M38 Wolfhound

Infobox Weapon
name=M38 Wolfhound


caption=
origin=USA
type=Armoured car
is_vehicle=yes
length=5.11 m
width=2.44 m
height=1.98 m
weight=6.9 t
suspension=wheels, 6 x 6
speed=97 km/h
vehicle_range=483 km
primary_armament=37 mm M6
secondary_armament=.30 Browning M1919A4 MG
.50 Browning M2 MG
armour=6 to 12 mm
engine=Cadillac 42, V-8, gasoline
engine_power=148/110 hp (110/82 kW)
pw_ratio=19.3/14.3 hp/tonne
crew=4

The M38 Wolfhound was a 6x6 US armoured car produced in 1944 by the Chevrolet division of the General Motors. It was designed as a replacement for the M8 Greyhound series, but the end of the war in 1945 led to the cancellation of the project after the completion of a handful of prototype vehicles.

The Wolfhound had a crew of 4 and was armed with a 37 mm gun in a rotating open-topped turret, with ammunition load of 93 rounds. Secondary armament consisted of two machine guns; one mounted coaxially with the main weapon, the other on an AA pintle mounting. It was powered by a Cadillac, 8-cylinder, water-cooled engine. The vehicle displayed a low profile and graceful lines. Each side featured three large tires on symmetrically placed axles, with distinctive curved mudguards. The frontal glacis plate was sharply sloped to improve protection. A radio antenna was mounted on the front right of the glacis. One M38 was modified to take the turret of an M24 Chaffee tank and went through a series of tests to check a possibility of upgunning the vehicle.

The layout of the M38 was to influence later vehicles such as the Alvis Saladin, a post war British armoured car.

External links

* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/armored_cars/m38_armoredcars.html WWII vehicles]