounted in a quad configuration)
Armor
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Thickness:
- Front: 19 mm (0.75 in)
- Sides: 19 mm (0.75 in)
- Turret: 19 mm (0.75 in)
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The M17’s front armor, especially on the crew compartment, could have been reinforced or modified in some Soviet variants to improve protection, although the difference wasn’t substantial. Both the M16 and M17 typically had relatively thin armor (ranging from 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches or 12.7mm to 19mm), but Soviet adaptations might have provided marginally improved frontal protection for crew survivability.
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The Soviet version of the M17 may have been given extra armor in the form of additional plating around the gunner and crew area to protect against shrapnel and small arms fire. While the American M16 had open positions for its gunners, some M17 models could have added more protection, such as additional armor around the turret mounting.
Engine and Performance
- Engine: International Harvester RED-450-B
- Horsepower: 143 hp
- Top Speed: 68 km/h (42 mph)
- Range: 160 km (100 miles)
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 10 hp/ton
The differences between the M16 and M17
Mobility:
M16 MGMC
“The M16 MGMC used a 147 hp White 160AX four-cycle, in-line gasoline, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The White 160AX drove through a Spicer 3461 constant mesh transmission using four forward speeds and one reverse. It was fueled by 72-octane gasoline, with the fuel tank (which is behind the drivers compartment) holding 227.1 l (72.1 US gal), and produced 325 ft-lbs (441 Nm) of torque at 1,200 rpm. This gave the vehicle a top speed of 72 km/h (45 mph) on the road and a range of approximately 320 km (200 mi) on the road.”
Weight
The M16 MGMC had a combat weight of 8,618 kg (19,000 lbs).
Armor
M17 MGMC
Mobility:
“The M17 MGMC used a 143 hp International Harvester RED-450-B, gasoline, liquid-cooled engine. The International Harvester RED-450-B drove through a constant mesh transmission using four forward speeds and one reverse. It was fueled by 72-octane gasoline, with the fuel tank (which is behind the drivers compartment) holding 227.1 l (72.1 US gal), producing 325 ft-lbs (441 Nm) of torque at 1,200 rpm. This gave the vehicle a top speed of 68 km/h (42 mph) on the road and a range of approximately 320 km (200 mi) on the road.”
Weight:
The M17 MGMC had a combat weight of 8,936 kg (19,700 lbs).
Armor:
Big thanks to @BSpiel8 for the additional information.
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