>Does anyone have any information on a "T-17E Staghound",
All the "Hounds" (Greyhound & Boarhound too) were US designs in
British service, during the later part of WW2 in Europe. The Staghound
looked a little like a larger version of the Daimler (12 tons as
against 7) and quite different from the Ferret.
Crew was 4 AFAIK, with a driver's and machine gunner's positions
side-by-side in the hull. Turret armament was a 37mm, which was
generally regarded as being undersized on such an unwieldy vehicle. It
was generally popular in service, being easier to drive than some
similar British vehicles.
In service, each British armoured car regiment received 14 Staghounds
for evaluation in July '43, with service in Italy soon afterwards.
After D DAy, they served throughout Northern Europe.
Other variants were the T17E2 with twin Browning MGs in a Frazer Nash
designed anti aircraft turret, and the T17E3 (prototype only) with a
75mm howitzer in an open topped turret. The Staghound II was a New
Zealander's field conversion in Italy with the 3" close support
howitzer (ex Crusader CS). As a replacement for the Heavy Troop in an
armoured car squadron (previously using M3 half tracks with 75mm
mounts) the Staghound III had the British 75mm squeezed into first the
original turret, then a Crusader III turret (originally carrying the
57mm 6pdr). These were abandoned and "eliminated" in 1944, but some
turned up in Danmark & Canada post-war. As the Crusader turret
carried a Besa MG, the Browning bow MG was deleted from the production
conversions.
One unusual Staghound variant was the prototype "Bantu" fitment (6
built). This was an early mine detector, using 3 large plasticised
wooden drums hung from booms; two ahead, one behind. Inside the drums
was a fairly typical magnetic reluctance detector, linked to warnings
in the vehicle. A similiar device (Lulu) was built on a Sherman,
although neither saw service.
Sources:
"The Universal Tank"
British Armour in WW2
David Fletcher
HMSO Press
-- Smert' Spamionem