The M8 Greyhound was a 6x6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during the Second World War. It was used by the U.S. and British troops in Europe and the Far East until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2002 still remains in service in some third world countries.
Description
The M8 Greyhound is one of the more overlooked units in the Allied Arsenal. Its not very durable physically but makes up for it in abilities and speed. It can perform any number of tasks from chasing down retreating enemies to setting up sneaky traps for an opponent who has grown to bold with its extra powerful landmines. In this guide I will show you how to capitalize on the M8s strengths and hopefully provoke you into working this unit into your overall strategy.
Upgrades
.50 Cal Machine Gunner
For 75 munitions the top gun of the M8 will be manned, allowing it to fight more effectively against infantry. In it's current state most players ignore this upgrade as the gunner tends to get killed far to easily.
Armored Skirts
For 75 munitions the M8 can be upgraded with extra armored plating, making it more resistant to damage and increasing its survivability. This upgrade will make it impervious to damage from MGs, and other small arms fire aswell as reducing the damage it takes from vehicles such as Pumas and Stugs, it's tier 3 Axis counterparts.
Vital Stats
Hit points: 150 Build time (seconds): 45 PopCap Modifier: 4
Acceleration: 4.5 Deceleration: 4.5 Rotation Speed: 25 Max Speed: 6.4
To get an M8 Armored Car you must have built a Supply Yard and Motor Pool. Select your Motor Pool and select the M8 Armored Car in the menu. The build time can be decreased by using the Armored Companies 'Fast Deployment' ability, making it possible to spam them. You want to get armored cars at the mid game mark, assuming you have munitions control on the map you can do alot of damage with this unit, even vs. a tier 3 Stug/Puma spam.
Here are some strategies to use with your M8 Armored Car:
MG Killer
Though not its BIGGEST strength the M8 is very capable of traversing the map and flushing out the Axis MGs that may be scattered across the map. Since its gun fires tank shells it work well on MGs in buildings, MGs in the open, just about anywhere. Just make sure to run if they bring up an AT unit, it's not worth losing your M8 for a HMG.
Raiding
Since the M8 is classified as a light vehicle it is able to traverse the map and capture points if the Armored Companies 'Raid' ability is in effect. Since it is armored it can capture points under HMG fire that your opponent may be trying to keep from you with the infantry killing power of Axis HMGs. Again, if an AT unit comes rolling by get outta there, since its not worth it. Try leaving a mine as a nasty surprise if you have time.
Covering Fire
If you DO decide to upgrade your M8 with the machine gun upgrade it can be used to cover your other units such as AT Guns against an infantry rush. Although I wouldn't let it do the job on its own it can be used in conjunction with Rifleman or other infantry to tip the scales in your favor.
Mining
This is where the M8 shine like a golden star. The one ability that everybody knows the M8 for is its ability to drop mines that deal a great deal of damage. For 50 munitions you can lay a very nasty trap for your enemy that can destroy a Puma if it hits right. If not, it will leave the vehicle badly damaged and moving very slowly. This is a great ability and is the main reason you really want control of the munitions on the map to make full use of this vehicle. Use it to drive merrily around the map and lay these things on chokepoints where the Axis tends to drive its vehicles through. Put them in front of your AT Guns to stop an infantry rush against them. The possibilties for this ability are nearly endless!
Hope this helps new and intermediate players out, as this one was a request! It truly is a great unit that even I was guilty of overlooking.
Kleatus
This post has been edited by Kleatus: Dec 27 2006, 15:52 PM
I love the m-8 for a suprise raid to lay some mines in front of their hq or sturm armory. Nothing better than a brand new stug being crippled by a mine and then retreating infantry are killed. A good demoralizer.
I would not recommend placing this in the path of retreating troops, since the mines are not guaranteed kills and are much more effective if the group is not retreating. One nice use for it is to mine the doors of buildings, important resource or strat points, abandoned AT guns, and of course as traps to lure enemies into. I think putting it in front of the sturm when a stug is coming out is a waste of munitions, it doesn't always damage the engine and it's pretty quick to repair it to full health. It's better to place it in such a way that it either kills, or have your units handy to finish them off.
I do it if my enemy is spamming Pumas, as it can kill Pumas in one shot. I agree its a waste SOMETIMES for a Stug.
But if you really need to keep that Stug off the field for a bit longer to either bring up AT Guns or get your own armor ready for battle then it can do the job quite effectively.
Another thing to remember is psychological warfare, in multiplayer you can trick your foe that you have laid a mine in a choke point (when you havent) it will then cause your enemy to avoid that spot and come from another place, mine that place! It can be alot of fun to fool your friends
Is currently experiencing the 3 doctrines of allies and finding a suitable one.
Most likely I will get the motorpool as a air player. can use stickies and at-guns in drops to combat tanks...so the m8 might be great to run around and lay nasty surprises since I always as air seems to have a big surplus munitions...
By the way , does anyone have the stats for damage of the mine vs normal mines from both axis and allies...
This post has been edited by John Schmidt: Dec 29 2006, 17:18 PM
I would say.... almost twice as much if you compare its effectiveness to a normal mine. M8 mines have potential to kill entire grenadier squads which, quite frankly, a normal mine will only do 1/1000 times.
A Guide by Kleatus
The Unit
Background
The M8 Greyhound was a 6x6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during the Second World War. It was used by the U.S. and British troops in Europe and the Far East until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2002 still remains in service in some third world countries.
Description
The M8 Greyhound is one of the more overlooked units in the Allied Arsenal. Its not very durable physically but makes up for it in abilities and speed. It can perform any number of tasks from chasing down retreating enemies to setting up sneaky traps for an opponent who has grown to bold with its extra powerful landmines. In this guide I will show you how to capitalize on the M8s strengths and hopefully provoke you into working this unit into your overall strategy.
Upgrades
.50 Cal Machine Gunner
For 75 munitions the top gun of the M8 will be manned, allowing it to fight more effectively against infantry. In it's current state most players ignore this upgrade as the gunner tends to get killed far to easily.
Armored Skirts
For 75 munitions the M8 can be upgraded with extra armored plating, making it more resistant to damage and increasing its survivability. This upgrade will make it impervious to damage from MGs, and other small arms fire aswell as reducing the damage it takes from vehicles such as Pumas and Stugs, it's tier 3 Axis counterparts.
Vital Stats
Hit points: 150
Build time (seconds): 45
PopCap Modifier: 4
Acceleration: 4.5
Deceleration: 4.5
Rotation Speed: 25
Max Speed: 6.4
Turret Rotation Speed: 100
Turret Vertical Speed: 35
Capture rate: 1
Resource Cost
Manpower: 280
Munitions:
Fuel: 30
Abilities
Drop mine (50 munitions)
Veterancy Upgrades
Veterancy 1: Max Speed increased by 25%
Veterancy 2: Weapon penetration increased by 50%
Veterancy 3: Weapon damage increased by 25%
Weapon Ratings
M6 37mm Cannon: 3 vs. infantry, 3 vs. light armour, 1 vs. heavy armour, 1 vs. structures
M8 .50cal machine gun: 4 vs. infantry
Vehicle Weapons
Weapon: M6 37mm Cannon
Firing Range
Max: 40
Distant: 40
Long: 40
Medium: 20
Short: 10
Accuracy
Distant: 0.75
Long: 0.75
Medium: 1.0
Short: 1.0
Accuracy Whilst Moving: 0.5%
Damage;
Max: 50
Min: 50
Weapon Penetration
Distant: 0.66
Long: 0.66
Medium: 0.83
Short: 1.0
Reload (Seconds)
Max: 9
Min: 9
Weapon: Turret Mounted M2 .50 cal Machine Gun
Firing Range
Max: 35
Distant: 35
Long: 35
Medium: 22.5
Short: 11
Accuracy
Distant: 0.1
Long: 0.1
Medium: 0.25
Short: 0.25
Accuracy Whilst Moving: 0.5%
Damage
Max: 7
Min: 7
Weapon Penetration
Distant: 1.0
Long: 1.0
Medium: 1.0
Short: 1.0
Reload (Seconds)
Max: 6
Min: 5
When and How?
To get an M8 Armored Car you must have built a Supply Yard and Motor Pool. Select your Motor Pool and select the M8 Armored Car in the menu. The build time can be decreased by using the Armored Companies 'Fast Deployment' ability, making it possible to spam them. You want to get armored cars at the mid game mark, assuming you have munitions control on the map you can do alot of damage with this unit, even vs. a tier 3 Stug/Puma spam.
Here are some strategies to use with your M8 Armored Car:
MG Killer
Though not its BIGGEST strength the M8 is very capable of traversing the map and flushing out the Axis MGs that may be scattered across the map. Since its gun fires tank shells it work well on MGs in buildings, MGs in the open, just about anywhere. Just make sure to run if they bring up an AT unit, it's not worth losing your M8 for a HMG.
Raiding
Since the M8 is classified as a light vehicle it is able to traverse the map and capture points if the Armored Companies 'Raid' ability is in effect. Since it is armored it can capture points under HMG fire that your opponent may be trying to keep from you with the infantry killing power of Axis HMGs. Again, if an AT unit comes rolling by get outta there, since its not worth it. Try leaving a mine as a nasty surprise if you have time.
Covering Fire
If you DO decide to upgrade your M8 with the machine gun upgrade it can be used to cover your other units such as AT Guns against an infantry rush. Although I wouldn't let it do the job on its own it can be used in conjunction with Rifleman or other infantry to tip the scales in your favor.
Mining
This is where the M8 shine like a golden star. The one ability that everybody knows the M8 for is its ability to drop mines that deal a great deal of damage. For 50 munitions you can lay a very nasty trap for your enemy that can destroy a Puma if it hits right. If not, it will leave the vehicle badly damaged and moving very slowly. This is a great ability and is the main reason you really want control of the munitions on the map to make full use of this vehicle. Use it to drive merrily around the map and lay these things on chokepoints where the Axis tends to drive its vehicles through. Put them in front of your AT Guns to stop an infantry rush against them. The possibilties for this ability are nearly endless!
Hope this helps new and intermediate players out, as this one was a request! It truly is a great unit that even I was guilty of overlooking.
Kleatus
This post has been edited by Kleatus: Dec 27 2006, 15:52 PM
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