M8 high-speed tractor
| M8 high-speed tractor | |
|---|---|
An M8 high-speed tractor |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | Max. 12 in the gun platoon; 2 in utility |
| length | 6.73 m |
| width | 3.32 m |
| height | 3.04 m |
| Dimensions | 24,948 tons (combat weight) |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | no armor |
| Main armament | 1 × 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun |
| Secondary armament | no |
| agility | |
| drive |
Continental AOS-895-3 6 cylinder air-cooled (diesel) 863 PS (644 kW) |
| suspension | vertical coil suspension M3 Stuart chassis |
| Top speed | 64.4 km / h (road) |
| Power / weight | 34.60 hp / t |
| Range | 290 km (road) |
The M8 High-Speed Tractor was an artillery tractor that was used by the US Army from 1950 . Production ran from 1950 to 1955. It was the follow-up development of the failed T33 cargo carrier project, which was based on the chassis of the M24 Chaffee light battle tank , which, however, had not been realized.
description
The M8 was a full-track tractor based on the chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog reconnaissance tank . In contrast to the M41, however, the hull was lengthened and equipped with an additional roller on each side. The vehicle was developed to pull transport trailers and artillery guns, such as the 75 mm M51 Skysweeper anti-aircraft gun and the 155 mm Long Tom field cannon . The driver and front passenger sat in fixed cabins, the driver on the left, the front passenger and machine gunner on the right. The basic model was quickly converted from transporting people to transporting grenades and cartridges.
Since the chassis had been turned and practically used in reverse, the vehicle had front-wheel drive with the engine and gearbox in the bow - which was unusual for US Army standards. Some examples were equipped with a hydraulically operated dozer blade (M5 dozer blade).
The loading area could be covered with a tarpaulin. In the artillery platoon, the gun crew sat with their backs against the side wall.
In 1954 the improved version M8E2 high speed tractor appeared
literature
- Philip Trewhitt: Armored Fighting Vehicles . Dempsey-Parr, p 309 1999, ISBN 1-84084-328-4 .