Osprey New Vanguard No 53:

M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car 1941-91

by Steven J Zaloga

reviewed by Neville Lord

The M8 Greyhound was developed to meet the need for a light armored car from the US army's cavalry and newly created tank-destroyer units.

First seeing service in 1943, the six-wheeled M8 was the only armored car to be used in combat by the US Army in WWII. The M8, or Greyhound, as it was often known by the Commonwealth, was widely used for reconnaissance in the fighting in Southern and Western Europe. After the war the M8 saw service in Korea and Indo-China, and was supplied to a diverse range of nations. It also formed the basis for a number of variants including the versatile M20 armoured utility.

"M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car 1941-1991" is an informative and professionally presented history of the M8 and its variants in both WWII and the post war period. The layout, in keeping with Stephen Zaloga's other Osprey titles on US armour is an effective mix of text, photos and eight pages of colour plates.

The text starts by explaining the development of the M8 and M20 in light of the changes to the US Army at the start of WWII and includes a description of the competing designs and some other derivates that did not enter production. The book then details the layout of the M20 and M8, which ties in well with the cross sectional illustration. In the section on the combat history, I particularly appreciated how Stephen Zaloga was able to link the varying combat roles the M8 assumed with the tactical requirements and terrain facing the allies at different phases of the war. The main body of the text concludes with a discussion of the M8's post war use including some interesting upgrades.

The photos provide good clarity of detail and include a number of interior photos of both the M8 and M20 that would be helpful for modellers. The colour plates by Tony Bryan are very well rendered, and like the photos depict vehicles from a range of nations including France, USA and Columbia. Rather than having scale plans, several of the colour plates provide two or three (M20) views. The two-page sectional illustration of a M8 is thoroughly annotated with seventy-one features highlighted.

"M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car" provides a valuable addition to Osprey's growing coverage of WWII US military vehicles. With first-rate artwork and Stephen Zaloga's ability to clearly explain the significance of his research, this book effectively relates the history of the M8 and M20 series.

Highly recommended.

Related 1/35 Models:

Several favourably received models of the M8 family have been launched in recent years.

* Tamiya M8 Light Armored Car - Greyhound (kit 35 228) * Tamiya M20 Armoured Utility Car (kit 35 234) * Italeri M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car (kit 364)