T88 HMC
On 31 August 1944, Ordnance recommended the development of a 105 mm howitzer motor carriage based on the chassis of the M18 Hellcat. Two different howitzers were proposed. The first was the 105 mm M4, which was first developed for use in the M4 Sherman. This vehicle was designated as the T88 howitzer motor carriage. The second howitzer considered was a modified version of the lightweight 105 mm T12, which was originally developed for aircraft use. It was redesignated as the 105 mm Howtizer T51 and when mounted, the vehicle was designated as the T88E1.
Three M18 turrets were modified in total for the project: two for the T88 and one for the T88E1. One of the T88 turrets was shipped to the Marmon-Herrington Company for waterproofing, where it was then installed on an experimental amphibious howitzer motor carriage, the T87. On the T88 turret, the gunner was located to the right of the gun as opposed to the left in the M18 turret. 16 ready rounds were located on the left side of the turret beside the loader, with 24 additional rounds in the hull.
The T88E1 turret was to take advantage of the T55 concentric recoil mechanism. This mechanism was expected to reduce the weight of the vehicle and provide more room inside the turret for the crew to maneuver. However, the T55 mechanism would be the only item installed in the T88E1 turret before both the T88 and T88E1 projects were cancelled at the end of the war.
The T88 HMC is essentially a bigger and badder version of the M8 Scott. While the elevation angles are unknown to me, we can at least expect a range of +20 to -10 degrees, as on the M18 Hellcat. However, depending on how the vehicle is modeled, this range may increase to be more similar to the M8’s. Otherwise, the tank shares the mobility of the modified M18 I proposed earlier.
This tank can be expected to play just like the British FV304 (firing arc notwithstanding). However, it’s placed a tier higher in order to balance the fact it has a turret.
Guns : 105 mm Howtizer M4; 105 mm Howitzer T51
Engines : Continental R-975-C1 (350 hp); Continental R-975-C4 (460 hp)
Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): T88 (25/13/13); T88E1 (25/13/13)
Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons) : T88 HMC (??); T88 HMC Improved (??)
Hull Armor (mm): 13/13/13
Top Speed: 80 km/h
Crew : 5 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander; Radio)