Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: M8 HMC, Part 1
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Another crosspost from the World of Tanks channel, if you aren't following it. The M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage at the Museum of the American GI in College Station, TX.
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I'm always pleasantly surprised by how much effort was taken to make these American vehicles easy for crews/mechanics to repair and maintain in the field.
The legacy of having to fight far from their industrial capacity.
And having to ship everything over an ocean to boot.
You win with wise use of Logistics !
Napoleon learned it the hard way in Russia as well as Germany and many more Armies lost in distant conflicts
US are the masters at Logistics ! Much Respect !
@@clothar23 not *having* to, but *getting* to. It's a good thing.
And no, it was a function of the way American agricultural equipment was designed and built.
@@randymagnum143 Its a good thing AND a bad thing - the way Americans designed their tanks (and everything else, including their logistics train) minimized the bad things from becoming a major problem.
My cousin drove one of these for 28 days in his armored reconnaissance unit in Europe in 1944/45. He hated it because he was the last vehicle when they were bugging out and running away from the Germans. He was very happy to get back to being a 37mm gunner in his M8 Greyhound.
I could see how the mobility in the 37 would be an advantage. A very capable flank n spank kind of gun, shoots fast.
Weren't the m8s in the front looking for Germans?
@@demonprinces17 yes, though the Greyhound is able to get out of trouble about as quickly as it can get into trouble.
Namely, quickly.
@@demonprinces17 you don’t really need a Cav Scout in the rear of a bug out, it’s better they’re in the front scouting your “organized reversal of direction”. Someone needs to light the road for the tank drivers to see where they’re going.
@@demonprinces17 Looking for but not really supposed to engage them. My dad was in M8 Greyhounds in the Philippines with the 24th armored recon troop. They got them to replace their M3 halftracks after they were done in Europe. He wasn't super impressed with the 37 when it came to Japanese concrete and coconut log bunkers. He said it was always good to have an M4's 75 handy when dealing with them.
I'm sure I've watched this last week ?? but great to have "inside the hatch" back !
It went on World Of Tanks channel last week
Same video I saw last week on WoT channel. Was hoping for Pt2. I don't do WoT or subscribe to their channel and the video just popped up in my list. I do subscribe to the Chieftains channel so I guess he has to wait some time before he can put a WoT video (I'm assume they paid for it) onto his channel.
Chieftain needs his view time, too
Was wondering the same thing. Lol
He is back,
He is not ANZAC,
But most importantly,
He tensions track.
I'm so glad you've taken a liking to the Museum of the American GI. As a friend of the owner and a volunteer, I'm happy its becoming more appreciated, their events have had so much hard work poured into them for years.
I’ve been there a couple times. Enjoyed it each time. And I’ve recommended it to friends. A great place
I like explanations of tread tensioning!
Repairs in the field we know are necessary. This helps us understand what that means to the crew.
Set firmly in my young mind was the image of James Garner repairing his lost track during the night, and injuring himself in the process, in the movie, "Tank".
I served in the support company, as a truck driver, of an armored Battalion and nothing says you life sucks more than trowing a track, which is the most common mobility problem for the Abrams. You could hear the tankers swear from a mile away when they lost a track because of the effort it takes to fix the issue. A lot more effort than just making sure you have the correct tension in the first place.
I remember that scene in that movie and was amazed that he did it by himself!
@@bullettube9863 A kindred soul!
A very interesting video regarding this light tank! My late Italian father saw it in action outside Volterra when they liberated his town in July 9th
The most amazing thing about the M3, M5, and derivatives that they managed to get the two engines to work together without the combining gear constantly breaking, the engines catching fire, or any of the myriad of other problems that plagued every other tank and aircraft with combining engines.
Great to see this, my Dad commanded one throughout the war. He spoke of it often and how much he loved it. I wish I would have recorded his experiences when he told them to me.
Ah yes, the M8, loved it in WT!
Turret rotation is abysmally slow, but the drivetrain more than compensates it.
A 37mm might easily kill it, but most light tanks with the same BR are easily outmaneuvered, and the 75 easily knocks most of them out.
yea, I love this thing in WT
I'm still sad that they removed it in WoT Blitz...
Ah the SPG stuart, my 3rd fav american tank in WT, after the easy 8 and the 105 sherman with its 2.7 BR.
If u get there premium version with the Sherman 75mm it's the ultimate troll wagon
All great picks; you have good taste my man.
@@AndrewMay100 Literally managed to snag one for myself earlier today for just 28 GC, which when you consider how the thing is usually up for twice that much, I consider it a huge win. In my opinion, low tier US has some of the best lineups and vehicles overall. Can't wait to try my new M8A1 one of these days.
BTW, happy to see fellow thunderers around here!
@@carloshernandez-qc4jq I got it for free years ago in a promotion if you Max out the crew experience it is heaps of fun to play very fast and movable like a hellcat but if u get hit you die quick ..great shoot n scoot tank
As always the Chieftain does a great job !
I've never been so happy before to see the Chieftain educate me about another track tension system. Glad to see you back in the field doing your awesome work, Sir.
The cutest tank ever made!
Love this tank in WOT. The track tension is done almost the same as checking the chain on a motorcycle.
THE KING RETURNS
Museum of the American G.I. !! Most museums have a, "Look, but don't touch," rule. Here, they encourage you to climb over, and sometimes in, the vehicles. On certain weekends, if you ask nicely, they will give you a ride. There are also weekends where WWII (and sometimes WWI) re-enactors get to show you combined arms, including German vehicles and equipment. A little south of College Station, TX and just past Santa's Wonderland as you head south on the frontage road. On the other side of the freeway from where the Texas Speedway used to be.
One of my favorite armored vehicles.
Nice to see The Chieftain back with The Hatch. I was starting to miss the opening music!
Brilliant overview of a very interesting little vehicle.
The M8 was a rather weird looking MC, however fittied the bill for decent fire support and mobility.
Keep up the good work.
I love the good old Derp Cannons.
I always thought that the flash deflector was a attempt at making the thing look scarier lol
Purpose seemed pretty obvious to me the moment I saw it. If you have ever used a short pistol or rifle, you know that the muzzle blast is very painful or even dangerous to the people beside the muzzle, much worse than for those behind it. The stubby barrel ending directly above the drivers hatches, about two feet over their heads are a pretty strong hint as to the purpose. Why would the _one_ AFV in history that tried to put a fake gun barrel on just to make it "look scarier" be a light indirect fire support vehicle that is never supposed to be used in direct contact with the enemy? If they thought that was a good idea, why would they not slap a fake 155mm barrel on the M4 or some other vehicle that is probably going to pointing its gun directly at an enemy in visual sight at some point?
Always very informational, Cheif! Pleasure to watch as always.
The Bullet deflectors on the front of the transmission case … that must have been a sight when they had to do some deflecting…
Is that what they were? I thought they might have been for fording so water didn't splash into the drivers hatches.
One of my ww2 favorites
What a wonderfully immaculate tank. Lovely.
Thank god this series is still up
M8 HMC reload? Always enjoy your content. 👍👍
finding you makes me feel like i hit the jackpot! thank you Tank Messiah!
Track tension is one of my favourite parts.
No joke. :)
Yea I've seen this episode last week. Good to have inside the Chieftain back anyway👍
People that complain about mentioning track tension have never had to fix a thrown track in deep mud....I have! An M577 twice (mine), M4 Bradley several times (battery vehicle), and an M1A1 once (ran across a stuck crew on maneuvers and helped out).
The first time I saw a tank with the adjustable idler wheel I realized that they had copied the way the rear wheel on motorcycles were adjusted to set the chain tension. Simple, yet very effective!
Chieftain: Were the M8 HMC used more in the direct fire or indirect fire mode? How were they typically employed in the Mechanized Cavalry squadrons?
The clue here is that it was armed with a howitzer. Primary use is indirect fire.
As a former artilleryman, I know the principal mode for a howitzer is indirect fire yet they can be used in direct fire roles (such as in Viet Nam firing Beehives rounds and later Killer Junior). Tanks and tank destroyers were used in indirect fire roles in WWII and Korea. I just wanted to get a better idea of when they were used in in what mode. Typically, howitzers used in indirect mode in WWII needed to be surveyed in, a time consuming process. I doubt that armored recon units had the time and assets to do that, so how did they respond for calls for fire?
@@Bob_Betker I'm anxiously awaiting part 2 & hoping to see an answer. I think we can assume it was used similarly to the German Sdfkz 233 (8rad) as fire support of a recon unit. Both vehicles light armor highly mobile & with a 75mm gun. US 75mm Pak Howitzer was much better than the stubble 75 of the 233. Full tracks would have given it better tactical mobility as well. Paul Farace's comment above seems to be further evidence. That said, the aiming stakes mounted on the drivers side are used for laying indirect fire.
Those provided indirect fire support for the recon units from a set position.
@@billwilson3609 - overwatch the recon element so they can break contact if needed? I know this was the idea for the overwatch elements (2 hardback humvees, 1 with a Mk19, the other with an M2HB) in the early 2000s Brigade Recon Troop for a heavy mech infantry division...
Good, good, i thought that your WG days are over or smth has changed in your life, but... Happy to see the video.
Yees he is come backkkk inside the tankkk ,😍😍😍
How we have waited for you to upload this one, and good to see the M8
Watched this before on the other channel, but watching it again and commenting to feed the algorithm.
Track tension adjustment is just like most motorcycles!
I love the M5 and its variants! They just seem like they'd be such pleasant vehicles to own and drive.
Their top speed was 45 mph!
@@billwilson3609 that's as fast as the 2.5 ton trucks!
@@cheyannei5983 That's what the M3/M5 end users wanted since they'd be doing recon duty and guarding the flanks. The medium M3/M4 users wanted theirs to be able to run at top speed (28-30 mph) all day so Ordnance made their top gear a true overdrive so those could using less gasoline. Ordnance also made their first gear a granny gear so they could tow/pull out heavy loads from a dead stop with second gear being used as that starting gear when not under load.
Also, it's an adorable vehicle. Very important, strategically.
I think you may be mistaken on the meaning of the word "strategic". These would only be important strategically if somehow their very existence in the US arsenal prevented war with Russia from breaking out after 1945, or if somehow the production of this particular machine was a policy that ended up leading directly to victory. This was important _tactically_ in that it was an important tool that the US Army actually used to fight battles and kill enemy soldiers.
yay! i love the m8 hmc, it's my favourite tank both in War Thunder, World Of Tanks and irl!
New format me like . excellent informative video as usual keep the great content coming
All the best from Scotland
Daww, what a gorgeous little honey that is.
It's like a puppy dog. I just want to pat it.
Track tensioning familiar to most motor bicyclists then.
Shouldn’t part 2 have dropped by now?🤔
I feel like there has to be some other people thinking this, but Panzer 2 video? Or Panzer 2 Luchs, both would be interesting videos to watch
Goodness. Been so long since I've seen that opening.
I ran a skid steer cutting down trees and we checked tracks every morning. It isn't fun putting a track on in the woods. We had a tensioner go bad while about a mile in the woods and it threw the track. It took a long time to replace.
Finally, a video on my favorite tank!
7:36 Silly Chieftain, it is a ”light tank” after all
Imagine aiming for the bolts just to make the enemy mechanics and crew hate you even more as they'll have to perform maintenance on the tank with wrecked bolts
No one is going to waste time doing that when there is people shooting at them, even if it wasn't a waste of time trying to aim at such a miniscule target. If you are close enough to be aiming for something that small, you are well within range to have them returning fire at you, so you are smarter to just lie low and hope they don't notice you. If they are bearing down on you, about to overrun your position, _then_ is when you are justified in taking desperate shots at impossible targets. In that case, you are not going to be aiming at the bolts laughing because it will make someones life more difficult, you are trying to put a bullet through a pistol port, or at least to take out visions blocks so they can't see. They use these in actual _war_ , where people are being killed for real, not in a video game trying to kill time.
@@justforever96 Okay General Buzzkill, I didn't ask you for a sermon
doing track tension daily routine sounds is like me adjusting my chains on my motorcycle like every 500/1000km, except only easier lol
what a cute little tank
Great Scott, it’s a Scott......and thus, I have tickled the algorithm. Good day
That is such a amusingly short barreled gun.
It’s shy.
14th Armored Div., 94th Cav. Recon Squadron.
Another advantage of that track tensioning system is that former motorcyclists won't need much training to get used to it...
14th Armor Div. 94th Cav RCN Squadron E Troop. the Assault Guns M8 HMC were always E troop.
Given how much I have grown to dislike maintaining proper tension on precision timing belts on printers, I am glad I have never had to adjust track tension on a tank.
Little technical point. I think you might need some reflectors. The exposure on this is horrendous making seeing the data is in shadow extraordinarily difficult to see!
Great to see this feature back again though. Thanks so much for doing this!
No mocking, sir. I was worried that the video had already rolled 5 minutes without mention of track tension!
Video suggestion- track tensioning NASA's Crawler Transporters :D
Well, that looks funky. If there was a kit more modern than the 1970's of it, I'd totally buy one.
Glorious glorious cheiftan on one of my favorite (what I think is) joke tank). Instant click
What a treat!
Nice nice. Always love seeing your content
you really get a perspective of just how big Nicholas Moran is, when he stands a full head and shoulders above the hull of an M5 Stuart.
Those who mock tankers for being keen on track tension clearly are not motorcycle owners
What a great tank to own and bug around for a parade.
man...i miss the Chieftain theme. been a while since i last heard it
I feel like Cheiftain is doing a speed run around this tank.
He's already done an M5, so no need to go over it again.
@7:39 I remember you said that about a similarly designed tank vent at an indoor museum :)
Low flying aircraft gets you every time. LOL
If that were my vehicle I would totally name him “Howie”.
Is he hungry?
Only if you were in "H" company.
As usual, this US design devotes considerable attention to maintainability and repairability. A superior vehicle that is broken down ceases to be superior. The designers saw a problem in snaking the engines out of the tank, so provided a beautifully simple fixture for lifting it. Likewise with the suspension components vs the horrible German designs. The bullet deflectors around the transmission bolts are another genius simple US design used on all(?) US armor.
Regarding the 2 smaller engines, my memory is that the tank/HMC could still operate if one of the engines is dead, at reduced speed. I assume the combing gear is a reversed differential, with each engine feeding one end of the diff. This would mean that the tank could operate at half speed, but still have the *same* torque to the output shaft, since the diff would act as a 2:1 speed reducer. I read this in a contemporary manual somewhere, don't remember where. Using standard production commercial engines saves a lot of development time. If a diff is indeed used, this would reduce shock loads transmitted between the engines. Having 2 independent cooling systems is excellent redundancy. Alternatatively, they might have used a fixed gearcase and declutched the dead engine. That would have been dumb. Anybody know?
Hoping that part 2 will include "Dayum! The tank is on fire" with those driver's visors.
There are real reasons why we won the war.
As a M60a3 tanker I would have put the m3 75 mm from the m4 Sherman an give it more range
That was an actual idea for this tank, the M8A1 had a m4 cannon on it but never left the prototype stage. (Sorry for my bad english is not my first language).
Will we ever get to see the "Oh Bugger the M8 GMC is on fire?"
How did the US Army employ these units? Were they part of Div Artillery or were they the Armor Battalion Commander's personal indirect support? Geoff Who remembers when Armor turned down two 120mm Mortar vehicles per Battalion as close indirect support. I come from the days when the 60mm Mortar was the Infantry Company Commander's personal artillery.
Good question: the bumper number is confusing “14 AD 97 C” the vehicle “E”. No “F” to indicate a Field Artillery unit. One would assume on such a quality restoration, the bumper number would be accurate.
My only guess would be something like the Howitzer batteries assigned to a modern Cavalry Squadron (and I don’t know how those vehicle are bumper numbered).
With a Pak75, it can't be DIvArty. Those would have to be 155s. I see the aiming stakes stored on the front hull, what type of pano telescope did she have & was indirect fire rare, or common?
@@tgapmax4051 105mm howitzers would be Direct Support DivArty, with the 155mm “Long Tom” gun (not howitzer) in the General Support, GSR role- probably.
With such thin armor, they would likely try to have at least one terrain feature (hill) separation. Being tracked, they could easily displace forward to maintain engagement with the enemy.
I must admit, my WWII American artillery knowledge is rusty, and I could be wrong
I thought we already did this?
Chieftain, would you be willing to do a short video on the range poles.
when people say that size doesnt matter, they talk about the m8
Been a long time.
Pisten bully snowcats until the early 90's require manual track tension adjustment - later ones are automatic - failing to adjust track tension may leave you stranded where you can't walk - deep snow requires the apropriate ski for a human - snowshoes and snowmobiles won't work.
Apparently hanging out with Mr. Doyle has made Nick less adverse to special rigs required to lift engine parts. No rant like with the Panzers.
Not a rant, but I did say it was a pain to change them out
@@TheChieftainsHatch It was a light rant, and justified. The lifting kits demonstrate the logic of my people to make custom solutions to problems they created by their design philosophy. As the Western Desert showed us. Wo is das Motorbehilfshebegearet? [Where's the engine lifting device?] Heading East - here it is, retreating west - that got left behind. [Congratulations on the promotion]
@@tgapmax4051 The engine/trans unit was designed to come out like that. Was faster and easier.
@@TheChieftainsHatch Pain? That was the easiest and fastest way to remove them. We used the same method when working on cars and pickups in the 60's and 70's.
where is the part 2?
is this the second release of this video? I was expecting Pt. 2
Flash DEE-FLECK-TOR
Egad, another down the hatch video!
Wait... Is that a Metal Slug?!
I don’t thill I’ll be needing to do repairs on one of these tanks anytime soon lol
track tension system exactly the same as a chain tensioner on a bicycle
Will you be able to do a video on the Panhandle EBR?
I've always wondered this: Under what circumstances would an AFV use a siren?
In pursuit of the fleeing Hun.
Sirens did what they do now, they warn people you are there and make them watch out for you and get out of your way. The exact same reason they put them on emergency vehicles. What other purpose would they have?
Usually in urban areas, to warn people that they are coming through, so the GTFO of the way, for starters, and second, so no idiot pulls out in front or walks in front of them thinking they will just stop like a car (which happens even today). You can't see out of an AFV very well, so when Giovanni comes trotting around the Rome street corner with his horse and wagon of wine barrels right in front of your AFV as your column passes through Rome on a route march to the front, he will come out of badly. The siren makes sure he hears you and uses caution near your vehicle.
I was just thinking about this AFV and I have a question. My understanding is that M8 HMCs were mostly used in support of cavalry units (M5s and M8 Greyhounds), but were they ever used in place of the M5s? It seems like you get better visibility and if you do run into something significant it might be marginally better to have the 75mm rather than just the 37mm. Of course you could also simplify logistics by only having M5s and M8 HMCs.
Jagdtiger would also be awesome
Where is part 2 ?!?
Why is it that tracks need tension adjusted so often? Do they stretch out in use, or wear out, or does the tensioning system just not hold its tension setting very well (seems like that would depend on the design and would be very easy to engineer out as a factor). On the other hand it seems like it would take an excessive amount of stretching to require you to have to readjust the track every few days lest it get so loose it falls off. Kind of curious now.
You know I wonder if the guys in tracked construction equipment are regularly checking tention of their tracks.
Such a person chimed in on a recent video, saying that yes, they do.
When is part 2, saw the part 1 on WOT channel already