M8 Scott 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage

Genesis

En 1941-42, les US Army tank battalions étaient divisés entre light ou medium battalions. Les premiers étaient équipés de M3/M5 light tanks et les deuxièmes de M3/M4 medium tanks. Afin de fournir un support d' artillerie mobile aux light battalions, on décida de réaliser un obusier automoteur léger. De plus, il y avait une demande d' un self-propelled 75 mm howitzer pour les infantry cannon companies.

In 1941-42, US Army tank battalions were divided between light or medium battalions. The first were equipped with M3/M5 light tanks and the second of M3/M4 medium tanks. In order to provide a mobile artillery support to the light battalions, one decided to produce a light motorized howitzer. Moreover, there was a request for a self-propelled 75 mm howitzer for the infantry cannon companies.

Prototype T47	M8 75 mm HMC
src: site US Self-Propelled Guns	src: Tamiya

On tenta premièrement d' adapter le châssis du M3 light tank mais la conversion fut un échec et ce fut finalement le châssis du M5 light tank qui fut choisi. L' obusier de 75 mm était monté dans une large tourelle ouverte au dessus et équipée également d' une circulaire pour mitrailleuse de 12.7 mm antiaérienne. Le prototype T47 (ou T17E1) fut finalisé et produit par Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp. Le T47 fut accepté pour la production en 1942 en tant que M8 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage.

One firstly tried to adapt the chassis of M3 light tank but conversion was a failure and it was finally the chassis of M5 light tank which was selected. The howitzer of 75 mm was assembled in a broad turret open to the top and also equipped with a circular for anti-aircraft machine-gun of 12.7 mm. The T47 prototype (or T17E1) was finalized and produced by Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp. T47 was accepted for the production in 1942 as M8 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage.

Production

Le M8 fut fabriqué par la seule Cadillac Motor car Division of General Motors Corp.

M8 was manufactured by only Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp.

M8 HMC

Un total de 1778 exemplaires furent produits entre septembre 1942 et janvier 1944.

A total of 1778 specimens were produced between September 1942 and January 1944.

Sources:

• La Seconde Guerre Mondiale, Éditions C. Colomb
• Blindés de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, Éditions Altas
• site WII Vehicles
• site AFV Database
• site US Self-Propelled Guns