The M3 Scout Car (known as the White Scout Car in British Commonwealth service) was an American-produced armored car. The original M3 Scout Car was produced in limited numbers, while the improved M3A1 Scout Car saw wide service during World War II and after.
The main production variant, the M3A1 Scout Car, was a lightly armored, open topped, machine gun armed, four wheel drive vehicle designed to be used in the reconnaissance role. The M3A1 Scout Car was crewed by a driver and commander, while there was seating for six additional occupants in the rear.
Powered by a Hercules JXD 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine delivering , the M3A1 Scout Car had a maximum road speed of and the fuel tank gave a maximum range of . The vehicle’s four wheel drive and bumper mounted unditching roller enabled it to cross a wide trench and climb a high step, maximum fording depth was .
The armored body of the M3A1 Scout Car was produced by the Diebold Lock and Safe Company, it had a maximum armor thickness of and was open topped, providing good fields of view but no overhead protection for the occupants, a canvas cover was provided for protection from the elements. The underside protection was also limited, giving little protection from the effects of land mines for the vehicle’s occupants.
The M3A1 Scout Car was typically armed with a 0.5 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning heavy machine gun and one or two .30 cal (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns, all were mounted on a skate rail upon which the pintle mounts could be moved about. Due to its open top, the occupants were also able to employ their personal weapons.
M1 Scout Car
The M1 Scout Car was the first of a new series of armored cars developed by the White Motor Company for the US Army. Tested in 1934, the M1 Scout Car was an improvised, open topped four-wheel drive vehicle based on a commercial White 1⁄2-ton truck design. It weighed , was powered by a engine, and had a top speed of . The M1 Scout Car had a crew of four, a maximum armor thickness of and was armed with machine guns mounted on static mounts inside the vehicle.