Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage: Artillery on a Stuart Chassis” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/m8-howitzer-motor-carriage/.
M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage: Artillery on a Stuart Chassis
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
KillerFord1977
Emissary
I bet the open top was no fun during rains, extreme weather or winter 
Cedric
Professional
As was every US tank destroyer, halftrack, M7 Priest, etc. I'm sure the GI could use a makeshift cover if the tactical situation permitted. The open top on TDs and the M8 were to get 360 degree observation given their roles as primarily defensive (TDs) or fire support (the Scott). Below: An M8 Scott assigned to the 92d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 12th Armored Division during pre-deployment training near Abilene, TX.I bet the open top was no fun during rains, extreme weather or winter
An M5 Stuart and M8 HMC at the Ordnance TSF at Ft. Lee. The Stuart is fitted with a Culin Device for cutting hedgerows.
An interesting misconception about a gift that passed between the 11th ACR and the ARVN 25th Inf. Div. in our last year in Vietnam (when it was regifted back to the Vietnamese who had given it to the Regiment previously. Both types were operated by the French in the earlier conflict and M8's were still plentiful.
Because the M5 Stuart was considered a more suitable mount for Cavalry, an M8 was "Visually modified" into a rough semblance of an M5. When I pointed this out a few years ago to some of our survivors it was less than welcome news. But a few pics and notes about hatch placement, no top, wrong gun won the day. It was a bitter pill.
I think the gun most resembles a barrel from a 20mm, which would have been plentiful.
The M5 was a favorite battlefield ride of the Colonel of the Regiment, 66th AR, the unit depicted in the film "Fury". He was the father of one of my Sqn. CO's in Vietnam and one of the pics he shared was his father sitting atop him command M5 in the charge across Belgium or Germany. They were very speedy and he wasn't looking to engage tanks himself.
An interesting misconception about a gift that passed between the 11th ACR and the ARVN 25th Inf. Div. in our last year in Vietnam (when it was regifted back to the Vietnamese who had given it to the Regiment previously. Both types were operated by the French in the earlier conflict and M8's were still plentiful.
Because the M5 Stuart was considered a more suitable mount for Cavalry, an M8 was "Visually modified" into a rough semblance of an M5. When I pointed this out a few years ago to some of our survivors it was less than welcome news. But a few pics and notes about hatch placement, no top, wrong gun won the day. It was a bitter pill.
I think the gun most resembles a barrel from a 20mm, which would have been plentiful.
The M5 was a favorite battlefield ride of the Colonel of the Regiment, 66th AR, the unit depicted in the film "Fury". He was the father of one of my Sqn. CO's in Vietnam and one of the pics he shared was his father sitting atop him command M5 in the charge across Belgium or Germany. They were very speedy and he wasn't looking to engage tanks himself.
Attachments
Last edited:
...or mortar and artillery barrages.I bet the open top was no fun during rains, extreme weather or winter