- Yes, as a tech tree vehicle.
- Yes, as an event vehicle.
- Yes, as a squadron vehicle.
- No
- Mild steel armor ( x0.45 armor mutiplier)
- Cast homogeneous armour ( x0.94 armor mutiplier)
- I said no.
- 1.3
- 1.7
- 2.0
- I said no.
The T18 HMC is an American self-propelled pack 75mm mounted on an M3 Stuart chassis built by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Only 2 Mild Steel prototypes were ordered with 1 built.
History
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In June 1941, after the cancellation of the T3 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC), the Department of Field Artillery issued new guidelines for a new light self-propelled gun. This SPG would mount either a 75mm or 105mm howitzer. However, the 105mm requirement was later dropped due to its size being unsuitable for the M3 Stuart chassis. Two designs were proposed: the T17, based on the experimental Combat Car M1E3 chassis, and the T18, based on the original requirement’s M3 Stuart chassis. Predictably, the T17 never progressed beyond the drawing board stage, and the T18 was chosen for further development. In October 1941, the Ordnance Committee ordered a wooden mock-up of the T18 to be built. Later, two mild steel prototypes were ordered, of which one were constructed. On May 7, 1942, the prototype was tested at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and met most of the requirements. However, there was an issue with the vehicle tilting forward due to poor weight distribution and ammunition capacity had to be reduced to 42 rounds. The T18 lower hull is almost identical to the standard early M3 Stuart, with the same suspension, drivetrain, and engine. The casemate was fitted with a modified M3 Lee M1 gun mount with traverse limits at 15° to either side and between 20° to -5° vertically. Two .30 caliber M1919A4 machine guns were fitted to the side sponsons but were not traversable. Armor was decent for its time, with 50.8 mm thick frontal armor sufficient enough to stop 37mm rounds from a distance. The sides and top armor were 31.8 mm thick, while the rear was 25.4 mm. The lower hull had the same armor thickness as the standard M3 Stuart. As it have the same engine and suspension but only weight a bit more, mobility was almost on par with the Stuart. Unfortunately, earlier that year, the M5 was accepted into service and with its poor visibility, bad armor profile, weight distribution issue and ventilation issues, the T18 was cancelled in April 1942. The replacement, the T47 HMC (prototype M8 HMC) solved the ventilation and visibility problems with an open-topped turret.
Specification
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Length: 4.53 m
Width: 2.24 m
Height: 2.16 m
Weight: 13.50 tons
Crew: 3 (Gunner, Driver, Commander/Loader)
Engine: Continental W-670-9A, 250 hp, 16.8 hp/ton
Top Speed: 58 km/h
Armaments
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75 mm M1A1 Pack Howitzer (42 rounds): M48 HE shell, M66 HEAT, M64 WP Smoke
2 x .30 caliber M1919A4 Machine Guns (4,900 rounds)
In game
In game this would be a decent 1.3-1.7 Light Tank Destroyer after the M2 or foldered with the M8 HMC.
Photos
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The wooden mock up in December 1941
Sources
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Tank Archives: T18 HMC: Quick Howitzer
75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T18 - Tank Encyclopedia
United States Self Propelled Guns (not really an info source but a good read)
After Note
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There were some suggestions post on the old forum and a single non suggestion post here on the new forum, so consider this page as a formal suggestion post for it.
Honestly idk whether Gaijin would add this in with mild steel or CHA amour since the prototype used it but i think the planned production ver would use CFA.
As always, replied to this if you have any problem or suggest a sources, thx.
