6 replies to this topic

[hexo67]

http://worldoftanks.ru/ru/news/pc-browser/more/m18_hellcat_armored_witch/

Translated from Russian, here is a summary.

The M18 actually was named 'Witch' at least in the Russian translation, and the vehicle was cramped, but met with a lot of success on all fronts, even with the location of the ammo being... Bad. So the original name of the Hellcat was Witch.

 

The M18 Witch has a pretty BA ring to it, don't you think?

[AirCrewChief]

Nope, pretty sure it's always been the 'Hellcat" to us.  Maybe the Soviets gave it that nickname?

[Freddie_Creamer]

Did the Americans sell Hellcats to Russians? If so then "Witch" my have been the name that the Russians gave it. But I think the original name that the creators and original users gave the M18 would be the proper name. Beside Hellcat sounds a lot better then Witch.

[MattyO77]

Good find!  Interesting read.

[The_Chieftain]

I actually got asked about that directly by PM by a Russian player, and it's interesting how external viewpoints can challenge what you think you know. The question was "What is a Hellcat? Opinion here is split between a witch and a cat. Both seem to have merit"

 

I had never thought about it. So, I decided to go looking it up. And, bizarrely, if you look at a dictionary, such as http://www.merriam-w...tionary/hellcat , you get "witch" or http://www.oxforddic...english/hellcat "a violent, spiteful woman." What you don't get is anything referring to felines, ferocity or flames of punishment.

 

Now, I happen to think that when Buick and Grumman came up with the names "Hellcat", that they had in mind a fierce feline, the cat from hell. But that's my personal opinion formed by years of always thinking that a Hellcat was a fierce kitty. I have absolutely nothing to back that up. On the other hand, according to Webster's, "Hellcat" has meant "witch" for about four hundred years. It's entirely possible that the Russian interpretation of the name is actually more correct than ours.

 

[Life_In_Black]

The_Chieftain, on Mar 02 2015 - 15:22, said:

I actually got asked about that directly by PM by a Russian player, and it's interesting how external viewpoints can challenge what you think you know. The question was "What is a Hellcat? Opinion here is split between a witch and a cat. Both seem to have merit"

 

I had never thought about it. So, I decided to go looking it up. And, bizarrely, if you look at a dictionary, such as http://www.merriam-w...tionary/hellcat , you get "witch" or http://www.oxforddic...english/hellcat "a violent, spiteful woman." What you don't get is anything referring to felines, ferocity or flames of punishment.

 

Now, I happen to think that when Buick and Grumman came up with the names "Hellcat", that they had in mind a fierce feline, the cat from hell. But that's my personal opinion formed by years of always thinking that a Hellcat was a fierce kitty. I have absolutely nothing to back that up. On the other hand, according to Webster's, "Hellcat" has meant "witch" for about four hundred years. It's entirely possible that the Russian interpretation of the name is actually more correct than ours.

 

 

A fierce, demonic kitty would coincide with the WWI era poster as well:

[Kenshin2kx]

The_Chieftain, on Mar 02 2015 - 21:22, said:

I actually got asked about that directly by PM by a Russian player, and it's interesting how external viewpoints can challenge what you think you know. The question was "What is a Hellcat? Opinion here is split between a witch and a cat. Both seem to have merit"

 

I had never thought about it. So, I decided to go looking it up. And, bizarrely, if you look at a dictionary, such as http://www.merriam-w...tionary/hellcat , you get "witch" or http://www.oxforddic...english/hellcat "a violent, spiteful woman." What you don't get is anything referring to felines, ferocity or flames of punishment.

 

Now, I happen to think that when Buick and Grumman came up with the names "Hellcat", that they had in mind a fierce feline, the cat from hell. But that's my personal opinion formed by years of always thinking that a Hellcat was a fierce kitty. I have absolutely nothing to back that up. On the other hand, according to Webster's, "Hellcat" has meant "witch" for about four hundred years. It's entirely possible that the Russian interpretation of the name is actually more correct than ours.

 

 

hmmmm .... I had "kneejerked" to the notion that "Hellcat" (as defined as a spiteful violent woman) ... could be compared to "Witch" in terms of characterists ... almost interchangeable as colorful descriptive synomyms.

 

Now if the tank to term comparison,  IMO  "Hellcat and Witch" would be particularly appropriate for a lightly armored vehicle with reliance on speed and maneuverability (with a potent long range weapon) ... used in stealth or ambush against larger, more powerful foes.  A fairly small,  lightly armored vehicle optimized for camo steath, speed and mobility ... designed to hit a target hard and disappear.

 

Think if Robin Hood was female ... "... that witch ... she is one hellcat that I would avoid if I could ... you'd be hitting the ground with an arrow in your heat, your the last thought ... where?"