M3A4 Utility Hand Cart

One of the most popular small US Army 'vehicles' of WW2 is without doubt the M3A4 Hand Cart.
A general misconception is that this was an Airborne item and only used by paratroops. In fact the Cart was a standard Ordnance item used by every branch of the US Army to haul ammunition and equipment.
Two carts could be transported in the back of the 2 1/2 Ton Trucks on the floor of the bed between the rows of seated troops.
Many collectors say these carts were intended to be drawn by the Cushman Model 53 Airborne Scooter, but neither the Hand Cart manual, nor the Cushman manual describe this. Furthermore these hand carts had been in use for many years before the Cushman scooter was put into production and there are no WW2 pictures showing this practice around...

Although the earliest Army carts were fitted with motorcycle wheels, they are completely different from the carts issued to the US Marine Corps, which were equipped with the larger 19" 'motorcycle style' rims. The latter were not used by the US Army during their European campaign.

Hand Cart M3A4 with M500 Cover and Tow Ropes as shown on the back cover of ORD9-SNL A-42, dated 1 June 1945

The US Army had several different types and models of Carts in inventory over the years preceding WW2 but during the war the most common model used in the ETO was the M3A4.
The M3A4 was derived directly from the pre-war carts developed by the US Army Infantry Board in the 1930s. These early carts were equipped with motorcycle wheels and tires and were described in the July-August 1936 edition of the Infantry Journal:

Hand Carts for Infantry

Experiments conducted for the past year have led to the development of a fabricated aluminum-alloy hand cart for infantry. The basic design consists of a chassis, on which is mounted a body. The chassis is simple and rugged; nothing more than an axle, motorcycle wheels, and a tubular tongue. The body is a shallow slatted box, 32” x 24” x 5”.

By mounting a certain set of clamps on the body we have an excellent cart for transporting the .30 caliber machine gun, with another set of clamps, the mortar company has hand transportation for the 81-mm. mortar; with a third set of clamps, the .50 caliber machine gun can be moved forward by cart; using no clamps, we have a general utility cart for communications equipment, mess supplies and the like.

These carts were originally designed for motorized units. They are to be carried (loaded) in the trucks until the trucks can no longer proceed. The carts are then detrucked and the movement completed by hand.

This cart is able to carry a much greater load than any other developed and yet its total weight is less. It is strong enough to carry an emergency pay load of 400 pounds, which means that the ammunition crew arrives at the gun with 400 pounds of ammunition and 80 pounds of cart, and not 300 pounds of cart and 200 pounds of ammunition.

This cart proved so satisfactory in experimental tests that the original tongue was modified in order to make it of full use to animal-drawn units.

'Operation Torch'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

GI's tow a cart loaded with gear along a North African road during Operation Torch, November 1942. The cart wheels are of the larger motorcycle style which indicates an pre-war (M3??) Utility Cart as described in the Infantry Journal above.

Note the American flag painted on the side of the Stuart Tank and worn as brassards by the men hauling the cart. The display of 'Old Glory' was prominent during this operation.

Early WW2 production carts kept the pre-war aluminum slatted box design but pretty soon the carts were made with a full metal cargo body.
Except for some very early M3A4 Steel Bodied Carts which had a plain box without re-inforcing at the top and no holes to attach brackets; the M3A4 Cart served as a basic cart which could be converted into other models by bolting additional parts through the holes in the body provided for this purpose.
The Model M4A1 was thus equipped with brackets for the transportation of the M1917A1 water cooled Machine Gun, while the M5A1 was equipped with brackets and straps to hold the .50Cal M2 HB Machine Gun and its M3 Tripod. The M6A1 was used to transport the 81mm Mortar.

Hand Carts M4A1, M5A1 and M6A1 as illustrated in ORD9-SNL A-42, dated 1 June 1945
Note the 'bolt on' parts and brackets that hold the tripod or mortar parts
All carts are equipped with aluminum wheels, easily identified by the round holes in the rims and the M5A1 shown is the early pattern with aluminum slatted box.

Although in bad shape, the cart above is a rare example of an early M3A4 with plain box and no holes nor re-inforcing rib around the top of the body. The above cart was made by the Rock Island Arsenal and has Serial Number 8433. It was entered by a French owner in the 2007 Beltring War & Peace Show.

The US Army's Rock Island Arsenal was a main manufacturer of the early carts but as war progressed other companies such as John Wood Mfg Company, Trussbilt and Omaha Industries Inc also produced a considerable number of carts.
Early Carts were completely made in aluminum, but on later models a mix of steel and aluminum parts were used. The early aluminum 5-hole rims were soon replaced with all steel spoke wheels. Different types of tires were mounted, and they seem to have been supplied by the Firestone Tire Company and the Good-Year Tire Company.
Canvas Covers were provided for the different carts (M500-M501-M502-M503) and all carts came with two Towing Ropes that could be attached to any corner of the body for additional towing.

Today, any variation of the M3A4 Utility Hand Cart is a rare and desirable collectable and although many are in collectors' hands, it is one of the rather more sought after objects on the US WW2 militaria market. They are hard to come by, especially in Europe where most of these carts were put to good use by local farmers after the war. Many of these carts ended up as scrap metal and whenever one shows up, it's either missing several parts or is completely worn out. The tow bar is almost always missing!

Firestone Rib Implement and Tractor Tread Tires on John Wood M3A4 #17564 (left) and #20939(right)

The Firestone Tire Company supplied the majority of the 4.00x12 tires in different patterns for the Carts, but Good-Year tires have been observed on different carts too.
Most common were the Tractor Tread 'Speed King' and Straight Rib Implement types but the 'Champion' tread usually fitted to Signal Corps RL-35 Reel Carts is sometimes encountered on M3A4 Hand Carts, especially on the earlier models equipped with aluminum wheels. The Good-Year tire mounted on 1945 made carts seem to have been mostly of a diamond pattern tread.
No doubt tires were mixed during maintenance or replaced with whatever type available when needed.
US Army WW2 tires are generally marked 'S3' or 'MILITARY'....

Three most common types of tires for the M3A4 Hand Carts are shown:
Left: Rib Implement with 'S3' marking
Center: Ground GripTractor Tread, marked 'MILITARY' and 'SPEED KING'
Right: Champion, marked with both 'S3', 'MILITARY' and 'SPEED KING'

The Good-Year made tire shown above is another type used on the carts. It has the straight rib implement tread generally encountered on Firestone made models. It is marked 'Implement' and 'S-3' with an extra red dot over the '4-Ply' marking.

M500 Cover and Clip from private collections, Tow Ropes from the Webmaster's Collection

The M500 Cover for the M3A4 Hand Cart is a rectangular cover with grommets and a rope going all around the cover. Each corner is equipped with a clip to attach the cover to wire loops on the box.
The Tow Ropes are about 6' long and hook up to the loops provided on each corner of the box. The metal handles are partly covered in leather.

A Data Plate showing Type, Make, Serial Number and Year of Manufacture is riveted to the right side of the box on all M3A4 Hand Carts.
Similar to rifles and other weapons of the US Army during WW2, an Ordnance Inspector marked all carts upon acceptance. This Acceptance Mark was stamped in the upper right corner of the dataplate and varied with the different manufacturers. Since all markings were painted over, it seems these were applied before final painting...

Note the Ordnance Bomb Inspector's Mark upper right

Ordnance Inspector Markings

Rock Island Arsenal:           N.F.R.
John Wood Mfg Co:             Ordnance Bomb
Trussbilt:                               A.C.R.
Omaha Industries Inc:        CO

The Machine Gun or Mortar Carts were hardly used in Europe during WW2 and in fact most of the M4A1, M5A1 and M6A1 variations saw their special brackets removed to return them to standard M3A4 Utility configuration. Sometimes even the data plates were altered to change the nomenclature to M3A4.
The plate shown below was fitted to a M5A1 Cal .50 Machine Gun Cart which was brought back to M3A4 standards. The Cal .50 was also changed into Cal .30

Carts from private collections

A steel hand cart body with Normandy invasion tactical markings of the 3rd Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) above left and a hand cart marked as 6th vehicle of Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division on the right. The vehicle number '6' is not visible on this particular picture but the full marking on the cart body is 5-2-I 3HQ-6
Both carts were used in the European campaign in WW2.

'Pre-War Maneuvers'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

GI's from the 1st Infantry Division return to their transports at the conclusion of the August 1941 New River maneuvers in North Carolina.
They use early aluminum bodied carts fitted with 12" wheels to haul their equipment.
All men are wearing the blue-denim uniforms with tan Daisy-Mae hats.

US Army Signal Corps Photo

'The Big Red One in North Africa...'

A Jeep from the 1st Infantry Division, tows an early aluminum cart loaded with a DR-5 communication wire reel.
The rivets holding the body straps together are clearly visible.
The Jeep is an early 'script' Ford GPW with high mounted rear reflectors.

'Rangers hauling a 81mm Mortar in North Africa'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

Rangers from the 1st Bn haul their 81mm Mortar and equipment through the streets of Arzew, Algeria, on November 16th, 1942.
The cart is an early aluminum type; note the riveted body....
Two men use the provided tow ropes to pull, while the man in the back steers the cart.
In the background is a Harley Davidson WLA motorcycle parked in front of Arzew's City Hall, which served as Bn Headquarters.
The Bn CO, LtCol Darby, frequently used the WLA motorcycle for duty trips in North Africa.

'Operation Husky'

US Army Signal Corps Photo from the Lloyd White Collection

Vehicles from the 1st Infantry Division are being unloaded at Gela Beach, Sicily on 10th July 1943.
An early M3A4 Utility Hand Cart with aluminum body and steel spoked rims is loaded with ammunition crates towards the left of the Jeep, while another cart is visible further down on the right.

The Jeep bears markings of the 1st Signal Company of the 1st Division (1-X 1S) and invasion color code bars along with the Signal Company's tactical marking consisting of a yellow three dotted circle have been added to the white tipped front bumper. RL-31 Reel Equipment is mounted on the rear panel of the Jeep.

'Glider Infantry embarking for Normandy'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

Some units of the 327th Glider Infantry Regt, 101 Airborne Division were part of the Seaborne Force for the Normandy invasion. These glidermen are about to board their transport ships at Dartmouth/Brixham, England early June 1944.
Note the heavily loaded M3A4 Hand Cart on the left.

'Embarking for Omaha-Beach'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

While the markings on the helmets of the Oficers in the back clearly identify them as belonging to the 29th Infantry Division, the GI's pulling the M3A4 Hand Cart are from the 1st Infantry Division. This photo shows first wave assault troops from both divisions embarking for the Normandy invasion early June 1944 and is clear evidence that Hand Carts were not only issued to Airborne troops.

'Picking up equipment bundles from the Drop Zone'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

A Jeep from the 101st Airborne Division towing a M3A4 Cart loaded with an A5 Equipment Container in Normandy, June 1944.
The cart is equipped with the Firestone tractor tread tires and crudely marked 2C (2nd Platoon, C Company?)
In the background M29 'Weasels' are heading inland from Utah-Beach past an apparently undamaged British made Horsa glider. The Horsa was favored by the USAAF for its larger payload...

'Moving Inland...'

US vehicles are moving inland from the landing beaches in France. A M3A4 Hand Cart with tractor tread tires is strapped upside down on the Bantam Jeep trailer..
The Jeep is still equipped for deep water fording; the air intake tube is visible towards the right of the windshield.
Note the highly visible white markings on the back of the trailer.

US Army Signal Corps Photo

'Carentan'

A few days after D-Day in Normandy, GIs pull a Utility Cart through the Rue Holgate in Carentan, France.
The railroad crossing and the Ingouf cafe near the station are visible in the background.

They are most likely Glidermen from the 101st Airborne Division.

'Mechanics on the Way'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

A Service Co Dodge WC Truck from an unknown unit tows an M3A4 Utility Cart somewhere in France in 1944.

The cart is fitted with Firestone tractor tread tires and is loaded with a 4 Cubic Feet Portable Air Compressor used by mechanics to inflate tires and operate a pneumatic-type grease gun.
These compressors were generally made by Bendix-Westinghouse.

'Glider Transported Carts...'

This WACO CG-4A glider 'Dorothy' came down near Kalken, Belgium on its way to Holland during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.
Amongst the cargo were two heavily loaded M3A4 Utility Carts.

Belgian locals marvel at those unusual transport methods....

Photo from M. Janssens via BAHAAT

US Army Signal Corps Movie Still

'Welcome to the Liberators...'

Infantrymen of the 101st Airborne Division's 327th Glider Infantry are welcomed by a Dutch girl upon leaving the Market Garden Landing Zones in September 1944.

Although not clear the cart might be an M4A1 Machine Gun cart equipped with a M1917A1 Machine Gun on its tripod.
The 'tube' above the cart's right wheel is most likely one of the tripod's support legs.
The watercooled Browning MG and its tripod were attached to the cart's box with special brackets.

'Band of Brothers' in Holland'

US Army Signal Corps Photo

Paratroopers from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment advance through the Dutch town of Veghel during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Again two men are pulling the cart with tow ropes while a third trooper steers from the back.
Note the British vehicles from XXXth Corps in the background.

US Army Signal Corps Photo

'Moving out.....'

GI's from the 101st Airborne Division's 506th Parachute Infantry leave Veghel through the 'Molenstraat' during Operation Market Garden in Holland in September 1944.

A Jeep tows a 1/4Ton Bantam Trailer and an M3A4 Cart as it passes between the marching troops.
Both the Jeep, trailer and Cart are heavily loaded with equipment.

'The Ardennes front...'

Paratroopers of the 1st Battalion/504th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division use a cart to transport supplies in the Belgian Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.
Again one trooper is steering from the back while others pull the cart with the Tow Ropes.

The early aluminum cart seems to be a M6A1 Mortar Cart with the tube carrying bracket bolted to the cart's body. However there are no 81mm Mortar parts visible on the cart.

The white marking on the cart seems to be 'HQ' indicating a Headquarters unit.

US Army Signal Corps Photo

'Into the heart of Germany...'

Men of the 1st Infantry Division advance into Germany after crossing the Ruhr in February 1945.
The M3A4 Utility Cart is loaded with .30Cal Ammunition boxes and other gear, notably a Wire Reel DR-8 with Reel Equipment RL-39. The tow ropes are visible on top of the load.
The GI on the right has been issued the M1944 Combat and Cargo Pack, while the soldier on the extreme left has the M1943 Pack, based on the Jungle Pack. The men pulling the cart still have the M1941 jacket, even at this late stage of the war.

'Marlene' having fun with a Hand Cart'

Photos from the Webmaster's Collection

During a USO Tour in March 1945, Marlene Dietrich spent some time at Mourmelon, France with the 101st and 17th Airborne Divisions.
She was accompanied by actress Lynn Mayberry and these images show them using a M3A4 Hand Cart to move their personal clothing. Ms Mayberry is wearing a Arctic Field Jacket, while Marlene Dietrich sports an A2 Flying Jacket!
A Sgt from the 17th AB Div seems to be having the time of his life.....

'Searching the Varsity Drop Zone for Supplies'

Photo from the Ethell Collection

Two GI's from the 17th Airborne Division and some German POW's with an M3A4 Hand Cart search the field for supplies, while other paratroopers make their way across the Drop Zone towards their assembly point after the jump over the Rhine on March 24th, 1945.
A white parachute canopy hangs from the trees in the background....

Original paperwork from the Webmaster's Collection

The above cards were made up by the CO of I Company/18Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division before an exercise or operation during WW2. The Company was divided over 6 teams (boats) and personnel of both I and M Companies are shown on the cards.
The cards show that each of the two platoons had 2 Hand Carts to transport their .30Cal Machine Guns.
The carts used by this Infantry Company probably came from Battalion HQ, as according to Table of Organization and Equipment (T/O&E) 7-16 , dated 15 July 1943, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of an Infantry Battalion in an Infantry Division was issued 10 M3A4 carts to be used by the Battalion in landing operations when authorized by the Theater of Operations Commander.

Anyone involved with US WW2 militaria knows the scene from the movie 'The Longest Day' where John Wayne (playing LtCol Ben Vandervoort) commandeers a Handcart to ride him into battle with a broken ankle.
While the cart looks OK from a distance, it is in fact a poor substitute for an original cart with aluminum body. The overall dimensions are too large and the wheels are completely wrong.

Still from 'The Longest Day', Darryl F Zanuck (1962)

The Cart above displayed at the 2008 Beltring War & Peace Show, is in fact a replica. It is perfect for re-enactments but collectors wanting to buy an original, should do their homework! Caveat Emptor!

Two other carts that were used during WW2 in the European Theater of Operations were the RL-35 Reel Cart, used to transport Communication Wire Reels and the M1A1 Chemical Mortar Cart, used by the Chemical Mortar Battalions to transport their heavy 4.2 Inch Chemical Mortars.
While the M1A1 is practically impossible to find, dozens of Reel Carts found their way into collector's hands after several European Armed Forces sold off their stock in the late 1990's

The image from the manual above shows the Signal Corps RL-35(A) Reel Cart loaded with 3 DR-4 Wire Reels

GIs from the 955th Field Artillery Battalion entertain British children while underway to their embarkation points for the Normandy invasion in Southern England, late May 1944. A Reelcart can be seen loaded on the frame of the M10 Ammunition Trailer towed by the 4-Ton 6x6 Diamond-T Truck.

Stills from US Army Signal Corps Film Reels

Two images showing a GI from the US 1st Infantry Division's 5th Artillery, loading a Reelcart onto a Landing Craft in preparation of the invasion of France in June 1944.
At the time of the Normandy invasion in June 1944, Engineer and Artillery Battalions of Infantry Divisions were issued Reel Carts for wire laying purposes.

A Reelcart towed behind a Jeep on the road towards Cherbourg, France in June 1944.

During Operation Market Garden in early October 1944, the 506th Parachute Infantry moved from Uden to Nijmegen.
The column has come to a halt in Grave; a Reelcart loaded with two DR-4 reels is clearly visible on the right.
The cart is attached to a 1/4 Ton Jeep Trailer by means of an extra towing hook bolted to the trailer's frame.
The addition of towing hooks to the back of Jeep trailers seems to have been rather common within the 101st AB Division in the fall of 1944.
A Tandem Trailer Kit was available near the end of WW2, and that included an extra socket box to be mounted on the right rear of the trailer, which is not fitted here.

The above RL-35A Ser#1255 was made by the Johnston Lawn Mower Company in 1944 and was added to the collection in September 2010.
It saw service with the Swiss Army after WW2 and except for a gray repaint it was left completely original and was restored in 2011...

Scan from TM 9-2300 Artillery Material and Associated Equipment & US Army Signal Corps Photo

Due to its weight of over 300 Lbs, a Cart was needed to transport the 4.2 Inch Chemical Mortar and its ammunition. Troops of the 87th Chemical Mortar Bn fire their weapon from the dunes on Utah-Beach in support of the 4th Infantry Division on D-Day in Normandy.
Note the 18" Motorcycle Wheels on the M1A1 Cart!

For more images and information about US Army Hand Carts, visit Craig Johnson's excellent website at:
www.handcartz.com

Go to the next page for more information about the restoration of my M3A4 Hand Cart.