M8 Scott
| M8 Scott | |
|---|---|
Exhibit of the Musée des Blindés |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 4 (commander / loader , gunner , driver , reserve driver) |
| length | 4.98 m |
| width | 2.32 m |
| height | 2.72 m |
| Dimensions | 16.33 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 9.5-44.5 mm |
| Main armament | 75 mm howitzer 46 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 1 × Browning M2 400 rounds |
| agility | |
| drive | 2 × Cadillac Series 42 ( water-cooled 16- cylinder - V8 gasoline engine ) 2 × 110 horsepower (81 kW ) at 3400 / min |
| suspension | vertical frustoconical springs |
| Top speed | 58 km / h |
| Power / weight | approx. 13.5 hp / ton |
| Range | 160 km |
The M8 Scott or 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 was a self-propelled self-propelled howitzer developed in the USA that was mainly used during the Second World War .
development
The vehicle's chassis was based on the M5 Stuart main battle tank . The armor of the hull was 12.7 mm in the front area and only 6.3 mm in the side and rear area. The ground armor was 5 mm thick. A turret that was open at the top and had an outer diameter of up to 1.38 m was used as the turret . The front armor of the tower consisted of 38 mm thick armor steel, while the rear and side areas were secured with 25.4 mm thick armor.
The Pack Howitzer M1 with a caliber of 75 mm was used as primary armament . This gun was stabilized by a gyroscope / gyroscope . This device enabled precise shooting even while driving. The ammunition supply consisted of 46 high-explosive shells (type M48) and smoke grenades (type M89). The elevation range of the cannon was between −20 and +40 degrees. In contrast to the Stuart , a coaxial machine gun was dispensed with, as this made little sense due to the parabolic projectile trajectory typical of howitzers . A 12.7 mm caliber machine gun mounted on the tower was provided as secondary armament, which took on the tasks of close-range defense and air defense .
As with all American tanks of the Second World War, the commander had a 360 ° M6 corner mirror for observing the battlefield under armor protection.
production
Under the previous prototype designation T47 , the construction of this tank was initiated in April 1942. Production, which ran until January 1944, was operated by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors and brought out a total of 1,778 vehicles.
Combat use
The M8 Scott was mainly used by the US Army in the European theater of war and in the Pacific . As part of the loan and lease agreement , it was also delivered to Great Britain . Towards the end of the war, however, the M8 was largely replaced by an adaptation of the Sherman tank with a 105 mm howitzer.
variants
- 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 based on the M5 Stuart
- 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8A1 based on the M5A1 Stuart
See also
- LVT (A) -4 : This floating tank of the LVT family was equipped with the turret of the M8 Scott .
- American military vehicles of World War II
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