M18 Hellcat

76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18
TypeTank destroyer
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1943–1944 (US)[1]
Wars
Production history
DesignerUnited States
Designed1943
ManufacturerBuick Motor Division of General Motors
Unit costUS$55,230 (equivalent to $955,928 in 2023)[2]
ProducedJuly 1943—October 1944
No. built2,507
Specifications ([7])
Mass37,557 lb (16.767 long tons; 17.036 t) fighting weight, with crew[3]
Length
  • 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) hull only
  • 21 ft 10 in (6.65 m) including gun barrel overhang
Width9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Height8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) over antiaircraft machine gun
Crew5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver)
Armor4.8–25.4 mm (0.19–1.00 in)
Main
armament
76 mm gun M1A1, M1A1C, or M1A2
45 rounds[4]
Secondary
armament
.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun
800 rounds[4]
EngineContinental R975-C1
350 hp (260 kW) at 2,400 rpm[5]
Power/weight19.8–22.6 hp (14.8–16.9 kW)/tonne
Transmission900T Torqmatic automatic transmission
3 speeds forward, 1 reverse
SuspensionTorsion bar
Fuel capacity165 US gal (620 L)[4]
Operational
range
100 mi (160 km) on road
Maximum speed
  • 55 mph (89 km/h) on road[6]
  • 26 mph (42 km/h) off road

The M18 Hellcat (officially designated the 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 or M18 GMC) is a tank destroyer used by the United States Army in World War II and the Korean War. Despite being equipped with the same main gun as some variants of the much larger Sherman tank, the M18 attained a much higher top speed of up to 55 mph (89 km/h) by keeping armor to a minimum, and using the innovative Torqmatic automatic transmission.

The M18 Hellcat was the culmination of the development of various prototypes of fast tank destroyers dating back to 1941. Entering production in summer 1943, the M18 first saw combat service in spring 1944. The M18 served primarily in Western Europe, but was also present in smaller numbers in Italy and the Pacific. Production continued until October 1944, with 2,507 built.

The Hellcat was the most effective U.S. tank destroyer of World War II. It had a higher kill-to-loss ratio than any other tank or tank destroyer fielded by U.S. forces in World War II.[8][9] Kills claimed were 526 in total: 498 in Europe, 17 in Italy, and 11 in the Pacific. The kills-to-losses ratio for Europe was 2.3 to 1, and the overall kill to loss ratio was 2.4 to 1.[10] M18s were "...not primarily used for tank fighting, but were committed more often to improvised roles, usually direct fire support for infantry."[11] Although the M18 was retired from U.S. service immediately after the end of World War II, a variant, the M39 armored utility vehicle, served in the Korean War, and M18s continued in service with some countries until 1995.

The M18 Hellcat was an example of the balancing act among firepower, armor, and mobility in armored fighting vehicle design. Despite its excellent mobility and reasonably powerful main gun, the M18 Hellcat also had drawbacks, including thin armor and a poor high explosive shell for its main gun. Historian Steven J. Zaloga characterized the overall design of the M18 as "poorly balanced" and stated that "the Hellcat's combat record is attributable to the training and dedication of its crews, not to its ill-conceived design."[11]

  1. ^ jwh1975. (9 February 2020). M18 Hellcats in Yugoslavia after WWII / the "Krajina Express". wwiiafterwwii. Retrieved 5 January 2023, from https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2020/02/09/m18-hellcats-in-yugoslavia-after-wwii-the-krajina-express/
  2. ^ Zaloga, 2004 p11
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TM-9-755-9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference TM-9-755-10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference TM-9-755-179 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference TM 9-755-43 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference 50megs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tank Overhaul was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fox-25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Zaloga, 2004 p36
  11. ^ a b Zaloga, 2004 p37