Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Auburn Spring event,
May 11-13, 2017.
Chassis No.
BILL OF SALE
Estimate:
$275,000 - $350,000 US
In 1942, U.S. Army tactical philosophy called for the use of
specialized "tank destroyers," for engaging enemy tanks. The
required characteristics of a tank destroyer were a powerful gun
and a high maximum speed, even if these characteristics would have
been met at the expense of reduced armor protection for the crew.
The M18 "Hellcat" was the fastest full-tracked, armored fighting
vehicle of World War II, capable of reaching speeds up to 55-mph.
It mounted a high velocity 76-mm gun capable of penetrating armor
of up to 100-mm in thickness. Additionally, it had an open turret,
which gave the vehicle commander a full field of vision but offered
no overhead protection. The driver sat at the left front of the
hull and the co-driver at the front right. The remaining three crew
members were stationed in the turret: a gunner, a loader and the
vehicle commander, who also operated the Browning M2 .50 cal.
machine gun. M18 "Hellcats" were successfully deployed in the
European Theatre from late 1943 through 1945. Over 2,500 M18s were
built by Buick between 1943 and 1944.
