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T21 Armored Car
Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: | USA |
| First Produced/Service Dates: | 1942 |
| Manufactured by: | Studebaker Corporation |
| Crew: | 4 |
| Armament: | Main: (1) 37mm Cannon; Co-Axial: (1) .30 caliber Machine Gun; Anti-Aircraft: .50 cal Heavy MG |
| Engine: | 6-Cylinder Gasoline (Hercules JXD) |
| Miscellaneous Info: |
Development of the
M8 Greyhound Armored Car and
M20 Armored Utility
Car started in 1941 with the US Army’s Tank Destroyer Command
requesting a new wheeled Gun Motor Carriage (GMC) be developed. That
request was quickly expanded by the US Army into the creation of a
vehicle which could also perform other roles. Those roles included
cargo carrier, mortar carrier, multiple gun motor carriage and
reconnaissance vehicle. Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation were
asked to produce two (2) pilot models for evaluation; one being 4x4
drive and the other 6x6. Having heard of the vehicle program, Studebaker
Corporation requested they also be included, offering to completely fund
their prototype. The US Army accepted their offer and the Studebaker 6x6
pilot vehicle was designated T43 GMC (later changed to T21 Armored Car).
No 4x4 vehicle was offered or produced. The Ford T22 Armored Car was evaluated first as it was submitted before the Chrysler (T23/T23E1) and Studebaker armored cars. The evaluation was so successful, that the US Army concluded that with some minor modifications and upgrades (e.g. the T22E2 prototype), the T22 series should be selected for production (ultimately becoming the M8 and M20). As a result, the T22E1, T23 and T23E1 programs were terminated, although the pilot models already started could be completed. Studebaker was still allowed to deliver their pilot vehicle after the T22 selection and have it evaluated. Although it’s performance was satisfactory, there were some problems encountered. However, as the Army already had selected the T22, there was not a reason to continue on with the development of what would be a redundant vehicle. Thusly, the T21 Armored Car program was also terminated. |
| Data Sheet Available: |
T21 Armored Car by David Haugh |
Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
T21 Armored Car Photos (and above) |
US Army via the Dave Haugh Collection |
References Available
Online
| Reference | Source/Provider |
Printed
| Reference | Author |
| American Armored Cars (Grenadier Books) | A.J. Clemens |
| A Photo History of Armoured Cars In Two World Wars | George Forty |
| Armored Car - A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles | R. P. Hunnicutt |
| Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars | Duncan Crow and Robert J. Icks |
| Ford M8 and M20: The US Army’s Standard Armored Car of WWII (David Doyle Books) | David Doyle |
| M8 Greyhound Armored Car: 1941-1991 (Osprey Publications) | Steven J. Zaloga |
|
Searching for
Perfection: An Encyclopedia of U.S. Army T-Series Vehicle Development
(1925-1958) Book Review by Peter Brown via Missing-Lynx |
David R. Haugh |
| U.S. Armoured Cars - AFV Weapons Profile #40 | Robert J. Icks |
| U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles | Fred W. Crismon |
Hobby Modeling
Kits and Accessories
| Model Kit | Manufacturer | Scale | Other Information |
Model Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
