By the start of the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army had two main types of armored vehicles: the M113 armored personnel carrier and the M114, a smaller reconnaissance vehicle. While the M113 performed well in combat, the M114 was deemed unreliable and quickly withdrawn from combat units. In search of a replacement and working on new armored vehicle designs, the US Army initiated several armored vehicle development programs. One of these programs was the XM800 Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle, which was launched in the 1970s.

This program involved constructing a small reconnaissance vehicle with cannon armament. Two variants were selected as a result of the competition: a wheeled vehicle from Lockheed Missiles, designated XM800W, and a tracked vehicle from FMC, designated XM800T. By 1974, four prototypes of each version had been built, and comparative tests had begun. The XM800T proved slightly superior, partly due to its excellent off-road mobility. However, the program was shut down in 1975 due to military budget cuts and the prioritization of developing a full-fledged infantry fighting vehicle, which later became the M2 Bradley.

The XM800T was introduced in Update 2.37 "Seek & Destroy". This small, nimble vehicle is armed with a powerful 20mm cannon that can easily destroy light armored vehicles. However, the XM800T itself has weak armor and poor survivability.