M8 tractor
{{Infobox weapon
| name = M8 high-speed tractor
| image = M8 HST.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = M8E2 high-speed tractor 1954
| origin = {{USA}}
| type = Artillery tractor
| service =
| wars =
| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer = Allis-Chalmers
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1950 to 1955
| number =
| variants =
| is_vehicle = yes
| length = 22 ft (6.731 m)
| width = 10 ft 11 in (3.327 m)
| height = 10 ft (3.048 m)
| weight = {{cvt|54000|lb|kg}}
| suspension =
| speed = 40 mph (64 km/h)
| vehicle_range = 180 miles (290 km)
| primary_armament = 1 x 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) anti-aircraft machine gun
| armour = none
| engine = Continental AOS-895-3 six-cylinder air-cooled petrol engine
| engine_power = 863 hp (644 kW)
| pw_ratio = 34.60 hp/tonnes
| crew = 1 + 1
}}
The M8 high-speed tractor was an artillery tractor used by the US Army and Marine Corps from 1950.
Construction
The M8 is a full-track tractor based on the chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. It was used to tow cargo trailers and artillery such as the Skysweeper 75 mm anti-aircraft gun and the M59 Long Tom gun. The basic M8 variant could be quickly adapted for carrying projectiles and charges. Unusually for a tractor, the M8's engine was located at the front of the cab. Some M8s were equipped with a hydraulic M5 dozer blade.
History
The M8 was developed following the failure of the T33 cargo-carrier, which was based on the M24 Chaffee light tank chassis. The new, standardized M8 was produced between 1950 and 1955.
See also
References
- {{cite book |last=Trewhitt |first=Philip |title=Armoured Fighting Vehicles |year=1999 |publisher=Dempsey-Parr |location=p 309 |isbn=1-84084-328-4 }}
- TM 9-7406
- SNL G266
{{Post-WWII US Soft Vehicles}}