Hobby Master 1-72 Ground Power
HG3813 M20 Armored Utility Car unknown unit, Ardennes Forest, December 1944
The M20 Armored Utility Car was built by Ford and served mostly as a command and control
vehicle. The M8 turret was removed and had a .50 cal heavy machine mounted on a ring that
was lower than a turret. The open top allowed for more room inside and held long range radios
and a bazooka as well as some small arms. Land mines were carried on the outside and could be
quickly deployed. The M20 lighter and faster than the M8 and was sometimes used as an APC.
Ford manufactured 3,680 M20s.
The M20 Armored Utility Car was also known as an M20 Scout Car. It was a converted M8
without the revolving turret and meant there was an open top but it did provide a certain amount
of protection for the crew from small arms fire or shrapnel. The M20 had a top speed of 90 km/h
and was quite agile which made it well suited for forward reconnaissance work. It is estimated
that along with heavy Sherman and Stuart losses hundreds of M8s and M20s were lost in the
Ardennes.
Specifications Ford M20 6X6 Armored Utility Car
Country of origin – USA
Crew – 2 + 4 passengers
Performance
Engine - Hercules JXD 6 cyl, gasoline / 86 hp
Speed – 56 mph
Range – 250 miles
Fording depth – 2ft 8in
Weight – 12,250 lbs
Dimensions
Length – 16 ft, 5 in
Width – 8 ft, 4 in
Height – 7 ft 6 in
Armament
1 X 0.50 caliber M2 machine gun
1 X Bazooka