Andres, Didier Les automitrailleuses Ford M8 et M20 de l'U.S. Army

Ford's M8 light American wheeled armoured car was developed during World War 2 specifically as a reconnaissance vehicle and was intended mainly for mechanised cavalry units. With 8523 built, it covered the entire demand in this field. Based on its mechanics, only one variant was produced: the M20 armoured utility vehicle without cannon, of which 3791 rolled off the production line.

The project for the new combat vehicle, begun in 1941, was not completed until March 1943, when the first vehicles were accepted by the army. An Ordnance Department officer, Lieutenant J. R. Murray, was assigned to act as a liaison between the various parts of the Army and industry. Throughout the process of creation and realisation, he collected all the information on this particular project with his notes, reports and letters. These approximately 1,500 pages of archival material enabled the author to accurately trace the creation process of this vehicle from the first draft to the end of production in June 1945.