Rare WW2 Stuart M5 COM T8/ T8E1 Recon - footage.

Rare WW2 Stuart M5 COM T8/ T8E1 Recon - footage.

The first command vehicle that would be produced would be the Command version M5 COM, it would have it's turret removed, and would be equipped with a single cal.50 machine-gun and radio equipment. See 0:03.

On 21 December 1943, the Army Ground Forces requested an armored recce tracked vehicle.
and the Ordnance department ordered two M5A1s to be modified to test an open fighting compartment version of the vehicle.
The eventual production vehicle would be called he T8 and was a turretless version, fitted with a 12.7 mm Browning heavy MG on a ring mount, protected by a bathtub like shield.
The T8 had its machine gun fitted on the right-rear of the fighting compartment, whereas the T8E1 saw its cal.50 nearer the turret ring.
Both were tested at Fort Knox, the T8E1 being judged superior and retained for production. But a few T8 recon vehicles would be produced in limited numbers and would see action in Europe.

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■ the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France

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