T17E1 Staghound I
| T17E1 staghound | |
|---|---|
Staghound in an Israeli museum |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 (commander, driver, gunner, loader, machine gunner) |
| length | 5.49 m |
| width | 2.69 m |
| height | 2.36 m |
| Dimensions | 13.7 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 8 mm |
| Main armament | 37mm cannon |
| Secondary armament | 3 × 7.62 mm MG (1 each on the turret roof, in the hull and coaxial to the main cannon) |
| agility | |
| drive | Six-cylinder gasoline engine GMC 97 PS (72 kW) |
| suspension | 4 × 4 wheel suspension |
| Top speed | 89 km / h |
| Power / weight | 7.08 hp / t |
| Range | 724 km |
The T17E1 Staghound was an American reconnaissance tank from the 1940s that was intended for export.
history
The T17E1 Staghound I was an American design for a heavy armored vehicle, but it was never used in the US Army . Instead, all production went to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth . There were two versions, the Ford T17 6 × 6 and the Chevrolet T17 E1 4 × 4 . The British ordered 300 of the latter type. In 1942 the first were shipped to Great Britain . There they were assigned to the British, Canadian, Belgian, Indian and New Zealand units. Its strong armor, its speed and its long range made it an effective vehicle. After the war, some staghounds went to Denmark, India and South Africa, others remained in the service of the British army for a few years.
technology
The T17E1 was designed for quick reconnaissance missions. The powerful engine and the maneuverability of the 4 × 4 chassis took this requirement into account. The relatively large ground clearance made it possible to wade to a ford depth of 0.80 meters. The tower was a conventional development. The staghounds had to avoid a conflict with more armed forces because of their light armor. The 37mm cannon was already out of date by the time the vehicle was introduced. So the British looked for ways to increase the fighting power of the staghound. The variants Mk II and III were created .
On the sides, the staghound could carry two barrels with additional fuel. This increased the range considerably, but was extremely dangerous in the event of a battle. Hits from light weapons represent a major hazard for the vehicle.
variants
- Mk I : as described above
- Mk II : equipped with a self-propelled howitzer
- Mk III : armed with the turret of the Crusader tank and 75 mm cannon
- AA : with two 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns M2
- Command : Towerless with radio system, as a mobile command post
Some vehicles were equipped with flails to clear mines.
See also
literature
- Philip Trewhitt: tanks. The most important combat vehicles in the world from World War I to the present day. Neuer Kaiserverlag, Klagenfurt 2005, ISBN 3-7043-3197-X , ( Worth knowing - Technology ).
