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The M18 Hellcat was an American tank destroyer of WW2. Armed with a 76 mm cannon, the vehicle was the fastest tracked, armored fighting vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 92 km/h. The speed was attained by keeping armor to a minimum, no more than 1" thick. Hellcat crews took advantage of the vehicle's speed to minimize the enemy's ability to pierce its thin armor. Hellcats were used to penetrate the sides and back of the heavily armored Tiger and Panther tanks used by the Germans. Utilized in the western front and in D-Day, the Hellcat, along with the Sherman Firefly and M10 Wolverine, was the main firepower in the invasion of Europe.
The M18 carried a five-man crew as well as 45 rounds of main gun ammunition, and an M2 Browning machine gun on a flexible ring mount for use against aircraft and infantry.
The M18 continued in production until Oct 1944, when the war was nearing its end. 2,507 had been produced by that time, at a unit cost of $57,500.
The M18 carried a five-man crew as well as 45 rounds of main gun ammunition, and an M2 Browning machine gun on a flexible ring mount for use against aircraft and infantry.
The M18 continued in production until Oct 1944, when the war was nearing its end. 2,507 had been produced by that time, at a unit cost of $57,500.
