| T18E2: General | |||
| Date of first acceptance | December 1942 | Total acceptances | 30 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors Truck and Coach Division | Crew |
|
| T18E2: Dimensions | |||
| Combat weight | 53,000lbs 24,000kg |
Height | 103.25" 262.26cm |
| Length | 246" 625cm |
Width | 121" 307cm |
| Tread | 102.5" 260.4cm |
Wheelbase | Front to second axle: 51" Front to third axle: 146" Front to rear axle: 197" Front to second axle: 130cm Front to third axle: 371cm Front to rear axle: 500cm |
| Ground clearance | 13.5" 34.3cm |
Fire Height | 84.25" 214.0cm |
| Turret ring diameter | 64" 160cm |
||
| T18E2: Armament | |||||
| Type | Mount | Ammunition | Traverse | Max traverse rate | Elevation |
| 57mm Gun M1 | Combination mount T63 in turret | 64 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
18°/sec | +60° to -10° (manual) |
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Coaxial to 57mm gun | 5,000 rounds | 360° (manual and hydraulic) |
18°/sec | +60° to -10° (manual) |
| .30cal M1919A4 MG | Ball mount D72206 in right bow | 45° (20° left and 25° right; manual) |
-- | 30° (+20° to -10°; manual) |
|
| Aiming equipment | |||||
| Periscope M4 and telescope M57 for gunner | |||||
| Stabilizer | |||||
| Elevation only | |||||
| T18E2: Armor | ||
| Assembly | ||
| Welding | ||
| Hull | ||
| Rolled and cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Upper front | 2.0" 5.1cm |
15° |
| Middle front | 1.25" 3.18cm |
18° to 57° |
| Lower front | 2.0" to 1.0" 5.1cm to 2.5cm |
0° to 18° |
| Sides | 1.25" 3.18cm |
0° |
| Rear | 1.0" 2.5cm |
0° |
| Front top | .75" 1.9cm |
90° |
| Rear top | .50" 1.3.cm |
82° |
| Floor | .375" .953cm |
90° |
| Turret | ||
| Cast homogeneous steel | ||
| Location | Thickness | Angle from vertical |
| Gun shield | 2.0" 5.1cm |
0° to 45° |
| Front | 1.5" 3.8cm |
23° |
| Sides | 1.5" 3.8cm |
23° |
| Rear | 1.5" 3.8cm |
10° |
| Top | .75" 1.9cm |
90° |
| T18E2: Automotive | |||||
| Engine | Twin GMC 329; 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, in-line gasoline | ||||
| Horsepower | Net: 250@3,000rpm (125/engine) |
Torque | Net: 490 ft-lb@1,000rpm (2450/engine) |
Fuel capacity | 90gal 340L |
| Transmission | Spicer torque converter, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse | ||||
| Steering | Recirculating ball with hydraulic power, steering wheel | ||||
| Brakes | Hydraulic, internal expanding | ||||
| T18E2: Suspension | |
| Type | Road wheels |
| Articulated leaf spring | 2 bogies/side; 2 wheels/bogie |
| T18E2: Performance | |||
| Max level road speed | 50mph 80kph |
Max trench | 18" 46cm |
| Max grade | 60% | Max vertical obstacle | 21" 53cm |
| Min turning diameter | 80' 24m |
Max fording depth | 40" 100cm |
| Cruising range | ~300mi, roads ~480km, roads |
||
The T18E2 heavy armored car emerged from the same British procurement request that spawned the T17 Deerhound and T17E1 Staghound. The T18E2 rode on eight wheels contained in four two-wheel bogies. The right-hand engine's transfer case drove the rear wheels of each bogie, with the left-hand engine powering the opposite wheels. Steering was by the front four wheels, and drive was normally provided by the rear four. When the rear wheels slipped and rotated faster than the front wheels, however, automatic pick-up drives that connected the front axles to the engines' transfer cases supplied power to the front bogies, enabling 8x8 drive. The turret was based on that of the light tank T7E2 (which was developed into the medium tank M7), and also featured a 2" smoke bomb thrower in the turret roof in front of the loader. Two jettisonable 25-gallon (95L) fuel tanks could be fitted to the hull rear, increasing the fuel capacity to 140 gallons (530L). Four 6-volt batteries were connected in series for the vehicle's 24-volt electrical system. A 10lb (4.5kg) fixed CO2 fire extinguisher protected the engine compartment, and a portable 4lb (1.8kg) CO2 extinguisher was carried as well. All thirty T18E2s were issued to Great Britain, but saw little use as the North African fighting for which they had been intended was cooling down at that point.
