M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
An American M16 in 1945
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1943–53
Wars	World War II, Korean War
Production history
Designer	White Motor Company
Designed	1940–42
Manufacturer	White Motor Company
Produced	1942–44
No. built	3,550 (including ones that were converted from the M13 and T10)
Specifications
Weight	9.9 short tons (9 t)
Length	21 ft 4 in (6.5 m)
Width	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Height	7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Crew	3
Main armament	4 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns
Engine	White 160AX, 386 in3 (6,330 cc) 6-cylinder, gasoline, compression ratio 6.3:1, 128 hp (95 kW)
Power/weight	15.8 hp/tonne
Suspension	vertical volute springs; leaf springs for wheels
Fuel capacity	60 US gal (230 l)
Operational range	175 mi (282 km)
Speed	41.7 mph (67.1 km/h)

The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the M16 Half-track, was an American self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon built during World War II. It was equipped with four 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in a M45 Quadmount. 2700 were produced by White Motor Company from May 1943 to March 1944, with 568 M13 MGMCs and 109 T10 Half-tracks being converted into M16s as well.

The chassis was derived from the T1E2 chassis, an earlier version of the M13. Based on an M3 Half-track chassis, it replaced the M13 MGMC half-track after early 1944. As aircraft became more advanced, the usefulness of the M16 was reduced. In the Korean War, it was relegated primarily to the ground-support role, being put out of service in the U.S. Army in 1951.

Nicknamed the "Meat Chopper", the M16 was famous for its effectiveness against low-flying aircraft and infantry, making it extremely popular with soldiers. It was used by the United States Army, the British Commonwealth, and South Korea. A similar version of the M16, the M17, was based on the M5 Half-track and exported via Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union.

The specifications of the M16 were similar to those of the M3 Half-track. It was 21 ft 4 in (6.5 m) long (with a wheelbase of 135.5 in (3.44 m)), 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) wide, and 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) high and weighed 9.9 short tons (9 t). It had suspension consisting of vertical volute spring suspension for the tracks and leaf springs for the wheels.

It was powered by a 128 horsepower (95 kW) White 160AX 386 cubic inch (6,300 cc) 6-cylinder gasoline engine. It had a compression ratio of 6.3:1 and a 60 US gallon (230 l) fuel tank. It could reach a top speed of 41.7 mph (67.1 km/h) and a range of 175 miles (282 km) and a power to weight ratio of 15.8 horsepower per tonne. It had a main armament of four 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in a M45 Quadmount and 12 millimeters of armor on the front and the sides.