The 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, sometimes known as the M8 Scott, was a self-propelled howitzer vehicle of the United States developed during the Second World War. It was developed on the chassis of the then-new Light Tank M5 (General Stuart VI). The test vehicle had the standard M5 turret removed, and replaced with an open topped turret, this vehicle was designated the T47.

Armament consisted of a new open topped turret armed with a 75 mm M2 howitzer, later an 75 mm M3 howitzer, which were reworks of the M1A1 pack howitzer. It carried 46 rounds of 75 mm ammunition; types of ammunition carried were Smoke M89 and H.E. (High Explosive) M48. It featured no coaxial or hull mounted Browning M1919A4 .30-06 machine guns as featured on standard Light Tank M5s. The only other armament was Browning M2HB .50 cal machine gun for local area, and anti-aircraft defense; 400 rounds of .50 cal were stowed onboard for the M2HB.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 tank. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 2-1/2-inches
Width: 1-1/4-inches

Release Date: July 2020

Historical Account: "Great Scott" - M8s were issued to Headquarters companies in medium tank battalions. Starting in early 1944 they were replaced by the 105mm howitzer variant of the M4 Sherman tank. The 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 was assigned to the Assault Gun Troops of Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons in order to give them close support against enemy fortified positions.The high elevation (+40/-20 degrees) of the howitzer was useful for hitting enemies emplaced on the sides of hills. The M8 was used in the Italian Campaign, the Western Front, and in the Pacific Theater by the US Army and on the Western Front by the French Army. It was also used by the French Union and State of Vietnam during the First Indochina War. It stayed in French service until 1962 and saw service in Algeria. Nine M8s were also used by the partisans in Yugoslavia under the name Kadilak.