Comparing: M18 Hellcat vs. AT 8 vs. Jagdpanzer IV

Development started in 1942. In April 1943 the General Motors company produced the first prototypes. One of a few American tank destroyers manufactured on its original chassis, not on a tank chassis. The tank destroyer became the fastest armored vehicle, of this type, of World War II. A total of 2,507 vehicles were produced from July 1943 through October 1944.

The vehicle was conceived as a breakthrough tank. The design project evolved from the AT-7 project, and both projects were submitted at the same time. No prototypes were built because the A39 Tortoise was preferred.

The Pz. IV medium tank served as the basis for many vehicles, including tank destroyers. At the end of 1944, a version of the 75-mm PaK 42 L/70 gun was prepared for this basis. The new variant of the vehicle was designated the JagdPzIV/70. From August 1944 through March 1945, the Nibelungenwerke company produced 278 vehicles of this type.