M18 Hellcat vs Panthershinedown attention attention
In April 1943 the General Motors company produced the first prototypes. Needing a rugged but fast moving vehicle to close with enemy armored attacks from the likes of the Panzer III and Panzer IV, the AGF Board moved to standardize the M10 Wolverine tank destroyer, armed with a 3-inch gun, by the spring of 1943.The M10, based on the M4 Sherman chassis, was a reliable fighting vehicle to match the medium German panzers in the deserts of North Africa, but it was not the long-term solution Bruce had in mind. The vehicle was to feature the Leopard turret with a gun not longer than the tank's hull, which was to ensure maneuverability in forested terrain.
Later in the day, the 113th pressed its attack in the direction of Réchicourt -la-Petite, but was met once again by Company C, which blunted an assault on 4th Armored Division’s command post. By June 1943, Buick was already rushing T70 models into production, and by the time the M18 was standardized in March 1944, the nickname “Hellcat” was already being used for promotional purposes.The M18’s service in combat began as it was still being standardized, with five of the new T70 models being sent to the Italian campaign that same spring. Other experiments included an attempt in the autumn of 1944 to adopt the design for use as a self-propelled howitzer, but this and other tests were abandoned with the ending of World War II. As was the case of many U.S. armored fighting vehicles during the war in Europe, Hellcat crews proved adept at developing new tactics when taking on German tanks by learning the strengths and weaknesses of the M18 in combat situations. With only thirteen millimeters on the front hull, the M18’s armor was less than that of the M8 armored car, and much less than the two inches of frontal armor on the M4A1 Sherman or 1.5-inch armor plate on the M10.
M18 Hellcat of the 824th Tank Destroyer Battalion in action at Wiesloch, Germany, April 1945. In truth, M18 crews quickly learned that frontal fire at ranges beyond 300 yards would have little effect on the heavy German tanks; at the same time, the Hellcat provided no protection against the high velocity 75mm and 88mm guns of the Panther and Tiger, respectively.
The tank destroyer became the fastest armored vehicle, of this type, of World War II. Under the fearless direction of Captain Tom Evans, the lead platoon of Company C served as an attractive target for the German tanks, which failed to notice the other two platoons of Hellcats advancing on their flanks. Favoring a vehicle with greater speed, cost effectiveness, and mobility, while at the same time not sacrificing firepower, Bruce secured the test models for his ideal panzer hunter with the T70 prototype. Of the nineteen tank destroyer battalions allocated for the invasion ofFrance, only three would be equipped with the Hellcat prior to landing in Normandy. We seek to educate future Americans to fully appreciate the sacrifices that generations of American Soldiers have made to safeguard the freedoms of this Nation. No prototypes were built. The new German Panther and Tiger I tanks showcased enviable armor protection and excellent gun arrangements but what they lacked was agility - itself a strongpoint of the M18.
Planned heavy reconnaissance vehicle. Exposed to battlefield conditions which almost never resembled the feared The Army Historical Foundation is the designated official fundraisers for the National Museum of the United States Army. While effective in these secondary operations, the new role of the M18 came at a cost. Comparing: M18 Hellcat vs. Jagdpanzer IV Development started in 1942.
The plans called for using the Panther hull in order to facilitate rapid mass production. The fact that only seven Hellcats were destroyed or disabled speaks not only to the tactical flaws of German armor advancing without proper reconnaissance, but also to the proficiency and adaptability of the M18 crews.Despite the Hellcat’s success around Arracourt, units equipped with M18s continued to engage in what FM 18-5 described as “secondary missions.” As a result, the M18 was typically deployed in company size strength amidst infantry and combined combat elements. Three of these vehicles were deployed in the reconnaissance company of the 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion, participating in breakthrough operations at Anzio in late May. Three tank destroyer battalions deployed to the Pacific Theater were equipped with the M18, with one, the 637th, earning the Presidential Unit Citation for its role in clearing Fort McKinley’s emplaced guns during fierce fighting for Manila at the beginning of 1945. The M18 could maneuver and engage the weaker side and rear armor facings (through "flanking" maneuvers) typically before the German tanker crews could turn their turrets to counter. One of the platoon's M18s commanded by Sgt Henry R. Hartman knocked out six of the German tanks, most of which were the much-feared Panthers. The M18 Hellcat was a key element during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge. Development started in 1942. By the end of the day, nineteen German tanks lay burning at the hands of the Hellcats. Like its fellow tank destroyer the M10, the M18 suffered from flaws in a doctrine that was never fully defined.
When the fighting ended a few days later, the victorious American Hellcats accounted for thirty-nine panzers destroyed or disabled. A total of 2,507 vehicles were produced from July 1943 through October 1944. Our funding helps to acquire and conserve Army historical art and artifacts, support Army history educational programs, research, and publication of historical materials on the American Soldier, and provide support and counsel to private and governmental organizations committed to the same goals.
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