| M14 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage | |
|---|---|
 The M5 Half-track the base of the M14. | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service |
1942–1943 (1943–1945 as substitute standard) |
| Used by |
United States, United Kingdom (rebuilt as carriers) |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | International Harvester |
| Designed | 1940–1942 |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester |
| Produced | 1942–1943 |
| No. built | 1600[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.8 short tons (8.9 t) |
| Length |
6.18 m (20.3 ft) wheelbase 135.5 in (3.44 m)[2] |
| Width | 2.22 m (7.3 ft) |
| Height | 2.26 m (7.4 ft) |
| Crew | 3 |
|
| |
| Armor |
hull: 6 mm (0.24 in) Windscreen visor: 12.7 mm (0.50 in) |
Main armament | 2x M2 Browning machine gun |
| Engine |
IHC RED-450-B, 450 cu in (7,400 cc) 143 bhp |
| Suspension | half track, vertical volute springs; front tread 64.5 to 66.5 in (1,640 to 1,690 mm)[2] |
| Fuel capacity | 60 US gal (230 l)[2] |
Operational range | 125 mi (201 km)[2] |
| Maximum speed | 42 mph (68 km/h) |
The M14 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage was an self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery produced for the United States in World War II by International Harvester for Lend-Lease to Allies. The M14 was a variant of the M13 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage based on the M5 Half-track (the M13 was based on the M3 Half-track). Both the M13 and M14 were supplanted by the M16 Half-track and M17 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage half-tracks which had four heavy machine guns in a M45 Quadmount to the M14's two in a M33 Maxson mount.
Although intended for supply to the British under the Lend-Lease, it was not accepted as such and most were rebuilt as carriers.
Development[]
In order to produce a light self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, two 0.5 in (13 mm) M2 heavy machine guns in a M33 turret mount produced by Maxson[3] were mounted on a M3 Half-track to produce the half-track M13 MGMC. The same turret mount when fitted to the M5 Half-track was designated the M14 half-track. These two were accepted for production in mid-1942. Several hundred were produced before the superior four machine gun M45 Quadmount Maxson mounting was accepted in late 1942 for production and this on a M3 gave the M16 MGMC halftrack and on the M5 gave the M17 MGMC.[4]
The entirety of M14 production was scheduled for delivery to the British but were not acceptable for their needs and "most" were rebuilt as carriers instead.[4]
Service history[]
Like other half tracks the soldiers complained about overhead cover from bombs and artillery. But it served well as an low range support for infantry and as a low range anti-aircraft gun. They were leased to the United Kingdom. Most of them where rebuilt in Britain as carriers.[3]
It was produced by International Harvester to be a version of the M13 Half-track. It was only leased in 1941 and 1942. International Harvester produced 1600 of them.
References[]
Citations
Bibliography
- Berndt, Thomas (1993). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-223-0.
- Zaloga, Steven J. (2004). M3 Infantry Half-Track 1940–1973. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing
- Rickard, J (16 May 2014), "M14 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage" History of War
The original article can be found at M14 Half-track and the edit history here.