The T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage, abbreviated as HMC. was an Americanself-propelled gun. Its development started in September 1941 as a close-support vehicle using the M3 Stuart's chassis. A 75 mm howitzer was mounted on the right front of the vehicle. The gun mount was adapted from the M3 Grant. Two prototypes were produced by Firestone and then sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground.[3] However, they were unsatisfactory because of their high superstructure and nose weight. Because the Army disliked the high superstructure and nearly vertical armor, the T18 was abandoned in 1942, and soon started a new turreted project, the T41 75 mm HMC, also known as the Howitzer Motor Carriage M8.[1][2]
T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage
A contemporary photo of the T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage HMC.
The development started in September 1941 with a requirement for a close-support vehicle based upon the M3 Stuart's chassis, but it was made of a mild steel superstructure. A 75 mm Pack Howitzer was mounted on the right of the glacis plate of the vehicle. The gun mount was modeled from the M3 Lee's 75 mm gun's mount.[1]
Two prototypes were produced and sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. They were unsatisfactory because of their heavy nose weight. By the time the first pilot model was midway into being completed, the project was canceled since the army disliked the high superstructure, nose weight, and nearly vertical armor. The project was soon superseded by the T41 project.[2] Later, the prototypes were kept on display in the Aberdeen Proving Ground until they were destroyed in 1947.[4]
^Hunnicutt (1992), p. 320-21. Quote: "After inspection of the mock-up, Firestone was authorized to proceed with the construction of the two pilot vehicles."
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
Bibliographyedit
Chamberlain, Peter; Ellis, Chris (1969). . New York, NY: Arco Publishing Inc. ISBN0-304-35529-1. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12.
Hunnicutt, R. P. (1992). Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank. Novato, Calif: Presidio Press. ISBN0-89141-462-2.
howitzer, motor, carriage, abbreviated, american, self, propelled, development, started, september, 1941, close, support, vehicle, using, stuart, chassis, howitzer, mounted, right, front, vehicle, mount, adapted, from, grant, prototypes, were, produced, firest. The T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage abbreviated as HMC was an American self propelled gun Its development started in September 1941 as a close support vehicle using the M3 Stuart s chassis A 75 mm howitzer was mounted on the right front of the vehicle The gun mount was adapted from the M3 Grant Two prototypes were produced by Firestone and then sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground 3 However they were unsatisfactory because of their high superstructure and nose weight Because the Army disliked the high superstructure and nearly vertical armor the T18 was abandoned in 1942 and soon started a new turreted project the T41 75 mm HMC also known as the Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 1 2 T18 Howitzer Motor CarriageA contemporary photo of the T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage HMC TypeSelf propelled gunPlace of originUnited StatesProduction historyDesignerFirestone Defense DivisionDesigned1941 1942 1 ManufacturerFirestone Tire and Rubber Co No built2 prototypes 2 SpecificationsMainarmamentM1A1 75 mm pack howitzer 1 Later the prototypes were kept on display in the Aberdeen Proving Ground until they were destroyed in 1947 4 Contents 1 Development 2 References 2 1 Citations 2 2 BibliographyDevelopment editThe development started in September 1941 with a requirement for a close support vehicle based upon the M3 Stuart s chassis but it was made of a mild steel superstructure A 75 mm Pack Howitzer was mounted on the right of the glacis plate of the vehicle The gun mount was modeled from the M3 Lee s 75 mm gun s mount 1 Two prototypes were produced and sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds They were unsatisfactory because of their heavy nose weight By the time the first pilot model was midway into being completed the project was canceled since the army disliked the high superstructure nose weight and nearly vertical armor The project was soon superseded by the T41 project 2 Later the prototypes were kept on display in the Aberdeen Proving Ground until they were destroyed in 1947 4 References editCitations edit a b c d Chamberlain amp Ellis 1969 p 90 a b c Zaloga 1999 p 19 Hunnicutt 1992 p 320 21 Quote After inspection of the mock up Firestone was authorized to proceed with the construction of the two pilot vehicles a b SPG and GMC of USA Archived from the original on 2013 07 08 Retrieved 2014 08 12 Bibliography edit Chamberlain Peter Ellis Chris 1969 British and American Tanks of WWII New York NY Arco Publishing Inc ISBN 0 304 35529 1 Archived from the original on 2014 08 12 Hunnicutt R P 1992 Stuart A History of the American Light Tank Novato Calif Presidio Press ISBN 0 89141 462 2 Zaloga Steven J 1999 M3 and M5 Stuart Light Tank 1940 1945 New Vanguard Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 85532 911 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title T18 Howitzer Motor Carriage amp oldid 1147383885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
