M8 Light Armored Car:
U.S. Official
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Prototypes built by Ford Motor Co and Chrysler designated the T22 and T23.1 Both were very similar but the T22E2 was choosen for production on May 19, 1942.1
The armor was welded and the open-topped turret was cast. Sand shields were mounted over the front and rear wheels, however, the rear ones were hinged and often removed to make it easier to mount tire chains. There was storage above the rear fenders and on the front hull between the headlights and racks for 3 mines on each side. The blackout lights were removable from their sockets.
The gun was rotated and elevated manually.1
Used a standard steering wheel. The coaxial MG can be removed and placed on a Tripod Mount M2. AA gun sometimes added.
All shutters and hatch covers can be closed and protectoscopes used for observation. There is a radio and speaking tube for inside of vehicle. A pintle hook for towing a trailer was mounted. The wheels had an armored center and a bead lock to help prevent tires from collapsing in combat.
The driver sat on the left and radio operator sat on the right and both had top and front hatches. The radio was a SCR506, 508, 510, 608, or 610.
Early models didn't have an armored floor. In later models the steel gas tank was replaced by a rubber one.
The engines were in the rear with fans blowing to the rear, the M8 was often able to sneak up on opposition.
A pintle was mounted in the rear for towing a trailer. Much of the crew's equipment had to be stored externally as there wasn't enough room on the inside.1
Was originally designed to be a tank destroyer, but the British reported that the 37 mm gun was inadequate at penetrating frontal armor on German tanks. It became a popular reconnaissance and fire support vehicle.
First saw action in Italy in March 1943.1 Was used mostly on Okinawa and the Phillipines in the Pacific theater.1
T22:
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
T22E1:
Built by Ford as a prototype.1
T23E1:
Built by Chrysler as a prototype.1
T22E2:
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
Had improvements made to the storage of equipment and better driver visibility.1
T26:
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
Prototype.
T69 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage:
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M8E1:
Suspension improvements, skate ring for .50 cal AA gun.
British use:
Greyhound:
Was considered too thinly armored but the floors of the interior were sometimes lined with sandbags. It was liked because it could go over most any terrain and available in large numbers.
| M8 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, driver, co-driver/radio operator3 41,2,3,4 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 16,400 lb4, 17,400 lb 7.68 tons1, 7.9 tons3, 7.94 tons2 7,802 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 15' 8.25"4, 16' 5"1,2 5 m2,3, 5.01 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 4.5"2, 7' 5"1, 7' 6"4 2.24 m3, 2.248 m2, 2.26 m1 |
| Width | 8' 3 5/8"4, 8' 4"1,2 2.54 m1,2,3 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 11.25"4, 11.5" |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | 13.6 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 37 mm M61,3,4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | .30 cal MG, coaxial3 .50 cal MG, AA, mouted later in production3 2: 7.62 mm (.30 cal) MG1 .30 cal M1919A4 MG, coaxial4 .50 cal HB M2 MG, AA4 |
| Side arms | 4: Carbines |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 804 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | .30: 1,500, 1,5754 .50: 400, 4204 |
| Side arms | .30: 400 Grenades: 12 Smoke pots: 44 Antitank mines: 64 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 193 Side: 193 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 16 mm, 5/8", 0.625"@0°4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 19 mm, 0.75" |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°4 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 9 mm, 3/8" |
| Hull Rear | 9 mm, 3/8", 0.375"@0°4 |
| Hull Top | 6 mm, 0.25" |
| Hull Bottom | 3 mm, 1/8-1/4" |
| Turret Front | 19 mm, 0.75", 0.875"@0°4 |
| Turret Sides | 19 mm, 0.75", 0.75"@0°4 |
| Turret Rear | 19 mm, 0.75" |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Hercules JXD1,2,4 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water4 |
| Cylinders | 62,4 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 1102,3,4 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Selective sliding gear Synchromesh4 4 forward, 1 reverse4 |
| Steering | Worm and roller, front wheels only4 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2,4 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 54 gallons4, 56 gallons |
| Road consumption | 6.6 mpg4 |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°4 Manual4 |
| Max speed | 55 mph2,4, 56 mph, 60 mph1 89 kph 2, 92 kph3, 100 kph1 |
| Cross country speed | 30 mph |
| Road radius | 250 miles4, 350 miles2 563 km2 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | 28'4 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +18°4 |
| Fording depth | 2'2, 2' 8"4 0.61 m2 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | 1'2,4 0.3 m2 |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope4 |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf spring Semi elliptical springs4 |
| Wheels each side | 6 x 64 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | 6 |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 4"4 |
| Tire size | 9.00 x 204 |
| Wheel base | 79" + 48"4 |
| Production | Ford: 11,667, 8,5231 1942: Ford Motor Co.4 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
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