M20 Armored Utility Car:
Aberdeen Tank Museum
The Tank Destroyer Command requested a vehicle that would be a command car, personnel and cargo carrier, and a AA multiple MG mount. The design took the turret off the M8 and had an open vehicle with a centrally mounted .50 cal MG for AA protection. The ring mount was a type M66.1
Standardized in April 1943 as the Armored Utility Car M10. But to avoid confusion with the M10 tank destroyer it was changed to the M20.
Prototype was built by Ford Motor Co.
Based on the M8 chassis.1 There were 2 wood bench seats and a rear seat for the crew. The right sponson had the radio and a map table was at the front.
Was intended to be used by commanders of mobile units and had command radio sets installed.1
The engines were in the rear with fans blowing to the rear, the M20 was often able to sneak up on opposition.
Could carry a bazooka and 5 .30 cal carbines. The bazooka fired a 3.41 lb round at a velocity of 300'/sec.1
| M20 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 to 6, 61 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 12,800 lb, 15,650 lb1 |
| Length w/gun | 16' 5"1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 4.5", 7' 7"1 |
| Width | 8' 4"1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 11.5"1 |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | 12.7 to 14.35 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | .50 cal M2 .50 cal HB M2 MG1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | 1: Bazooka M9A11, M181 Smokepots1 Antitank mines1 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1,000, 1,0501 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | Bazooka: 101 Smokepots: 41 Antitank mines: 31 |
| Armor Thickness | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 16 mm 5/8", 0.625"@0°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 19 mm 0.75" |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 9 mm, 3/8" |
| Hull Rear | 9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°1 |
| Hull Top | 6 mm, 0.25" |
| Hull Bottom | 3 mm, 1/8-1/4" |
| Turret Front | 19 mm, 0.75" |
| Turret Sides | 19 mm, 0.75" |
| Turret Rear | 19 mm, 0.75" |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Hercules JXD1 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water1 |
| Cylinders | 61 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1101 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Selective sliding gear Synchromesh1 4 forward, 1 reverse1 |
| Steering | Worm and roller, front wheels only1 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline1 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 54 gallons1, 56 gallons |
| Road consumption | 5 mpg1 |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°1 |
| Max speed | 55 mph, 56 mph1, 60 mph |
| Cross country speed | 30 mph |
| Road radius | 250 miles1, 350 miles |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 28'1 |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 2', 2' 8"1 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | 1'1 |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope1 |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf spring Semi-elliptical spring1 |
| Wheels each side | 6 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 76"1 |
| Tire size | 9.00 x 201 |
| Wheel base | 79" + 48"1 |
| Production | Ford 1943-1944: 3,791 1943: General Motors Corp.1 |
Sources:
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
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