Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: Scout Car, M3A1

[Update: sold for $74,750] Another vehicle which Rock Island Auctions is selling in Sept of 2018, and this is one of my favorites.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

You are correct. Adding a .50-cal ALWAYS adds class.

[@AtomicHombek]

Also enough firepower to rival most light tanks at the time! Damn .50 can mess up just about everything short of a medium tank in the '30's.

[@therandomidiot4994]

Ma Deuce is a lady who always commands respect.

[@prjndigo]

Late war 75mm T21E12 are great bling to go with the half dollar medallions.

[@majgijoe]

**Head space and timing gauges not included**

[@jehoiakimelidoronila6543]

If Ma Deuce is a lady, she comes first. Ladies go first.

[@Alpostpone]

Quality of these shows Chieftain won't have to worry if his employment at WG ever ends. He has the quality and followers to become the Tank Jesus by himself.

[@FokkerBoombass]

But he doesn't have the obligatory facial hair :

[@betaich]

or longer hair in general.

[@JonManProductions]

But he has served in tenks of all kinds so he's qualified.

[@leepalmer1210]

Yes I just hope he and gun Jesus " aka Ian will have colab soon.

[@jic1]

Lee Palmer I'm surprised that he didn't bump into him there. When I first stared watching Forgotten Weapons, it took something like 10 videos before I realized that Ian wasn't actually an employee of RIA.

[@interdictr3657]

im not used to having inside the chieftains hatch released without huge gaps inbetween episodes, its great!

[@Neuttah]

Until the withdrawal sets in.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

Don’t get used to it.

[@interdictr3657]

I know, but I am enjoying it while it lasts :D

[@JagerLange]

Good. I DON'T LIKE CHANGE (much in the spirit of the interwar period, come to think of it)

[@therealkillerb7643]

"I have absolutely no idea what that means..." And that is why we love you Nick!

[@TheYelwing]

The Real Killer B .....means frame inside of a frame

[@thedungeondelver]

Oh bugger, the M3A1 Scout Car is on fire.

[@dropdead234]

Given where the gas tanks are, once a fire is noticed, it may already be too late.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

With hatches like that, escape may well be impossible. . .

[@tnexus13]

Oh bugger, my arse is on fire...

[@Stoner075C]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2naeaKDhKeDnpY

[@JagerLange]

*just jetpacks out of harm's way, one time, just for fun*

[@auditedpatriot6376]

It was built in Detroit 80 years ago, and it would still be very useful if, for any reason, you decided to drive through Detroit today.

[@6038am]

It was build to be future proof.

[@memikell]

No the were built in Ohio

[@auditedpatriot6376]

@@memikell Your statement of fact, true or not, does not fit my narrative of contrasting former American industrial prowess to modern urban blight and decay. I therefore choose to ignore your comment. To summarize, ignoring you. Not responding. Won't acknowledge. Truth = Hate.

[@evilone6785]

Audited Patriot lol

[@blairbuskirk5460]

Underside doesn't have enough protection against mines or potholes packed with demolitions grade semtex or dynamite. Hahaha

[@joegoetz8884]

My father joined an Ohio National Guard Cavalry unit in the 1930’s. They were half equipped with horses, half M3 scout cars. They used the M3’s until they were replaced with M8 armored cars and Stuart tanks, which they took to France. I have photos he took with M3’s in them...his unit carried the .50 cal, and two skate mount Browning water cooled .30’s. One photo has the horses field corralled with the M3’s parked around them.Their fine cavalry horses were given to the Coast Guard, which used them to patrol the coast of California after Pearl Harbor. I guess there were some sad cavalrymen that day. The MG tripods were a necessity, since they practiced setting up roadblocks and ambushes.

[@Marc83Aus]

The horses on the other hand were happy the unit got tanks and armoured cars to send to france instead of them.

[@joegoetz8884]

MarcAFK The horses wouldn’t have done much good at the battle of Falaise Gap, where dad’s unit, Troop A, 107th cavalry, fought. Hedgerow country.

[@Marc83Aus]

The germans wouldn't have minded having a few more horses, they still had at least a million in service as late as 1945.

[@thurin84]

my grandpa was in the 148th inf 37th id from 1930-34.

[@mickleblade]

at least your could eat a horse....the french still do

[@sternencolonel7328]

Just imagine, you driving the "car" and Ian manning the M2 :)

[@Slayer_Jesse]

but then how is chieftain supposed to be driven closer so he can hit them with his sword?

[@ianperry4768]

And Karl in the passenger seat yelling about something

[@Tango4N]

This would be epic. Also Karl in some obscure camo pattern and helmet!

[@MaverickCulp]

Ah yes the Holy Trinity: Chieftain, Karl, and Ian

[@akuthegreat3490]

mavmanish let us pray

[@sreggird60]

Yes those split rims can be lethal. The first time I worked on one and forgot to let the air out and I heard the split rim move just slightly scared me good. I never forgot again over the twenty years I spent in the service.

[@johngalt2506]

The only thing that adds more class than a caliber 50 is........TWO caliber 50s!!!!!

[@andrewgregory151]

John Galt what about 3

[@nazamroth8427]

That is crazy talk. No car can handle 3 .50 cals!

[@johngalt2506]

@@nazamroth8427 I say we try it!!!! Better yet, mount a quad 50!!!

[@andrewgregory151]

Nazamroth if u have 3 people no problem

[@brycehix4073]

John Galt needs more 50s on it

[@McRocket]

Your sense of humor REALLY adds to these videos of yours, IMO.

[@derrickstorm6976]

If Chieftain was to drive on of these, he'll need to install a periscope

[@14MurdochMurdoch88]

Jussi Raitoniemi they’re so small in person, he’d be his own periscope, lol

[@14MurdochMurdoch88]

Jussi Raitoniemi I’m 6’ and have been in one, cheiftan is taller so I️ know itd be a tight fit for him

[@derrickstorm6976]

I do have eyes in my head, and his vision was blocked by the windshield bar. That's maybe the spot for the telescope?

[@peterearden]

I have teenagers. I’d probably go with an M1919. Smaller size, and lower weight. Remember, if you are going to give your kids a weapon, make it crew served. Unlike with an individual weapon a crew served weapon will teach them team work, time management, conflict resolution and basic mechanical skills.

[@PSUQDPICHQIEIWC]

now i want to see nick cruising around SF in that thing, 50 cals and all.

[@Mr-Trox]

Not in San Fran or California in general he won't. Now, Texas or Ohio, or states that aren't hilariously broken in terms of following the goddamn constitution? Oh yeah, you could roll down main street with those babies.

[@ryanaegis3544]

As far as I know, he could legally drive it in S.F. presuming the .50's are disabled. On the other hand, doing so would be tantamount to advertising to any gang out there that he has two .50's for them to come steal.

[@lancerevell5979]

Much easier ingress/egress than for the various German scoutcars and halftracks. Imagine trying to drive one of these on the hilly streets of Frisco!

[@billwilson3609]

A double drop frame is one where the center is lower than the front and rear sections that hold the axles. A good example are the lowboy trailers that are used to haul around bulldozers and steamrollers. The WW2 Dragon Wagon pulled a lowboy trailer. It's use on the M3 allowed the crew compartment to set lower so the body would have a lower profile and lower it's center of gravity.

[@bigdiccmarty9335]

Wouldn't this also reduce the ground clearance heavily

[@billwilson3609]

@@bigdiccmarty9335 Not by much since they used tall tires and well arced leaf springs.

[@non-prolific135thscalemode7]

Loved the sound when you closed the driver's door. Heavy metal. I've got this one in my rapidly growing stash of 1/35 kits and this vid is another jewel. It's much more interesting than most of the usual walkaround videos. We need more videos on wheeled military vehicles. Keep 'em coming.

[@knightmarex13]

But it doesn't have a door glass regulator

[@dadidovic4323]

this vehicle is useless

[@uncletomcobley6950]

I was in a total state of panic when I too realised there to be no door glass regulatory system.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

This fact, renders this vehicle completely unacceptable. Obviously needs a complete rework.

[@BustTheNut]

How this vehicle could be accepted into service without Door Glass Regulator Handles is well and truly beyond me, not even the Double Drop Type Channel Section Frame comes close to redeeming this feature. However the Standard Type Steering Mechanism is a decent runner up.

[@kainhall]

they still call them "window regulators" on modern cars

[@warhawk3719]

Is it difficult to be talking about vehicles where you cannot talk about how to properly tension the track?

[@classicfrog80]

You just have to go for the tyre pressure instead.

[@tahunkwai5979]

@@classicfrog80 damn it beat me to it

[@Tango4N]

Maybe when he gets to the half-track version?

[@shooter2055]

A buddy of mine had one of these. It's the most fun you can have at 20 mph! Everybody in the neighborhood decides that you have right-of-way -- always!

[@commandertoast111]

No music yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!

[@commandertoast111]

oh yeah lol

[@matthayward7889]

Great looking vehicle too: Bet that Was so much fun to drive (when you’re not being shot at!)

[@bobbofuggetaboutit639]

Thanks for doing what you do. I've enjoyed every vid I've had a chance to watch.

[@Oscarhobbit]

Shout out from County Tyrone , Ireland. I am loving your videos ..... and also nice to see someone from Ireland on youtube. Keep up the good work Chieftain!

[@DZSabre]

These are my favorite military vehicles! I just can't put into words why.

[@lfteri]

I started watching this video thinking I would love to get one in Greece, glad I watched all the video now!

[@huh18857]

I'm glad there is no background music. I can't stand it.

[@JonManProductions]

I don't mind the background music, but the reason there ain't any is because WG owns the music.

[@huh18857]

I didn't mind it either, the first dozen times I heard it repeated on loop on every video. I guess we all have our limitations. If someone is explaining something, I'd rather hear the voice and words. I've never been in a lecture/class where dull background music was playing the whole time. If I want to listen to music, I turn on some music.

[@AmphiStuG]

Yeah, doesn’t help that it really doesn’t match Chief’s lecture style either. His medium paced talks and witty remarks don’t really go well with an epic, sick bass solo.

[@user-hz8ur1fj8g]

Much better editing, no long ass transitions between shots and no annoying music in the background. Keep it up!

[@basichistory]

Another cracking video from The Chieftain

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Excellent video. I was amazed by how high you sat in the seat. 1/4 inch of armor is really on the thin side.

[@greendragon2002]

"I have absolutely no idea what it mean, it is on the manual and i am just saying it" - Chieftain 2018 Word to live by.

[@baastex]

"starts a fund me" Armour for the Chieftan

[@thurin84]

how about "moving the chieftan to a free state" 1st

[@junsengjs]

I really like the brief cuts at the side when the Chieftain refers to things that we may not see clearly due to the camera angle, like when he mentioned the wingnuts for the windscreen. Hope they are carried over to the normal Inside the Hatch videos as well.

[@denisvermeirre1024]

The "in and out" light switch you talk of was a standard part and very common at the time. It was notably found on Willys Jeeps and other trucks of the period.

[@danielpalmer1791]

We frequently get noting for months and months and now all this at once! Thank you... until it stops... P.S. just going to add to those who think that a sit down with Ian in a vehicles expert meets small arms expert discussion would be interesting to watch. but then I watched 25 minutes of paint drying 4 months ago, and Ian most days, so maybe biased.

[@mickles1975]

This video is incomplete. How am I supposed to know what to do if the armoured car is on fire?

[@donniemontoya9300]

HOW DO I PROPERLY TENSION THE TRACK ON AN M3A1 ARMORED CAR?!?! THE TRACK TENSION!

[@jamestheotherone742]

You use the "Dukes of Hazard" dismount technique. His tanker's knees probably wouldn't approve.

[@memikell]

I bought one three years ago (1942) fun vehicle but a bit of a pig to drive, hint - use both brakes when stopping, one foot on the brake peddle and one hand for the emergency brake, make sure your exhaust pipe is well wrapped as it will really heat up the driver if not.

[@AdamMann3D]

These are great sir.

[@roberth.goddardthefatherof6376]

fun fact. all of the Armor on this thing and the M3 Halftrack is Face Hardened, now although some of you might know that FHA is no more effective than RHA against APCBC but against Solid shot it is, which is exactly what the 7.92x57 Mauser armor piercing bullets are. so even though the armor on this thing is 6.4mm all round it's effective thickness against Small arm AP bullets is more like 9-10mm. I mean the M5 Halftrack was designed to save cost by not face hardening the armor, so they made it thicker 8mm thick but was said to actually be less effective despite this been able to be penetrated at 300 yards opposed to 200 yards for the face hardened variants at 6.4mm (also just as a bit extra the german halftracks like the KFZ 251 were also not face hardened, so even though their armor was angled at about 35 degree's on the side sponson, the effective armor on the US and German halftracks were very similar, with the KFZ 251 edging it out at about 11-12mm of effective thickness.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

Mmm... Hilary Doyle has the exact reverse opinion, stating that no other nation was as capable of producing thin armor of the same effectiveness as found on the German halftrack. Watch for a future interview video. Then argue it out...

[@scottleft3672]

The perfect scrach build project...at ANY scale.

[@steelkat7905]

I love these bloopers at the end

[@justforever96]

Double drop channel section means that the frame bends upwards to accommodate both front and rear axles (a typical truck frame) and the rails are of C-shaped pressed steel, as opposed to box-type or I-beam. Again typical practice today, but not so universal back then. And box type is still found on premium vehicles.

[@VonRammsteyn]

So ugly it turns out to looks BEAUTIFUL! I will love to pick up my dougther from the kinder garden on this. Brownings included to prevent others parents to trying to climb in... Awesome vehicle!

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

Supposedly the Soviets mounted a 76 mm. field gun in the back of a few of their 'lend-lease' M3 scout cars. That would work better in S.F. traffic.

[@matthewtayloryowieresearch1912]

Or Philly, Charlotteville or imagine the M3 cruising it's birthplace Detroit? Now you'd NEED that Soviet 76mm gun on your Lend-Lease Whitey! Pleased to meet ya with the meat to please ya! ooo-roo from Down Under.

[@kennethconnors7532]

saw 5 of these in 1963 at Ft Lewis , Wa . 2 were driven around and looked new

[@shorttimer874]

In the early 70's I spent some time in D Troop ( the ground troop) of 8/1 Air Cav Squadron, part of the 194th Brigade at Ft Knox that supported the Armor School. Each platoon had a bunch of Jeeps, M151 with a M60 on a pintle mount behind the front seat and a PC-25 radio mounted on top of a rear fender ( I no longer remember how many jeeps), another M151 with a recoilless rifle ( again I don't remember if it was 105 or 106, but I do remember it had a .50 caliber spotting rifle on it) and a 5/4 truck with a 81mm mortar ( and the platoon Sgt ). The only situation i know of where the low man on the totem pole fired the main weapon. At the same time I read that the Army was testing off road motorcycles for reconnaissance, something that made at lot of sense to me at the time since neither the M113's or M114's or even the Sheridan's armor couldn't protect the crew from mg fire, might as well be a harder to see smaller target able to hug the ground or bug out faster. It's the radio that was our real weapon. Nowadays, give me a Onewheel.

[@ahorsewithnoname643]

M40A1 106mm recoilless rifle

[@homiespaghetti1522]

Keep up the good work!

[@TheYelwing]

Double dropped frame: These, and halftracks have a frame within a frame. The frame is a common “U” channel type, but they put another “U” channel frame in it. About the gauges, point to any gauge in one of these or a halftrack and think $1200.00 (original USA type)

[@noadc77]

My dad has one! but he makes me work on it and drive it, I am not complaining!

[@bipolatelly9806]

Nice ride.

[@anotherrandomtexan25]

most surprising thing I've learned in this video is that the big man himself has driven my favorite car!

[@dropdead234]

Fact is, if One does own a tank, parking may not be the problem one thought. And the locals are going to be VERY polite.

[@ditzydoo4378]

The tire rims maybe two-piece, but I believe they are in fact Bead-lock types going by the inordinate number of bolts around the perimeter of the rim itself. A Split-type is shown inset at the 5:26 mark.

[@wot1fan885]

Thx. Great video great scout car. Someone get this guy an armored vehicle.

[@danielaramburo7648]

Love this armored truck!!!!!! I want it!!!!

[@jehoiakimelidoronila6543]

10:50. I LOVE multi-function gauges. It adds class.

[@valde3336]

Double drop channel-section frame means that the area in between the axels in the frame is lowered and frame is made of channel steel. This is still a common form of truck frame.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

I have the same problem driving the WWII GPW or MB ,so I usually drive with the windscreen down wearing WWII pilot flight goggles. Even other Jeep owners smile and take pictures as it's not something you see every day. Met a Ferrari owner and he told me that I took the cool out of his car.

[@tomjoseph1444]

Still remember a White half track in Hemmings Motor News for $20K. It was a late one that had very low original miles and was registered road legal. Damn that 20/20 hind sight.

[@SPAZTICCYTOPLASM]

They captured Ian and now they've captured the chieftain!

[@dirus3142]

These RIA videos are really making me wish I was rich. I had this idea, if I had the money, I could win the bids on these vehicles, then buy a building to turn into a museum in, or near, my home town.

[@snape1464]

I'm just glad that RIA lists it as "Outstanding and Impressive". Wouldn't have known if they didn't. The estimate is 60-90k

[@1942Dreamer]

I'm currently in the process of restoring one. It was with the 91st Reconnaissance Troop, HQ vehicle #7. Hood no. 6084960.

[@Wandering1500]

Interesting, I'd also pick either this or Daimler of some kind if I started.

[@Axquirix]

I've seen in a couple of places that the standard armament for these was a caliber 50 and two caliber 30s, not just one. I wouldn't doubt a second being added as a field conversion, but they'd need to find an extra skate mount somewhere...

[@omegalpha28]

That gauge setup is very similar to the style in my 74 ford bronco....one large round gauge with speed in the middle and the others around it.

[@USSChicago-pl2fq]

I’ve seen this thing in Rockford Illinois as part of a reenactment unit except it had no guns on it it had desert camouflage and a Star on a blue circle with a small red circle in the center of the star

[@richardstory6650]

I have always liked the White M3A1 scout cars. But i always thought the standard armament was 1 M2HB and 2 M1917A1s? Great job as always.

[@Deadeye-sj3qc]

Nice video I hope to see the M8 grayhound some day

[@ilyushin1]

I'm pretty sure every recent video the Chief has been standing in the classic "You know I had to do it to em" pose

[@g2macs]

I can imagine a lot of 'procuring' went on to spiv up it up. I bet a lot of folks found that the .50 cal on their jeep had overnight turned into a .30 cal and the scout platoons M3A1 looked like a hedgehog on heat.

[@rvail136]

You do a great job on these. Thanks for doing them. Are they as fun to do as they look?

[@markcosta4337]

There was one park in front of 53rd trans battalion 37 trans group , red ball Express, in Germany in Kaiserslauternit was parked right in front of the I battalion headquarters

[@mtodd4723]

I LOVE THESE AUCTION VIDEOS PLEASE DO MORE !

[@bryantblake1877]

That HQ “scout” car might have been outfitted a little different than others in the unit.I.e. radios and spare tire rather than another machine gun and extra ammo storage. . Fun tour always enjoy your tongue in cheek comments. And, your Irish humor is only rivaled by the staid straight laced humor of the Brits.🤣

[@JagerLange]

1:31 - I don't usually like to comment before the end of the video, so as to not look like I didn't watch all of it, but this made me laugh enough to have to acknowledge in case I forgot later.

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Loving the soft/softer skin videos

[@99Hokusai]

This is what I want for when I move back to County Cavan (the alternative is the DUKW).

[@immikeurnot]

A 1 1/2 ton truck is a pretty large chassis, actually. Not a "small" truck. The "light truck" designation ends at 1 ton trucks. The footprint may not have been huge, but with trucks it's usually more the weight you worry about. On "double drop channel frame" or whatever exactly it said, it means first that the frame isn't straight as it moves from the center out. It drops down in the front and back to mount the suspension, while keeping the center high for ground clearance. Second, channel refers to the cross section of the frame rails. They're U-shaped, a shape that remained popular for a long time (it still is). You could also have an I or H cross section I guess (and yes, there's a difference), but I can't think of anything I've been under that had that. The next most common (and probably strongest) would be the box cross section which was/is sometimes made by overlapping two channels facing each other so the top of each channel was at about the angle on the other side, then welding them together. Channel frame members are fairly cheap to manufacture, and have much better strength for weight than a flat piece or one with a single right angle. Fuel tanks under the seat were very common in trucks, and pickups all the way through the '50s would have the seat on top of the fuel tank. Eventually someone figured out that wasn't very safe and realized there was plenty of room under the bed along the frame... I really wish you'd looked at the axles and running gear a bit. Then again, I'm obviously a geek for the mechanical side...

[@KowboyUSA]

Great specimen.

[@cobalt2361]

God damn that .50 is huge.

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

That's a British civil "age related" number plate FSK942, first registered in the UK in 1991! Appears to have been off the road since June 2000.

[@jboquiren1]

'you can have a lot of fun commuting in traffic' The Chieftain is the Doug DeMuro of armored vehicles :)

[@FirstMetalHamster]

It's interesting how some components you find on ww2 era vehicles are still being used today.

[@milesduggan7345]

I like the spike on the door's.

[@MrMenefrego1]

*Hey Chieftain, Christmas in coming soon, maybe we can all get together to start a writing campaign to convince Santa to give you an M3A1 Scout Car!*

[@williamsager805]

As a scout car I presume sometimes I might be running away fast. I can't imaging taking the time to stop driving while I switch from low gears to high.

[@seandavies169]

Just an idea why don’t you do a video after the auction of all the vehicles and what they went for? Similar to what the Ian over at forgotten weapons does for his RIA auction pieces

[@BAZZAROU812]

That's perfect for his San Francisco traffic..

[@Mishn0]

There'd be wet pants and uncontrolled screeching all around if he drove that in SF.

[@Floreal78]

"Observation commander" :D

[@ropersf]

Hey neighbor, I live in San Francisco too. Bernal Hts. to be specific. What part of the city do you live in currently?

[@InternetSurfer19]

Chieftain's Tank/Vehicle fund!

[@blue2sco]

A pair of .50 Cal's adds class to anything

[@blackbartlaborro7882]

Hot august nights ftw 🍻

[@kansascityshuffle8526]

Did they have serviceable winches that small in this time frame?

[@ms-1236]

You can find White Ghosts for sale online from between $15,000 to $50,000 depending on condition. WG could invest in one, toss some logo's on it and you could drive it to various events :-)

[@beanhavok2287]

The_Chieftain has forgotten more about this stuff than you'll ever know!!!!!!

[@Legitpenguins99]

America: the only country where you can own 2 .50 cal machine guns for your scout car. Proud to be a American brother.

[@bobrees4363]

Using a hand crank to start vehicles of this era wasn't as hard as people today think. The engines were usually of pretty low compression, so not a lot of strength was needed. I have not hand cranked a scout car but I have hand cranked four cylinder tractors; just be sure to stay out of the way of the handle unless you want a broken arm.

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

the dashboard gauges do add class. Driving at night, with the gauges illuminated , you might think you were in a Buick of similar vintage....

[@jamestheotherone742]

Well... except for the uncomfortable seat, sharp edges all around, and the rattles from everywhere.