M8 HMC Free French Army, WWII

The U.S. military had requested a light close-support vehicle so a standard M5 with the turret removed was tested. A new open-top turret was installed, the Driver and Co-driver were moved forward to accommodate a larger turret and with limited space in the vehicle the chassis was modified to tow an armored ammunition trailer. The M8 was the first American fully tracked Self Propelled Howitzer with 1,778 vehicles being produced between September 1942 and January 1944. The M8 was gradually replaced by the M4 Sherman with 105mm Howitzers.

During WWII 170 phased out American M8 HMCs were supplied to the Free French forces that used them with their reconnaissance units on the Western Front of the war in Europe. Late in 1944 the M8 HMC was given the name M8 Scott after American General Winfield Scott. After WWII the French used the M8 HMC during the Indochina War until 1954 and then left behind equipment was used into the early 1960s by South Vietnamese forces.