Howitzer Motor Carriage M8
Encyclopedia
The 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, sometimes known as the M8 Scott, was a self-propelled howitzer vehicle of the United States
developed during the Second World War
.
(Stuart VI). The test vehicle had the standard M5 turret removed, and replaced with an open topped turret, this vehicle was designated the T47.
howitzer, later an 75 mm M3
howitzer, which were reworks of the M1A1 pack howitzer. It carried 46 rounds of 75 mm ammunition; types of ammunition carried were Smoke M89 and H.E. (High Explosive) M48. It featured no coaxial or hull mounted Browning M1919A4
.30-06
machine guns as featured on standard Light Tank M5s. The only other armament was Browning M2HB .50-caliber
machine gun for local area, and anti-aircraft defense; 400 rounds of .50-caliber were stowed onboard for the M2HB.
, the Western Front
, and in the Pacific Theater of Operations
during the war. It was used by the French Union
and State of Vietnam
during the First Indochina War
. It was largely replaced by the adaption of the M4 Sherman
to use the 105 mm howitzer.
Based on the Light Tank M5 chassis.
Based on the Light Tank M5A1 chassis. Some rearmed with the M3 75 mm gun.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
developed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Development
It was developed on the chassis of the then-new Light Tank M5Stuart tank
The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II and supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war—and used thereafter by U.S...
(Stuart VI). The test vehicle had the standard M5 turret removed, and replaced with an open topped turret, this vehicle was designated the T47.
Armament
Armament consisted of a new open topped turret armed with a 75 mm M2M116 howitzer
The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals...
howitzer, later an 75 mm M3
M116 howitzer
The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals...
howitzer, which were reworks of the M1A1 pack howitzer. It carried 46 rounds of 75 mm ammunition; types of ammunition carried were Smoke M89 and H.E. (High Explosive) M48. It featured no coaxial or hull mounted Browning M1919A4
M1919 Browning machine gun
The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
.30-06
.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge or 7.62×63mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and standardized, and was in use until the 1960s and early 1970s. It replaced the .30-03, 6 mm Lee Navy, and .30 US Army...
machine guns as featured on standard Light Tank M5s. The only other armament was Browning M2HB .50-caliber
.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
machine gun for local area, and anti-aircraft defense; 400 rounds of .50-caliber were stowed onboard for the M2HB.
Production
The T47 was ordered into production as the 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 in April 1942. Production ran from September 1942, to January 1944. A total of 1,778 vehicles were produced.Combat service
The M8 saw action in the Italian CampaignItalian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
, and in the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during the war. It was used by the French Union
French Union
The French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" and to abolish its "indigenous" status.-History:...
and State of Vietnam
State of Vietnam
The State of Vietnam was a state that claimed authority over all of Vietnam during the First Indochina War, and replaced the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam . The provisional government was a brief transitional administration between colonial Cochinchina and an independent state...
during the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
. It was largely replaced by the adaption of the M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
to use the 105 mm howitzer.
Variants
- 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8
Based on the Light Tank M5 chassis.
- 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8A1
Based on the Light Tank M5A1 chassis. Some rearmed with the M3 75 mm gun.
See also
- Landing Vehicle Tracked (Armored) 4)Landing Vehicle TrackedThe Landing Vehicle Tracked was a class of amphibious vehicles introduced by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well...
— an LVT(A)1 rearmed with the turret of the 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 - G-numbers