The best known American half-tracks were the M series made as a standardized design by Autocar, Diamond T, International and White. The M series had a similar front end to the White M3A1 Scout Car but used more powerful engines: a 147bhp 6.3-liter White AX in the Autocar, Diamond T, and White, and a 143bhp 1HC in the International. Each version had four-speed gearboxes with two-speed transfer boxes and drive to the front axle as well as the tracked bogie. The M series half-tracks were widely used by US forces in most theatres of the war, and were also supplied under the Lend-Lease Program to Great Britain, Canada and the Soviet Union. A total of 41,170 were made.

First deployed during the end of WWII and then again in the Korean War, the Maxom quadruple .50 caliber AA machine gun mount was called "Meat Chopper" because of its impressive firepower when used against human wave attacks.

This 1:32 scale vignette -- "Task Force Canham, Normandy, 1944" -- contains a M16 half-track, some assorted equipment and a few soldiers passing through a bombed out town. Sold Out!

Dimensions of Diorama:
Length: 12-1/2-inches
Width: 8-inches
Height: 7-1/2-inches

Release Date: December 2003

Historical Account: "Spearhead" - The 3rd Armored Division landed in Normandy and entered combat on June 29th, 1944, taking part in the hedgerow fighting. The Division broke out at Marigny and, with the 1st Infantry Division, swung south to Mayenne in a general exploitation of the St. Lo breakthrough. In August 1944, the Division participated in the heavy fighting involved in closing the Falaise Gap, pocketing the German Seventh Army. Six days later, the Division had cut across the Seine River, and was streaking through Meaux, Soissons, Laon, Mons, Namur, and Liege. Liege fell on September 8th and Eupen on the 11th. The Division breached the Siegfried Line with the capture of Rotgen on September 12th, and continued a slow advance against heavy resistance, to the vicinity of Langerwehe. When the Battle of the Bulge broke out, the Division was shifted to Houffalize, Belgium, where it severed a vital highway leading to St. Vith. In January, it participated in the reduction of the German salient west of Houffalize. After a brief rest, the Division returned to the front, crossed the Roer River- into Duren, broke out of the Duren bridgehead, and drove on to capture Cologne on March 6th 1945. The Division swept on to Paderborn, assisted in mopping up the Ruhr pocket, crossed the Saale River, and after overcoming stiff resistance took Dessau on April 23rd, 1945.