In a booklet entitled Modern Reconnaissance, which was published during World War II, LtCol Allen D. Hulse, USA, wrote “The collection of information concerning enemy and terrain has been a vital factor in the success of every military operation since the dawn of history.” This need for a long-range reconnaissance ability has never been lost on the U.S. Marine Corps. With the activation of the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions on 1 February 1941 thought was given to divisional reconnaissance organizations. On 1 March the 1st Tank Company, 1st Marine Division, was re-designated the 1st Scout Company. In San Diego two weeks later, on 15 March, the 2d Scout Company was activated in the 2d Marine Division. The newly activated divisions now each had a unit whose primary mission was long-range reconnaissance. In 1942, with the world’s attention fixed on the fighting in North Africa, long-range reconnaissance generally meant lightly armored vehicular reconnaissance. By the summer, both scout companies had been equipped with between 14 and 16 M3A1 scout cars. The design of these vehicles was based on a 4-wheel truck chassis with an armored body and powered by a 6-cylinder, 110-horsepower, Hercules JXD gasoline engine. They were built by the White Motor Company. Their armament generally consisted of an M2, heavy barrel, cal. .50, Browning machine gun and a two lighter M1917A1, cal. .30, Browning machine gun, all mounted on a skate rail which encircled the interior body of the scout car. Sometimes additional cal. .30 machine guns were mounted for more firepower. Marine scout companies also used motorcycles for liaison and road reconnaissance. M3A1 scout cars saw only limited service with the Corps from 1941 until about 1943. The four scout cars of the 3d Platoon, 1st Scout Company formed part of the 1st Marine Brigade (Provisional) on Iceland in 1941. Marine scout cars were shipped to New Zealand in 1942, but proved nearly unusable in the island jungles of the South Pacific. By late 1943 most if not all scout companies had replaced their scout cars with Jeeps. Production of the M3A1 started in 1940 and lasted until 1944, with 20,918 vehicles built.