M2 half-track car

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M2 half-track
US
Type	Half-track artillery tractor/reconnaissance vehicle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	See Former operators
Wars	World War II First Indochina War Cambodian Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution
Production history
Designer	Firestone Defense Division
Specifications
Mass	9 metric tons
Length	5.96 m (19 ft 7 in)
Width	2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height	2.26 m (7 ft 5 in)
Crew	2
Passengers	7
Armor	6–12 mm
Main armament	0.5 inch M2 Browning heavy machine gun
Secondary armament	14 mines, 10 hand grenades[1]
Engine	386 cu in (6.33 L) White 160AX inline six[1] 148 hp (110 kW; 150 PS)[1]
Suspension	Wheeled front axle, rear track
Operational range	220 mi (350 km) (average)[1]
Maximum speed	45 mph (72 km/h)[1]

The M2 half-track car was an armored half-track produced by the United States during World War II. Its design drew upon half-tracks imported from France in the 1930s, employing standard components supplied by U.S. truck manufacturers to speed production and reduce costs. The concept was designed, and the pilot models manufactured by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (before the prototype was officially labeled M2.)^[2] Production by the White Motor Company began in 1940 and was expanded to include Autocar.

The M2 was initially intended for use as an artillery tractor, but also found use with reconnaissance units. International Harvester Company built the M9 half-track, a variant of their M5 half track, to fulfill the same purpose. It saw wide use in World War II, chiefly by the United States, but also by its allies. A few legacy units were used in the Nicaraguan Revolution.