M13 MGMC

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This page is about the American SPAA M13 MGMC. For other vehicles based on the M3 half-track, see M3 Half-Track (Family).
M13 MGMC
us_halftrack_m13.png
GarageImage M13 MGMC.jpg
ArtImage M13 MGMC.png
M13 MGMC
AB RB SB
1.3 1.7 1.7
Class:
Research:2 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:700 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The M13 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) is the first variant of the M3 half-track-based self-propelled anti-aircraft gun family. The White Motor Company produced it between July 1942 and May 1943 in response to a requirement for a mobile anti-aircraft vehicle. It evolved from a series of unsuccessful prototypes tested between 1940 and 1942. It was only used in combat once, when the U.S. Army landed at Anzio in January 1944, before being replaced by the more heavily armed M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) in April 1944.

Introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals", the M13 MGMC is a lightly armoured vehicle. The armour on the M13 MGMC is very thin, and the lack of sloping makes it an easy target. As a result, rely on its exceptional maneuverability, handling, and speed to stay in cover at all times. Although the main armament can penetrate some light tanks, engaging them as the primary objective is not recommended. When confronted with an artillery barrage, always reposition, as the fragments can easily destroy this vehicle.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull6 / 6 / 6
Turret12 / 6 / 6
Crew3 people
Visibility75 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Structural Steel (Gun breech, Suspension)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 6 mm (31°) Hood front
13 mm (31°) Driver port
6 mm 6 mm 6 mm Engine Compartment
Turret 13 mm 6 mm N/A N/A

Notes:

  • Tracks are 7 mm thick.
  • Chassis are 10 mm thick, while the caterpillar wheels are 15 mm thick.
  • Wheels are 2 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB80 / 19 km/h
RB and SB73 / 17 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
2 back
Weight8.3 t
Engine power
AB282 hp
RB and SB148 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB34.0 hp/t
RB and SB17.8 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 80 19 8.3 210 282 25.3 33.98
Realistic 73 17 131 148 15.78 17.83

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB102 → 131 Sl icon.png
RB91 → 117 Sl icon.png
SB140 → 180 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications2 975 Rp icon.png
885 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 Sl icon.png
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces20 Ge icon.png
Research Aces96 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 20 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
320 Rp icon.png
Cost:
95 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
320 Rp icon.png
Cost:
95 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement us.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
12mm_usa_M2HB_API_ammo_pack
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
12mm_usa_M2HB_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods aa cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
12mm_usa_M2HB_APIT_ammo_pack
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
320 Rp icon.png
Cost:
95 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

2 x 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition4 800 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 90°
Main article: M2HB (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 4,800 (200) 577 -10°/+90° ±180° N/A 52.84 73.13 88.80 98.20 104.47 10.40 9.20 8.48 8.00
Realistic 35.70 42.00 51.00 56.40 60.00

Ammunition

  • Common: API-T · I · AP · API-T - These rounds work well until the others are researched.
  • API: API-T · AP-I · API-T - These are absolutely devastating in the AA role with slightly less performance against enemy tanks than AP.
  • AP: AP · AP · API-T - These are best against enemy tanks at close range and do good damage to planes.
  • APIT: API-T - Better than API in all regards but not as good against tanks as AP, this is the belt of choice in almost all situations. Since every bullet is a tracer, it makes destroying aircraft much easier and detectability is not greatly increased over AP-I, however is increased a bit over AP.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
AP 31 29 21 14 9 6
I 7 7 6 5 3 3
API-T 29 27 19 12 7 5
AP-I 30 27 19 12 8 5
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AP 894 0.05 - - - 47° 56° 65°
I 944 0.04 0 3 0 47° 56° 65°
API-T 929 0.04 - - - 47° 56° 65°
AP-I 929 0.04 - - - 47° 56° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M13 MGMC
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
24 20 (+4) 16 (+8) 10 (+14) (+18) (+22) No

Usage in battles

With the M13, the armour is very thin, and the lack of sloping makes the M13 an extremely easy target. Therefore, rely on the exceptional maneuverability, handling, and speed to either stay in cover or flank weaker tanks. Always relocate when faced with an artillery barrage as the shells will tear the thinly-armoured vehicle apart.

Against planes, basic aiming rules apply. Fighters may target you due to the sole designation of SPAA. Hence, always remain on the lookout for enemy aircraft. Strafing aircraft can be extremely deadly; stay in cover and lead your target. The M2s have exceptional AAA ability, take use of their tendency to set opponents alight.

Against tanks, flanking and hit and run are a must. The high rate of fire, good handling/mobility, and turret traverse make the M13 a wonderful hit-and-run tank. Aim for crew hatches and weak points in armour. Many times the high fire rate and penetration can easily knock out a crew of sublime armour. However, against better-armoured tanks such as the T-26 or M3 Lee, always stay out of the line of fire and try to avoid tanks such as these altogether.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great rate of fire
  • Exceptional mobility and speed
  • M2 MGs are effective against thinly-armoured vehicles (BT-5, Pz.II C, etc.)
  • Maximum reverse speed is 16 km/h (10 MPH)
  • Can turn in place, as compared to the GAZ-AAA (4M)
  • Can penetrate the sides and rear of most contemporary vehicles
  • Respectable reload rate for a trained crew
  • Traverse rate is acceptable for its peers
  • Reload time is acceptable
  • AP-T rounds are the same as on the P-51 D models and are extremely effective against planes and thinly armoured vehicles alike

Cons:

  • Armour is extremely thin- coaxial guns attached to other tanks can easily knock out the crew
  • Crew exposed - easily taken out by tanks
  • Gun does very little damage to heavily armoured vehicles/tanks
  • Bullets are small and individually may do little or no damage even if they hit a module
  • Vulnerable to all cannon shells
  • Artillery strikes can easily destroy this vehicle

History

Development

The changing concept of warfare ever since aircraft were introduced into combat led to the role of the anti-aircraft. As such, the US Army submitted a request for the development of a mobile anti-aircraft vehicle to defend themselves against enemy aircraft. Development didn't start until October 1940 to build such a vehicle, with the purpose to protect mechanized troops from airstrikes. The first build up was a 4x4 truck with an anti-aircraft armament of two .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns, this was called the T1. The development went on with T1E1 with a Bendix mount on an M2 half-track car and the T1E2 with the Maxson mount. T1E3 had an electro-dynamic aircraft turret made for bombers from the Glenn L. Martin Company. Of these three, the T1E2 was selected for further development. The turret design on the T1E2 was placed onto the longer M3 half-track for more ammunition storage. This design, known as the T1E4, was accepted into service as the M13 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage on July 27, 1942. A total of 1,103 units were produced from that day until May 15, 1943, though about 583 units were converted to the M16 MGMC before being delivered. First deliveries came in late 1943.

Combat usage

The M13 saw service during the Italian Campaign in the landing at Anzio in January 1944. It served as an anti-aircraft weapon for the initial landings and then later as a ground support role by firing at ground troops and vehicles. The M13 GMC only saw service here, as they were replaced three months later by the newer and better M16 MGMC vehicle, which had four .50 cal machine guns rather than two. Only 139 units of the M13 GMC were deployed overseas by the army.


Archive of the in-game description

Work on a mobile anti-aircraft emplacement began in October 1940, as the US Army needed vehicles capable of covering mechanized columns against enemy air units. In 1941 the Diamond T(WMC) M2 half-track, mass produced by the White Motor Company, was selected as the base for the new model. During trials with a number of different weapon types the decision was made to use the double-barreled W.L. Maxson Corporation M33 machine gun turret equipped with two 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine guns as the main armament. The Maxson turret offered 360° rotation to go along with 90°+ to -11.5° elevation, and was capable of power rotation at 74° per second.

Following trials, the recommendation was made to accept the weapon and launch full-scale production based on the M3 half-track personnel carrier. That decision was based on the fact that the M3 was 250 mm longer, making it an easier fit for the armament and crew.

The first mass-produced vehicles were launched by the White Motor Company in December 1942 as the M13 MGMC (Multiple Gun Motor Carriage). Production of that modification continued through May 1943, with 1,103 units eventually built.

The M13 MGMCs joined the US army's AA battalions. By the time the allies landed in France, 568 of them had been refitted with the later M45 turrets. Some M13 MGMCs fought in Sicily, though none were delivered to other countries.


Media

Skins

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


White Motor Company
SPAAs  M13 MGMC · M15 CGMC · M16 MGMC
Export  ▅M16 MGMC

USA anti-aircraft vehicles
M3 Half-track derivatives  M13 MGMC · M15 CGMC · M16 MGMC
M24 derivative  M19A1
M41 derivative  M42
Radar SPAAG  M163 · M247
Missile SPAA  Imp.Chaparral · LAV-AD · XM975