- Yes
- No
Background
Spoiler
The development of the 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T82 aimed to supply troops in the Pacific with a lightweight, self-propelled howitzer for direct fire support. Directed in November 1943, Aberdeen Proving Ground made modifications to the M5 Light Tank, primarily by removing the turret, altering the fighting compartment, the front armor, and fitting wider tracks. In December 1943, a contract was awarded to The Heil Co. to improve upon the original T82 design, resulting in two pilot models made from M5A1 Light Tank chassis. These models were shipped to Aberdeen in August 1944, but testing was delayed until January 1945. The second pilot was sent to Fort Benning for infantry evaluation in February 1945; however, following successful tests, the project was ultimately terminated in June 1945 due to a lack of demand for the vehicle. The T82 represented a complex conversion of an outdated tank, and had conditions for timely evaluation been met, mass production might have been feasible.
Rough Description;
The 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T82, produced by The Heil Co., is an armored combat vehicle designed for a four-man crew, equipped with a 105mm Howitzer M3 and two .50 caliber machine guns. The howitzer is manually operated and mounted in the center of the fighting compartment. Its hull is constructed of welded rolled steel, with the lower hull similar to the M5A1 Light Tank, lacking an escape hatch. The driver operates from the front right side (viewed frontally), there are two gunners and a loader. Access to the vehicle is from the sides of the open compartment. The vehicle shares engines and suspension with the M5A1 and 75mm HMC M8, featuring modified track components and an option to tow an ammunition trailer, with ammunition stored beneath the compartment floor and adjacent to the howitzer mount.
Technical Data
Specifications
Crew - 4
Combat Weight - 14,515 kg
Length - 4.44 m
Width - 2.3 m
Powerplant - Twin Cadillac Series 42 Engine (162 kW @ 3,400 rpm )
Transmission - +4 / -1\
Track Type - 16 in. Wide
Max Speed - 64 kph
Armor
Upper Frontal Plate - 13 mm
Middle Frontal Plate - 29 mm
Lower Frontal Plate - Up to 38mm (Cast)
Lower Side - 25 mm
Upper Side - 6 mm
Rear - 25 mm
Top Superstructure - 6 mm
Top Engine Deck - 13 mm
Floor - 13 to 9.53 mm (Front to Rear)
Armament
1 x M3 105 mm Howitzer in M3A1 Mount
Ammo - 58 Rounds of M1 HE / M1 HE (Improved) / M67 HEAT / M84 SMOKE
Horizontal Traverse - 18 ° Left / 22° Right
Vertical Traverse - -5° / +35°
1 x 12.7mm MGHB M2 on a Pintle Mount (Located on front left superstructure viewed frontally)
1 x 12.7mm MGHB M2 on a Pintle Mount (Located next to M3 105 mm internally on the right viewed frontally)
Shared 12.7mm Ammo Stowage - 500 rounds
Images
Sources
Spoiler
R.P. Hunnicutt - Stuart - A History of the American Light Tank - Volume 1 of History of light tanks
US WW II 75MM HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE M8 HMC, 105MM HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE T82