T17 Armored Car:
US Ordnance Dept.
In July 1941, after British experience in North Africa, the Ordnance Committee gave design specifications for medium and heavy armored cars. Ford developed a 6 wheel pilot model and Chevrolet a 4 wheel model in September 1941. On October 15, 1942 a committee was formed of Armored Force, Cavalry, Tank Destroyer, and Ordnance personnel to consider the armored cars in design or production. The T17 was considered too large and production was reduced to 250.
Built by Ford Motor Co.
Each engine had it's own clutch and 4 speed transmission. Gears were shifted by a single lever and either engine could be put into neutral. Had the turret from the M3 Medium.1
Were to be sent to British but were used by Military Police in USA with guns removed.
T17E1 Armored Car:
Imperial War Museum
It was designed to be a long distance reconnaissance vehicle and convoy escort.
Built by Chevrolet for Britain. An order for 2,000 was placed in January 1942. First vehicles were produced in October 1942. 157 were finished by January 1943. Originally was to be used by US Army but order was canceled after Special Armored Vehicle Board decided that US didn't need armored cars in this weight and size. British like it and all production was sent to Britain.
T17E2 Armored Car:
US Ordnance Dept
Had a Fraser-Nash powered turret installed.
One source says that 1,000 and another states 789 were produced and shipped to Britain.
The .50 cal MGs fired an API round at a velocity of 2,930'/sec.4
T17E3 Armored Car:
US Ordnance Dept.
Had 75 mm howitzer in turret.
Staghound Mk I:
First went into combat in Italy in 1943. Was issued to Canadian, New Zealand, Indian, and Belgian units.
Staghound Mk II:
Had 76.2 mm howitzer placed in turret.
Staghound Mk III:
Had Crusader tank turret with 75 mm gun mounted. Issued to heavy troops of armored car regiments.
Staghound AA:
Staghound Command:
Turret removed and extra radio gear installed.
| T17 | T17E1, "Staghound I" | T17E2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | 51,2 | 34, 5 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 32,000 lb | 30,705 lb 13.48 tons1, 13.9 tons3, 13.92 tons2 13,700 kg1 |
26,558 lb, 28,000 lb4 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 2" | 17' 10", 18'1,2 5.486 m2, 5.49 m1,3 |
17' 7"4, 17' 10" |
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 7' 7" | 7' 9"1,2 2.31 m3, 2.36 m1,2 |
7' 8"4, 7' 11 3/8" |
| Width | 8' 6" | 8' 10"1,2 2.69 m1,2,3 |
8' 10"4 |
| Width over tracks | |||
| Ground clearance | 1' 3" | 13.25"4 | |
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure | 17.7 psi | 17.95 psi | 15.4 psi, 18 psi4 |
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 37 mm M6 | 37 mm M63 37 mm 1 |
2: .50 cal MG3 2: .50 cal HB M2, MG4 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | .30 cal, coaxial | .30 cal, coaxial, hull, AA3 2 or 3 7.62 (.30 cal) MG1 .30 cal M1919A4 MG, coaxial3 |
|
| Side arms | .45 cal Thompson submachinegun4 | ||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | 111 | 103 | 2,6104, 5,250 |
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 4,750 | 5,250 | |
| Side arms | 4504 | ||
| Armor Thickness | Front: 213 Side: 193 |
||
| Hull Front, Upper | 0.75" | 9 mm, 0.625-0.975" | 0.625-0.975", 0.875"@0°4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.75" | 0.75" | 0.375"@0°4, 0.75" |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | 0.5" | 0.625" | 0.625" |
| Hull Top | 0.625" | 0.5" | 0.5" |
| Hull Bottom | 0.25" | 0.5-0.25" | 0.5-0.25" |
| Turret Front | 1.25" | 44 mm, 1.75" mantlet: 1" |
1.25"@0°4 |
| Turret Sides | 1.25" | 1.25" | 1.25"@0°4 |
| Turret Rear | 1.25" | 1.25" | 1.25" |
| Turret Top | 0.75" | 0.5" | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | 2 x Hercules JXD | 2 x GMC 2701,2 | 2 x GMC 270 2 x Chevrolet OHV4 |
| Bore / stroke | |||
| Cooling | Water4 | ||
| Cylinders | 62 | 2x64 | |
| Capacity | |||
| Net HP | 973, 97 each2 | 176 total4 | |
| Power to weight ratio | |||
| Compression ratio | |||
| Transmission (Type) | 8 forward, 2 reverse | Hydramatic, 4 forward, 1 reverse | Hydromatic with dual range transfer case4 8 forward, 2 reverse4 |
| Steering | Nut and recirculating ball, power assist, front wheels only4 | ||
| Steering ratio | |||
| Starter | |||
| Electrical system | |||
| Ignition | |||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline2 | Gasoline4 | |
| Octane | |||
| Quantity | 90 gallons4 | ||
| Road consumption | 3 mpg4 | ||
| Cross country consumption | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360° | 360° | 360°4 43°/sec Fraser-Nash hydraulic powered4 |
| Max speed | 60 mph | 55 mph1,2 89 kph1,2, 92 kph3 |
55 mph4 |
| Cross country speed | |||
| Road radius | 250 miles | 450 miles1,2 724 km1,2 |
450 miles4 |
| Cross country radius | |||
| Turning radius | 30' | 27.5' | 27.5', 28'4 |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +45° | -7° to +40° | -10° to +75°3 , -10° to +80°4 |
| Fording depth | 2' 8" | 2' 8"2 0.8 m2 |
2' 8"4 |
| Trench crossing | |||
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 6" | 1' 9"2 0.533 m2 |
1' 8"4, 1' 9" |
| Climbing ability | 57° slope4 | ||
| Suspension (Type) | Semi-elliptic springing4 | ||
| Wheels each side | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Tracks (Type) | |||
| Length | |||
| Width | |||
| Diameter | |||
| Number of links | |||
| Pitch | |||
| Tire tread | |||
| Track centers/tread | 89"4 | ||
| Production | 1941: 2501 | 10/42 - 12/43: 2,687, 2,8441 | ? - 4/44: 789 1943: 500, 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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