M6 Gun Motor Carriage file photo [16275]

M6 Gun Motor Carriage

CountryUnited States
Primary RoleTank Destroyer

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe M6 Gun Motor Carriage tank destroyers were built by mating 37-millimeter M3 light anti-tank guns with Dodge-built WC-55 3/4-ton light trucks. The guns were mounted facing the rear, and typically fired Armor Piercing Capped (APC) M51 Projectile shells and High Explosive (HE) M63 Projectile shells. Each vehicle could carry up to 80 rounds of ammunition. Between Apr and Oct 1942, 5,380 examples were built at the cost of US$4,265 each. Deployed to 601st and 701st Tank Destroyer Battalions of the US Army, they saw action in Tunisia in late 1942 and early 1943 with limited success largely due to the guns' inability to penetrate the armor of heavier German tanks. Beginning in 1943, these tank destroyers also saw some service in the Pacific War. In Sep 1943, they were superseded by tank destroyer vehicles with larger caliber guns, thus some, but not all, of them had their guns removed to revert them back to cargo-carrying trucks. Those still serving combat roles were withdrawn from the front lines in Jan 1945 when the M6 Gun Motor Carriage design was finally declared obsolete.

ww2dbase37 examples of M6 Gun Motor Carriage tank destroyers were given to the Free French forces during the war.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Oct 2012

SPECIFICATIONS

M6 Gun Motor Carriage
MachineryOne Dodge T-214 engine rated at 99hp
SuspensionSemi-elliptic
Armament1x37mm M3 gun (80 rounds)
Armor0.25in gun shield
Crew4
Length4.52 m
Width2.24 m
Height2.11 m
Weight3.3 t
Speed53 km/h
Range290 km

Photographs

37 mm Gun M3 mounted aboard a M6 Gun Motor Carriage, with additional .50 cal machine gun attached, 3 miles west of Watertown, Tennessee, United States, 6 Jun 1943M6 Gun Motor Carriage with 37 mm Gun M3 anti-tank gun, Newport News, Virginia, United States, 3 Aug 1943




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Search WW2DB
M6 Gun Motor Carriage Tank Destroyer Photo Gallery
37 mm Gun M3 mounted aboard a M6 Gun Motor Carriage, with additional .50 cal machine gun attached, 3 miles west of Watertown, Tennessee, United States, 6 Jun 1943
See all 2 photographs of M6 Gun Motor Carriage Tank Destroyer


Famous WW2 Quote
"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

Winston Churchill, 1935


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!