M8 Greyhound / M20 Armored Utility Car - 1/72

M8 Greyhound / M20 Armored Utility Car

1/72 scale plastic model assembly kit of the M8 Greyhound / M20 Armored Utility Car.

About the model:
- 1/72 scale plastic model assembly kit
- Highly detailed model
- Length: 6,5 cm
- The kit can be build as M8 Greyhound or M20 Armored Utility Car
- Markings for six versions:
  Version A: M8 Greyhound, U.S. Army, 4th Armored Division, 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Headquarters Company, Le Repas, Frankreich, 31. Juli 1944.
  Version B: M8 Greyhound, U.S. Army, 14th Cavalry Group, 18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, C Company, Poteau, Ardennen, Dezember 1944.
  Version C: M8 Greyhound, Força Expedicionária Brasileira, 1st Infantry Division, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Montese, Italien, April 1945.
  Version D: M8 Greyhound, Forces françaises libres, 2e DB, Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins, 1er Escadron, 3e Peloton, Deutschland, November 1944.
  Version E: M20 A.U.C., U.S. Army, 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Deutschland, 1945.
  Version F: M20 A.U.C., Forces françaises libres, Première Armée, 2e Régiment de Dragons, Elsass, 1944.

About the original:
The M8 Greyhound was developed during the Second World War as a fast and mobile armoured reconnaissance vehicle for the U.S. Army. At the beginning of the conflict, American reconnaissance units mainly relied on lightweight and lightly armed vehicles known as “scout cars”. The better-protected and more heavily armed M8 therefore represented an important step forward. Its high road speed and good mobility made it suitable for reconnaissance, security and ground-support duties.

Its main armament consisted of a 37mm gun mounted in a rotating turret. This allowed the M8 not only to scout enemy positions, but also to support infantry units and engage lightly armoured vehicles. Its first major operations took place during the Italian Campaign, including the fighting around Monte Cassino and Anzio. In June 1944, the M8 also participated in the Allied landings and subsequent operations in Normandy. Although the narrow roads, dense hedgerows and soft terrain sometimes restricted its mobility, the vehicle was highly valued for its speed and versatility.

The M20 Armored Utility Car was developed on the same chassis. Its turret was removed and replaced by a more spacious open fighting compartment. The M20 was mainly employed as a command, liaison, reconnaissance and transport vehicle. Both the M8 and M20 served not only with the U.S. Army, but were also supplied to numerous Allied forces and remained in service with several countries long after the end of the Second World War.