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Showing results for tags 'M8 Greyhound'.
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At the risk of spreading myself a little thin, Im going to present another entry. The historical significance of this GB is just too much for me to pass up. So since I already have a plane entered, I decided to do an AFV. Looking through my stash, I wanted to do something different from a Sherman or tank destroyer (which is what most of my armored stash is), and since the GB encompasses the ensuing Battle for Normandy, I decided to take advantage of the extended date range and do an M8 armored car. I did some research and found that while the M8 did not make much of an impact in the month following the invasion, it did play an important role once the allies were able to break through the bocage. Tamiya’s 1/35 kit includes decals for the vehicle pictured below which was part of the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The 82nd came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus Four and was held mostly in reserve for the next month. But when US commanders became frustrated with the slow advance through the hedgerow ridden terrain, fast recon units like the 82nd became a valuable asset when commanders came up with the idea of Operation Cobra. Using concentrated bombing to try and breakthrough German lines, while also hoping the German lines were unbalanced having to deal with British and Canadian offensives, the fast M8s sped through the gap to scout the enemy and relay valuable information while also helping to escort heavier armored vehicles like the Sherman. Along with coordinated infantry movement and air support, Operation Cobra was a success and led to a much more rapid advance through Normandy and beyond for the allied forces.
