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| The original T18 pilot with new, larger wheels. |
In the Spring of 1941, the British Purchasing Commission submitted specifications for medium and heavy armored cars under the Lend-Lease program which could be procured as quickly as possible. The T13 was considered to fill this need, as it was already under development at the time, but due to its questionable progress it was recommended that the medium and heavy armored cars be designed. These were designated as the T17 and T18, respectively.
General Motors received the contract for a T18 mockup in early December 1941 and was optimistically estimated to weigh about 18 tons. It was an eight-wheel vehicle with the wheels suspended by leaf springs in two four-wheel bogies. It carried two GMC truck engines capable of outputting 290 combined horsepower, each engine powering their own set of bogies. As with the T17, the turret design was based on that of the M22 Locust with a maximum thickness of 2 inches. At the same time, GM was also constructing a six-wheel version of the T18, designated as the T18E1, powered by two Cadillac engines. However, shortly thereafter Ordnance approved the construction of the T19 armored car. Later in January 1942, it was considered unnecessary to develop two six-wheel armored cars, so the T18E1 was dropped.
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| T18E2. Note the new turret from the T7E2. |
While the turret was initially armed with the 37 mm Gun M6, battle experience by this time had proven the need for a more powerful gun. A turret from the T7E2 program mounting the QF 6-pdr Mk. III was obtained and mounted to the second T18 pilot, designated as the T18E2. This also required newer wheels in order to better carry the weigh of the heavier turret.
The production T18E2, shockingly, was considerably heavier than originally expected, weighting about 26.5 tons. The production turret carried the 57 mm Gun M1. The hull had a maximum thickness of 2 inches at the front plate and 1.25 inches along the sides. The crew arrangement was also similar to other armored vehicles, including an assistant driver.
In December 1942, 30 T18E2s were authorized for construction and shipped to the United Kingdom, where they received the designation Boarhound. However, like the T17, the desert war in Africa for which the Boardhound was developed was coming to a close. As such, the vehicle never saw combat and in January 1944 the T18E2 was deemed obsolete.
In World Of Tanks, the T18 would certainly be one of the heavier and more armored armored cars. Its guns are respectable for its tier, even by light tank standards, favoring penetration and rate of fire over raw damage.
Guns: 37 mm Gun M6; 37 mm Gun M6 w/ Littlejohn; QF 6-pdr Mk. III; 57 mm Gun M1
Engines: Twin GMC, Series 270 (194 hp); Twin Cadillac, Series 42 (296 hp)
Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): T18 (51/22/22); T7E2 (T18E2) (51/38/38)
Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): T18 (51/22/22); T7E2 (T18E2) (51/38/38)
Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): T18 (16.33); T18E2 (24.04)
Hull Armor (mm): 51/32/32
Top Speed: 80 km/h
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