M18 "Hellcat" tank destroyer

The new tank destroyer and tanks soon to be deployed are the first armored platforms built from scratch (variants excluded) that this version of CRS 2.0 has created. It has taken many months of hard work from the Production and Development teams to reach this point.

The Valentine Mk X, M18 Hellcat, and Panther Model A platforms meet the following criteria, which will be the standard moving forward, as older models are reworked:

• increased model poly-counts to the new UE5 standard, then trickled down to meet our 1.0 engine specifications.
  
• historically accurate weapon and armor performance
  
• historically accurate exterior model and interior turret, driver, and hull gun positions
  
• review of historical paint schemes with updates as needed
  

CRS introduces an armor profile for each new platform developed in this upcoming patch. We wanted to share different aspects of each vehicle and bring awareness to the challenging environment it was to serve in an armored platform during World War II.


The M18 Hellcat tank destroyer represented a revolutionary approach to armored warfare during WWII, prioritizing speed and firepower over armor protection to execute hit-and-run tactics against German tanks.

[h2]Learn more by reading the full article on our website![/h2]



[h2]Summary[/h2]

• The M18 "Hellcat" was developed in response to U.S. Army's strategic shift in armored warfare tactics during WWII after early combat against German forces revealed inadequacies in existing equipment.
  
• Major General Andrew Bruce of Tank Destroyer Command championed the concept of a highly agile armored vehicle that could neutralize German armor using speed, maneuver, and ambush tactics rather than heavy armor.
  
• Development began in December 1941, progressing from the T49 prototype (initially with a 37mm gun) to the T70, finally becoming the 76mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 in February 1943.
  
• The Hellcat featured unprecedented mobility with a top road speed over 55 mph (88 km/h), powered by the Continental R-975 radial engine.
  
• It was armed with a high-velocity 76mm M1A1 gun capable of penetrating common German tanks like the Panzer IV and Panther at ranges up to 1,500 meters.
  
• The tank destroyer's lightweight design and deliberate reduction in armor thickness (rarely exceeding 25mm) maximized speed and operational flexibility but left it vulnerable to enemy fire.
  
• The open-topped turret design enhanced crew situational awareness and target acquisition but exposed crews to enemy fire and harsh environmental conditions.
  
• Tank destroyer battalions were specifically trained to execute hit-and-run tactics, ambush operations, and flanking maneuvers rather than engaging in frontal combat.
  
• The Hellcat proved effective in the Battle of Arracourt (September 1944) where units outmaneuvered heavier German armor despite armor disadvantages.
  
• Mechanical reliability was generally high, but suspension and drivetrain suffered under aggressive off-road operations.
  
• The M18 Hellcat represented CRS 2.0's first armored platform built from scratch, alongside the Valentine Mk X and Panther Model A.
  
• New vehicle models feature increased poly-counts, historically accurate weapon and armor performance, accurate exterior/interior models, and reviewed historical paint schemes.