United States' M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
Nickname: Meat Chopper
Photos
M16  White Motor Car |
M16 |
M16 |
Design
There was a need to replace the M13 so development started on the M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage in December 1942.2
The M16 had two cargo boxes at the rear.
Armament
The rear compartment had all its internal fittings removed and the M45 mount was fitted.2 The mount had to be raised 6" / 152 mm to clear the sides.2 There was no rear door and the tops of the sides were hinged so that they could be lowered.2
Traverse 60° per second. 400-500 rounds per minute. There was enough ammunition carried to allow the M16 to fire for eight minutes of sustained fire.2 Range of 7,200 yards.
Interrupter switches prevented guns from firing when entering drivers compartment area. Used Maxson turret.
The gunner would sit on a seat reclined at 45°. The sight was positioned so that the gunner could follow the sight so he wouldn't have to move. The control grips were on a handlebar that were located on a post between his knees. By rotating the handlebar would rotate the gun or raise and lower it.
Prototype
Production
- M16: 724, 2,8772
- Manufacturer: White Motor Company2
- Production: May 1943 - March 19442
- M13 conversion: 7372
- Conversion by: Diebold Incorporated (60)2, White Motor Company2
- Total: 3,6142
Variants
- M13 conversion: Some of the M13s were converted to the M16.2
- M16: Main production.2
Usage
Pacific
In the Pacific the Marine Corps found the M16 to be highly desired with the volume of fire it could deliver to ground targets.2
Post World War II
The M16s were used by the United States Army until 1958.2 The M45 mount would be used until 1970.2
Twelve countries were still using the M16 in 1980.2
Specifications
| M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage2 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, gunner, loaders (2) 52 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19,800 lb 10 tons2 10,160 kg2 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 3"2, 21' 4" 6.14 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 8", 8' 7"2 2.62 m2 |
| Width | 6' 6"2 2 m2 |
| Ground clearance | 11 3/16" |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 4: .50 cal M2 MG 4: 0.5" Browning MG2 4: 12.7 mm Browning MG2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | .45 Submachine gun M1903 .30 Rifle 3: M1 Carbines Grenades |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 5,000 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | .45: 420 Grenades: 36 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 0.5"2 12.72 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 12.72 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 6 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 6 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 6 |
| Hull Rear | 6 |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | 6.35 |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | White 160AX2 |
| Cylinders | 62 |
| Net HP | 1282 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Gasoline2 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, 60°/second |
| Speed - Road | 45 mph2 64 kph2 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 180-215 miles, 200 miles2 280 km2 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | -10° to 90° |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | 1' |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | |
| Track centers/tread | 135.5" |
Sources:
- -
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
