Author Topic: M-18 Hellcat (Read 518 times)

Shuckins · « **on:** September 02, 2006, 10:24:51 AM »

With a high-velocity 76mm gun and the fastest cross-country speed of any tracked vehicle of WW II, how would this tank-destroyer fit into AH's game play?

stephen · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2006, 11:58:32 AM »

Like an old pair of leather boots I would think,
America just isnt represented that well with armor,there are several large calliber weapons that where fitted on m-4 chassi's, aside from that there is the tank of which you speak, which certainly looks the part...im surprised though I never thought the M-18 was so small!,

Theres gonna be the problem of survivability with American tanks, the Germans simply held to many advantages in firepower/protection, though I believe a speedy Yank tank with a long barrel gun would get alot of otherwise bored vehicle inthusiasts back in tanks... lets see the brith of some American Iron HT!!!!!!! {oh yeah} as a side note I seem to remember that most american tanks had Gyro stabilised guns...DROOOOL.

Angus · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2006, 03:08:35 PM »

Teh Komet would be more appropriate....
Fast heavy and deadly.

F4UDOA · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2006, 03:47:47 PM »

Don't we already have one too many Hellcat's??

Seriously I think the combination of speed and uprated 76MM would make it a perfect foil for the Panzer and Tiger. At least you could flank them and make it very hard for them to hit you. And it gets to the action fast.

I did a Post on the M-18 probably two years ago.

Oldman731 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2006, 07:14:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by F4UDOA
I did a Post on the M-18 probably two years ago.

Had a professor in college who commanded an M18 platoon at the end of the war. He said he was very happy he never got into a firefight in one.

If nothing else, that war showed that America's pre-war tank hunter doctrine was a bad one.

- oldman

Widewing · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2006, 09:17:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oldman731
Had a professor in college who commanded an M18 platoon at the end of the war. He said he was very happy he never got into a firefight in one.

If nothing else, that war showed that America's pre-war tank hunter doctrine was a bad one.

- oldman

Well, they had thin armor, so exchanging fire with a tank would be silly. However, the German Tankers hated the M18. It would fire from concealment and move quickly... Shoot and Scoot. I have read an after action report where several M18s ambushed a bevy of Panthers and Mk IVs. They killed 3 on the first shot, and then swarmed the remaining tanks, firing on the run (gyro-stabilized gun). They moved so quickly around the German tanks that they were impossible to track.

65 mph road speed, 55 mph cross-country... High Velocity 76mm firing HVAP ammo... Generally considered the best tank destroyer of the war. Also had the best kill to loss ratio of any Allied tank.

That said, it would be a very bad idea to face-off against a tank in the open if you were operating an M18. Pure sniper vehicle...

My regards,

Widewing

Oldman731 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2006, 08:31:50 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Widewing
That said, it would be a very bad idea to face-off against a tank in the open if you were operating an M18. Pure sniper vehicle...

I think that's the point. TDs were one-trick ponies, and tactical circumstances often didn't allow for that one technique. Germans and Russians both moved to heavily armored, big-gunned tank destroyers, and they plainly had more experience with the topic than we did.

Would love to read that AAR if you ever run across it again. Thanks for mentioning it.

- oldman

Lusche · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2006, 08:48:15 AM »

I don´t think a M18 would get that much usage in the MA. Its turret is open-topped, so it can easily strafed to death by every plane in the game. The Ostwind can shoot back, the M18 not...

stephen · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2006, 08:54:30 AM »

the tank pictured has a closed top, i believe your refering to a diffrent tank, or its misslabled.....

Widewing · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2006, 09:15:13 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by stephen
the tank pictured has a closed top, i believe your refering to a diffrent tank, or its misslabled.....

It's correctly identified. The top is open, but just not visible from this angle.

My regards,

Widewing

zorstorer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2006, 11:35:36 AM »

WW was that a ZSU 23-4 in the background at NTC?

stephen · « **Reply #11 on:** September 03, 2006, 01:52:35 PM »

AAAh I see now, ok well the Ostie is open topped and I see a bunch of those around, plus that .50' on top looks capable of pointing at the sky lol,
Not gonna say it would be a GREAT tank, but this game is so lacking American iron that eventualy some kind of US armor is gonna have to be in it, looking for a suitable tank destroyer or infantry support is tough though, kinda gives you a first hand appreciation for how bad American tanks where compaired to thier German conterparts...
The M-18 is at the top of my list though, simply because many where produced mid-war, the gun is powerful enough to give it a fighting chance, and its fast enough to be a tough target...

I usualy set up in a grove of trees in tanks when planes are around as it tends to soak up low calliber cannon and maching gun hits that would otherwise trash my tank, I vote for the M-18 over the sherman any day....