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Medium and Heavy Armored Cars
(1940-1942)
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Design, Development, Engineering and Production Of Armored Cars (1940-1944) |
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This edition, edited, annotated and illustrated by David R. Haugh - Oregon USA |
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| The development of the armored car was affected by the formation of the Armored Force in June 1940, and by the progress of the war in Europe. The Wehrmacht had over-run the Low Countries and France, and there was renewed requirement for a wheeled and turreted reconnaissance vehicle having greater speed and greater radius of action than the existing track-laying vehicles. This need was confirmed by the campaign in North Africa. Rapid development in the field of medium and heavy armored cars followed. The first result was the development, test, and ultimate rejection of the Armored Car, T13. | ||
Car, Armored, T13. A
total of three pilot T13s were completed. In the background is the
original Trackless Tank. (Photo: Editor's collection) |
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| This vehicle was an 8-wheeled car, with drive on the three rear axles, steered with the two front wheels as well as by an auxiliary differential steering system. All eight wheels, supported by pneumatic shock struts, had individual suspension. The car was powered by a radial Guiberson Diesel engine, air-cooled, 9-cylinder, of 250 horsepower. The car was planned to carry one 37mm gun and a caliber .30 machine gun mounted in a turret with 360 degree traverse, and one caliber .30 machine gun for use by the assistant driver. The armor thickness planned was front, .625-inch (15.9mm), sides, top and rear, .5-inch (12.7mm) and turret 1-inch (25.4mm). | ||
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| Forerunner of the Armored Car, T13, was the original commercially developed Trackless Tank. An 8x6 vehicle, the front pair of wheels were not powered. (Photo: Editor's collection) | ||
| A
demonstration model, commercially developed and without turret or armor
plate, was tested by the Armored Force Board in March 1941. Procurement
of two vehicles for test was authorized in April 1941. At about the same
date procurement of 17 vehicles from the Trackless Tank Corporation was
directed by the Adjutant General. These cars were to be made of soft
steel; a specification later changed to armor plate. In June 1941 four
armored car T13 chassis were diverted to make 3-inch gun motor carriages
T7. Later two of these chassis were used for mounting 105mm howitzers.
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| Agreement
was reached 30 June 1941 upon a price of $35,000.00 per car plus a
tooling charge of $70,000.00. Approval of the Office of Production
Management was withheld in view of doubt as to the capabilities of the
selected facility, the Huber Company. The Mack Manufacturing Company was
considered. Negotiations continued. In late October 1941, the Trackless
Tank Corporation finally signed a subcontract with the Reo Motor Company
for construction of the pilot models.
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| Changes made in the vehicle, preparatory to production, included the use of 12.00x20 tires and substitution of the Continental radial light tank engine for the Guiberson Diesel engine. Negotiations were begun with Reo Motor Company to build two pilot models of the modified vehicle, designated Armored Car, T13E1, and the procurement of 1,000 cars prior to standardization was authorized. | ||
Car, Armored, T13E1. Although a 1,000 T13E1s were at first authorized,
only two were actually completed. (Photo: US Army) |
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| In March
1942 Headquarters, Armored Force, requested that the manufacture of 500
of the 1,000 vehicles authorized be held in abeyance pending development
of a gas-electric vehicle later designated Armored Car, T20. Redesign of
the T13E1 model was delayed by uncertainty as to the transmission to be
used, and as to responsibility for the engineering. The latter was
placed with the Reo Motor Company.
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| The models
were demonstrated at General Motors Proving Ground in May 1942 and were
accepted. Two pilot models, one with manual and the other with air shift
were sent to Fort Knox for test. In a report of 29 June 1942 the Armored
Force Board recommended that the two pilot models be returned to the
Trackless Tank Corporation for reworking. Development of the vehicle was
suspended 23 July 1942, the rebuilt vehicles were tested at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, and the Special Armored Vehicle Board recommended in
December the termination of development and test of this vehicle.
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| It
was recommended 21 January 1943 that all aspects of armored cars T13 and
T13E1, the 3-inch gun motor carriage, T7, and the 105mm howitzer motor
carriage T39 be dropped.
[Neither the T7 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage, or the T39
105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage made it beyond the design stage].
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| To
supplement the armored car T13, the development was begun in July 1941
of armored cars T17 and T18, as a result of the composite requirements
of the Armored Force and the British Army Staff. Procurement of one
pilot model of each type was authorized.
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Car, Armored, T17. During trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground. (Photo: US
Army) |
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Requirements for the armored car T17 were drawn up and the automotive
industry contacted to submit designs. A 6-wheel design submitted by the
Ford Motor Company and a 4-wheel design submitted by the Chevrolet
Division of General Motors Corporation showed equal promise. One pilot
model of each was authorized; the Ford 6-wheel vehicle being designated
the T17 and the Chevrolet 4-wheel design the T17E1.
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| The armored
car T17 carried a crew of four men and weighed 28,390 pounds (13,343kgs)
loaded. The frontal armor was 1.25 to 2-inch (31.75-50.8mm), side armor
was .75 and .875-inch (19-22.2mm), rear armor was .75-inch (19mm), and
the turret armor stepped down from 2-inch (50.8mm) frontal to .5-inch
(12.7mm) top. The car carried a 37mm gun and a caliber .30 machine gun,
in a combination mount M24, in the turret with a 360-degree traverse.
Drive was on all six wheels, and turret traverse was by hydraulic power
mechanism or by hand. A gyrostabilizer maintained gun position while the
vehicle was in motion. A periscope with a telescope was mounted with the
37mm gun and two periscopes were provided for the driver and assistant
driver. Tires were 12.00x20, and the speed of the vehicle was 55 miles
an hour (88.5km/h).
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| The
original Ford design included two 90-horsepower Ford engines as a power
plant, and was based on the use of face-hardened rolled armor plate. In
the interest of standardization the 110-horsepower Hercules JXD engine
as used in scout car M3A1 and 2.5-ton trucks was used instead of the
Ford engine, and to permit welding of the plate, homogeneous armor plate
was used. The first pilot was produced in March 1942.
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| Production
of 2,260 vehicles was authorized in January 1942, to be constructed at
the St. Paul, Minnesota, Branch of the Ford Motor Company. Production of
1,500 additional vehicles was authorized in June 1942, making a total
commitment of 3,760 vehicles. Cancellation of armored car T17 was
recommended by the Armored Vehicle Board in December 1942. The Ford
Company was; however, authorized to build 250 armored cars T17 to bridge
the interval to production of light armored car M8.
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| These 250 vehicles were assigned to International Aid to the British. On the basis of tests made by the Desert Warfare Board on six armored cars T17 the British decided that the vehicles were not suitable for their use. The cars, minus the 37mm gun, were assigned to military police units in this country, and the project was terminated finally in February 1944. | ||
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| Car, Armored, T17E1. Built by Chevrolet, the T17E1 proved to be a reliable and useful vehicle for the Commonwealth Armies. The vehicle shown is the original prototype. (Photo: US Army | ||
| The
armored
car T17E1 (Staghound 1) proposed by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors
Corporation was a 4x4 car powered by two GMC engines located behind the
turret. The procurement of one and later two pilot models was approved
in October and November of 1941. Production of 2,000 vehicles was
authorized in January 1942, and production of 1,500 additional vehicles
was approved in April 1942. A requisition by the British Purchasing
Commission for 300 armored cars T17E1 of 15 December 1941 was confirmed
in March 1942. The first production vehicles were delivered in October
of that year. Difficulties in obtaining machine tools and numerous
engineering changes resulted in the acceptance of only 157 vehicles in
1942.
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| Termination
of production of this vehicle was recommended by the Special Armored
Vehicles Board in December 1942, since none of the using arms
represented on that Board desired to be equipped with this vehicle.
Tests of the T17E1 were made by the Desert Warfare Board in February
1943 at the request of the British Army Staff. These showed this vehicle
more mechanically reliable than the armored car T17. In consequence, all
production was taken over by the British, under International Aid.
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| Production
in 1943 was in accordance with schedule and a total of 2,687 vehicles
were accepted in that year. With the designation of the T17E1 with the
Frazier-Nash turret as the T17E2, 500 T17E1 vehicles were canceled and
500 T17E2 vehicles substituted therefore, and an additional production
order issued for 500 T17E2 cars. Production of the armored car T17E1
was terminated in December 1943.
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Car, Armored, T17E2. Although by the time the T17E2 made it to the
field, the need for protection from German ground attack aircraft had
diminished; the vehicle proved a very useful addition to the 37mm gun
armed T17E1. (Photo: US Army) |
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| The armored
car T17E2 consisted of the Frazier-Nash twin caliber .50 turret, as
manufactured by the Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corporation, for British
torpedo boats, installed in an armored car T17E1 hull. Design studies
were made by the Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation. A new
turret race was designed and the turret armor and turret basket
redesigned. Tests showed the need of a power booster ammunition feed and
a better gunsight. These were installed. The first production model was
completed in September 1943, tested at Fort Know, a few minor changes
made and final tests made by the Antiaircraft Artillery Board at Camp
Davis, North Carolina, in December 1943.
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| Production of this vehicle ended in April 1944, with 211 vehicles accepted in 1943 and a total of 789 vehicles accepted [789 vehicles accepted in 1944 plus the 211 in 1943 for a total production run of 1,000]. | ||
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| Carriage, Motor, 75mm Howitzer, T17E3. Only one pilot was completed, no series production was undertaken. (Photo: US Army) | ||
| The Armored
Car T17E3. Built at the request of the British for a large caliber gun
on the armored car T17E1 to overcome road blocks, consisted of the 75mm
howitzer motor carriage M8 turret mounted on the T17E1 hull. The same
turret race was used on both vehicles. The trial installation in October
1943 proved successful, as were proof-firing tests conducted in December
1943. As the British request for 100 vehicles lacked final approval by
Army Services Forces, no pilot model complete with stowage and all
details was built, and the requirement for this vehicle ceased in late
December 1943.
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| The armored
car T18 resulted from the general characteristics of the heavy armored
car as projected in July 1941 in accordance with the desires of the
Armored Force and the British. These characteristics were those of a
wheeled armored vehicle with 360 degree turret, power-operated, and
stabilized gun mount, weighing about 32,000 pounds (14,528kgs), and
carrying one 37mm gun, or a heavier piece if practicable, in combination
mount with one caliber .30 machine gun, and one caliber .30 machine gun
in a bow mount. The proposed armor was upon a 2-inch (50.8mm) basis for
frontal plates of hull and turret, and sides and rear 1 to 1.25-inch
(25.4 – 31.75mm). A speed of 50 miles an hour (80.5km/h) was desired,
and not less than 300 miles (482.7km) of action. The power plant was to
be diesel or gasoline, with diesel preferred.
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| Two
pilots each of two designs were to be procured from Yellow Truck and
Coach Division, General Motors Corporation. The first, designated
armored car T18, was an 8x8 vehicle, conventionally sprung, with dual
engines in the rear, and mounting a 37mm light tank turret. The second,
designated armored car T18E1, was a 6x6 vehicle with individually sprung
wheels. The project for this vehicle was, however, suspended in favor of
the development of armored car T19.
[No pilot of the T18E1
was actually completed].
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Armored, T18. This is
the first pilot vehicle with 37mm gun and turret. (Photo: Editor's
collection).
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| Agreement
was reached in May 1942, between the British Tank Mission and the United
States Tank Committee that the T18 design should be modified to provide
for the mounting of the 57mm gun instead of the 37mm gun, One armored
car T18 was to be completed without modification. The second pilot,
designated armored car T18E2, was modified to mount the 57mm gun, M1
with other changes required by this change in armament. These changes
increased the weight of the vehicle from an estimated 36,000 pounds
(16,344kgs) to approximately 50,000 pounds (22,700kgs) and made
necessary a change from 12.00x20 tires to 14.00x20 tires. The hydromatic
transmission intended for the lighter vehicle proved unsatisfactory and
a torque converter type transmission was substituted.
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| Design
changes delayed production of the vehicle until December 1942. By
recommendation of the Special Armored Vehicle Board the armored cars
T18, T18E1, and T18E2 projects were closed, since these vehicles were
too heavy for reconnaissance use.
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| The
original production order of 3 February 1942 covered 2,500 armored cars
T18, without armament, placed with the Yellow Truck and Coach Division
of General Motors Corporation. On 18 March 1942 an additional production
order for 300 T18 vehicles were issued. The original schedule for
production of the T18 in 1942 was; June 5, July 10, August 15, September
50, October 100, November 200, December 250, Total 630 units.
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| The revised
forecast for the production of
armored car T18E2 for 1942 was; September
5, October 10, November 15, December 50, Total 80 units.
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Car, Armored, T18E2. Known as the Boarhound in British service, only 30
vehicles were eventually delivered. (Photo: US Army) |
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| Because of
the difficulties in obtaining a source for the 57mm gun mount,
deliveries of first vehicles were slowed. Further causes of delay were
tool bottlenecks and difficulty in obtaining acceptable clutch throwout
bearings.
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| No
requirement for this car appeared on the Army Supply Program in November
1942. Production had, however, progressed to the point where complete
cancellation was inadvisable, and procurement of 30 vehicles plus one
quarter set of spare parts for concurrency and an additional one quarter
set of spare parts for all-time buy was authorized. All vehicles under
this program were furnished the British under International Aid.
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| The armored car T19 was a 6x6 car with independently sprung wheels and was an attempt to provide improved rideability over the then current 4x4 and 6x6 designs of conventional axle arrangement. Construction of two pilot models by the Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation was authorized 29 January 1942. | ||
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| Car, Armored, T19. This is a rear view taken in November of 1942. Without the fenders the coil spring independent suspension is easy to see. (Photo: US Army) | ||
| One pilot was built using two GMC truck engines with hydromatic transmissions as used in the armored car, T17E1. The second pilot was modified to provide a vehicle not in excess of 28,000 pounds (12,712kgs) weight, using 14.00x20 tires, and with the power plant similar to that of the light tank, M5. The armor of the vehicle was to be front .5-inch (12.7mm) at 45° slope, sides .375-inch (9.53mm), and top, bottom, and rear .25-inch (6.35mm). The turret armor was to have the same basis as the hull armor. Armament was to consist of one 37mm gun and one caliber .30 machine gun mounted coaxially, and one caliber .30 bow machine gun. The vehicle was simplified by having no turret basket, no gyrostabilizer, and traverse was by hand only. Top speed was to be 55 miles an hour (88.5km/h), and the car was to have a radius of action of 300 miles (482.7km). This second pilot was designated armored car, T19E1. | ||
Car, Armored, T19E1.
Only one of these Chevrolet vehicles was completed. (Photo: US Army)
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| This
vehicle was developed at the request of the Armored Force. The Tank
Destroyer Command desired a vehicle mounting the 75mm Gun, M3 and based
on the T19E1 chassis. This was to mount the 75mm gun, in a modified
combination mount M34 in an open top turret with an elevation from minus
10 degrees to plus 20 degrees, a traverse of 40 degrees to front for
firing, and of 360 degrees for traveling. Further armament was to be a
caliber .50 machine gun, M2 HB Flexible for antiaircraft and ground use.
The armor was to be about that of the T18E1, with turret frontal armor
of 1-inch (25.4mm) with gun shield, sides and rear .5-inch (12.7mm), and
top without armor. The construction of one pilot vehicle was authorized,
and the vehicle designated the 75mm gun motor carriage, T66.
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Carriage, Motor, Gun, T66. Requested by the Tank Destroyer Command, only
one vehicle was completed, modified from the Armored Car, T19E1. (Photo:
US Army) |
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| The report
if the Special Armored Vehicle Board, in December 1942, recommended that
further development of the armored cars, T19 and T19E1 be terminated,
and that the Board did not consider the T19E1 suitable for development
as a gun motor carriage. While it was felt that the chassis offered
possibilities for successful use as a command car, personnel-cargo
carrier, antiaircraft gun motor carriage, gun or howitzer motor
carriage, or as a prime mover for the 4.5-inch gun or the 155mm
howitzer, it was recommended that the projects for the armored cars, T19
and T19E1 and the 75mm gun motor carriage T66 be closed.
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| The
vehicles were subsequently tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground, and at
Camps Seeley and Young, California. The armored cars, T19 and T19E1 were
scrapped. The 75mm gun motor carriage T66 was retained at Aberdeen
Proving Ground.
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| The armored
car T20 was a gas-electric drive vehicle conceived by a Mr. O.F.
Quartullo. The Armored Force became interested in the vehicle, as a
possible substitute for the armored car T13, the construction of four
pilot models was authorized 12 March 1942. Two of these vehicles were to
be used as the basis of armored cars and two as the basis for 105mm
howitzer motor carriages.
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The vehicle as proposed was an 8-wheel, 8-wheel drive design, with each wheel independently sprung and driven by a separate motor. The power train consisted of a gasoline engine driving a generator, which delivered current to the wheel driving motors though a control mechanism. The vehicle, as planned, was to weigh about 26,000 pounds (11,804kgs), carry a crew of five men, to have armor from .375 to .625-inch (9.5-15.9mm) in thickness, and to carry one 37mm gun in combination with a caliber .30 machine gun with an elevation of minus 10 degrees to plus 45 degrees in a 360 degree power-operated turret, and one caliber .30 machine gun in a ball mount for use of the assistant driver. The vehicle was to have a road speed of 60 miles an hour (96.5km/h) and a radius of action of 500 miles (804.5km).
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| Contract with Midland Steel Products, Cleveland, Ohio for the construction of two armored cars, with the option for two additional cars, was delayed by engineering difficulties. The Electric Individual Drive Company was formed to carry on the project. A report on the engineering features of the vehicle was made by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. The steer-ability of the car was a questionable feature. The vehicle was mote than three tons overweight. It was estimated that it would require approximately 18 months to complete this pilot and start production. In June 1942 the Armored Force stated that it was interested only in a vehicle of this type that could be completed in 1942 or early 1943. In view of the difficulties mentioned the project for armored car T20 was closed 6 August 1942. | ||
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| Carriage, Motor, 3-inch Gun, T55. The Cook Interceptor used platform steering, with all four front wheels moving from a central pivot. (Photo: US Army) | ||
| The 3-inch
gun motor carriage T55 was an 8x8 vehicle known as the “Cook
Interceptor” and commercially developed to fulfill the purpose of an
armored car, tank destroyer, or gun motor carriage. Contract for
development was negotiated 1 August 1942 and a pilot model demonstrated
before the Special Armored Vehicle Board at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
This pilot showed flotation superior to the other wheeled vehicles
tested. The Board recommended however that no further consideration be
given this or other wheeled tanks or gun motor carriages. In order to
complete the contract more satisfactorily the pilot was redesigned and
subsequently tested at the Desert Proving Ground. The report confirmed
the conclusions of the Special Armored Vehicle Board and the pilot was
sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground for historical record. The pilot was
later used to demonstrate its suspension principle in connection with
the development program on heavy transport vehicles. The T55 project was
closed 1 April 1943.
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Carriage, Motor, 3-inch Gun, T55E1, with 8x8 drive. (Photo: US Army |
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| Copyright: David Haugh - August 2006 | ||
