HISTORY
The M3A1 Halftrack was a WW2 armored personnel carrier that was built by the White Motor Car Company and was first accepted into service in May of 1941, with over 5,000 produced. The M3A1 was armed with a 12.7mm M2HB on an M49 ring mount directly above the passenger seat (or the right side). In addition to that, it was also able to mount two 7.62 M1919A4 machine guns on the sides
The M3A1 first saw action in combat during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941 and saw use in every theater of WW2 until 1943, when its drawbacks led to it being mostly replaced by more armored vehicles. It was used in many roles, including troop transport, recon, screening, logistics, medical transport, anti-aircraft, and even as a command vehicle. The M3 series of half-tracks is one of the most important vehicles of WW2, with its importance only being overshadowed by its more armored and famous siblings, such as the M4.
In-game, the M3A1 would likely function as a tank destroyer (due to the M2 .50 being originally intended for use as an anti-tank weapon prior to the outbreak of the Second World War) and would have similar if not identical performance to the M13 MGMC seen in the US tech tree due to it being basically the same vehicle just lighter and with one less machine gun.
Technical data:
Mobility
Engine: White 160AX; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, in-line gasoline (147 hp at 3000 rpm)
Top Speed: 45mph
Turning radius: 30 feet
Armor
Front: 6.35mm
Sides: 6.35mm
Rear: 6.35mm
Top: None
Windshield cover: 13mm
Armarment
1x .50 M2HB with 7x100 per magazine (700 rounds total)
Max pen is 30mm
- yes
- no
- maybe (list why or why not)
Sources
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/TM/pdfs/TM9-710.pdf
Half-track Personnel Carrier M3
https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/aircraft/m2a1-half-track
Carrier, Personnel, Half-Track, M3A1 | TM 9-2800: Standard Military Motor Vehicles, Technical Manual, U.S. War Department, September 1, 1943 (Lone Sentry)