Construction

The M8 is a full-track tractor based on the chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog

M41 Walker Bulldog

The M41 Walker Bulldog was a U.S. light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. It was named for General Walton Walker who died in a jeep accident in Korea...

 light tank. It was used to tow cargo trailers and artillery such as the Skysweeper

Skysweeper

Skysweeper was an anti-aircraft gun deployed in the early 1950s by both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force...

 75 mm anti-aircraft gun and the M59 Long Tom

155 mm Long Tom

The 155 mm Gun M1 and M2 , widely known as Long Tom, were 155 millimeter calibre field guns used by the United States armed forces during World War II and Korean War. The Long Tom replaced the Canon de 155 mm GPF in United States service.-Development:Before entering World War I, the United...

 gun. The basic M8 variant could be quickly adapted for carrying projectiles and charges. Unusually for a tractor, the M8's engine was located at the front of the cab. Some M8s were equipped with a hydraulic M5 dozer blade.

History

The M8 was developed following the failure of the T33 cargo-carrier, which was based on the M24 Chaffee

M24 Chaffee

The Light Tank M24 was an American light tank used during World War II and in postwar conflicts including the Korean War and with the French in the War in Algeria and First Indochina War. In British service it was given the service name Chaffee, after the United States Army General Adna R...

light tank chassis. The new, standardized M8 was produced between 1950 and 1955.