What if? M8A1 Tank Destroyer

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I found an M8 SP howitzer model that I did way back in college. I decided to give it an upgrade after seeing an article in FSM back in 07 about an experimental tank destroyer with a 75mm. It never saw action but what if? I gave the model a metal 75mm barrel, new tracks from AFV club, added some details to the interrior of the turret, spare track to the front slope and a fresh paint job with markings to portray a vehicle operating in the ETO circa fall '44. I couldn’t resist putting the Tank Destroyer logo on the side. (I actually did the project a couple months ago concurrently with my M5 conversion but forgot to post) It was a fun project and good use of an older unpainted model done many moons ago.

2

Dunno poop about US armor but looks like it would be a tough little bugger. Short, stout and carrying 1 big @$$ stick.

3

[#ditto]Looks like an M8 with a “hemi”, lol.

Nasty little bugger it would have been, I’m sure. Anyone know what kept it from being produced?

4

Most likely the M18 Hellcat, the US Army’s first purpose-built tank destroyer with 76mm gun. Built by Caddillac, it was also the fastest “tank” during WW2.

5

Being fast doesn’t count for much if you’re made for ambushing though.

6

Ambushing wasn’t the US tank destroyer doctrine. The WW2 US doctrine (flawed) was to use highly mobile, rapid, anti-tank forces to move to the point of the battlefield where enemy tanks were believed to be gaining success and may breakthrough.

7

yeah, but iw wasn’t a good strategy (the german and russian strategy of sitting around in a large behemoth waiting for the enemy was better)

8

Yes, hence the word “flawed” in parenthesis when describing US anti-tank doctrine.

Both the Germans and Russians developed their doctrine while fighting a defensive war. The US fought mainly an offensive invasion using forces initially conceived to defend.