M8 Scott (Howitzer Motor Carriage M8)

History

During WWII, for convenience and logistical reasons, the Americans converted the chassis and hull of their M5 "Stuart" light tank into a self-propelled howitzer (SPH), carrying a useful 75mm gun, assembled into a The open-top turret was completely traversed to build the "M8 Howitzer Carriage" - also known as "General M8 Scott" or simply "M8 Scott". Production of the Scott began in September 1942 and continued until January 1944, with 1,778 units delivered. Its operational lifespan extends beyond that of the U.S.

Armed Forces, as it was adopted by the armies of Cambodia, France, Laos, the Philippines, South Vietnam, and Taiwan for use in the postwar yearsespecially in Southeast Asia.

The new weapon was tested as a "T17E1 HMC" pilot vehicle. General Motors (a division of Cadillac) directed the modification of existing Stuart vehicles to fit the SPH role. The revised design has some notable differences from the original M5 - mainly a very short main gun and a chunky hood found in the new turret. The top of the turret was cut away to provide the necessary working space for the rifle group (and the venting of dangerous gases), and the diameter of the turret ring was increased to accommodate the new turret design.

The top fuselage hatches for the M5's driver and bow gunner were removed, as were the bow-mounted .30 caliber machine guns. The lack of hull hatches meant that the entire crew of four - driver, commander, gunner and loader - had to enter and exit the vehicle via open-air turrets.

Power comes from the same 2 x Cadillac petrol-twin engine arrangement as the M5 Stuarts, while also retaining the Vertical Volute Suspension (VVS) system. It has a range of 100 miles and a road speed of 36 mph.

The 75mm gun is a variant of the M2 or M3 field howitzer, which originated from the classic 1927 75mm M1 "Pack" howitzer. In its vehicle-mounted form, this weapon became the "M2" and used the original M1's bolt and barrel. The "M3" designation simply denotes a different on-board derivative, although the recoil mechanism is now part of the barrel itself, which remains the same (and is interchangeable with the M2). The vehicle allows loading of 46x75mm projectiles, defense is provided by a trainable 0.50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine gun mounted to the rear of the turret.

This is supplied via airborne 400x.50 caliber ammunition. The armor protection of the vehicle's various fairings ranges from 9.5mm to 44.5mm.

The M8 Scott in its final form weighs 18 tons. It's just over 16 feet long, over 7 feet wide, and nearly 9 feet tall.

The

M8 Scott saw direct enemy action in 1943, mainly in the Italian campaign against the Axis powers, and it served throughout the Allied advance into Rome and Berlin. It also proved effective in the Pacific campaign, where its long-range high-explosive 75mm ammunition could target entrenched Japanese forces with some ferocity. The M8 remained in the self-propelled gun role until it was replaced by the modified M4 Sherman medium tank, which installed a more powerful 105mm howitzer, as well as thicker armor and a more powerful powertrain.

These systems are from 1944 and in the long run meant the end of the M8 Scott.

Post-war activity revived the M8 Scotts, where the French army used them to control the situation in Indochina (during the "First Indochina War" of 1946-1954). Scott was still in play after the French left the area, as they served in the South Vietnamese Army during the upcoming Vietnam War (1955-1975).

Other examples occurred in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

46 x 75mm projectile

400 x .50 caliber ammo

Changes