An M8 Scott analog for the Marcherverse US.  Makes for an easy conversion, fitting a downscaled Blackbear Howitzer to the turret mount. Image is a render of the converted model, colorized in Photoshop.

The M30A8 Jackrabbit Howitzer Motor Carriage takes the fast, reliable infantry support tank of the M30A3 and turns it into a direct fire light assault gun. The outbreak of the Great War saw U.S. forces recognizing a persistent gap between towed artillery and armored spearheads. The M30A3 Jackrabbit could keep pace with mechanized formations, but its standard armament lacked the destructive force needed to neutralize entrenched infantry, fortified positions, and urban strongpoints quickly.

Early field modifications saw units mounting demolition guns or improvised howitzers onto worn A3 hulls. These expedients proved effective enough to formalize development. The Ordnance Bureau authorized a dedicated variant, resulting in the M30A8.

The M30A8 is built on an unchanged M30A3 hull, preserving automotive components, suspension, and drivetrain. This decision ensured logistical compatibility across units already fielding the Jackrabbit series. Armor protection remains light. The vehicle is not intended to withstand sustained anti-tank fire. Instead, it relies on mobility, positioning, and coordination with supporting infantry. The turret compartment on early-run models, while identical from the exterior, sacrifices armor thickness in exchange for increased internal volume and gun elevation. Later models would replace the enclosed turret with an open-topped variant to allow for easier servicing of the howitzer.

The defining feature of the M30A8 is its 75mm short-barreled howitzer. Primary ammunition types include:

\- High-Explosive (HE), for infantry and fortifications

\- Smoke, for screening and signaling

\- Canister, for close-range anti-personnel defense

The M30A8 has proven highly effective within its intended role. Units report that its ability to deliver rapid high-explosive fire at the point of contact significantly reduces the time required to clear defensive positions