Middlesex Township near Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
They Called Them Hellcats
The M18 Tank Destroyer
Photographed by Larry Gertner, April 7, 2014
1. They Called Them “Hellcats” Marker
Officially known as the M18 76mm Gun Motor Carriage, the M18 was hardly comparable to the horse and buggy. It was actually the jaguar of heavy armor during World War II. Nicknamed the Hellcat by the men who served in them, the M18 could reach speed of 50 mph on the open plain. It also carried quite a punch with a 76mm gun capable of firing a variety of ammunition and the close range ability to knock out most tanks. The M18 Tank Destroyer gained the reputation among the Anti-Tank battalions as an effective Tank Killer, infantry support weapon, and mid-range mobile artillery. The role of infantry support was unintended and often created problems of mobility. The Hellcat lost its advantage of speed when it had to support a slogging Infantry.
The Hellcat only had three deficiencies. The open turret was susceptible to ground and aircraft fire. In order to achieve its incredible speed, it sacrificed armor plating with as little as one inch as compared to the Sherman Tanks four inches. Finally, the M18 used a smaller Continental nine cylinder gasoline engine as compared to larger and more powerful diesels that were coming
this page online
M18 Tank Destroyer Gun: 76mm
Length: 22 feet
Width: 9 feet
Height: 8.5 feet
Ammunition: A.P., H.E.
The torsion bar suspension, like a luxury car, gave the tank destroyer the smooth ride necessary to reach high speeds.
[Captions:]
Crew of an M18 from the Fifth Army, Visomo, Italy, celebrate the arrival of their Christmas Dinner, 1944.
A tank destroyer of the 824th Tank Destroyer Bn rolls through a captured town. (SOC)
Erected by U.S. Army War College; United States Army Heritage and Education Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 12.377′ N, 77° 9.508′ W. Marker was near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It was in Middlesex Township. It could be reached from Army Heritage Drive. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013,
Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
2. M18 Tank Destroyer
Regionally, this marker was in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Army's War Horse (here, next to this marker); Meet Private Donald D. Kyler (a few steps from this marker); No Man's Land (within shouting distance of this marker); Machine Gun Post (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Splinter Proof (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mortar Pit (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Trenches (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Sniper's Nest (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
3. M18 Tank Destroyer
Other markers no longer nearby. They Called Them "Hellcats" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Trenches (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Post of Command (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Splinter Proof (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Sniper's Nest (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. The marker was unaccountably in the vicinity of the World War I Trench System Exhibit. It is now (July 2026) adjacent to the M10 Hellcat at the museum entrance drive.
Also see . . . M18 Hellcat. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 3, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
