M18 Hellcat
76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Type | Tank destroyer |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1943–present[1] |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | United States |
Designed | 1943 |
Manufacturer | BuickMotor Division ofGeneral Motors |
Unit cost | US$55,230(equivalent to $955,928 in 2023)[2] |
Produced | July 1943—October 1944 |
No.built | 2,507 |
Specifications ([7]) | |
Mass | 37,557 lb (16.767 long tons; 17.036 t) fighting weight, with crew[3] |
Length |
|
Width | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
Height | 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) over antiaircraft machine gun |
Crew | 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver) |
Armor | 4.8–25.4 mm (0.19–1.00 in) |
Main armament | 76 mm gun M1A1, M1A1C, or M1A2 45 rounds[4] |
Secondary armament | .50 cal (12.7 mm)Browning M2HB machine gun 800 rounds[4] |
Engine | Continental R975-C1 350 hp (260 kW) at 2,400 rpm[5] |
Power/weight | 19.8–22.6 hp (14.8–16.9 kW)/tonne |
Transmission | 900T Torqmaticautomatic transmission 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
Suspension | Torsion bar |
Fuel capacity | 165 US gal (620 L)[4] |
Operational range | 100 mi (160 km) on road |
Maximum speed |
|
TheM18 Hellcat(officially designated the76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18orM18 GMC) is atank destroyerused by theUnited States ArmyinWorld War IIand theKorean War.Despite being equipped with the same main gun as some variants of the much largerShermantank, the M18 attained a much higher top speed of up to 55 mph (89 km/h) by keeping armor to a minimum, and using the innovativeTorqmaticautomatic transmission.
The M18 Hellcat was the culmination of the development of various prototypes of fast tank destroyers dating back to 1941. Entering production in summer 1943, the M18 first saw combat service in spring 1944. The M18 served primarily inWestern Europe,but was also present in smaller numbers inItalyand thePacific.Production continued until October 1944, with 2,507 built.
The Hellcat was the most effective U.S. tank destroyer of World War II. It had a higher kill-to-loss ratio than any other tank or tank destroyer fielded by U.S. forces in World War II.[8][9]Kills claimed were 526 in total: 498 in Europe, 17 in Italy, and 11 in the Pacific. The kills-to-losses ratio for Europe was 2.3 to 1, and the overall kill to loss ratio was 2.4 to 1.[10]M18s were "...not primarily used for tank fighting, but were committed more often to improvised roles, usually direct fire support for infantry."[11]Although the M18 was retired from U.S. service immediately after the end of World War II, a variant, theM39 armored utility vehicle,served in the Korean War, and M18s continued in service with some countries until 1995.
The M18 Hellcat was an example of the balancing act among firepower, armor, and mobility in armored fighting vehicle design. Despite its excellent mobility and reasonably powerful main gun, the M18 Hellcat also had drawbacks, including thin armor and a poor high explosive shell for its main gun. HistorianSteven J. Zalogacharacterized the overall design of the M18 as "poorly balanced" and stated that "the Hellcat's combat record is attributable to the training and dedication of its crews, not to its ill-conceived design."[11]
Development
[edit]When the Tank Destroyer Force was organized in 1941, their commander, Lieutenant Colonel (later General)Andrew Davis Bruceenvisioned the units being equipped with something faster than a tank, with a better gun but less armor to allow for speed; a cruiser rather than a battleship.[12]He objected to the 3-inchM10 gun motor carriagebecause it was too heavy and slow for his needs,[13]and later on to the 90 mmM36 gun motor carriagebecause it was essentially an M10 with a bigger gun.[14]TheUnited States Ordnance Departmentmade several failed attempts to provide such a vehicle using the weapons (the 37 mm, 57 mm, 3-inch, 75 mm and finally the lightweight 76 mm of 1942–1943) and technology available, including mounting the 3-inch gun on the fastM3 light tankchassis.[15]The M18 was the end product of a long line of research vehicles aimed at providing the desired machine.
In December 1941, the Ordnance Department issued a requirement for the design of a fast tank destroyer using aChristie suspension,aWright-Continental R-975radialaircraft engine, and a37 mm gunon the chassis of theLight Airborne Tank T9as the37 mm Gun Motor Carriage T42.[16]In April 1942, the Army requested that the 37 mm gun be replaced with a57 mmand a coil spring suspension be substituted for the Christie suspension as the57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T49,and authorized the construction of two pilot models.[16]The Tank Destroyer Force, meanwhile, concluded that the same75 mm gun M3as used on theM4 Shermanmedium tank would be better for a tank destroyer. The second pilot T49 was built with the 75 mm gun in an open-topped turret as the75 mm Gun Motor Carriage T67and was delivered in November 1942. After testing, it was revealed that a more powerful engine was necessary, and the 76 mm gun M1A1 being developed for the M4 Sherman had also impressed the Tank Destroyer Force. The T67 project was closed in January 1943, and the Ordnance Department directed that six pilot models of the76 mm Gun Motor Carriage T70be built with torsion bar suspensions, more powerful engines, new turrets and minor changes to the hull front.[17]What became the M18 originated inHarley Earl's design studio, part of theBuickMotor Division ofGeneral Motors.Previously, basic designs for other kinds of vehicles had mostly originated from within the Ordnance Department. Buick's engineers used atorsion bar suspensionthat provided a steady ride.
The first pilot was delivered in April 1943, and all six were completed by July. Once developed, the Hellcat was tested in the same manner as passenger cars before and after it, at theGeneral Motors Milford Proving Ground.Although the Hellcat was "relatively mature" when it came to automotive performance, problems had to be rectified that included issues with the engine and new automatic transmission, weak front shock absorbers, and the position of the gun to provide more working space for the gunner.[18][2]
Top speed testing was done on a paved, banked oval and ride quality tests were done over specially developed stretches of bumps. The M18 also required tests of its ability to ford six feet of water, climb small walls, and ram through structures. Though it weighed about 20 tons, the Hellcat was capable of traveling at 55 mph (89 km/h). Its power came from Wright R-975, a nine-cylinder, 350 to 400 hp (260 to 300 kW) radial aircraft engine, the same as that used on the M4 Sherman tank, paired to a 900T Torqmatic automatic transmission.
The first models of the tank destroyer were tested by the US Army's 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The unit had originally been trained on theM3 Gun Motor Carriage(a 75 mm gun installed in the bed of an M3 half-track). Despite its T70 prototypes requiring several improvements, the 704th had a "superlative" testing record, and the unit was later issued production Hellcats after many of their suggestions were integrated into the vehicle. The testing phase of the Hellcat proved that teamwork was an essential element of the new light tank destroyer units[citation needed],and replaced the fixed, rigid structure of other units with a much more flexible command structure that allowed adapting to more complicated tasks.[19]
Design
[edit]The M18's new design incorporated several innovative labor-saving maintenance features. Drivetrain maintenance was performed by removing a large access plate on the front of the hull, disconnecting the drivetrain from the driveshaft, attaching extension rails to the drivetrain mounting, and sliding the entire assembly out of the hull on the rails.[20]For access to the bottom of the engine without having to remove it completely from the hull, it was possible to slide the engine out onto a rail system integrated with the rear hull access door.[21]
The 900T Torqmatic transmission had three forward gears, with ranges of up to 16 mph, 12 to 34 mph, and 30 to 60 mph (corresponding to cruising speeds of 12 mph, 25 mph, and 45 mph, respectively), and one reverse gear with a cruising speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). The engine speed wasgovernedsuch that the vehicle normally could not exceed 55 mph (89 km/h) in third gear.[4][22]The M18 carried a five-man crew, consisting of a commander, gunner, loader, driver, and assistant driver. The driver and assistant driver were seated in the front left and right of the hull, respectively. Uniquely, the driver and assistant driver were provided with identical sets of controls and either could be used to operate the vehicle, but only the driver's set of steering levers could be used as parking brakes.[23]The commander, gunner, and loader were positioned in the turret; the commander at the left rear, the gunner at the left front, and the loader on the right. The turret crew were all provided with seats, and the commander could stand on his seat to operate the.50 caliberM2 Browning machine gunon a flexible ring mount on the left rear of the turret. An SCR-610 radio was placed in the rear of the turret. An escape hatch was provided in the hull floor directly underneath the turret.
Armament
[edit]In contrast to theM10andM36tank destroyers, which used the heavy chassis of theM4 Sherman,the M18 Hellcat was designed from the start to be a fast tank destroyer. As a result, it was smaller, lighter, more comfortable, and significantly faster, while carrying the same gun as the Sherman 76 mm models. The turret could rotate through 360 degrees in 24 seconds using an electro-hydraulic traverse mechanism, and the 76 mm gun could depress 10 degrees, and elevate 20 degrees. The maximum firing rate was 20 rounds per minute. The breech block of the gun was tilted 45 degrees to the right to aid the gunner in manipulating and inserting ammunition in the confined space of the turret.[24]45 rounds of main gun ammunition were carried, 9 in the turret to the right of the gun, and 18 in each sponson. A.50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun with 800 rounds of ammunition was mounted on the left rear of the turret in a flexible ring mount. Each crew member was provided with anM1 carbinewith 90 rounds for self-defense, and sixMk 2 grenades,six M50 white phosphorus smoke grenades, and six smoke pots were also carried in the vehicle.[4]
One disadvantage of the M18 was the inconsistent performance of its 76 mm gun against the thick and steeply sloped frontalarmorof later German designs such as theTigerandPanther.The problem of the main gun performance was somewhat remedied withHigh Velocity Armor Piercing(HVAP) ammunition beginning in fall 1944, which allowed the 76 mm gun to achieve greater armor penetration, but this was never available in quantity.[25]The 76 mm gun with standard ammunition could penetrate the frontal turret armor of Panther tanks only at very close ranges,[26]whereas the HVAP ammunition gave it a possibility of effectively engaging some of the heavier German tanks and theoretically penetrating the front of the Panther turret at ranges of about 1,000 m (1,100 yd).[27][28]
Armor
[edit]The armor of the M18 Hellcat was quite light to facilitate its high speed, and only provided protection from small arms fire. The lower hull armor was 12.7 mm (0.50 in) thick all around, vertical on the sides, but sloped at 35 degrees from the vertical at the lower rear and angled twice at the lower front to form a nearly rounded shape; 53 degrees from the vertical and then 24 degrees from the vertical. The hull floor was only 4.8 mm (0.19 in) thick.
The upper front hull also had an angled construction to form the Hellcat's slopingglacis;two plates were angled at 38 and 64 degrees from the vertical, respectively. The upper hull armor was also 12.7 mm (0.50 in) thick, being angled at 23 degrees from the vertical on the sides and 13 degrees from the vertical at the rear. The hull roof was 7.9 mm (0.31 in) The cast turret of the Hellcat was 25.4 mm (1.00 in) thick on the front (at a 23-degree angle from the vertical) and 12.7 mm (0.50 in) thick on the sides (also at a 23-degree angle from the vertical) and rear (angled at 9 degrees from the vertical) The front of the turret was further protected by a rounded cast gun mantlet which was 19 mm (0.75 in) thick.[29]
Another disadvantage of the M18 was its very light armor protection and open-topped turret. In testing of the T70 for possible use as a light tank, 9 out of 30armor-piercing.30 caliber bulletspenetrated the side of the turret at a range of 75 yards (69 m).[30]The open-toppedturret—a characteristic which it shared with all American tank destroyers—left the crew exposed tosnipers,grenades,andshell fragments,however it gave the crew excellent visibility, which was of importance in the killing of tanks, the intent of tank destroyers being primarily ambush weapons. The doctrinal priority of high speed at the cost of armor protection thus led to a relatively unbalanced design.
Tactical mobility
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/TankFest_2015-8_%2818732077436%29.jpg/220px-TankFest_2015-8_%2818732077436%29.jpg)
While the M18 was capable of high road speeds, this attribute was difficult to use successfully in combat.[8]
Although sustained travel at high speeds was hardly ever used outside of the Allied response during theBattle of the Bulge,[8]most Hellcat crews found the higher speeds especially useful in a sprint toflankGerman tanks, which had relatively slow turrettraversespeeds, and such maneuvering allowed the tank destroyer crew to direct a shot into the enemy's thinner side or rear armor. The open top proved an advantage in terms of allowing the TD crews significantly better visibility than their opponents, many[citation needed]of which were German tank destroyers that did not have revolving turrets and were handicapped by poor lateral visibility.
In general, Hellcat crews were complimentary of their vehicle's performance and capabilities but did complain that the open top created a cold interior in the Northern European winter of 1944–45.[8]This problem was exacerbated because the air-cooled engine pulled some of its cooling air through the crew compartment, creating, in effect, a large armor-plated refrigerator; it proved impossible to seal off the crew compartment entirely from engine-induced drafts.
Production
[edit]Original plans called for a total of 8,986 M18s to be supplied: 1,600 forLend-Leaseto other countries and 7,386 for the U.S. Army. The production plans of the M18 were curtailed to 2,507 vehicles, including the six pilot models. The reasons behind the reduction (in no particular order) were:
- The 76 mm gun was already inadequate for the thick and/or steeply sloped frontal armor of later German tanks and theArmy Ground Forces(AGF) preferred to get the90 mm Gun Motor Carriage M36into service, despite Tank Destroyer Force commanderAndrew Bruce'sobjections to adopting it
- The number of self-propelled tank destroyer battalions had been approximately halved due to a policy change forced by the AGF, who wanted towed guns to be used and hence far fewer self-propelled units were needed for the Tank Destroyers
- There was little potential Lend-Lease activity: Britain and the Soviet Union "had little interest".[31]Two, listed as "T70", were transferred to the United Kingdom, and five to the Soviet Union.[32]
Production of M18 Hellcats ran from July 1943 until October 1944, with 2,507 built. In March 1944, the T70 was standardized by the Ordnance Department as the76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18.There were three production contracts for the Hellcat: RAD-563 covered the six pilot models. T-6641 was for the first 1,000 vehicles, and T-9167 was for the final 1,507 vehicles.[33][34]
Model | Quantity | Contract number | Serial number | Registration number |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pilot | 6 | RAD-563 | none assigned | 40128384–40128389 |
M18 | 1,000 | T-6641 | 1–1000 | 40108110–40109109 |
M18 | 1,507 | T-9167 | 1007–2513 | 40144883–40146389 |
Month | Quantity | Serial numbers | Registration numbers |
---|---|---|---|
July 1943 | 6 | 1–6 | 40108110–40108115 |
August 1943 | 83 | 7–89 | 40108116–40108198 |
September 1943 | 112 | 90–201 | 40108199–40108310 |
October 1943 | 150 | 202–351 | 40108311–40108460 |
November 1943 | 267 | 352–618 | 40108461–40108727 |
December 1943 | 194 | 619–812 | 40108728–40108921 |
January 1944 (end contract T-6641) |
188 | 813–1000 | 40108922–40109109 |
January 1944 (begin contract T-9167) |
62 | 1007–1068 | 40144883–40144944 |
February 1944 | 218 | 1069–1286 | 40144945–40145162 |
March 1944 | 170 | 1287–1456 | 40145163–40145332 |
April 1944 | 150 | 1457–1606 | 40145333–40145482 |
May 1944 | 150 | 1607–1756 | 40145483–40145632 |
June 1944 | 150 | 1757–1906 | 40145633–40145782 |
July 1944 | 150 | 1907–2056 | 40145783–40145932 |
August 1944 | 150 | 2057–2206 | 40145933–40146082 |
September 1944 | 150 | 2207–2356 | 40146083–40146232 |
October 1944 | 157 | 2357–2513 | 40146233–40146389 |
Production changes
[edit]The M18 experienced various changes throughout its production, both to refine the design from a mechanical standpoint and incorporate features that would enhance its combat effectiveness.
M18s with serial numbers 1–1000 and 1007–1096 (registration numbers 40108110–40109109 and 40144883–40144972) experienced problems with their transmission gear ratios. The same action that standardized the M18 directed that vehicles below serial number 685 be returned to the Buick factory for modification, and vehicles with serial numbers 685 through 1096 be modified before overseas shipment.[36]The rest of the M18s built featured an improved transmission. 640 of the vehicles returned to Buick were eventually converted toM39 armored utility vehicles,and ten into T41E1 command and reconnaissance vehicles (seeM18 Hellcat § Variants).
Hellcats with serial numbers 1350 and below (registration numbers 40108110–40109109 and 40144883–40145226) had the naturally-aspirated R975-C1 engine, which produced 350 horsepower. The rectangular ventilation grate for the transmission and differential oil coolers located behind the driver's hatch initially had an angled cylinder-like shape, protruding above the line of the upper hull. Beginning in March 1944, M18s with serial numbers 1351 and above (registration numbers 40145227–40146389) had the internally-modifiedsuperchargedR975-C4 engine, which produced 400 horsepower; at roughly the same time as the change in engine type, the shape of the ventilation grate was changed to be flush with the upper hull.[37]
The model of 76 mm gun fitted to most Hellcats kicked up large amounts of dust when fired. This was enough to impede the vision of the crew, who had to wait until the muzzle blast cleared to fire accurately again. To solve this problem, amuzzle brakethat directed the blast to the sides was standardized in February 1944, but a sufficient number were not produced to allow them to be incorporated onto production lines until the summer. In the interim, M18s produced in the spring of 1944 received the M1A1C gun, which was threaded to accept a muzzle brake, but was not so equipped; in October 1944, a maintenance work order was issued by the Ordnance Department to retrofit M1A1C guns with muzzle brakes, but "in the event, few...appear to have been retrofitted with the muzzle brake during the war." Beginning in June 1944, roughly the last 700 Hellcats received the M1A2 gun equipped with a muzzle brake, which also incorporated a faster rifling twist.[38]
M18s prior to serial number 1701 (registration number 40155577) did not have anywinterizationequipment installed at the factory. Beginning with M18 serial number 1701, an engine oil dilution valve and provisions for a battery-powered heating unit that drew fuel from the left fuel tank in order to produce hot air for heating the back of the engine, transmission and differential and their oil coolers, the vehicle battery, and the auxiliary generator in extreme cold conditions was installed. The network of hot air tubes was installed in the factory, but the heater power (blower) and burner units, their fuel pipe and connecting air tube, and the air intake shutter to close off the engine compartment were to be installed when necessary in the field.[39]
Beginning with M18 serial number 1858 (registration number 40145734), the original gun travel lock on the turret roof which had a swinging arm held by a fastening pin was replaced by one that had a rotating ball stud with a retaining clamp operated by a handle. In October 1944, heavier shock absorbers were introduced. Later vehicles also featured an M20azimuthindicator next to the gunner's controls, allowing for easier performance ofindirect firemissions.[38]On late production vehicles, the towing pintle mounting was redesigned to allow it to swivel when towing a trailer over uneven ground.[40]
Combat use
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/M18-Hellcat-wiesloch-19450401.jpg/220px-M18-Hellcat-wiesloch-19450401.jpg)
In July 1943, the AGF directed the Armored Board to consider the T70 for use as alight tankby comparing it with the existing requirements for a light tank. In January 1944, the proposal was rejected because it was felt that the T70 had insufficient armor and secondary armament.[30]
European Theater
[edit]Initial combat in Italy
[edit]Five T70 prototypes were sent to Italy in the spring of 1944 for testing and saw combat during the breakout from theAnzio beachheadwith the 601st (two) and 894th Tank Destroyer Battalions (three). The 894th employed them in the battalion's Reconnaissance Company because of their high speed. In addition to the vehicle's speed, battalion members were also impressed with the power of the 76 mm gun, but were less complimentary of the T70's thin armor and small internal volume, which they felt affected crew confidence in battle, and made living inside the vehicle and handling main gun ammunition awkward, respectively.[41]The 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion, originally a towed gun unit, re-equipped with the M18 during the summer of 1944; it was the only battalion in the Italian campaign to be fully equipped with the M18.
Combat in Europe
[edit]In January 1944, GeneralOmar Bradley,commander of theFirst U.S. Army,refused the new M18s when he was first offered them; his older tank destroyer battalions in England had been equipped with the M10 tank destroyer for some time, and he was more interested in the development of the M36 tank destroyer than he was in the M18. As a result, the three M18 battalions initially shipped to England (the 603rd, 704th, and 705th) were assigned to GeneralGeorge S. Patton'sThird U.S. Army.[42]
On 19 September 1944, nearArracourt,France, across theMosellefromNancy,the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion was attached to the4th Armored Division.Lieutenant Edwin Leiper led an M18platoonofCompanyC toRéchicourt-la-Petite,on the way toMoncourt.He saw a German tank gun muzzle appearing out of the fog 30 feet away, and deployed his platoon. In a five-minute period, five German tanks of the 113th Panzer Brigade were knocked out for the loss of one M18. The platoon continued to fire and destroyed ten more German tanks while losing another two M18s. One of the platoon's M18s commanded by Sgt. Henry R. Hartman knocked out six of the German tanks, most of which were the much-feared Panther.[43]By the time theBattle of Arracourtended three days later, the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion had knocked out 39 German tanks, for the loss of four M18s destroyed and three more damaged.[44]
The M18 Hellcat was a key element during the Battle of the Bulge.[45]On December 19–20, TeamDesobry,a battalion-sized tank-infantry task force of the10th Armored Divisionwas assigned to defend Noville located north-northeast of bothFoyand ofBastogne,just 4.36 mi (7.02 km) away. With just four[8]M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion to assist, the paratroopers of 1st Battalion of the506th Parachute Infantry Regimentattacked units of the2nd Panzer Division,whose mission was to proceed by secondary roads via Monaville (just northwest of Bastogne) to seize a key highway and capture, among other objectives, fuel dumps—for the lack of which the overall German counter-offensive faltered and failed. Worried about the threat to their left flank in Bastogne, the Americans organized a major joint arms attack to seize Noville. Team Desobry's high-speed highway journey to reach the blocking position is one of the few documented cases[8]in which the top speed of the M18 Hellcat, 55 mph (89 km/h), was actually used to get ahead of an enemy force.[8]
The attack of 1st Battalion and the M18 Hellcat tank destroyers of the 705th TD Battalion near Noville together destroyed at least 30 German tanks and inflicted 500 to 1,000 casualties on the attacking forces, in what amounted to a spoiling attack. AMilitary Channelhistorian credited the M18 tank destroyers with 24 kills, including several Tiger tanks, and believes that in part, their ability to "shoot and scoot"at high speed and then reappear elsewhere on the battlefield, confused and slowed the German attack, which finally stalled, leaving the Americans in control of the town overnight.[8]
After the Battle of the Bulge, since numbers of the M36 tank destroyer were slow in arriving to the European Theater and towed tank destroyer battalions equipped with the3-inch Gun M5had uniformly performed very poorly in the battle when compared to self-propelled units,[46][47]it was decided to re-equip many of them with the "surplus" of M18s that were then in the theater, with the new M36s mostly re-equipping former M10 units.
M18 strength in the European Theatre of Operations varied from 146 in June 1944 to a high of 540 in March 1945. Losses totaled 216.[48]
Unit | Combat debut with M18 |
---|---|
602nd Tank Destroyer Battalion | September 1944 |
603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion | August 1944 |
609th Tank Destroyer Battalion | October 1944 |
612th Tank Destroyer Battalion | January 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
633rd Tank Destroyer Battalion | May 1945 |
638th Tank Destroyer Battalion | November 1944 |
643rd Tank Destroyer Battalion | March 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
656th Tank Destroyer Battalion | February 1945 (later converted to M36) |
661st Tank Destroyer Battalion | February 1945 |
704th Tank Destroyer Battalion | July 1944 |
705th Tank Destroyer Battalion | August 1944 |
801st Tank Destroyer Battalion | April 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
807th Tank Destroyer Battalion | April 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
809th Tank Destroyer Battalion | February 1945 |
811th Tank Destroyer Battalion | November 1944 |
817th Tank Destroyer Battalion | April 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
820th Tank Destroyer Battalion | April 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
822nd Tank Destroyer Battalion | April 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
824th Tank Destroyer Battalion | March 1945 (converted from towed 3-inch gun) |
827th Tank Destroyer Battalion | December 1944 |
Reception
[edit]The M18 was generally well-received by its crews. They gave high praise to its mobility when compared to the heavier M10, such as speed and flotation in mud and snow. The speed of the turret traverse was also far faster when compared to the M10, which had a manually-rotated turret. Ease of maintenance of the engine and transmission was also noted. One M18 commander said that his vehicle "operating under combat conditions and averaging 80–100 miles (130–160 km) a day during the Third Army drive fromSt. Lôto the German border nearStrasbourg...was driven 1,870 miles (3,010 km). No repairs were necessary either to the vehicle or engine; only minimal attention was paid to moving parts...M18 engine performance was excellent under the most trying conditions and was highly thought of by all men in my and other M18 tank destroyer outfits. "[44]
Conversely, the main gun was considered inadequate against the frontal armor of later German tanks like the Tiger and Panther, especially before the introduction of HVAP ammunition. In addition, even though it could pierce more armor than the75 mm gun M3mounted on the M4 Sherman tank, it did not have the high explosive firepower of the former when used for infantry support missions.[11]Muzzle blast from 76 mm guns not equipped with muzzle brakes was also a complaint. There was also a desire for an armored roof over the turret, and it was concluded that additional armor up to one ton in weight would not impair the automotive performance of the M18.
Many battalions considered the assistant driver redundant, and removed him, or stated that the vehicle should be equipped with a bow machine gun. Many crews also added additional machine guns to the turret roofs of their M18s.[49]
Pacific Theater
[edit]M18s served intank destroyer battalionsand other units supporting US Army infantry divisions in the latter stages of the Pacific war, notably in the Philippines and Okinawa. Tank destroyer battalions equipped with the M18 that served in thePacific Theater of Operationsincluded the 637th, 670th, and 671st, although only the 637th saw combat, most notably participating in theBattle of Manilawhere it earned aDistinguished Unit Citation.During theBattle of Okinawa,General Andrew Bruce, who was by then the commander of the77th Infantry Division,located eight M18s to re-equip the Antitank Company of the306th Infantry Regiment.[50]M18s were not issued toU.S. Marine Corpsunits.
Korean War
[edit]TheM39 armored utility vehicle,which was converted from the M18, was used as a prime mover, infantry carrier, and ammunition carrier in Korea.
Export and legacy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/M18_Hellcat_Armor_and_Cavalry_Collection.jpg/220px-M18_Hellcat_Armor_and_Cavalry_Collection.jpg)
After World War II, many M18s were sold to other countries. Many intended for European countries under theMutual Defense Assistance Actwere rebuilt and refurbished byBrown & Rootin northern Italy in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and bear data plates that indicate those rebuilds. One of the users wasYugoslavia,which received 260 Hellcats during theInformbiro period[51]and kept some of them in reserve until the early 1990s. A number of these vehicles were later used by theMilitary of Serbian KrajinaandArmy of Republika Srpskaduring theYugoslav Wars.One example was used on anarmored trainnamed the "Krajina express"(Krajina Ekspres).[52]
TheMilitary of the Republic of Chinareceived 214 M18s, and operated them until their chassis and hulls were worn out, at which point the turrets were salvaged and installed onto surplus hulls ofM42 Dusteranti-aircraft vehicles to produceType 64light tanks.[53]
TheGreek Armyreceived 127 M18s from 1952 to 1954. Initially, these were organized in three Tank Destroyer Regiments numbered 397, 398 and 399. In 1959 the Tank Destroyer Regiments were reorganized in three Tank Destroyer Battalions with the same numbers. Most of the M18s were retired by the end of the 1960s, but a few remained in service until the mid-1970s for training.[54][page needed]The hulls of the M18s were dismantled and the turrets were used as gun emplacements on the northern borders of Greece and the Aegean islands.[55]One M18 is preserved in the Greek Army Tank Museum.[citation needed]
Iran received 55 M18s in the 1950s.[53]
Philippine Armyreceived 50 units from American Stocks. Upon the outbreak of theKorean War,United Nations’ request came in, the Philippines deployed 16 M4A1 Sherman tanks and one M18 Hellcat tank destroyer. This small armored force augmented the other Allied armor during the early days of the Korean conflict. The small Filipino armored force was brought in by then-2LT Francisco S. Tamondong, along with two noncommissioned officers, in July 1950.[56]
TheVenezuelanmilitary operated M18s beginning in 1954, when they purchased 40. They were refurbished in 1983–1984, and at least one was heavily modernized by a Yugoslavian firm in the 1990s, but it is unclear if more conversions took place.[53]
M18 Hellcat "Amaz N Grace" is on loan to the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, New York, from the US Military Museum. An M18 is on display at theArmy Heritage and Education CenterinCarlisle, Pennsylvania.[57]
Variants
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Medical-corpsmen-korea.jpg/220px-Medical-corpsmen-korea.jpg)
The only M18 variant produced in significant numbers was the armored utility vehicle M39, a turretless variation used as agun tractoror command and reconnaissance vehicle. In March 1944, the Ordnance Department authorized the construction of two prototypes; the T41 was a prime mover for the 3-inch Gun M5, while the T41E1 was a command and reconnaissance vehicle that could also be easily converted into a prime mover. The T41E1 configuration was found superior and development of the T41 version was cancelled, although subsequently, the prime mover version of the T41E1 was referred to as the T41, and the command and reconnaissance vehicle as its original designation of T41E1.
640 of the early production M18s that had been returned to the Buick factory for modification were converted into the T41 prime mover configuration between October 1944 and March 1945 by removing the turret and fitting seats for up to eight men in the open fighting space. This version was armed with a single M2 machine gun on a flexible mount. In November 1944, it was standardized as the M39. At the request of the European Theater in early 1945, ten more of the Hellcats were modified into the T41E1 configuration for testing, although they were never standardized.[58]M39s saw combat during the last days of World War II in Europe and during the Korean War, primarily as armored personnel and munitions carriers and were finally declared obsolete on February 14, 1957.[59]About 100 M39s were transferred to the West GermanBundeswehrin 1956, where they were used to train the reestablishedPanzergrenadierarmored infantry units.[60]
A number of other variants were proposed, including a mobile command post, howitzer carrier, and flamethrower carrier.[61]Known variants include:
- T41 prime mover:One Hellcat with its turret removed and internal changes made, converted into a prime mover for the 3-inch gun M5; project cancelled.
- T41E1 command and reconnaissance vehicle:One Hellcat with its turret removed and internal changes made, meant as a replacement for theM20 armored utility carin tank destroyer battalions. This design could be used as both a prime mover or command vehicle, and in the prime mover configuration it was redesignated T41 and standardized as thearmored utility vehicle M39,with 640 converted (see above).
- 105 mm howitzer motor carriage T88:M18 with the 76 mm gun replaced with a 105 mm T12howitzer.A pilot was built in 1944 but project cancelled after the end of the war.
- 90 mm gun motor carriage M18:M18 with the 76 mm gun replaced with a turret from an M36 tank destroyer mounting a 90 mm gun; cancelled after the end of the war.[62]
- 76 mm gun motor carriage T86:M18 with the T7 flotation device, using its tracks for water propulsion. The T86E1 variant used propellers for propulsion.
- 105 mm howitzer motor carriage T87:The T86E1 showed that track propulsion was better and this was used for the T87, which had the same 105 mm T12 howitzer of the T88.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^jwh1975. (2020, February 9). M18 Hellcats in Yugoslavia after WWII / the "Krajina Express". wwiiafterwwii. Retrieved January 5, 2023, fromhttps://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2020/02/09/m18-hellcats-in-yugoslavia-after-wwii-the-krajina-express/
- ^abZaloga, 2004 p11
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, p. 9
- ^abcdeTM 9-755, 1945, p. 10
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, p. 179
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, p. 43
- ^Conners, Chris."76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18".American Fighting Vehicle Database.
- ^abcdefgh"4: M18 Hellcat".Tank Overhaul.Series 1. 13 August 2008. Military Channel.
- ^Fox, page 25
- ^abZaloga, 2004 p36
- ^abcZaloga, 2004 p37
- ^Zaloga, 2004 p5
- ^Zaloga 2002 p13
- ^Zaloga 2002 p19
- ^Hunnicutt, 1992 p298
- ^abHunnicutt 1992 p304
- ^Hunnicutt 1992 pp305, 307
- ^Hunnicutt 1992 p307
- ^Fox, page 26
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, pp. 281–284
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, pp. 196, 435–437
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, p. 46
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, p. 37
- ^Hunnicutt 1992 p313
- ^Zaloga 2008 p194
- ^Jentz, Thomas (1995).Germany's Panther Tank.Schiffer. p. 127.
- ^Yeide, Harry (2006).Weapons of the Tankers: American armor in World War II.St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press. p. 61.ISBN978-0-76032-329-8.
- ^Bird, Lorrin; Livingston, Robert (2001).WWII Ballistics: Armor and Gunnery.Overmatch. p. 63.
- ^Hunnicutt, 1992 p489
- ^abHunnicutt 1992 p315
- ^Zaloga 2004 p12
- ^"Section III-A Ordnance — General Supplies".Quantities of Lend-Lease Shipments.War Department. 1946. p. 9 – via HyperWar Foundation.
- ^Doyle, David (2012).M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer Walk Around.Squadron/Signal. p. 57.ISBN9780897476980.
- ^abcZaloga 2004 p44
- ^abDoyle 2012 p22
- ^Hunnicutt 1992 p308
- ^Doyle 2012 p36
- ^abZaloga 2004 p13
- ^TM 9-755, 1945, pp. 64–68
- ^Doyle 2012 p46
- ^Zaloga 2004 p14
- ^Zaloga 2004 p14-15
- ^Forty, George (1995).Tank Action.Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 195.ISBN0-7509-0479-8.
- ^abZaloga 2004 p19
- ^"The Hellcat".Tank Overhaul.October 5, 2007. Military Channel.
- ^Zaloga 2004 p33
- ^Zaloga 2005 p38-40
- ^Zaloga 2004 p34
- ^Zaloga 2004 p22-23
- ^Zaloga 2004 p34-35
- ^Kočevar, Iztok (August 2014). "Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide" [The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War].Batailles et Blindés(in French). No. 62. Caraktère. pp. 66–79.ISSN1765-0828.
- ^Radic, Aleksandar (15 February 2008)."Историја – Крајина експрес"[History – Krajina Express].Арсенал Magazine(in Serbian) (14): 51–54. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2012.Retrieved20 January2015.
- ^abcZaloga, 2004 p42
- ^Ιστορία Ιππικού Τεθωρακισμένων[History of Cavalry and Tank Corps] (in Greek). Αθήνα [Athens]: Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού / Διεύθυνση Εκπαιδεύσεως [Hellenic Army General Staff / Training Directorate]. 1995.
- ^"M-18 Hellcat".Greek Military Vehicles.July 6, 2015.
- ^https://www.moore.army.mil/Armor/eARMOR/content/issues/2021/Fall/4Condeno21.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^"M-18 Tank Destroyer" Hellcat "".U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.
- ^Hunnicutt, 1992 pp385-388
- ^Zaloga, 2004 p43
- ^Blume, Peter.Die Anfangsjahre des Heeres 1956–1966[The Early Years of the Modern German Army]. Tankograd Militarfahrzeug Spezial No 5002 (in German). pp. 48–49.
- ^"M18 Gun Motor Carriage (Hellcat) Tank Destroyer (TD) / Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) - United States".Militaryfactory.com.
- ^Zaloga, 2004 p68
Bibliography
[edit]- Chamberlain, Peter; Ellis, Chris (1981) [1969].British and American Tanks of World War II(2nd US ed.). New York: Arco.ISBN0-668-04304-0.
- Doyle, David (2012).M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer Walk Around.Squadron/Signal.ISBN978-0-89747-698-0.
- Fox, Don M. (2020).Patton's Vanguard: The United States Army Fourth Armored Division.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.ISBN978-1476680095.
- Gimlette, John (2008).Panther Soup.Hutchinson.ISBN9780091921385.
- Hunnicutt, R. P.(1992).Stuart, A History of the American Light Tank.Vol. 1. Presidio Press.ISBN0-89141-462-2.
- Zaloga, Steven J(2002).M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942–53.New Vanguard 57. Osprey Publishing.ISBN1841764698.
- Zaloga, Steven J (2004).M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943–97.New Vanguard 97. Osprey.ISBN1-84176-687-9.
- Zaloga, Steven J. (2005).U.S. Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45.Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing.ISBN1841766909.
- Zaloga, Steven J (2008).Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II.Stackpole Books.ISBN9780811704243.
- Ordnance Supply Catalog SNL-G-136: M8 and M20 Armored Car.U.S. Army. 1943.
- Technical Manual TM 9-755: 76-MM Gun Motor Carriage M18 Hellcat and Armored Utility Vehicle M39.War Department. 1945.
- Technical Manual TM 9-1725 Ordnance Engine Model R975-C4 (Continental).War Department. 1944.
- Technical Manual TM 9-1731G: Hydraulic Traversing Mechanism (Oilgear) for Medium Tanks M4 and Modifications.War Department. 1943.
- Technical Manual TM 9-1755A: Power Train Rebuild for M18 Hellcat.War Department. 1943.
- Technical Manual TM 9-1755B: Ordnance Maintenance: Tracks, Suspension, Hull, Turret, and Related Components for 76-MM Gun Motor Carriage T70.War Department. 1944.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 (with photos), AFV Database
- Armored Utility Vehicle M39, AFV Database
- M18 Tank Destroyer, Hellcat: World War II Vehicles (photos and video)
- "WWII tank to join in parade".Daily Herald(Utah), 3 July 2008
- M18Hellcat.com, a website dedicated to the history and preservation of the M18 Hellcat