United States' M8 light armored car

Photos

M8 Armored Car	M8 Armored Car U.S. Official (Mark Holloway)	M8 Armored Car	M8 Armored Car Aberdeen Tank Museum
M8 Armored Car	M8 Armored Car, located at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles	M8 Armored Car Mark Holloway
T22 Armored Car Prototype U.S. Ordnance Dept.	T22E2 Armored Car Prototype U.S. Ordnance Dept.	T26 Armored Car Prototype U.S. Ordnance Dept.	T69 Armored Car Prototype U.S. Ordnance Dept.

Design

Based on seeing the successful German Army using armored cars to good affect, the United States Army decided to develop an armored car with a 37 mm gun and 6 x 6 drive.² Four companies were asked to submit designs.²

Radio

The radio used by the M8 was a SCR506, 508, 510, 608, or 610.

Construction

The M8 was made from all welded construction.³

The floor had rather thin armor and many crews put sandbags on the floor to help protect themselves from mines.³

In later models the steel gas tank was replaced by a rubber one.

Sand shields were mounted over the front and rear wheels, however, the rear ones were hinged and often removed to make it easier to mount tire chains. There was storage above the rear fenders and on the front hull between the headlights and racks for three mines on each side. The blackout lights were removable from their sockets.

Crew

The driver sat on the left and radio operator sat on the right and both had top and front hatches.³ The driver used a standard steering wheel.

The turret was located in the middle with the commander and loader.³

Much of the crew's equipment had to be stored externally as there wasn't enough room on the inside.¹

Turret

The M8's turret had an open top.^2,3

All shutters and hatch covers can be closed and protectoscopes used for observation. There is a radio and speaking tube for inside of vehicle.

Main Armament

The 37 mm gun was rotated and elevated manually and was located in an open turret.^1,2,3

Engines

The fans in the rear blew towards the rear allowing for silent operation which allowed the M8 to approach the enemy stealthily.

Towing

A pintle was mounted in the rear of the M8 for towing a trailer.

Wheels

There were 6 wheels that had mudguards, but these were often removed for battle.² The wheels had an armored center and a bead lock to help prevent tires from collapsing in combat.

Prototype

Prototypes built by Ford Motor Co.³ and Chrysler designated the T22³ and T23.^1,2 Both were very similar but the T22E2 was chosen for production on May 19, 1942.¹

Production

• M8: 8,523^1,3, 11,667²
  • Manufacturer: Ford Motor Co.^1,4
  • Production: late 1942 - 1945³

Variants

• T22: Ford prototype.² Became the M8.²
• T22E1: Built by Ford as a prototype.¹
• T23E1: Built by Chrysler as a prototype.¹
• T22E2: Had improvements made to the storage of equipment and better driver visibility.¹
• T26: Prototype.
• M8: Entered service in early 1943.³
• M8E1: Suspension improvements, skate ring for .50 cal AA gun.
• T69 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage:

Usage

First saw action in Italy in March 1943.¹

Pacific Theater

Was used mostly on Okinawa and the Philippines in the Pacific theater.¹

Britain's Use

The British forces received the M8 but didn't like it as they felt the armor was too thin and would often put sand bags on the floor to help protect against anti-tank mines.^2,3 The British called it the Greyhound.²

Post World War II

By 1976 there were still 22 countries using the M8 Armored Car.^2,3

Specifications

	M8
Crew	41,2,3,4
Physical Characteristics
Weight	16,400 lb4, 17,400 lb 7.68 tons1, 7.94 tons2, 8 tons3 7,802 kg1, 8,126 kg3
Length w/gun	15' 8.25"4, 16' 5"1,2,3 5 m2,3, 5.01 m1
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 4.5"2, 7' 5"1,3, 7' 6"4 2.248 m2, 2.25 m3, 2.26 m1
Width	8' 3 5/8"4, 8' 4"1,2,3 2.54 m1,2,3
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	11.25"4, 11.5"
Ground contact length
Ground pressure	13.6 psi
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	37 mm2 37 mm M61,3,4
Secondary
MG	2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1
MG - coaxial	1: 0.3" MG3 .30 cal M1919A40 MG4 1: 7.62 mm MG2,3
MG - anti aircraft	1: 0.5" MG3 .50 cal HB M2 MG4 1: 12.7 mm MG2,3
Side arms	4: Carbines Grenades Smoke pots4 Antitank mines4
Quantity
Main	804
Secondary
MG	.30: 1,500, 1,5754 .50: 400, 4204
Side arms	.30: 400 Grenades: 12 Smoke pots: 44 Antitank mines: 64
Armor Thickness (mm)	193
Hull Front, Upper	16 mm, 5/8", 0.625"@0°4
Hull Front, Lower	19 mm, 0.75"
Hull Sides, Upper	9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°4
Hull Sides, Lower	9 mm, 3/8"
Hull Rear	9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°4
Hull Top	6 mm, 0.25"
Hull Bottom	3 mm, 1/8-1/4"
Turret Front	19 mm, 0.75", 0.875"@0°4
Turret Sides	19 mm, 0.75", 0.75"@0°4
Turret Rear	19 mm, 0.75"
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Hercules JXD1,2,3,4
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water4
Cylinders	62,3,4
Capacity
Net HP	1102,3,4
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Selective sliding gear Synchromesh4 4 forward, 1 reverse4
Steering	Worm and roller, front wheels only4
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,4, Gasoline3
Octane
Quantity	54 gallons4, 56 gallons
Road consumption	6.6 mpg4
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°4 Manual4
Speed - Road	55 mph2,3,4, 56 mph, 60 mph1 89 kph2,3, 100 kph1
Speed - Cross Country	30 mph
Range - Road	250 miles4, 350 miles2,3 563 km2,3
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius	28'4
Elevation limits	-10° to +18°4
Fording depth	2'2, 2' 8"4 0.61 m2
Trench crossing
Vertical obstacle	1'2,4 0.3 m2
Climbing ability	30° slope4
Suspension (Type)	Leaf spring Semi elliptical springs4
Wheels each side	6 x 64
Tires	6
Track centers/tread	6' 4"4
Tire size	9.00 x 204
Wheel base	79" + 48"4