White
Motor Company in World War Two
Cleveland, OH
1900-1980
Rest in Peace
This page
updated 6-26-2020.
White 1916 Armored Car in
the Mexican Punitive Expedition: The 1916 White Armored Car is
on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA.
The vehicle is located outside the Armor and Calvary Gallery.
The White was restored in six months' time by the personnel of Armor
Museum Restoration Shop at Fort Benning.
The armored plate was
installed on a 1916 White truck chassis at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL. The vehicle then became part of General Pershing's
Mexican Punitive Expedition to find Poncho Villa in Mexico. After
the Expedition was over, the 1916 White served at Fort Brown, TX.
In the 1930's, it was moved to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where work
was being done on the next generation of armored cars. The vehicle
came to Fort Benning, with the closing of the outside displays at the
Aberdeen Proving Grounds during Army museum consolidation.

Author's photo added 9-21-2018.

Author's photo added 9-21-2018.

Author's photo added 9-21-2018.

Author's photo added 9-21-2018.

The floor and the fire wall of the 1916
White Armored Car is wood. Author's photo added 9-21-2018.

This early White Motor Company truck is on
display at the Sam Werner Military Museum in Monteagle, TN. The
hard rubber has worn off the front wheels but not the back. This
truck was used to haul logs at the nearby Werner lumber mill.
Author's photo added 2-26-2020.

Author's photo added 2-26-2020.

Author's photo added 2-26-2020.

This 1919 White fire truck is on display at
the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, OH. It served with
the Elyria, OH fire department from 1919 until 1948. Author's
photo added 4-21-2019.

Author's photo added 4-21-2019.
In 1942 White was the first truck manufacturer to win the coveted
Army-Navy "E" award.

The White Motor Company won the Army-Navy
"E" award five times.
White Motor Company World War Two Production
Statistics: (12,329) trucks of various types, (20,894) M3A1
Scout Cars, and (15,414) half-tracks of various types. White also
converted 785 half-tracks from one type to another. White not only supplied the
Hercules engines for its own
half-tracks, but it also supplied the engines for those built by Autocar and Diamond T.
Table 1
White Motor Company
World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
Type |
White Model |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
4-ton 6x6 Cargo
SWB w/w |
950x6 |
79 |
|
|
|
|
|
79 |
4-ton 6x6 Wrecker
w/w |
950x6 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
4-6-ton, 4x4
Tractor |
444T |
|
|
|
|
1,510 |
1,241 |
2,751 |
6-ton 6x6 Chassis
w/w for Bridge Erector |
666CE |
|
|
|
|
823 |
329 |
1,152 |
6-ton 6x6 Chassis
Van |
666 |
|
|
1,062 |
808 |
|
|
1,870 |
6-ton
6x6 Prime Mover w/w |
666 |
|
|
726 |
795 |
669 |
1756 |
3,946 |
6-ton
6x6 Tank Gas 2000 Gal |
666 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
25 |
10-ton 6x4 GSLC |
? |
|
|
506 |
946 |
579 |
469 |
2,500 |
Total |
|
85 |
|
2,294 |
2,574 |
3,561 |
3,795 |
12,329 |
Table 2
White Motor Company
World War Two M3A1 Scout Cars Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
Type |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
Total M3A1 |
825 |
1,908 |
7,046 |
10,174 |
941 |
|
20,894 |
Table 3
White Motor Company
World War Two Half-tracks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
Type |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
M2 |
|
3,141 |
3,410 |
1,872 |
|
|
8,423 |
M2A1 |
|
|
|
625 |
341 |
|
966 |
M3 |
|
100 |
53 |
|
|
|
153 |
M4, 81mm mortar |
|
1 |
571 |
|
|
|
572 |
M4A1, 81mm mortar |
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
600 |
M21, 81mm mortar |
|
|
|
|
110 |
|
110 |
T30, 75mm gun, M3 |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
500 |
T10E1, twin 20mm
gun |
|
|
|
|
110 |
|
110 |
M13, twin .50cal
HB |
|
|
|
1,103 |
|
|
1,103 |
M16, multiple gun |
|
|
|
2,323 |
554 |
|
2,877 |
Total |
|
3,242 |
4,534 |
6,523 |
1,115 |
|
15,414 |
Table 4
White Motor Company
World War Two Half-track Conversions Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
Type |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
M3, converted
from T30, 75mm |
|
|
|
108 |
|
|
108 |
M16, converted
from twin 20mm gun, T10E1, chassis only |
|
|
|
|
109 |
|
109 |
M16, converted
from twin .50 cal HB , M13 |
|
|
|
568 |
|
|
568 |
Total |
|
|
|
676 |
109 |
|
785 |
Table 5
White Motor Company manufactured
half-track information |
Year |
Number built |
Type |
Comments |
1941-43 |
8,423 |
M2 |
M2 was designed
as an artillery prime mover and ammunition carrier. It
could seat ten troops. |
1941-42 |
153 |
M3 |
Rearrangement of
the interior of the M2 created the M3 that had seating for 13
troops and a rear exit door. It was also ten inches longer
in the rear of the vehicle. |
1941-42 |
572 |
M4 |
This carried a
81mm mortar on a M2 chassis. White was the only
manufacturer of the M4. |
1942 |
110 |
T10E1 |
These units were
mounted with two 20mm cannon in a Maxson mount to test the
feasibility of its use. All but one were converted to M16s
in 1944. See below |
1942 |
500 |
T30 |
This as an M3
chassis with a 75mm howitzer |
1943 |
108 |
T30 |
Converted from M3
production. This was a 75mm howitzer version. This
may not have been new production. |
1943 |
600 |
M4A1 |
This carried a
81mm mortar. White was the only manufacturer of the M4A1
which had a reinforced floor. |
1943 |
1,103 |
M13 |
This was a M3 but
with four .50 M2 machine guns mounted in a Maxson M33 turret to
provide mobile anti-aircraft capability for the
infantry. |
1943 |
568 |
M16 |
M13 to M16.
Not new production. Remanufactured. |
1943-44 |
2,877 |
M16 |
This was a M3 but
with four .50 M2 machine guns mounted in a Maxson M45 turret to
provide mobile anti-aircraft capability for the
infantry. |
1943-44 |
966 |
M2A1 |
Same as M2 but
with .50 M2 machine gun mounted on a ring mount over right hand
seat in the driver's compartment. |
1944 |
109 |
M16 |
Converted from
T10E1 to M16. Not new production from 1942. |
1944 |
110 |
M21 |
This carried a
81mm mortar. White was the only manufacturer of the M21
which was built on an M3 chassis. |
Total |
16,199 |
|
If the 108 T30
and the 109 and 568 M16 conversions are subtracted from 16,199,
the remainder is 15,414 units which is the total found in Table
3. |

These White Motor Company armored vehicles
from World War Two were photographed at the Fort Benning, GA. The
M3 half-track and M3A1 scout car are part of the U.S. Army's Armor and
Cavalry Collection. Author's photo added 4-29-2020.
M3A1 Scout Cars:

This M3A1 scout car is on display at the
Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, NH. Author's photo added
4-18-2020.

This M3A1 is Ordnance Serial Number 1477 and
was built in February 1941. Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

Note that this is an operable scout car and
is registered as an antique vehicle in New Hampshire. Author's
photo added 4-18-2020.

Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

This overhead view of the scout care give an
excellent view of the interior of the vehicle. Note the skate rail
that runs all the way around the vehicle for mounting machine guns.
Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

This photo of an excellent restoration of a
1943 White M3A1 Scout Car was provided by Jim Moffett. The vehicle
is owned by his brother.

This White1943 M3A1 Scout Car was also
photographed by the author at the 2014 MVPA Annual Convention.
Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

This White M3A1 is on display at the US Army
Basic Combat Training Museum at Fort Jackson. Author's photo added
4-6-2015.

This 1943 M3A1 was on display at the 2017
MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH. It is owned by Dr.
James Laws and is serial number 265365. Author's photo added
4-29-2020.

This White M3A1 was photographed at Fort
Benning, GA and is part of the collection of the U.S. Army Armor and
Cavalry Collection. Author's photo added 3-29-2020.

This M3A1 is owned by the National Museum of
World War II Aviation of Colorado Springs, CO and was on display at the
2017 Pikes Peak Airshow. Author's photo added 6-2-2020.
Half-tracks:
The next logical step was to give the scout car
a set of tracks in the rear for better mobility
over rough ground.
White-built M2 artillery prime mover half-tracks:

This M2 half-track is on display at the
Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, NH. Like the M3A1 scout car at
the museum, the M2 is licensed for public road travel. Author's
photo added 4-18-2020.

The M2 was designed as an armored prime
mover for artillery. One feature of the M2 half-track series are
ammunition storage compartments behind the doors on both sides of the
vehicle. The storage compartment door has "Smokey Stover" painted
on it and has two latches at the top of the door. On White-built
half-tracks the quarter-inch armor plate was fabricated and installed by
the Diebold Safe and Lock Company. Once the chassis was complete,
the partially finished vehicles were driven to the Diebold plant where
the armor was installed. Then the vehicles were driven back to the
White plant for final assembly before shipment. Note that all of
the button head screws that fasten the armor plate to the vehicle have
their slots in a vertical position. This allows for a visual check
to see if any of them have become loose. Author's photo added
4-18-2020.

The USMC used a different color of OD
paint than the army. Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

The view from the balcony at the museum
allows for a view into the vehicle. The ammunition storage
compartments can be see along with the skate rail for the machine guns.
Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

This M2 has Ordnance serial number 3086 and
was built in 1941. Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

This 1941 White M2 was on display at the
2018 MVPA Convention in Louisville, KY. Owner Mike Spradlin worked
from 2012 until 2018 restoring this M2 back to what it would have looked
like in 1942 for "Operation Torch" in North Africa. It is serial
number 232903 and USA registration number 4013809. Author's
photo added 4-29-2020.

The door and latches for the
ammunition storage compartment are plainly visible in this photo.
Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

This White M2 is at the Indiana
Military Museum in Vincennes, IN awaiting restoration. Author's photo added
1-27-2019.

This White M2 has Ordnance serial number
4448 and was also built in 1941 by White. Author's photo added
1-27-2019.

Author's photo added 1-27-2019.
White-built M2A1
half-track: The M2A1 differed from the M2 half-track with the
.50 caliber machine gun being moved from the skate rail on the M2 to an
M32 ring mount above the passenger seat in the cab.

This owned by 1941 M2A1 Owner David Morrison
and is White serial number 275002. Author's photo added 4-29-2020.
White-built M3
half-track: The M3 had a body that was ten inches longer at
the back end of the vehicle than the M2. Because it was utilized
as a personnel carrier the ammunition lockers were removed. That
can be seen as there is not a door on the side of the vehicle. A
back door was added and there was seating down both sides of the rear
section. The M3 could carry a twelve man infantry squad plus the
driver.

This half-track was on display at the 2017
MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH, and is identified by the data plate as a
White M3. The information placard on the top of the windshield
armor plate indicates it is an Autocar. I will call it a
White, based on the data plate. Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

The added ten inches to the rear of
the vehicle results in the back wall protruding beyond the rear of the
tracks. The rear door is open showing several of the seats along
the left wall of the half-track. Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

Author's photo added 4-29-2020.

This M2A1 is owned by the National Museum of World War II Aviation of
Colorado Springs, CO and was on display at the 2017 Pikes Peak Airshow.
Author's photo added 6-2-2020.
White-built M3A1
half-track: The M3A1 differed from the M2 half-track with the
.50 caliber machine gun being moved from the skate rail on the M2 to an
M32 ring mount above the passenger seat in the cab.

M3A1 Israeli half-track serial number 264877 owned by Richard Mastin.
The Israelis modified this M3A1 and removed the M32 ring mount and armor
plate and moved a .30 caliber machine gun into an armored window on the
passenger side of the cab. They also installed a bar along the
rear body for hanging back packs. The M3A1 Widow Maker in the background
shows the half-track with the M32 ring mount and .50 caliber machine gun. Author's photo
4-29-2020.

Author's photo 4-29-2020.

This White M3A1 is on display at the Indiana
Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. Author's photo 4-29-2020.
White-built M4A1 81mm mortar carrier
half-track:

A 1942 White M4A1 81mm mortar carrier seen
at the 2014 MVPA Convention in Louisville, KY. This had a
reinforced floor. White was the only manufacturer of both the M4 and
M4A1 81 mortar carrier. Author's Photo
added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.

Author's Photo added 8-5-2014.
White-built M16 quad-four .50 caliber
anti-aircraft gun half-track:

This M16A1 multiple gun carriage is on
display a the Louisiana Military Museum at Jackson Barracks in New
Orleans, LA. Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

The Louisiana Army National Guard used this
type weapon during World War Two to shoot down 127 German aircraft.
The 105th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion destroyed the aircraft while
operating in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Author's photo added
4-18-2020.

Author's photo added 4-18-2020.

This White M16 Halftrack was formerly on
display at the National Military Historical Center
in Auburn, IN. It has since been sold. Author's Photo.

White built 2,877 M16s in 1943 and 1944 and converted another 109 T10E1s
to the M16 configuration in 1944. Author's Photo.

This M16 is located in the motor pool of the New Jersey Army National
Guard Militia Museum Annex in Lawrenceville, NJ. Author's photo
added 6-2-2020.

This M16 half-track on display at the AAF
Tank Museum in Danville, VA was one of fifteen half-tracks the U.S. Army
brought back from France in 1988 to donate to American museums. It
took museum volunteers six years to restore this vehicle back to running
and display worthy conditions. Author's photo added 6-26-2020.

The Maxson quad fifty turret is
missing but the elevated spacer ring can be seen through the open rear
door. Author's photo added 6-26-2020.

Author's photo added 6-26-2020.

|