Hobby Master 1/72 HG6007 M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer France 1944 AMAZ'N GRACE
The 76 mm M18 tank destroyer was produced by General Motors Buick Division who named the M18 the “Hellcat”. The M18 was the fastest tracked AFV of WWII reaching speeds up to 60 mph. The speed was possible because of the lack of heavy armor. The theory was speed would be the vehicles protection. Quite often German Panthers and Tigers would fall victim to the M18 because the German tanks turret couldn’t turn fast enough to return fire. The M18 was also present in the war in the Pacific.
This M18 Hellcat “Amaz’n Grace” was in Europe during the late stages of WWII but it isn’t clear if the vehicle ever saw combat. Around 1945 the M18 went to the Yugoslav Military where it served until 1984 when it was removed from service, cleaned, restored and painted. In 1988 the TD became a gift from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury, Connecticut, USA. “Amaz’n Grace” can be seen at the museum amongst a WWII setting with mannequin soldiers, crew and German signage.