Our weapons were basically automatic weapons.  We did not have the long range antiaircraft artillery guided by radar; ours required visual observation in order to fire them.  These were very fast firing quadruple .50 caliber machine guns in turrets mounted on the back of half-tracks.  And accompanying each one of those was a 40mm Bofors automatic weapon that fired an inch and a half round about 7,000 yards.  The weapons were extremely effective against low-flying aircraft, but of the two the quad was by far the most effective.

Captain William S. Cross, 12th Anti-Aircraft Group

History

The M-16 MGMC was a variant of the M3 halftrack intended for air defense. A Maxson turret with 4 .50 caliber machine guns was mounted on the M3 chassis. While M-16s were intended for air defense, they were also used effectively in the ground support role where they earned the grim nickname "meat choppers" for their devastating effect against infantry.

About 2900 M-16s were built during the war and they were retained in service post war. They would again see service in the Korean war.

The M-16 in Aces High

The M-16 is useful for defending airfields or escorting tanks. While the M-16's light armor makes it vulnerable to strafing attacks, any airplane making such an attack is taking a great risk. With a top speed of 45 MPH, the M-16 can range about giving low-flying enemy planes unexpected surprises where they least expect it.