Half-Track History – WWII Transport Vehicles

Half-track history has gotten complicated with all the variants, manufacturers, and combat roles flying around. As someone who has spent years at military vehicle shows examining these unique hybrid machines, I learned everything there is to know about WWII’s most versatile transport vehicles. Today, I will share it all with you.

The Half-Track Concept

Half-tracks were a compromise, and an ingenious one. Wheels up front for steering on roads. Tracks in the back for cross-country traction. The result was a vehicle that could keep up with tanks off-road while still driving normally on pavement. The idea came from the French Citroen-Kegresse designs of the 1920s, and the Americans perfected it.

American Workhorses

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The U.S. produced over 40,000 half-tracks during WWII. The M2 carried infantry squads. The M3 hauled bigger loads. The M16 mounted quad .50 caliber machine guns in a powered turret — devastating against aircraft and infantry alike. The M15 combined a 37mm gun with twin .50 cals for anti-aircraft duty.

These vehicles showed up at every major American engagement from North Africa through the final push into Germany. Soldiers loved them for their reliability and versatility. They hated them for the thin armor that stopped small arms but not much else. It was a tradeoff everyone understood.

Legacy and Collecting

That’s what makes half-track history endearing to us military vehicle enthusiasts — these machines represented a transitional technology that worked remarkably well. Surviving examples are highly prized by collectors. Israel used modified American half-tracks well into the 1990s, giving the platform an incredibly long service life. Finding one today means owning a piece of a unique technological moment in military history — the bridge between wheeled and fully tracked warfare.