War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

2S38

2024-11-18T06:55:48Z

U120249931: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_2s38
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

Originally designed as a technology demonstrator, the 2S38 was chosen as a possible replacement for the 2S6 Tunguska adopted in the 1980s. The vehicle was based on the [[BMP-3]] platform, but fitted with the equipment and armament to lock and engage low-flying aircraft like helicopters, CAS, or even large calibre rockets/missiles. The vehicle is operated by 3 crewmembers, in a single compartment, since it uses a remote-controlled turret for its 57 mm cannon. As of 2020, the vehicle is still in very low numbers and slowly being adopted into the military.

It was introduced in [[Update "Fire and Ice"]]. Built on the [[BMP-3]] platform, the 2S38 was an attempt to transform the platform into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a 57 mm autocannon and a tracking system capable of fighting low-flying aircraft. In the game, the rapid-firing 57 mm autocannon allows the 2S38 to engage a wide range of enemies from tanks to fighter jets while maintaining the same profile and mobility of the original BMP-3. The 57 mm autocannon of the 2S38, paired with both APFSDS and APHE ammunition, can prove extremely deadly in good flanking manoeuvres, even the APHE shells can penetrate lightly armoured targets from the front like the Leopard 1, and several IFVs. Also, its good fire rate and accuracy makes the 2S38 a very deadly light tank; however, as with all light tanks, the armour is not enough to stop high calibre projectiles, but it's still enough to stop up to 14.5 mm shots from all sides.

The 2s38 is also the most unbalance vehicle in war thunder. The vehicle never enter service like Ho-Ri because it's only a prototype

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}


The {{PAGENAME}} armour is essentially non-existent for the rank it is in. While the front array may be resistant to some autocannons from a long-distance, it isn't really reliable.

The rearranged modules within the 2S38 does improve the vehicle's overall survivability compared to the BMP-3 however. Firstly, the ammunition is a lot smaller and harder to hit, and they are all stored in the center so can be harder to hit if not precisely targetted. There are more empty space within the 2S38 as well, increasing the chances of a shot penetrating the armour, but not causing any critical damages to the components.

The crew are all arranged in the front, three in a row. This improves crew survivability in hull-down position as there is no crew in the turret anymore. This also marginally improves survivability to shots from the front, as there is a small chance a shot from the front does not knock out two or all the crew members in one shot. Given both the gunner and commander can fire the main gun, enemies would need to knock out both of them at the same time to disable the 2S38's armaments.

Overall, the 2S38 is favored comparatively to the BMP-3 in terms of being able to survive the first shot while also retaining the ability to fire back at the offending opponent.

'''Armour type:'''

* ABT-102 alloy - Hull and turret
* Rolled homogeneous armour - Gun mask
* Structural steel - Add-ons on the sides

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 18 mm (81°) ''Front glacis'' 60 mm (25°) + 12 mm + 10 mm ''Lower Glacis (Upper)'' 60 mm (45°) + 10 mm ''Lower Glacis (Lower)'' 60 mm ''Turret ring'' || 60 mm + 4 mm ''Top Front'' 43 mm + 4 mm ''Top & Bottom'' || 43 mm ''Upper Glacis'' 43 mm (22°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 15 - 18 mm ''Hull'' 20 mm ''Turret ring''
|-
| Turret || 43 mm (0°-23°-43°) ''Front'' 20 mm (0°-45°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 43 mm || 43 mm || 20 - 43 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


* Tracks are 15 mm thick, suspention and it's wheels are both 10 mm thick.
* Hatches are 18 + 20 mm (81°) thick.
* At the rear there is a 100 mm thick log, but it does not provide any real protection

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


The {{PAGENAME}} drives like the BMP-3. Namely, it is fast and accelerates well even in cross-country terrain. Travelling on long-distance maps will not be an issue for the {{PAGENAME}}. The only significant difference is that the {{PAGENAME}} weights about 2.8 t more than the BMP-3, and so the small weight difference may affect the fine acceleration and forward momentum, but not by much.

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|2A90 (57 mm)}}

The 57 mm 2A90 is a dual-purpose autocannon and can allow players to use it in both an anti-tank and anti-aircraft gun. While its top penetration for the anti-tank role is not ideal, with a point-blank penetration of 225 mm with the ''3UBM22'' APFSDS rounds, the rapid fire nature of the 57 mm gun means that quick follow-up shot from the first successful penetration can cripple, if not destroy, the enemy tank.

If firing at a tank's side armour, firing the ''BR-281U'' APCBC round with explosive filler can be considered to absolutely devastate the enemy interior with fewer shots and can destroy enemy units by aiming at weak, external spots (cupolas). It would trade maximum penetration of the round for destructive power, so it is up to player preference on which ammunition to use aiming at tank side armour.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[2A90 (57 mm)|57 mm 2A90]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Autoloader
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 148 || rowspan="2" | 120 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+75° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 57.1 || 79.1 || 96.0 || 106.2 || 113.0 || rowspan="2" | 0.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 35.7 || 42.0 || 51.0 || 56.4 || 60.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:2A90 (57 mm)/Ammunition|BR-281U, OR-281U, 3UBM22, 3UO8}}

[[File:2S38AmmoRack.png|thumb|The sole and mechanized ammo rack for the autoloader.]]

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''148''' || Y/N (See note 1)
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.
* As the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
* The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
* There is only 1 ammo rack, which is the mechanized ammo rack. Thus, all ammo is ready to be loaded.
* A damaged or destroyed power system increases the time to reloading rate (around 1 second when destroyed), but can be restored to full function
* Destruction of the autoloader disables reloading of the cannon until it is repaired

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|PKTM (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[PKTM (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm PKTM]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 750 (250) || 700 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The 2S38 is played like a standard light tank: use your mobility and speed to flank enemies, and your gun is powerful enough to penetrate most tank's side and back armour. The gun has a very short reload time for its class (57mm) at an astounding 0.5s, letting you fire a few shots before the enemy can turn around and counterattack, that is if they aren't already heavily damaged or crippled. The 2S38 also has proximity-fused HE shells, allowing it to fire at helicopters and other aircraft to great effect because of its firerate, but also has an IRST system that can track air targets with a lead circle, turning the 2S38 into a jack-of-all-trades light tank. Because of the only and autoloaded ammo rack, you can fire many shots with the only consequence of overheating. The 2S38 also has great optics for its with gunner and commander thermals coupled with decent sight zoom. The decently high gun with the slim turret profile can help greatly when shooting over cover. All of these factors can make the 2S38 one of the best multirole ground vehicles in War Thunder. A shot to the rear is still going to damage the vehicle modules, but atleast the engine is low enough it can be damaged little.

However, it is not without its problems. Unlike some light tanks around its battle rating, it lacks the ability to reliably tank a shot or two. This is because of how many modules are scattered in the 2S38. As some light tanks can absorb shots because of empty space, such as in the rear, or engines taking the brute of damage, the same shots will cause crippling damage and often destruction to the 2S38, with the only relatively tanky area being between the engine and autoloader, but that should never be relied on. Shots into the front plate spell immediate doom for the 2S38 if it penetrates past the fuel tanks. Not only that, unlike a few light tanks, it doesn't have any meaningful armor and can be destroyed by 12.7mm machine guns to the side at close range, let alone autocannons, or even HE(AT) rounds hitting the upper roof plate or turret. If a shot doesn't knock out the three crew members lined up side by side at the front, it's almost guaranteed it'll take out the aiming drives and autoloader, not to mention the almost completely ammo-filled center, leading to ammo detonation and at best a powerless vehicle. The plentiful amount of modules means that even in the possibility of tanking a shot, does not mean you are always without crippling damage. Almost every aspect of the tank can be disabled: the stabilizer, IRST and autotracker, driving controls, autoloader, LWS/LR and thermals.

So, the 2S38 is the one of the best examples of a glass cannon in War Thunder: Powerful cannon, impressive mobility, strong optics, but armor as fragile as paper and internal survivability being near non existent.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely fast reload at 0.5 seconds for the 57mm
* High mobility
* IRST target tracking system and HE-VT round allow for good anti-air capability
* Unmanned turret means it can get hit and not suffer crew losses
* APCBC is great for other IFVs, SPAAs, MBT sides, and APFSDS is good for almost all frontal armour for MBTs
* Large ammo rack at 148 pieces ensure you won't be running out of ammo soon
* Ammo variety lets it become one of the best multi-role vehicles, and is also amphibious + has a digging blade
* Modules can still be repaired to full function
* Great optics with thermals for gunner and commander, with decent zoom
* Relatively empty rear section, can tank a few shots, but not towards the center of mass

'''Cons:'''

* Weak armour, can be 12.7mm'd to the sides at close range
* Terrible post-penetration survivability, almost every aspect of the 2S38 can be disabled if lucky enough to even survive the shot. Plus, no reliable cover (engine, RHA) for the crew, only protected by fuel tanks that are prone to exploding or catching fire.
* Can overheat the cannon at prolonged periods of fire, but easily avoidable
* All crew in the front, lined up, so knock-outs are common
* Fuel tank explodes very easily
* Ammo near the turret means ammo detonations are incredibly easy when shooting at the turret, even when hull-down
* Crammed cannon section modules make multiple module destructions common, making it easy to cripple

== History ==

In the mid 2010s, the Central Scientific Research Institute Burevestnik in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, developed an artillery turret with a 57mm cannon, designed for ships and armored vehicles. A little later, the module was upgraded for installation on the 2S38 platform (a modified version of the BMP-3 AFV chassis). The first prototype was demonstrated to the public in 2018, in 2020 2S38s took part in the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow. At the moment, the vehicle is being commissioned for service with the Russian army.

''- From [[wt:en/news/7933-development-2s38-fast-and-angry-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_2s38 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|y2Ph0rmD5sU|'''Unmanned Turret Tanks: Showcasing New Tech''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 01:56 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|n1VVzWsVeKs|'''The Shooting Range #328''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7933-development-2s38-fast-and-angry-en|<nowiki>[Development]</nowiki> 2S38 - Fast and Angry]]

{{USSR light tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

M18 GMC

2024-09-28T07:13:38Z

U120249931: /* Description */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M18 Hellcat (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m18_hellcat
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

In response to the threat of German armoured units that contributed to the Fall of France, the United States developed the Tank Destroyer Branch whose purpose was to help squash armoured breakthroughs from expanding past the front lines. As part of their role, the branch required combat vehicles that were well-armed and were mobile enough to respond to any strategic events. Making do with interim vehicles like the [[M3 GMC]] and [[M10 GMC]], the ideal project to develop a vehicle for this role was the ''T70'' by Buick, a fast tank destroyer armed with a [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm gun]]. The vehicle was approved and put in production in Summer 1943 as the '''M18 GMC''' and was also associated by its manufacturer's nickname "Hellcat". Though not as numerous as its interim counterparts, the M18 became one of the primary arms of the tank destroyer branch, with its firepower and mobility coming to play in several key battles in the European Theater such as the Battle of the Bulge.

Introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]], the M18 "Hellcat" was the epitome of the American tank destroyer doctrine. It is very fast, very mobile, and has a powerful gun, though with a large trade-off of only 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) of armour. Unlike many other tank destroyers in the game, the M18 "Hellcat" has access to a 360° traversable turret, allowing players to have a greater arc of fire than a typical casemate tank destroyer like the [[StuG III G|StuG III]], but at the expense of a slightly higher profile. American tank destroyers also have very high manoeuvrability compared to those of other nations, allowing it to flank the enemy. The main weak point of the M18 is its very thin armour, a feature that actually allows the M18 to reach its high speed. The thin armour makes it possible for any enemy tanks to penetrate the vehicle, a single hit destroying many critical components in the M18 or crippling the crew. The only saving grace with this extremely thin armour is that standard AP rounds may over-penetrate the armour, doing minimal damage to the internals.

Although it is most recognized for its role as a [[:Category:Tank_destroyers|tank destroyer]], it was recategorized as a [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tank]] during [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]] on [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1240|7 May 2021]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (39-64°) ''Front glacis'' 12.7 mm (23-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12.7 mm (23-26°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (12°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm (36°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (15-26°) ''Turret front'' 19 mm + 25.4 mm (0-55°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 12.7 mm (1-21°) || 12.7 mm (7°) || N/A ''Open-top'' 8 mm ''Bustle and Front''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.
* The hull underside right above the tracks are only 8 mm thick.
* Tracks are attached the turret rear, granting some 15 mm in thickness.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=713|rbMinHp=407|AoAweight=|abMaxHp=878|rbMaxHp=460}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top priority. Following that, depending on player preferences, one of 3 should be researched: Horizontal Drive (close-range, flanking), Suspension (medium-range) or Adjustment of Fire (long-range of a typical engagements). Following this the goal is to get rank IV mobility improvements in order Filters -> Engine -> Transmission. On rank III, along the way, the Crew Replenishment should be prioritized, as its an open-top vehicle, so it will suffer significant causalities from enemy airplanes. If your preferred engagement range is above 700 m then the Elevation Mechanism should be researched. Otherwise: Mobility upgrades are the most important, shells are the lowest priority, as even the situational advantage of the M93 shot is not worth researching over improved mobility, or even accuracy.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}

The 76 mm M1 is an extremely capable gun with a high damage potential and a very good gun handling. It can be found on tanks used up to battle rating 6.0, making it one of the most widely used guns throughout the battle ratings and with M18 being the first tanks to use it - it gives it a very high staying power throughout battle ratings. Once upgraded, the turret has very fair guidance in both: horizontal and vertical axis allowing to quickly catch pot-shots, though given exceptional mobility of the platform even it struggles to catch up with the near-instant hull rotation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.02 || rowspan="2" | 6.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* M79 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Stock round, has decent penetrative power but no explosive filler. Replace with the M62 shell as soon as possible.
* M42A1 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - The best round for dealing with unarmoured targets or unarmoured sections of vehicles. It should be used carefully, as everything over 10 mm armour can negate its effects. Typically M62 is superior.
* M62 shell - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - The best anti-tank shell. It has very good penetration and an excellent post-penetration effect.
* M93 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Round trades a significantly lower post-penetration effect for a 20% increase in penetration and flatter flight path.

{{:M1 (76 mm)/Ammunition|M79 shot, M42A1 shell, M62 shell, M93 shot, M88}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''45''' || 37 ''(+8)'' || 27 ''(+18)'' || 17 ''(+28)'' || 9 ''(+36)'' || 1 ''(+44)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Turret empty: 37 ''(+8)'' shells.
* When fighting in downtiers it's best to take only 17 shells, which allows the turret and sides of the tank to be empty of shells, notably increasing survivability. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many rounds are loaded, as most hits against the tank will prove deadly regardless.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 800 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Before all, avoid colourful or bright decals. Camouflage is the main part of the M18's defence. Chances for good performance in battle are: be "invisible", fast and effective.

The M18's speed is its best ally. This speed has to be used for flanking manoeuvres and relocating, but not for crossing an open field; that will leave it open to enemy fire. Simply put: speed is not a substitute for armour.

'''Relocate:'''

* This movement will have to be done again and again. Choose a good spot wisely, remove the foliage if necessary to get a clear field of fire. When in the fire spot, use the gun depression and stay in a hull-down position until a target is located. Once a target is locked on, aim at critical components. Try to immobilize the enemy by firing at the engine or transmission, or remove their firepower by shooting the gun or breech, or for instant destruction with a shot to the ammo storage. The last option can work very well or not, as skilled players only carry a few rounds of ammo.

* If positive that the enemy hasn't discovered the firing spot, go for another shot. Stay attentive that none of the enemy's teammates has also located the firing spot. If detected, hide immediately and relocate.

'''Flanking:'''

* Flanking is the most dangerous manoeuvre of all because the vehicle will have to be exposed as it moves to the enemy's rear, but it is very effective when it's coordinated with other vehicles. A distraction is needed to gain the enemy's attention while the M18 makes its move. Isolated enemy units are very vulnerable to this tactic. Using the M18 speed to get to the rear and as the enemy heads toward the objective, the firing perspective should give a very clear view of the enemy's side armour. A good shot with the M62 APCBC shell could knock out the enemy rather quickly, but if using solid AP shots like the M79, aim at critical components on mobility and firepower before knocking out the crew or ammo stowage.

'''Avoid flat terrain'''

* Flat terrain means that the Hellcat will become an easy target for virtually any vehicle by exposure, especially when not moving or when moving in a straight line. Open plains are the bane of the Hellcat. Whenever possible, one should try to stay amongst hills.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Overall mobility is superb, with very responsive manoeuvring that allows the Hellcat to excel in flanking manoeuvres
* Fast reload speed and turret traverse
* APCBC round has great penetration and lots of explosive filler, rarely requiring more than one penetrating shot to kill common tanks like [[M4 Sherman (Family)]], [[Cromwell (Family)]], [[Tiger H1]]/[[Tiger E|E]] or [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]
* Low profile, reducing target size and allows it to hide behind small bushes or rocks easily
* Thin armour can be a boon: most AP and some APHE shells will simply pass through without causing significant damage
* The M18 is very good at climbing hills, particularly at steep angles
* Speed works well with the scouting mechanic and providing assistance in repairing friendly vehicles

'''Cons:'''

* Thin armour means rapid-fire autocannons, heavy machine guns, and aerial weapons will easily disable it
* Commander is exposed at the 0.50 calibre machine gun mount; and knocking him out will neutralize the weapon
* Open-top construction leaves it vulnerable to aerial strikes and artillery
* Gun has poor penetration in an uptier, often can't penetrate anything frontally unless hitting a weak spot. The [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Tiger II (H)]] and [[M26 (Family)|M26]] are frontally immune to this 76 mm M1
* If unable to move, the M18 is unlikely to survive concentrated fire
* HEAT or HE shells can cause the vehicle to be over pressurized and destroy the vehicle instantly, even if it wasn't aimed at a critical spot

== History ==


===US Tank Destroyer Doctrine===
The self-propelled anti-tank doctrine established by the US military called for fast, powerful vehicles able to stop the German blitzkrieg tactics by ambushing the attacking tank forces. This doctrine, known as the "Tank Destroyer Doctrine", called for anti-tank forces to be held in reserve to blunt the massed Panzer attacks that many in the War Department believed was the key to German victory in France in 1940. The concentration of antitank weaponry away from the frontline was eventually determined to be an unnecessary weakness, and the solution was to keep a few anti-tank guns in the front-line as the first defence, while a large reserve of mobile tank destroyers would move in at the location where a German tank breakthrough is happening to ambush and destroy the enemy forces. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun and mobility. Minimal emphasis was placed on armour, as the doctrinal role of tank destroyers was to respond rapidly to an enemy armoured breakthrough; heavy armour would only hinder a timely response. The development of a purpose-built tank destroyer languished in bureaucratic limbo for the early years of the war (a delay caused by poor designs such as the M5 Cletrac and bureaucratic infighting between the various departmental cliques), and consequently, the majority of self-propelled tank destroyers were expedients derived from the M4 Sherman chassis. The most common tank destroyer was the [[M10 GMC|M10 GMC]], made from the [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]] hull and armed with a 3-inch M1918 gun. Although perfectly capable and welcome addition for frontline forces, it was no faster than an ordinary Sherman tank. The tank destroyers would in 1944 finally receive their purpose-built self-propelled tank destroyer in 1944: the M18 Hellcat.<ref name="ZalogaM18" />

===Development===
The origin of the M18 design came as early as December 1941 with the requirement of a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun. This requirement called for a radical new tank design rather than a derivative of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. These requirements changed as the war progressed, the first change was to the new and innovative Torsion bar suspension from Buick Motor Division from General Motors and another change was to mount the British [[Ordnance_QF_6-pounder_Mk.III_(57_mm)|QF 6-pounder gun]] then in use on their [[Churchill_Mk_III|Churchill Mark III]] tanks, the developed prototype vehicle was called the ''T49 GMC''. Then the US Army wanted the heavier [[M3_(75_mm)|75 mm gun]] used on the Shermans on it, this prototype was designated the ''T67 GMC''. Finally, the army decided to mount the [[M1_(76_mm)|76 mm gun]] also in development for the Sherman onto the prototype, now known as ''T70 GMC''. Changes to hull shape and turret took place to accommodate all these new requirements and armament, but it eventually was approved for service and finally renamed as the '''M18 GMC''' and started production in mid-1943, which went on until ending in October 1944 with 2,507 units produced. A variant called the ''M39 Armored Utility Vehicle'' was also produced, its turret was removed for space for cargo, 8 personnel, or to tow guns.

===Combat usage===
These vehicles saw combat debut in the summer of 1944, where they are given the unofficial nickname "Hellcat" by the crews using them. Unlike the [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] that was built before it, the M18 GMC was purely made for emphasis on speed. Armour was restricted down to a maximum of 1-inch (25 mm) on the turret front while the rest of the body plating is a measly .50-inches thick (12.7 mm). The turret was also an open-top design similar to the M10 tank destroyer, meaning the crew are left exposed to the elements and enemy fire and shrapnel. These faults were mitigated by the fact that as its role as a tank destroyer, it was to have minimum contact with infantry and ambush enemy tanks in concealed position rather than face them in an offensive operation. Nevertheless, the M18 GMC was well-liked by the crew for its 76 mm cannon, which allows it to destroy the newer German [[Tiger H1|Tiger Is]] and [[Panther D|Panthers]] tanks from the front with HVAP ammo (though the Panther at close range only) when unable to flank around to the side or rear of these tanks. The speed was also astounding, reaching 55 miles per hour maximum, this makes the M18 GMC the fastest armoured fighting vehicle in World War II.

While use in the Pacific theatre was limited due to the inadequate armour of Japanese tanks, it saw most of its service in the European theatre against Nazi Germany. Due to the lack in armour and emphasis on speed, the M18 crews utilize the "shoot and scoot" tactic in attacking the enemy from one position and quickly move to another before the enemy could find their initial firing position, this tactic confuses the German tanks, and could even lead them to believe there is more armoured enemy than what it appears. The M18 GMCs were present during the Battle of Arracourt in France as the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lt. Edwin Leiper led an M18 platoon of C Company and in the battle knocked a total of 15 German tanks for the loss of three M18; six of these German tank kills, most of which were Panthers, were credited to one M18 led by Sgt Henry R. Hartman. The M18 also played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, where its top speed of 55 mph was finally put to good use in bypassing the enemy forces. Four M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion assisted the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in attacking the 2nd Panzer Divison and their support to kill the fuel lines to the German tanks. The overall attack had the M18 GMC credited with at least 24 tank kills of the 30 total inflicted in the attack.

===Legacy===
Overall, the M18 GMC proved itself by having the highest kill-to-loss ratio to any other tanks and tank destroyer in American service, making it the most effective tank destroyer in American service. However, like its other tank destroyer brethren, it soon found itself obsolete along with the entire tank destroyer doctrine. Mainly due to increasing prevalence of well-armoured tanks that could do its job more efficiently such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], but also the lack of German AFVs at the time of the war and a study on ammo usage indicates that the tank destroyers spent more time supporting infantry with high-explosive shells than killing tanks with armour-piercing, rendering the anti-tank section an unnecessary component in the modernizing armoured forces.

Today, some countries in the world such as Yugoslavia still have the M18 Hellcats in reserves.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
A self-propelled artillery/tank destroyer mount based on the M24 tank. It was part of the American arsenal during World War II. It was produced from the middle of 1943 to October, 1944 and was used in combat operations in Italy and northern Europe. Its primary gun was the M1 76 mm cannon, as was the case with late-model Sherman tanks. This tank destroyer featured very light armour, but the M18 was nevertheless the fastest armoured vehicle in World War II.

The Hellcat was the most effective anti-tank SPG in the American army despite its extreme vulnerability and the fact that its 76 mm cannon was unable to penetrate the armour of late German tanks. The vehicle stood out for its speed and manoeuvrability. Able to accelerate and change direction quickly, the Hellcat could easily outflank German tanks or even get behind them, whereas the rotation speed of the German tanks was not fast enough to attack the M18 and the M1 cannon could penetrate the enemy's weak points with relative ease.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m18_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|QvZ8h1CuM7s|'''The Shooting Range #314''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|1PfD0Wd2Sts|'''M18 "Hellcat" - Why everyone plays (and likes) it? [review]''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|MMbI22Uya8A|'''M18 Hellcat Supplemental''' - ''rob762x51''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3772-profile-m18-gun-motor-carriage-hellcat-en|[Profile] M18 Gun Motor Carriage – Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/news/3448--en|[Vehicle Profile] As fast as deadly: The M18 Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/760|[Devblog] M18 and M18 'Black Cat']]

=== References ===
<references>
<ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga Steven. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004</ref>
</references>

{{TankManufacturer Buick}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M18 GMC

2024-09-28T06:59:49Z

U120249931: /* Description */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M18 Hellcat (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m18_hellcat
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

In response to the threat of German armoured units that contributed to the Fall of France, the United States developed the Tank Destroyer Branch whose purpose was to help squash armoured breakthroughs from expanding past the front lines. As part of their role, the branch required combat vehicles that were well-armed and were mobile enough to respond to any strategic events. Making do with interim vehicles like the [[M3 GMC]] and [[M10 GMC]], the ideal project to develop a vehicle for this role was the ''T70'' by Buick, a fast tank destroyer armed with a [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm gun]]. The vehicle was approved and put in production in Summer 1943 as the '''M18 GMC''' and was also associated by its manufacturer's nickname "Hellcat". Though not as numerous as its interim counterparts, the M18 became one of the primary arms of the tank destroyer branch, with its firepower and mobility coming to play in several key battles in the European Theater such as the Battle of the Bulge. The Taiwanese created a M18 hybrid by putting the turret of a M18 on a M42 duster chassis, the Yugoslavian also created a M18 hybrid by putting the turret on a T-55 chassis.

Introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]], the M18 "Hellcat" was the epitome of the American tank destroyer doctrine. It is very fast, very mobile, and has a powerful gun, though with a large trade-off of only 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) of armour. Unlike many other tank destroyers in the game, the M18 "Hellcat" has access to a 360° traversable turret, allowing players to have a greater arc of fire than a typical casemate tank destroyer like the [[StuG III G|StuG III]], but at the expense of a slightly higher profile. American tank destroyers also have very high manoeuvrability compared to those of other nations, allowing it to flank the enemy. The main weak point of the M18 is its very thin armour, a feature that actually allows the M18 to reach its high speed. The thin armour makes it possible for any enemy tanks to penetrate the vehicle, a single hit destroying many critical components in the M18 or crippling the crew. The only saving grace with this extremely thin armour is that standard AP rounds may over-penetrate the armour, doing minimal damage to the internals.

Although it is most recognized for its role as a [[:Category:Tank_destroyers|tank destroyer]], it was recategorized as a [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tank]] during [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]] on [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1240|7 May 2021]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (39-64°) ''Front glacis'' 12.7 mm (23-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12.7 mm (23-26°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (12°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm (36°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (15-26°) ''Turret front'' 19 mm + 25.4 mm (0-55°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 12.7 mm (1-21°) || 12.7 mm (7°) || N/A ''Open-top'' 8 mm ''Bustle and Front''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.
* The hull underside right above the tracks are only 8 mm thick.
* Tracks are attached the turret rear, granting some 15 mm in thickness.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=713|rbMinHp=407|AoAweight=|abMaxHp=878|rbMaxHp=460}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top priority. Following that, depending on player preferences, one of 3 should be researched: Horizontal Drive (close-range, flanking), Suspension (medium-range) or Adjustment of Fire (long-range of a typical engagements). Following this the goal is to get rank IV mobility improvements in order Filters -> Engine -> Transmission. On rank III, along the way, the Crew Replenishment should be prioritized, as its an open-top vehicle, so it will suffer significant causalities from enemy airplanes. If your preferred engagement range is above 700 m then the Elevation Mechanism should be researched. Otherwise: Mobility upgrades are the most important, shells are the lowest priority, as even the situational advantage of the M93 shot is not worth researching over improved mobility, or even accuracy.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}

The 76 mm M1 is an extremely capable gun with a high damage potential and a very good gun handling. It can be found on tanks used up to battle rating 6.0, making it one of the most widely used guns throughout the battle ratings and with M18 being the first tanks to use it - it gives it a very high staying power throughout battle ratings. Once upgraded, the turret has very fair guidance in both: horizontal and vertical axis allowing to quickly catch pot-shots, though given exceptional mobility of the platform even it struggles to catch up with the near-instant hull rotation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.02 || rowspan="2" | 6.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* M79 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Stock round, has decent penetrative power but no explosive filler. Replace with the M62 shell as soon as possible.
* M42A1 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - The best round for dealing with unarmoured targets or unarmoured sections of vehicles. It should be used carefully, as everything over 10 mm armour can negate its effects. Typically M62 is superior.
* M62 shell - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - The best anti-tank shell. It has very good penetration and an excellent post-penetration effect.
* M93 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Round trades a significantly lower post-penetration effect for a 20% increase in penetration and flatter flight path.

{{:M1 (76 mm)/Ammunition|M79 shot, M42A1 shell, M62 shell, M93 shot, M88}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''45''' || 37 ''(+8)'' || 27 ''(+18)'' || 17 ''(+28)'' || 9 ''(+36)'' || 1 ''(+44)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Turret empty: 37 ''(+8)'' shells.
* When fighting in downtiers it's best to take only 17 shells, which allows the turret and sides of the tank to be empty of shells, notably increasing survivability. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many rounds are loaded, as most hits against the tank will prove deadly regardless.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 800 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Before all, avoid colourful or bright decals. Camouflage is the main part of the M18's defence. Chances for good performance in battle are: be "invisible", fast and effective.

The M18's speed is its best ally. This speed has to be used for flanking manoeuvres and relocating, but not for crossing an open field; that will leave it open to enemy fire. Simply put: speed is not a substitute for armour.

'''Relocate:'''

* This movement will have to be done again and again. Choose a good spot wisely, remove the foliage if necessary to get a clear field of fire. When in the fire spot, use the gun depression and stay in a hull-down position until a target is located. Once a target is locked on, aim at critical components. Try to immobilize the enemy by firing at the engine or transmission, or remove their firepower by shooting the gun or breech, or for instant destruction with a shot to the ammo storage. The last option can work very well or not, as skilled players only carry a few rounds of ammo.

* If positive that the enemy hasn't discovered the firing spot, go for another shot. Stay attentive that none of the enemy's teammates has also located the firing spot. If detected, hide immediately and relocate.

'''Flanking:'''

* Flanking is the most dangerous manoeuvre of all because the vehicle will have to be exposed as it moves to the enemy's rear, but it is very effective when it's coordinated with other vehicles. A distraction is needed to gain the enemy's attention while the M18 makes its move. Isolated enemy units are very vulnerable to this tactic. Using the M18 speed to get to the rear and as the enemy heads toward the objective, the firing perspective should give a very clear view of the enemy's side armour. A good shot with the M62 APCBC shell could knock out the enemy rather quickly, but if using solid AP shots like the M79, aim at critical components on mobility and firepower before knocking out the crew or ammo stowage.

'''Avoid flat terrain'''

* Flat terrain means that the Hellcat will become an easy target for virtually any vehicle by exposure, especially when not moving or when moving in a straight line. Open plains are the bane of the Hellcat. Whenever possible, one should try to stay amongst hills.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Overall mobility is superb, with very responsive manoeuvring that allows the Hellcat to excel in flanking manoeuvres
* Fast reload speed and turret traverse
* APCBC round has great penetration and lots of explosive filler, rarely requiring more than one penetrating shot to kill common tanks like [[M4 Sherman (Family)]], [[Cromwell (Family)]], [[Tiger H1]]/[[Tiger E|E]] or [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]
* Low profile, reducing target size and allows it to hide behind small bushes or rocks easily
* Thin armour can be a boon: most AP and some APHE shells will simply pass through without causing significant damage
* The M18 is very good at climbing hills, particularly at steep angles
* Speed works well with the scouting mechanic and providing assistance in repairing friendly vehicles

'''Cons:'''

* Thin armour means rapid-fire autocannons, heavy machine guns, and aerial weapons will easily disable it
* Commander is exposed at the 0.50 calibre machine gun mount; and knocking him out will neutralize the weapon
* Open-top construction leaves it vulnerable to aerial strikes and artillery
* Gun has poor penetration in an uptier, often can't penetrate anything frontally unless hitting a weak spot. The [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Tiger II (H)]] and [[M26 (Family)|M26]] are frontally immune to this 76 mm M1
* If unable to move, the M18 is unlikely to survive concentrated fire
* HEAT or HE shells can cause the vehicle to be over pressurized and destroy the vehicle instantly, even if it wasn't aimed at a critical spot

== History ==


===US Tank Destroyer Doctrine===
The self-propelled anti-tank doctrine established by the US military called for fast, powerful vehicles able to stop the German blitzkrieg tactics by ambushing the attacking tank forces. This doctrine, known as the "Tank Destroyer Doctrine", called for anti-tank forces to be held in reserve to blunt the massed Panzer attacks that many in the War Department believed was the key to German victory in France in 1940. The concentration of antitank weaponry away from the frontline was eventually determined to be an unnecessary weakness, and the solution was to keep a few anti-tank guns in the front-line as the first defence, while a large reserve of mobile tank destroyers would move in at the location where a German tank breakthrough is happening to ambush and destroy the enemy forces. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun and mobility. Minimal emphasis was placed on armour, as the doctrinal role of tank destroyers was to respond rapidly to an enemy armoured breakthrough; heavy armour would only hinder a timely response. The development of a purpose-built tank destroyer languished in bureaucratic limbo for the early years of the war (a delay caused by poor designs such as the M5 Cletrac and bureaucratic infighting between the various departmental cliques), and consequently, the majority of self-propelled tank destroyers were expedients derived from the M4 Sherman chassis. The most common tank destroyer was the [[M10 GMC|M10 GMC]], made from the [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]] hull and armed with a 3-inch M1918 gun. Although perfectly capable and welcome addition for frontline forces, it was no faster than an ordinary Sherman tank. The tank destroyers would in 1944 finally receive their purpose-built self-propelled tank destroyer in 1944: the M18 Hellcat.<ref name="ZalogaM18" />

===Development===
The origin of the M18 design came as early as December 1941 with the requirement of a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun. This requirement called for a radical new tank design rather than a derivative of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. These requirements changed as the war progressed, the first change was to the new and innovative Torsion bar suspension from Buick Motor Division from General Motors and another change was to mount the British [[Ordnance_QF_6-pounder_Mk.III_(57_mm)|QF 6-pounder gun]] then in use on their [[Churchill_Mk_III|Churchill Mark III]] tanks, the developed prototype vehicle was called the ''T49 GMC''. Then the US Army wanted the heavier [[M3_(75_mm)|75 mm gun]] used on the Shermans on it, this prototype was designated the ''T67 GMC''. Finally, the army decided to mount the [[M1_(76_mm)|76 mm gun]] also in development for the Sherman onto the prototype, now known as ''T70 GMC''. Changes to hull shape and turret took place to accommodate all these new requirements and armament, but it eventually was approved for service and finally renamed as the '''M18 GMC''' and started production in mid-1943, which went on until ending in October 1944 with 2,507 units produced. A variant called the ''M39 Armored Utility Vehicle'' was also produced, its turret was removed for space for cargo, 8 personnel, or to tow guns.

===Combat usage===
These vehicles saw combat debut in the summer of 1944, where they are given the unofficial nickname "Hellcat" by the crews using them. Unlike the [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] that was built before it, the M18 GMC was purely made for emphasis on speed. Armour was restricted down to a maximum of 1-inch (25 mm) on the turret front while the rest of the body plating is a measly .50-inches thick (12.7 mm). The turret was also an open-top design similar to the M10 tank destroyer, meaning the crew are left exposed to the elements and enemy fire and shrapnel. These faults were mitigated by the fact that as its role as a tank destroyer, it was to have minimum contact with infantry and ambush enemy tanks in concealed position rather than face them in an offensive operation. Nevertheless, the M18 GMC was well-liked by the crew for its 76 mm cannon, which allows it to destroy the newer German [[Tiger H1|Tiger Is]] and [[Panther D|Panthers]] tanks from the front with HVAP ammo (though the Panther at close range only) when unable to flank around to the side or rear of these tanks. The speed was also astounding, reaching 55 miles per hour maximum, this makes the M18 GMC the fastest armoured fighting vehicle in World War II.

While use in the Pacific theatre was limited due to the inadequate armour of Japanese tanks, it saw most of its service in the European theatre against Nazi Germany. Due to the lack in armour and emphasis on speed, the M18 crews utilize the "shoot and scoot" tactic in attacking the enemy from one position and quickly move to another before the enemy could find their initial firing position, this tactic confuses the German tanks, and could even lead them to believe there is more armoured enemy than what it appears. The M18 GMCs were present during the Battle of Arracourt in France as the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lt. Edwin Leiper led an M18 platoon of C Company and in the battle knocked a total of 15 German tanks for the loss of three M18; six of these German tank kills, most of which were Panthers, were credited to one M18 led by Sgt Henry R. Hartman. The M18 also played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, where its top speed of 55 mph was finally put to good use in bypassing the enemy forces. Four M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion assisted the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in attacking the 2nd Panzer Divison and their support to kill the fuel lines to the German tanks. The overall attack had the M18 GMC credited with at least 24 tank kills of the 30 total inflicted in the attack.

===Legacy===
Overall, the M18 GMC proved itself by having the highest kill-to-loss ratio to any other tanks and tank destroyer in American service, making it the most effective tank destroyer in American service. However, like its other tank destroyer brethren, it soon found itself obsolete along with the entire tank destroyer doctrine. Mainly due to increasing prevalence of well-armoured tanks that could do its job more efficiently such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], but also the lack of German AFVs at the time of the war and a study on ammo usage indicates that the tank destroyers spent more time supporting infantry with high-explosive shells than killing tanks with armour-piercing, rendering the anti-tank section an unnecessary component in the modernizing armoured forces.

Today, some countries in the world such as Yugoslavia still have the M18 Hellcats in reserves.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
A self-propelled artillery/tank destroyer mount based on the M24 tank. It was part of the American arsenal during World War II. It was produced from the middle of 1943 to October, 1944 and was used in combat operations in Italy and northern Europe. Its primary gun was the M1 76 mm cannon, as was the case with late-model Sherman tanks. This tank destroyer featured very light armour, but the M18 was nevertheless the fastest armoured vehicle in World War II.

The Hellcat was the most effective anti-tank SPG in the American army despite its extreme vulnerability and the fact that its 76 mm cannon was unable to penetrate the armour of late German tanks. The vehicle stood out for its speed and manoeuvrability. Able to accelerate and change direction quickly, the Hellcat could easily outflank German tanks or even get behind them, whereas the rotation speed of the German tanks was not fast enough to attack the M18 and the M1 cannon could penetrate the enemy's weak points with relative ease.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m18_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|QvZ8h1CuM7s|'''The Shooting Range #314''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|1PfD0Wd2Sts|'''M18 "Hellcat" - Why everyone plays (and likes) it? [review]''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|MMbI22Uya8A|'''M18 Hellcat Supplemental''' - ''rob762x51''}}

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3772-profile-m18-gun-motor-carriage-hellcat-en|[Profile] M18 Gun Motor Carriage – Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/news/3448--en|[Vehicle Profile] As fast as deadly: The M18 Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/760|[Devblog] M18 and M18 'Black Cat']]

=== References ===
<references>
<ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga Steven. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004</ref>
</references>

{{TankManufacturer Buick}}
{{USA light tanks}}