T17 Armored Car

Infobox Weapon
name=T17E1 Armored Car


caption=
origin=USA
type=Armored car
is_vehicle=yes
length=5.49 m
width=2.69 m
height=2.36 m
weight=14 t
suspension=wheels, 4 x 4
speed=55 mph / 89 km/h
vehicle_range=450 miles / 724 km
primary_armament=37 mm M6
secondary_armament=2 or 3 x .30 (7.62 mm) machine guns
armour=9 to 44 mm
engine=2 x GMC 270
engine_power=2 x 97 hp / 2 x 72 kW
pw_ratio=13.9 hp/tonne
crew=5

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.

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 (six wheels, all driven; called "six-by-six") prototype which was designated T17 and Chevrolet a 4 x 4 (four wheels, all driven; called "four-by-four") model designated T17E1. At the same time the British Purchasing Commission was also looking for medium and heavy armoured cars.

T17

The British allocated the name Deerhound to the T17.The T17 was armed with a 37 mm gun in a rotating turret, a coaxial machine gun and a bow machine gun.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. The T17 was never used by the British.

T17E1

The British allocated the name Staghound to the T17E series.Production started in October 1942. Unlike the T17 when the US military decided to adopt the lighter M8 Greyhound vehicle, T17E1 production continued for the United Kingdom. Approximately 4000 Staghounds were produced in total. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling", 5th October 2007, Page 31. ]

The Staghound was an innovative design that incorporated some advanced features. It had two rear-facing 6-cylinder engines with automatic transmissions (with 4 forward and 1 reverse gears) feeding through a transfer case to drive both axles. Either two or four-wheel drive could be selected. 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 depending on steering conditions. Steering and suspension components were directly attached to the hull as the structure was rigid enough to dispense with the need for a separate chassis.

The Staghound entered service too late for use in the North African campaign where its combination of armour, range and main armament would have been an advantage. As a result it first saw operational service in Italy, where many units found its large physical size too restrictive in the narrow roads and streets of Europe. As a result it saw most service at squadron and regimental headquarter level. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling", 5th October 2007, Page 34. ]

Operators

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Honduras, India, Israel, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland.

T17E Variants

*T17E1: 4x4 version built by Chevrolet for Britain. 2,687 - 2,844 units were produced.:Staghound Mk I::The T17E1 was armed with a 37 mm M6 gun, a coaxial Browning 1919A4 .30 cal machine gun and a 2-inch smoke mortar in a rotating turret. In the hull was mounted a Browning 1919A4 .30 cal machine gun. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling", 5th October 2007, Page 29. ] Some T17E1 had an additional Browning 1919A4 .30 cal machine gun for anti-aircraft defence. ::The turret had power traverse and featured a turret basket (which limited the amount of internal crew storage). The 37mm gun was gyroscopically stabilized.:: This variant had a crew of 5, commander, loader, gunner, and hull machine gunner.:: This variant saw combat with the British 8th Army, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Indian, and Belgian units.:Staghound Mk II:: This was a field conversion that had a three inch howitzer close support weapon mounted in place of the 37mm gun in the turret. It is not known how many were converted. :Staghound Mk III:: Had a modified 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. 2,610 rounds were carried. The turret was open topped and had an electic-hydraulic traverse system with a maximum slew rate of 55 degrees a second. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling" 5th October 2007, Page 28. ] :: This variant had a crew of 3, commander/gunner, loader and driver. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling", 5th October 2007, Page 28. ] :: 789 units were produced between October 1943 and April 1944, when production stopped.
*T17E3: T17E1 fitted with the turret of 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, carrying the 75mm M2/M3 howitzer. This was trialled in December 1943, but never reached production. [Taylor, Dick: "The Stag's Story", "Military Modelling", 5th October 2007, Page 28. ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/armored_cars/t17_armoredcars.html WWII Vehicles]
* [http://www.armyvehicles.dk/staghound.htm Staghound Mk III at armyvehicles.dk]