| Full Name | 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 |
| Class | Heavy Vehicle |
| Movement | 8 |
| Armor Value | 3 |
| Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) | 5/6 |
| Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) | 8/10 |
| Traits | |
| Period | Early 1944-1945 |
| Theaters of Service |
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With a maximum speed of 60 mph, this tank destroyer was the fastest American armored vehicle, a feat achieved by keeping armor to a minimum, using an innovative transmission, and using the same 76 mm (L/52) main gun as on the much larger Sherman tank (though mounted in an open-topped turret, like the M10 Wolverine). The gun fired a variety of armor-piercing rounds, and also a high-explosive round for soft targets. The Hellcat also carried one .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun. The Hellcat was the most effective U.S. tank destroyer of World War II, with a higher kill-to-loss ratio (2.4:1) than any other tank or tank destroyer fielded by U.S. forces. The type also served effectively in the infantry direct fire support role. It first saw service during Allied operations in Anzio, Italy, in early 1944. American manufacturers produced 2,507 units, and most saw service with U.S. forces in Western and Southern Europe. M18s also served in tank destroyer battalions supporting U.S. Army infantry divisions in the latter stages of Pacific Theater operations, notably in the Philippines and Okinawa.