In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
U.S. M8 Howitzer Motor Carraige with Figure
Kit no. 3610
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $27.49 at Sprue Bros. I paid $11.50 for my kit back in the 70's.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $27.49 at Sprue Bros. I paid $11.50 for my kit back in the 70's.
HISTORY:
Although the tank played an important role in World War I, the mechanization of armies was neglected afterwards, especially in the victorious countries such as England and France. A few progressive theories on mechanization were published notably by Col. J.F.C. Fuller of England. But they were ignored because of the economic state of most countries after the war, resulting in the reduction of armaments and also the world economic depression of 1929-31. It must also be said that the old-fashioned but influential view of the military authorities at that time was that the tank was only useful as a support for the infantry.
However, the Germans eagerly mechanized their army. They realized the effectiveness of enemy tanks during the war and they put all their efforts to the development and tactical study of the tank. Under Hitler, the German army made the most of tank power. At the beginning of World War II, German mechanized troops quickly overran the French and shocked the British by their speed and mobility. At that time the U.S. Army was even more backward in mechanization than the British and French. But because of Germany's initial success the Americans commenced mechanization in 1940 and soon after they had completely reorganized their army so that in mobility it compared favorably with the Germans and the M8 Howitzer was a product of this mechanization.
At the beginning oif 1942, Lt. General Adna Chaffee, commander of the armored forces of the U.S. Army, requested an armored fighting vehicle which could support tanks and armored reconnaissance troops. An order was placed for two experimental vehicles with General Motors. The model was an M3 half-track equipped with a 75 mm howitzer M1A1, but its disadvantages were its weak armor and unsatisfactory cross-country mobility.
An order was therefore placed with the Cadillac department of General Motors for an experimental armored self-propelled howitzer with a full-track. A T17 75 mm s.p. howitzer with a M5 light tank body and a T17E.1 s.p. howitzer with a M5A1 light tank body were tried, but both vehicles proved to be defective in the turret. So the 75 mm howitzer was mounted in an open-top traversing turret used in the T47 105 mm s.p. howitzer, being developed at the same time.
This vehicle was accepted and designated M8 howitzer S.P. Gun. Production started in September 1942. The main armament was a M2 or M3 75 mm howitzer. The muzzle velocity was 305-381 m/sec., maximum range was 6.400 - 8.800 m. Rate of fire 8 rounds the first 30 seconds, 24 rounds the first 4 minutes. Ammunition carried was 46 rounds. The secondary armament was a Browning 12.7 mm machine gun with a maximum range of 6,800 m and a rate of fire of 450-555 rounds per minute.
The two Cadillac model 42 series, 4-cycle V-8 cylinder water-cooled gasoline engines each produced 110 h.p. and had two hydromatic transmissions with fluid clutches giving four forward speeds and one reverse. The double reduction transfer gearbox gave a maximum speed of about 60 km/h with a combat weight of about 15.7 tons. The running gear was the same as for the M5 light tank. The body armor was 13-64 mm thick and the turret armor was about 38 mm at the front and about 25 mm at the sides and rear and gave protection against small arms.
Production of these M8 howitzers continued until January 1944 and reached 1,778 units total.
Although the tank played an important role in World War I, the mechanization of armies was neglected afterwards, especially in the victorious countries such as England and France. A few progressive theories on mechanization were published notably by Col. J.F.C. Fuller of England. But they were ignored because of the economic state of most countries after the war, resulting in the reduction of armaments and also the world economic depression of 1929-31. It must also be said that the old-fashioned but influential view of the military authorities at that time was that the tank was only useful as a support for the infantry.
However, the Germans eagerly mechanized their army. They realized the effectiveness of enemy tanks during the war and they put all their efforts to the development and tactical study of the tank. Under Hitler, the German army made the most of tank power. At the beginning of World War II, German mechanized troops quickly overran the French and shocked the British by their speed and mobility. At that time the U.S. Army was even more backward in mechanization than the British and French. But because of Germany's initial success the Americans commenced mechanization in 1940 and soon after they had completely reorganized their army so that in mobility it compared favorably with the Germans and the M8 Howitzer was a product of this mechanization.
At the beginning oif 1942, Lt. General Adna Chaffee, commander of the armored forces of the U.S. Army, requested an armored fighting vehicle which could support tanks and armored reconnaissance troops. An order was placed for two experimental vehicles with General Motors. The model was an M3 half-track equipped with a 75 mm howitzer M1A1, but its disadvantages were its weak armor and unsatisfactory cross-country mobility.
An order was therefore placed with the Cadillac department of General Motors for an experimental armored self-propelled howitzer with a full-track. A T17 75 mm s.p. howitzer with a M5 light tank body and a T17E.1 s.p. howitzer with a M5A1 light tank body were tried, but both vehicles proved to be defective in the turret. So the 75 mm howitzer was mounted in an open-top traversing turret used in the T47 105 mm s.p. howitzer, being developed at the same time.
This vehicle was accepted and designated M8 howitzer S.P. Gun. Production started in September 1942. The main armament was a M2 or M3 75 mm howitzer. The muzzle velocity was 305-381 m/sec., maximum range was 6.400 - 8.800 m. Rate of fire 8 rounds the first 30 seconds, 24 rounds the first 4 minutes. Ammunition carried was 46 rounds. The secondary armament was a Browning 12.7 mm machine gun with a maximum range of 6,800 m and a rate of fire of 450-555 rounds per minute.
The two Cadillac model 42 series, 4-cycle V-8 cylinder water-cooled gasoline engines each produced 110 h.p. and had two hydromatic transmissions with fluid clutches giving four forward speeds and one reverse. The double reduction transfer gearbox gave a maximum speed of about 60 km/h with a combat weight of about 15.7 tons. The running gear was the same as for the M5 light tank. The body armor was 13-64 mm thick and the turret armor was about 38 mm at the front and about 25 mm at the sides and rear and gave protection against small arms.
Production of these M8 howitzers continued until January 1944 and reached 1,778 units total.
THE KIT:
Tamiya is a old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art is one of Tamiya's SIGNATURE all white backgrounds that they pose the kits subject against.
It shows an M8 in overall olive-drab with a white star on the forward end of the sides of the turret and in the middle of the sides of the hull. To the left of the hull star is white U.S.A. 4152421-S and to the right of the star is a white 5 triangle -85R. On the front of the left front fender is a yellow circle with a black 16 on it. On the nose of the tank is white 5 triangle-85R on the left, then a white star and a white F-13 on the right.
These white numbers are again repeated low on the back of the tank. A soldier is standing in front of the tank. He is wearing a steel helmet and his pants are bloused into his shoes. He is holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the M8 on the box art, minus the soldier, a color illustration of a M3 Stuart tank and a M5A1 tank. There is a paragraph in Japanese here too, but I haven't a clue what it says. Perhaps it is the history of the M8?
Tamiya is a old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art is one of Tamiya's SIGNATURE all white backgrounds that they pose the kits subject against.
It shows an M8 in overall olive-drab with a white star on the forward end of the sides of the turret and in the middle of the sides of the hull. To the left of the hull star is white U.S.A. 4152421-S and to the right of the star is a white 5 triangle -85R. On the front of the left front fender is a yellow circle with a black 16 on it. On the nose of the tank is white 5 triangle-85R on the left, then a white star and a white F-13 on the right.
These white numbers are again repeated low on the back of the tank. A soldier is standing in front of the tank. He is wearing a steel helmet and his pants are bloused into his shoes. He is holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the M8 on the box art, minus the soldier, a color illustration of a M3 Stuart tank and a M5A1 tank. There is a paragraph in Japanese here too, but I haven't a clue what it says. Perhaps it is the history of the M8?
The other side panel has a color 3-view of a M8 in over-all olive drab. It has a plain white star on the forward end of the sides of the turret and white star with a circle around it on the hull sides and the bow. It has a white U.S.A. above a white number 4051863-S to the rear of the sides of the hull.
There is a yellow circle with a black 16 on it on the left front fender, a white 2 triangle-67 triangle on the left of the nose of the tank, a star in a circle and white IHQ-27 on the right.
This is followed by another paragraph in Japanese and illustrations of tank tools. Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan appears on both side panels too.
This is followed by another paragraph in Japanese and illustrations of tank tools. Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan appears on both side panels too.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 dark green trees of parts in 2 sealed cello bags, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, the decal sheet, instructions and color kit catalog of Tamiya kits.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 10 1/4" x 6 1/2" page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of the model and figure made up. It is the version with the stars that have circles around them. Below this is the history of the M8 in English and German.
Pages 2 through 5 give a grand total of 13 assembly steps.
Page 6 has a 4-view of the version with the surrounded stars and a 3-view of the box art scheme.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: the fender sides, machine gun, tools, shovel, head light and their guards, tail light, grab handles etc. (43 parts)
This kit contains 3 dark green trees of parts in 2 sealed cello bags, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, the decal sheet, instructions and color kit catalog of Tamiya kits.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 10 1/4" x 6 1/2" page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of the model and figure made up. It is the version with the stars that have circles around them. Below this is the history of the M8 in English and German.
Pages 2 through 5 give a grand total of 13 assembly steps.
Page 6 has a 4-view of the version with the surrounded stars and a 3-view of the box art scheme.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: the fender sides, machine gun, tools, shovel, head light and their guards, tail light, grab handles etc. (43 parts)
Dark green letter B parts tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprocket wheels, body panels, bogies, ammo racks etc. (53 parts)
Dark green letter C parts tree holds: the standing figure (full bodied with separate arms and a steel helmet), turret sides and base, fighting compartment, spare track links, main gun breech parts, ammo bins etc. (55 parts)
One ammo bin, part no. C-28 was missing in my kit. I contacted Tamiya USA in Irvine, CA and inside of 3 days had the missing part. Tamiya USA has great and prompt customer service.
One ammo bin, part no. C-28 was missing in my kit. I contacted Tamiya USA in Irvine, CA and inside of 3 days had the missing part. Tamiya USA has great and prompt customer service.
Next is the dark green hull tub and hull roof.
The decal sheet, instructions and small color kit catalog complete the kits contents.
This is a neat kit. There is a lot of detail inside the turret and directly below it in the hull.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
I bought my kit at my local hobby shop that went out of business. My city no longer has a hobby shop. Only Hobby Lobby, who's kits selections lack for anything other than car models which are not my bag.