Being one of the most successful American tank destroyer of World War II, the M18 Hellcat development started in 1941 when the US Army required a fast tank destroyer. Production started in 1943.
Housing a 400 hp Continental R975-C4 radial 9 cylinders engine and weighting only 18 tons the M18 Hellcat holds the record of the fastest tank of World War II being capable to reach 80 kmh of top speed (most of the modern tanks can't reach this speed).
Armed with a 76.2 M1A2 cannon and a .50 M2 could not take German heavy tanks in a direct engagement but the incredible speed proved to make this tank very lethal by easily flanking enemy positions.
The crew of 5 men (driver, co-driver, loader, gunner and commander) were protected only against small arms, the strongest armor thickness in the M18 was only 25 mm.
With the US Army doctrine to "Seek, Strike & Destroy" M18 proved to be fearsome to enemy tank formations. After the war the M18 served US allies for a long time.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário