T17 Armored Car
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| T17E1 Armored Car | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 5 |
| Length | 5.49 m |
| Width | 2.69 m |
| Height | 2.36 m |
| Weight | 14 t |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 9 to 44 mm |
| Main armament | 37 mm M6 |
| Secondary armament | 2 or 3 x .30 (7.62 mm) machine guns |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | 2 x GMC 270 2 x 97 hp / 2 x 72 kW |
| Suspension | wheels, 4 x 4 |
| Road speed | 55 mph / 89 km/h |
| Power/weight | 13.9 hp/tonne |
| Range | 450 miles / 724 km |
The T17 Deerhound and the T17E1 Staghound were American armoured cars produced during the Second World War. They did not see service with frontline US forces but the T17E1 was supplied via the United Kingdom to British and Commonwealth forces during the war.
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[edit] History
In July 1941 the US Army Ordnance issued specifications for a medium armored car alongside a specification for heavy armored car (which resulted in the T18 Boarhound). Ford Motor Company built a 6 x 6 prototype which was designated T17 and Chevrolet a 4 x 4 model designated T17E1. Both variants were armed with a 37 mm gun in a rotating turret, a coaxial machine gun and a bow machine gun. Some T17E1 had an additional machine gun for anti-aircraft defence. Production started in October 1942. However, eventually the US military decided to adopt the lighter M8 Greyhound vehicle instead. T17 production was stopped and the 250 units produced were disarmed and given to the US Military Police, while the T17E1 production continued for the United Kingdom. The T17 received the name Deerhound and the T17E1 Staghound by the British.
The Staghound was an innovative design that incorporated some advanced features. It had two rear-facing 6-cylinder engines with automatic transmissions feeding through a transfer case to drive both axles. Either engine could be shut down while in motion and taken out of the drive train. Additionally, a power steering pump was incorporated which could be switched on or off manually from the driver's instrument panel depedning on steering conditions. The 37mm gun was gyroscopically stabilized.
[edit] Operators
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Honduras, India, Israel, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland.
[edit] Variants
- T17: 6x6 version built by Ford. 250 units produced.
- T17E1: 4x4 version built by Chevrolet for Britain. 2,687 - 2,844 units were produced.
- Staghound Mk I
- This went into combat with the British 8th Army in Italy in late 1943. It was issued to Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Indian, and Belgian units.
- Staghound Mk II
- Had a three inch howitzer close support weapon mounted in the turret.
- Staghound Mk III
- Had the turret from a Crusader tank fitted with the Ordnance QF 75 mm gun and no bow machine gun. It was supplied to heavy troops of armoured car regiments. The total number ordered was around 100.
- Staghound Command
- The turret was removed and extra wireless equipment was installed.
- T17E2
- Staghound AA
- T17E1 fitted with a Frazer-Nash turret mounting two M2 Browning heavy machine guns. 789 units were produced.
- T17E3
- Was armed with the 75 mm M2/M3 howitzer.
[edit] External links
