M16 MGMC
| This page is about the American SPAA M16 MGMC. For other half-track vehicles based on the M3, see M3 Half-Track (Family). |
Contents
Description
The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) is the second variant of the M3 half-track-based self-propelled anti-aircraft gun family. It was armed with four M2HB Browning heavy machine guns mounted on an M45 Quadmount. From May 1943 to March 1944, White Motor Company produced approximately 2700 units. As aircraft became more advanced, the utility of this vehicle diminished. During the Korean War, it was primarily used for ground support and was phased out of the U.S. Army in 1954. It was nicknamed the "Meat Chopper" due to its effectiveness against enemy low-flying aircraft and infantry, making it extremely popular among soldiers.
Introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals", the M16 MGMC plays similarly to the M13 MGMC. Since it is lightly armoured, it is best not to engage enemy ground units directly. Concentrate on enemy aircraft, but do not engage until the plane is close enough for direct hits. The main armament is extremely powerful, frequently igniting planes. Always reposition yourself after firing to improve your chances of survival.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 6.35 mm (31°) Hood front 12.7 mm (31°) Driver port |
6.35 mm | 6.35 mm | N/A |
| Turret | 12.7 mm | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Notes:
- Suspension bogies are 10 mm thick, suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, and tracks are 7 mm thick. Front wheels provide 2 mm armour.
Mobility
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 83 | 19 | 8.6 | 210 | 282 | 24.42 | 32.79 |
| Realistic | 76 | 18 | 131 | 148 | 15.23 | 17.21 | |
As a half-track, the M16 MGMC is light and thus agile. While it has a high top speed, the acceleration is quite slow: expect a cruise speed between 40 and 45 km/h instead. The reverse speed is good, allowing you to pull out of dangerous situations. Like all WW2 wheeled vehicles, you can not turn on the spot and always need space to change direction. However, thanks to the rear tracks, your turn radius remains small at small speed. But remember that the faster you drive, the bigger the turn radius will be. Changing directions in a cramped street can be difficult with the M16 MGMC. The lack of neutral steering makes turning on the spot slow (4 km/h): make sure to build a little speed before turning and you'll turn faster (12 km/h). The offroad mobility is average: the M16 MGMC reaches 14 km/h when fording and 18 km/h when driving uphill. The M16 MGMC has a very high cruise speed on hard surfaces (solid ground, roads). While its high speed is an advantage, it can turn into a disadvantage when manoeuvring at high speed: the M16 MGMC starts oversteering when you turn because of its high centre of gravity and ends up skidding uncontrollably. Be aware of this before gunning towards the frontline: limit your maximum speed and anticipate the braking phases. As it is equipped with front tires, the M16 MGMC struggles on soft terrain (sand, mud, snow). Light obstacles (fences and bushes) will make you bleed speed and medium to large obstacles (posts, trees, concrete blocks and parked vehicles) will stop your vehicle: avoid them.
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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After unlocking parts and FPE, the best course of action is getting the API belt, offering about 30 mm of penetration and a full belt of incendiary munition which will cause havoc among planes and lightly-armoured vehicles alike. After unlocking the API belt, turret adjustments and mobility upgrades can be chosen at player's discretion.
Armaments
Main armament
| 12.7 mm M2HB (x4) | 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 | 18.20 | 16.10 | 14.84 | 14.00 |
| 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
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 12 (+12) | 0 (+24) | Yes |
Notes:
- Although there are 24 ammo boxes, only 10 are modeled including 4 loaded on the machine guns.
- Since there are four .50 M2HB machine guns, each reload will load 4 ammo boxes onto the guns with each box containing 200 rounds.
Usage in battles
First of all go to a good open spot, most times it is enough to stay in the spawn point. Best ammunition for this vehicle are API (Armour Piercing Incendiary bullet) or APIT (Armour Piercing Incendiary Tracer bullet), as the specialized AP belt doesn't offer a significant advantage.
"The Meat Chopper" is inaccurate when enemy planes are operating at high altitudes, but in these cases, its function is more psychological than effective. Shooting short bursts at enemy planes at high altitudes will show them that the team is always covered by AA fire and it won't be an easy task a ground attack.
When an enemy is diving, the best way to defend the attack is by creating a thick fire curtain with prolonged bursts. The most vulnerable moment for aircraft is when they just dropped bombs or rockets and climb again. They're flying very slow and become easy targets. Take care if planes are attacking. Fighters with their MG's and cannons are a great menace. So start moving while firing and take cover behind trees or even buildings.
Watch out for remaining ammunition. The M16 MGMC has 800 rounds to shoot but reloading is very slow, making the M16 MGMC and the team vulnerable in the worst moments. More than 200 rounds is a good margin.
Don't try to do anti-tank tasks, the M16 MGMC is equipped with 50 cal. Machine guns are not as effective as cannons at fighting more armoured vehicles, as they have much less penetration, so stay at the spawn point and do anti-aircraft work. The machine gun tracers can reveal enemy snipers position shooting, allowing teammates to see them, but it's not advisable.
In addition, artillery barrages are very dangerous, move immediately and relocate.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Powerful guns that can shred planes with well-aimed bursts within 1 km
- API shells are powerful enough to damage or even destroy enemy light tanks and other SPAAs
- Fast on flat ground and can remarkably speed through terrain that would impede wheeled vehicles
- Can turn in place, compared to other wheeled SPAA
- Fast turret traverse allows following aircraft easily
- Can shrug off rifle calibre ammunition (<7.92 mm) quite easily
- Fast reverse speeds, can evacuate an area quickly if necessary
Cons:
- Poor survivability against all shells, bombs, and rockets due to thin armour and 3-men crew
- Fighter aircraft can destroy this vehicle, especially cannon-armed fighters
- Can not hurt vehicles to a full extent of its BR due to the bullets' lacklustre penetration
- No weight to pull: Towing or pushing allies is nearly impossible unless it is a lighter vehicle
- Prone to tipping over when turning at high speeds or travelling across steep inclines
- Vulnerable to artillery barrages since it has an open top
History
Development
The role of a mobile anti-aircraft vehicle in the US Army was seen as necessary in order to protect ground troops from enemy aircraft at any place of their deployment. The first such development was the M13 MGMC, which was an anti-aircraft system of two .50 cal machine gun on the back of an M3 Half-Track car. The M13 served with some success, but by 1943 an upgraded version was in production.
The new vehicle in development was an improvement over the M13 MGMC from replacing the two .50 cal machine guns with four instead, while still based off the M13 design by using the M3 Half-Track as the chassis. The prototype was called the T61 MGMC, but once accepted at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, it was designated the M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage. During the evaluations, some changes to the design were made, including the addition of a gun shield. Production started in May 1943 and continued on until March 1944 with the production of 2,877 M16 MGMC vehicles by White Motor Company. An additional 568 M13 and 109 T10 Half-tracks were also converted into M16 vehicles for a total of about 3,550 M16 units made.
Combat usage
The M16 MGMC saw service in early 1944, replacing the M13 that came before it. Deployment of the M16 MGMC is usually alongside the M15 CGMC, another anti-aircraft weapon equipped with a 37 mm autocannon as well as two .50 machine guns. The M16 MGMC was very popular with the troops as not only was it able to take down low-flying aircraft with relative ease, it was also used in an infantry support role where it earns the nickname "The Meat Chopper". The ability to provide covering fire with its four .50 calibre machine guns give the M16 a huge firepower advantage over the standard infantry and in some cases, were used to cut down trees where snipers were suspected to be hiding. The M16 also saw service with the Allies in the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union, where they make use of it in the same way America did in anti-aircraft and ground support roles. The M16 saw service in the Italian Campaign, the French Campaign, and the Battle of the Bulge.
After World War II, the M16 MGMC still saw service in American forces in the Korean War, as well as by their South Korean allies. While still superb at a ground support role (in most cases, anti-infantry), the advancing technology in aircraft make them more advanced and durable to the .50 calibre machine guns and so its effect as an anti-aircraft gun has diminished. By late 1951, the M16 MGMC was declared a "limited standard" and were gradually retired from US service, though they continued to serve until the end of the US involvement in the Korean War. The M16 MGMC was finally declared obsolete by 1958.
| Archive of the in-game description | |
|---|---|
|
The W.L. Maxson Corporation developed the M45 turret emplacement, which was equipped with four 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine guns, to meet troop requirements for more concentrated defensive fire. The new turret was tested on the M2 half-track personnel carrier chassis, later moving to the M3 chassis. The self-propelled AA weapon with the new turret went through trials and was accepted as the M16 MGMC. The new vehicles were produced by the White Motor Company beginning in May 1943, continuing through 1943 and into 1944. In all, 2,877 units were assembled. Almost all of the M16 MGMCs served in the US army's AA divisions, while an additional 70 were sent to the Free French army. The model was used primarily in the European theater to go along with a small number that saw action in the Philippines. The M16 MGMC was successfully used against both air and ground targets, as well as to take out enemy infantry. It was also used somewhat widely by US army divisions during the Korean War, after which it was removed from service. | |
Media
- Skins
See also
Export versions
Similar vehicles with the M45 Quadmount
Similar vehicles based on the M3 Half-Track
External links
- [Devblog] Steel Generals: M16 Halftrack
- [Devblog] Developers about the M16 MGMC
- [Vehicle Profile] M16 MGMC - The Meat Chopper
- [Wikipedia] M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
- [Tanks Encyclopedia] Half Track Car M3
- [Military Factory] M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC)
| 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 | ADATS · Imp.Chaparral · LAV-AD · XM975 |
