M3 Gun Motor Carriage

The M3 gun motor carriage (M3 GMC) was a U.S. Army tank destroyer equipped with a 75 mm M1897A4 gun, which was built by the Autocar Company during World War II. It was initially known as the T12/M3. After the addition of features such as the gun shield from the M2A3, the new vehicle entered production under the name M3GMC. A total of 2,203 were produced, of which 1,361 were converted back into M3A1 half-tracks. It served in the Philippines Campaign in 1942 with the Provisional Field Artillery Brigade in the anti-tank and the fire-support role. It then served in North Africa in tank destroyer battalions. It proved effective against the Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go and Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks, starting with the Battle of Saipan. It later served in Battle of Okinawa, the Battleof Peleliu and many other island battles. Firing the M61 armor piercing round, the gun could penetrate up to 3 inches (76 mm) of armor at 1,000 yards (910 m)