M6 Gun Motor Carriage

Being required to back into firing positions rather than forward firing proved to be a deficiency.

• Name — 37 mm gun motor carriage M6 • Origin — United States • Service — 1942–1945 • Used By — United States, Free France, Philippine Commonwealth • Wars — World War II • Unit Cost — $4,265 • Type — Tank destroyer • Is Vehicle — yes • Length — 14 ft • Width — 7 ft • Height — 6 ft • Weight — 7350 lb • Suspension — Semi-elliptic leaf spring • Speed — 55 mph on road • Vehicle Range — 180 mi on road • Primary Armament — 37 mm gun M3 80 rounds • Armour — Gun shield:.25 in • Engine — Dodge T-214 6 cylinder 4-cycle inline gasoline engine • Engine Power — 99 hp • Pw Ratio — 29.7 hp/metric ton • Crew — 4 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver)

• Illustration — Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers – to increase firepower, a 50 cal. machine gun was mounted on the front of the 37 mm gun truck (June 1943). With the design standardized in February 1942, 5,380 GMC 37 mm M6 GMC were built between April and October, 1942, at a cost of $4,265 per unit. American doctrine planned for tank destroyers to defeat enemy tank attacks while tank units proper carried out offensive duties. The 37 mm GMC M6 saw limited employment with U.S. forces (the 601st and 701st Tank Destroyer Battalions) during the campaign in Tunisia in late 1942 and early 1943. The vehicle was not well liked because it lacked armor and carried an anti-tank gun that was largely ineffective against German tanks of the period. The 37 mm GMC M6 also saw limited use in the Pacific Theater in 1943 and 1944. They equipped some Marine units, but were withdrawn before seeing combat. The 37 mm GMC M6 was soon classified as "limited standard" in September 1943, because of the availability of more powerful tank destroyers mounting 75 mm and 3 in guns. In January 1945, the GMC M6 was declared obsolete. After the Tunisian campaign, many M6 Fargos had their 37 mm gun removed and reverted to a cargo truck role as the WC52. Some of these 37 mm guns were mounted onto halftracks to provide the armored infantry with a gun halftrack. Other 37 mm GMC M6 vehicles found their way into service with the French Army, and were employed during the allied landings on Corsica. M6 vehicles were later provided to French Forces of the Interior units after the liberation of France. Despite the vehicle's obvious limitations on the battlefields of Northwest Europe 1944–1945, the FFI used practically any vehicle they could obtain because of equipment shortages of all kinds.