In contrast to the M10 tank destroyer, which used the chassis of the M4 Sherman, the M18 Hellcat was designed from the start to be a fast tank destroyer. The transmission could also easily be removed and rolled out onto a front deck plate to facilitate quick inspection and repairs. The Wright R-975 engine was mounted on steel rollers that allowed maintenance crews to disconnect it easily from the transmission, roll it out onto the lowered engine rear cover, service it, and then reconnect it to the transmission. The M18's new design incorporated several innovative maintenance features. The design was standardized in February 1943 and production began in July 1943. The Christie suspension requirement was also dropped, and replaced with a torsion bar suspension. During the development process, the design was further upgraded to a utilize a 75 mm gun, and then finally to the 76 mm gun. The project was so secretive that a story about the “new” tank destroyer ran in newspapers just a month before productionĭuring fighting in North Africa, the vehicle's original 37 mm gun was inadequate and the design was upgraded with a British 57 mm gun. Production of the M18 Hellcat began in mid-1943 and ended in October 1944. Of course, the M18 also required unique tests of its ability to ford six feet of water, climb small walls, and ram through structures. Top speed testing was done on a paved, banked oval and ride quality tests were done over specially developed stretches of bumps. Once developed, the Hellcat was tested in the same manner as millions of Buick passenger cars before and after it, at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground. “To give perspective, most German tanks of the day were capable of just 20 mph and even today’s M1 Abrams tank is outpaced by the Hellcat.” “The Hellcat was considered the hot rod of World War II,” said Bill Gross, a historian who restored an M18 now on display at the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich. Its power came from a nine-cylinder, 450-horsepower radial-type aircraft engine paired with a three-speed Hydramatic transmission. Though it weighed about 20 tons – the same as almost nine modern day Buick Enclaves – the Hellcat was designed to be one of fastest tanks on the battlefield and was capable of traveling upwards of 60 mph. Flanked by the words “Seek, Strike, Destroy,” it depicts a wildcat biting down on crushed treads, signifying the Hellcat’s mission of targeting enemy tanks.īuick engineers brought the Hellcat to life from the design team’s sketches and developed an innovative torsion bar suspension that provided a steady ride. Even the Hellcat logo on the M18’s front corner and patches worn by its crew was designed by Earl’s staff. The M18 originated in the design studio of Harley Earl from the Buick motor company division of General Motors, whose team also worked extensively on early camouflage paint. ![]() In December 1941, the Ordnance Corps issued a requirement for the design of a fast tank destroyer using a Christie suspension, the Wright/Continental R-975 engine, and a 37 mm gun.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |