The M18 Hellcat, officially designated the 76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 or M18 GMC, was a tank destroyer operated by the United States Army in World War II and the Korean War. In December1941, to comply with the U.S. Army’s new Mechanized Warfare doctrine, the U.S. Ordnance Department issued a mandate to produce an agile tank destroyer. Created by Harley Earl, the first M18 prototype was delivered by the Buick Motor Division of General Motors in April 1943.
The Hellcat was the most effective U.S tank destroyer in the Second World War. It had a higher kill-to-loss ratio than any other tank or tank destroyer fielded by U.S. Forces during the war. Its exceptional high speed allowed crews to outflank and outgun German tank crews. The speed of the Hellcat was a key element during the Battle of the Bulge. It was not primarily used for tank fighting but was more often committed to improvised roles, usually direct fire support for infantry.
The M18 Hellcat was created from the design of various prototypes of fast tank destroyers dating back to 1941. It entered production in the summer of 1943 and was first deployed in combat during the spring of 1944. The M18 was deployed primarily in Western Europe. It was also used in small numbers in Italy and in the latter stages of the Pacific Campaign, notably the Battles of Manilla and Okinawa. Production of the Hellcat ended in October 1944, and over 2,500 were built.
From the Count Ferdinand von Galen Collection, donated by his family in memoriam.
