Another unique dive site in Subic Bay (Philippines).
Located near Cubi Point—just a stone’s throw from the Douglas SkyRaider—lie two remarkably preserved M3 Half-Tracks. Resting upright at a depth of 37 meters and spaced only 9 meters apart, these vehicles still feature their 11897AS 75mm Howitzer guns in firing position. Facing opposite directions, they offer a haunting and spectacular underwater tableau. This site is a highlight for divers in 37m water depth (121 ft).
The M3 Half-Tracks
Originally produced by the White Motor Company, the M3 Half-Track was designed as a high-mobility infantry vehicle. Its development traced back to the Citroen-Kegresse design, utilizing a White chassis paired with an M3 Scout Car body. To ensure production speed and mechanical reliability, engineers incorporated commercial parts, adapting them for the rigors of armored infantry combat. Following field reports from the Philippines, the Ordnance Department refined the design, leading to its standardization in 1942. Manufactured by Autocar, Diamond T, and the White Motor Company, over 15,000 units and 50,000 variants were produced. These versatile vehicles saw global action from WWII through to the Vietnam War, finally seeing their last major service in the 1975 Lebanese Civil War.
The M3’s combat debut with the U.S. Army’s Provisional Tank Group in the Philippines was met with skepticism. Soldiers infamously dubbed it the “Purple Heart Box” due to armor that struggled against heavy machine-gun fire and a lack of overhead protection from air-bursting artillery.
Specifications
Weight – 20,000 lb (9.07 metric tons)
Length – 20 ft 2 ⅝ in (6.17m) with roller
Width – 6ft 5 ¼ in (1.96m)
Height – 7 ft 5in (2.26 m)
Crew 1
Passengers 12
Armor – 1/4 – ½ in (6 – 12mm)
Engine – 160 AX 147hp (110KW) at 3000rpm
Power to Weight – 16.2 hp/metric ton
Transmission – Spicer 3461 constant mesh
Suspension – Front: Elliptic Longitudinal Leaf Spring Rear: Vertical Volute Spring
Fuel Capacity – 60 US Gallons (230 litres)
Operational Range – 200 miles (320 Kilometres)
Speed – 45 mph (72 km/h)
Steering – Steering Wheel and rubber tyres
The dive
I dived and scanned the spot in January 2026. The conditions were difficult, because the visibility on the ground was really poor.
