During the production of the M18 it was realized that the M3 1/2-tracks were hard pressed in keeping up with the new Hellcats and it was decided to use a modified version of the M18s chassis as a new general purpose vehicle. 650 M18 chassis were converted for use as the M39 Armored Utility Vehicle. The M39 was basically a M18 without the turret with the addition of a of a gun ring for a M2 machine gun and a small armored parapet. The vehicle was deployed in mid 1945 to the ETO but saw little action before the war's end. The M39 would see action later in Korea and Vietnam and was a useful vehicle even though it lacked all-around armored protection for its crew.
I love this little guy! It is a perfect APC for your gaming and fits into the stop-gap mind set before fully enclosed armored carriers were deployed. With the addition of a gun ring and some pintle-mounted .30s it could really lay down some fire. The vehicle could hold up to 11 men which would serve as a great APC so leave those M3 1/2-tracks in the motor pool. I just use the armor and characteristics as the M18 but with the hit locations of the M20 armored car. This thing can really book (speed 15) and get your men in and out fast and with its decent armor (max 5) this puts the M3 to shame. Now this is no Bradly and can't be used in such a manner but it is a hardy tracked vehicle that can move your men quickly in better protection then most other personnel carriers in the US arsenal. Give this fun little vehicle a try as your combat engineer's APC or used as a fast recon vehicle. The only drawback is that I can't find it as a model. It wouldn't be to hard to convert a M18 but those are a bit hard to come buy in the scale I play but if you play smaller or larger you might have better luck.
