Military Vehicle Spotlight: WWII M18 Tank Destroyer
Built by Buick, the production model of the T70 Gun Motor Carriage was designated the “M18” and nicknamed the “Hellcat.
Carriage, Motor, 76mm Gun, M18
- Weight (combat): 37,557 lbs.
- Crew: 5
- Armament: 76mm M1A1C or M1A2 main gun, .50-caliber M2 machine gun
- Engine: Continental R975C4 4-cycle radial 9-cylinder
- Displacement: 973 cu. in.
- Horsepower: 400 at 2,400 rpm
- Maximum speed: 45 mph
- Maximum range: 150 miles
- Fuel: Gasoline
HISTORICAL NOTE
Built by Buick, the production model of the T70 Gun Motor Carriage was designated the “M18” and nicknamed the “Hellcat.” Carrying 45 rounds for its 76mm gun, the small but lethal Hellcat could travel 150 miles on 160 gallons of gasoline, cross a 74-inch trench, ford a 48-inch deep stream and climb a 36-inch obstacle or a 60% grade. Though the U.S. Army had planned to acquire nearly 9,000 M18s during WWII, the 76mm gun’s decline in effectiveness against German armor led to only 2,507 Hellcats being fielded.
Despite the perceived shortcoming of the M18 and quick obsolescence in the U.S. Army, the tank destroyers continued to serve as front-line vehicles for other nations for decades. As late as the 1990s, M18s could still be found serving in the Bosnia and Kosovo Wars.
David Doyle's earliest published works were occasional articles in enthusiast publications aimed at the historic military vehicle restoration hobby. This was a natural outlet for a guy whose collection includes several Vietnam-era vehicles such as M62, M123A1C, M35A2, M36A2C, M292A2, M756, and an M764.
By 1999, his writing efforts grew to include regular features in leading periodicals devoted to the hobby both domestically and internationally, appearing regularly in US, English and Polish publications.
In 2003, David received his a commission to write his first book, The Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Since then, several outlets have published more than 100 of his works. While most of these concern historic military hardware, including aircraft and warships, his volumes on military vehicles, meticulously researched by David and his wife Denise, remain the genre for which he is most recognized. This recognition earned life-time achievement in June 2015, when he was presented Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) bestowed on him the coveted Bart Vanderveen Award in recognition of “...the individual who has contributed the most to the historic preservation of military vehicles worldwide.”
In addition to all of publishing efforts, David is the editor of the MVPA’s magazine, History in Motion, as well as serving as the organization’s Publications Director. He also maintains a retail outlet for his books online and at shows around the U.S.
