The 76 mm M18 tank destroyer was produced by General Motors Buick Division who named the M18 the "Hellcat". The M18 was the fastest tracked AFV of WWII reaching speeds up to 60 mph. The speed was possible because of the lack of heavy armor. The theory was speed would be the vehicles protection. Quite often German Panthers and Tigers would fall victim to the M18 because the German tanks turret couldn’t turn fast enough to return fire. The M18 was also present in the war in the Pacific.
The 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion was formed in Kentucky in 1941. The unit landed on Utah Beach on July 18, 1944 and helped with the break out from the Normandy region. By mid December they were close to the Belgium border when the news arrived of a German attack along a 50 mile long front. The 705th TD rushed towards Bastogne to help the 101st Airborne Division hold the town until more help arrived. The 705th remained in Bastogne until mid January 1945 before moving to Brule, Belgium.