| M8: General | |||
| Date of first acceptance | March 1943 | Total acceptances | 8,523 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Co. | Crew |
|
| M8: Dimensions | |||
| Combat weight | 17,400lbs 7,890kg |
Height | 88.5" 225cm |
| Length | 197" 500cm |
Width | 100" 250cm |
| Tread | 76" 190cm |
Wheelbase | Front to center axle: 80" Front to rear axle: 128" Front to center axle: 200cm Front to rear axle: 325cm |
| Ground clearance | 11.5" 29.2cm |
Fire Height | 68.5" 174cm |
| Turret ring diameter | 54" 140cm |
Ground pressure, zero penetration | Front: 60psi Rear: 50psi Front: 4.2kg/cm² Rear: 3.5kg/cm² |
| M8: Armament | ||||
| Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Elevation |
| 37mm Gun M6 | M23A1 in turret | 80 rounds (16 ready) |
360° (manual) |
+20° to -10° (manual) |
| .50cal M2HB MG | Flexible on turret AA mount | 400 rounds | 360° (manual) |
Manual |
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Coaxial to 37mm gun | 1,500 rounds | 360° (manual) |
+20° to -10° (manual) |
| Aiming equipment | ||||
| Telescope M70D for gunner | ||||
| M8: Armor | ||
| Assembly | ||
| Welding | ||
| Hull | ||
| Rolled homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Upper front | .75" 1.9cm |
45° |
| Middle front | .50" 1.3cm |
60° |
| Lower front | .625" 1.59cm |
30° |
| Upper sides | .375" .953cm |
22° |
| Lower sides | .375" .953cm |
22° |
| Rear | .375" .953cm |
0° |
| Front top | .25" .64cm |
83° |
| Rear top | .25" .64cm |
86° |
| Floor | .25" .64cm |
90° |
| Turret | ||
| Rolled and cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Gun shield | 1.0" 2.5cm |
0° to 60° |
| Front | .75" 1.9cm |
15° |
| Sides | .75" 1.9cm |
18° |
| Rear | .75" 1.9cm |
17° |
| Top | .25" .64cm |
90° |
| M8: Automotive | |||||
| Engine | Hercules JXD; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, in-line gasoline | ||||
| Horsepower | Net: 110@3,200rpm | Torque | Net: 220 ft-lb@1,150rpm | Fuel capacity | 54gal 200L |
| Transmission | Warner Gear synchronized, selective gear, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse | ||||
| Steering | Steering wheel | ||||
| Brakes | Hydraulic, internal expanding | ||||
| M8: Suspension | ||
| Type | Road wheels | Shock absorbers |
| Semi-elliptic leaf spring | 3/side | On each wheel |
| M8: Performance | |||
| Max level road speed | 55mph 89kph |
Max trench | 18" 46cm |
| Max grade | 60% | Angle of approach | 54° |
| Angle of departure | 39° | Max vertical obstacle | 12" 30cm |
| Min turning diameter | 56' 17m |
Max fording depth | 24" 61cm |
| Cruising range | ~350mi, roads ~560km, roads |
||
The M8, dubbed Greyhound when evaluated by the British, was a 6x6 armored car with a small roof over the forward portion of the turret. The rest of the turret was open-topped. The vehicle was originally designed as a 37mm gun motor carriage, but once that weapon was shown to be ineffective on the battlefield the vehicle was instead called a light armored car. Late-production M8s incorporated some modifications requested by the Tank Destroyer Board, including a two-speed turret traverse mechanism and a movement of the gunner's position to the left to increase his working space. Ford designed a folding .50cal MG mount that attached to the removable plate on the turret rear (this plate allowed access for removing the 37mm gun). The M49C ring mount as seen on various trucks and the -A1 half-tracks was instead installed on many M8s. Early M8s featured mine racks between the front and center wheels; these were later replaced with stowage bins. Late-production M8s were fitted with troughs along the engine compartment to prevent precipitation from fouling the spark plugs and distributor. These troughs were retrofitted to earlier production M8s. Late-production M8s also had 13-leaf front springs instead of the earlier 11-leaf springs, since the early springs could fail when traveling cross-country. When the tires had sunk to 4" (10cm), the ground pressure was reduced to 11.7psi (.821kg/cm²).
The car commander also functioned as the assistant gunner and loader for the 37mm gun.
