Posted on 09/29/2015 11:58:19 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Mine was built in 1944 by Buick in Flint, Mich., with a 975-cubic inch airplane engine in it. According to my records, it was sold as surplus after World War II to the Yugoslavian military, where it was used in the civil war there in the 1990s.
“Would whoever owns the 1984 Camaro, please move it, or we’re going to have it towed away.” Of course, nobody moved it. With everyone watching, I fired up the tank destroyer and crushed that Camaro. The crowds loved it.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
A sweet ride!
"The Hellcat was the fastest tracked vehicle of any kind during World War II, with a top speed of about 55 mph."
More here:
http://www.trucktrend.com/truck-reviews/163-1404-1944-buick-m18-hellcat-tank-destroyer-first-drive/
With the tank destroyer motto of “Seek, Strike, Destroy!” in mind, Buick was tasked with building the Army a prototype. Its design studio, under the tutelage of legendary automotive designer Harley Earl, went to work in the fall of 1941, mounting a closed turret with a 57mm gun onto the chassis of a light tank.
It would be just as fun to shoot off a few rounds from the M2 Browning on the turret...
On first read of the headline,
I thought, “What’s a Hellcat still?”
And does it make good moonshine?
A nice looking beast!
Spotlessly clean! Nice.
US Tank Doctrine stated that Tanks did not fight tanks (thus the med. vel. 75) it was Tank Destroyers job to fight tanks.
Its a shame that the Germans did not oblige and not have there Tanks fight with ours.
As far as TD’s the US had probably the fastest (M18/36) the Germans had probably the best overall (Stug) and the Soveits had the most powerful SU-152
US gave up armor for that speed.
Germany gave some versatility (no turret)
Soviet gave up speed by using a heavy tank chassis.
Each had advantages and disadvantages of course. If I had to pick one for general use the Stug would probably be it.
Impossibly clean, even the tracks.
Weighs in at over 100,000 pounds!Only 400 made?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdpanther
The M-18 39,000 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_Hellcat
The Stug was effective in both the Anti-tank and artillery roles, which made it so good.
It became a real killer in both roles when they put the 88mm in it.
Thanks, Bidimus1.
Perfect.
Umm actually it was beat since the Nazi lost.
The 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 gun would take out anything in the west with out much issue. The JS tanks were tougher but still vulnerable to it.
The number and types of gun on the Stug III is pretty impressive, of course the reason for it was that Germany had to economize and make cheaper Stug’s to replace Panthers and Tigers.
When I read the headline I thought it would be about a Grumman F6F Hellcat.
Unlike many other TDs of WW II the Hellcat was designed as a TD from the start. Most TDs were based on modified tank chassis.
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