Danish Army
Specific: Ordered along with
the Humber Mk I and Mk IV from Britain. 8 Staghounds
(Mk III) believed to be received in 1946. The vehicles
were demobbed in 1953.
Historical: The Staghound was designed and
produced by Chevrolet Division of General Motors
Corporation´s. General specifications, drawn up by the
British Purchasing Commission Staff based in Washington
and the US Armored Board, had been provided by Ordnance
Department in July 1941. The specifications called for
both medium (T17) and heavy armoured cars (T18).
Medium type prototypes were entered by Ford with the 6 x
6 T17 and Chevrolet with the 4 x 4 T17E1.
The British opted for the 37 mm gun-equipped T17E1, which
they felt would be excellent for long-range
reconnaissance and convoy escort.
Production commenced in mid-summer 1942. In October that
year the Staghound was authorised for Defense Aid
(Lend-Lease) to the British.
When production ended in December 1943 some 2844 vehicles
had been produced.
From the beginning armoured with a 37 mm gun (Mk I), but
later a number of vehicles had the turret replaced with
the turret from the Crusader tank (Mk III), which became
available as the Crusader was superseded by the Cromwell
and the Sherman tanks.
A prototype Mk II version was equipped with a 3 inch
howitzer, and the Mk IV with a 75 mm howitzer.
Length: 5.38 m (212 inches).
Width: 2.69 m (106 inches).
Height: 2.33 m (92 inches).
Weight: 15.000 kg (33.000 lb.).
Armour: 50 mm (0,195 inches) max.
Engines: 2 ea. GMC 6-cylinder, 4.425 cm3 (270 cubic
inches) displacement, carburettor, liquid-cooled.
Horsepower: 97 ea. at 3.000 rpm.
Transmission: 4-speed, type GM Detroit
Transmission Division Hydramatic .
Transfer case: 2-speed with front axle disconnect,
type 3670164.
Electrical system: 24 V.
Brakes: Hydraulic brakes with Bendix Hydrovac
power cylinders.
Tyres: 14.00 - 20.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 0.81 m (32 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Petrol.
Fuel capacity: 623 liter (137 gallons) including
jettison tanks.
Range: 250 km (156 miles) not including jettison
tanks.
Crew: 4.
Armament: 75 mm gun, 7.92 mm BESA
machine gun, 2 51 mm smoke dischargers.
Additional: A similar model was the
T17E2, armed with twin Browning .50-cal. AA MG´s in a
British made Frazer-Nash turret. Max. speed was 90 km/h.
Other users were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba,
Honduras, India, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands,
Nicaragua, New Zealand, India, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Saudi
Arabia, South Africa and Sudan.
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