M8 Light Armored Car:

United States' Armored Car
U.S. Official

USA's M8 Light Armored Car
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:

United States' T22 Armored Car
U.S. Ordnance Dept.

T22E1:

Built by Ford as a prototype.1

T23E1:

Built by Chrysler as a prototype.1

T22E2:

United States' T22E2 Armored Car
U.S. Ordnance Dept.

Had improvements made to the storage of equipment and better driver visibility.1

T26:

United States' T26 Armored Car
U.S. Ordnance Dept.

Prototype.

T69 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage:

United States' 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
Grenades
Smoke pots4
Antitank mines4

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:

  1. 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
  2. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  3. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  4. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
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