M114 armored fighting vehicle
| M114 | |
|---|---|
torsion-bar | |
Operational range | 443 km |
| Maximum speed | 58 km/h (36 m/h) |
The M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier is a
Like the larger M113, it was amphibious and could be deployed by parachute. However, unlike the M113 which became one of the most successful armoured vehicles, it quickly proved unsuited to use in the Vietnam War, and was replaced in the reconnaissance role by the M551 Sheridan light tank.
By 1979, it had been branded a failure and retired from the US Army, but some were released as surplus and continue to be used by police departments.
Description
The M114 was a lightweight, low-silhouette vehicle, designed to complement the
In October 1961 the Army awarded
The original M114 required the commander's cupola hatch be opened to fire the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War became a testing ground for war equipment. Sometimes improvements were made in the United States and sent to Vietnam for testing, but often the projects originated in Vietnam.
The
During combat operations in Vietnam, the M114 armored reconnaissance vehicle proved to be mechanically unreliable, underpowered, had extreme difficulty conducting cross country operations,[5] and its lack of resistance to land mines was fatal; a mine that would nearly destroy a standard M113 ACAV would literally blast an M114 reconnaissance vehicle in half.[6] By November 1964, the M114s had been removed from Vietnam and replaced by the dependable M113 ACAV. Unfortunately for the US Army, the combat experience of the M114 in Vietnam was ignored by the high command, and the M114 was issued to all reconnaissance units in Europe, Korea, the United States, etc.; anywhere but in Vietnam.[7] In 1973, Gen. Creighton Abrams branded the M114 a failure and ordered it retired from the US Army.[8] However, on going budget constraints restricted and delayed procurement of sufficient replacement M113s,[9][10] so use of the M114 continued for several years after 1973 until it could be replaced in all active and reserve units. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, TX was reportedly the last U.S. Army unit to replace their M114s with M113s in late 1979 or early 1980.[11]
Variants
- T114 Test versions developed in the period 1957-60 with a M40 recoilless rifle, culminating in the prototype of what became the T114 (BAT)
- M114 Production version
- M114A1 – new commander's weapon station allowing firing of the .50-cal machine gun from inside (manually powered cupola), reinforced trim vane
- M114A2 – (1969, initially called M114A1E1) replaced main armament with a Hispano-Suiza HS.820 20 mm gun (designated M139 in U.S. service). Used a hydraulically powered cupola.
- T114 (BAT) - Tank Destroyer variant equipped with an autoloadingversion of the M40 106mm BAT (Battalion Anti-Tank) recoilless rifle. Only procured in small numbers. Apparently did not enter full series production due to the overall failure of the M114 program.
See also
- G-numbers(G300)
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
References
- ^ "Army Orders Vehicles". The New York Times. 10 October 1961. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Starry
- ^ Dunstan
- ^ Dunstan
- ^ Starry
- ^ Dunstan p. 43
- ^ Starry
- ^ Starry p. 38
- ^ Department of Defense Appropriations for 1977, p. 253, via Google Books
- ^ Department of Defense Appropriations for 1978, p. 253, via Google Books
- ^ The M114, The Armored Jeep / Eaglehorse.org (defunct webpage; Oct 3, 2018 version retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
- Dunstan, Simon. "Vietnam Tracks-Armor In Battle." 1982 edition; Osprey Publishing; ISBN 0-89141-171-2.
- Starry, Donn A., General. "Mounted Combat In Vietnam." Vietnam Studies; First printed 1978-CMH 90-17.
External links
- Custom M114 test video
- Repaired SWAT M114 checkout
- Restored M114 doing police work.
- M114 command and reconnaissance carrier – Walk around photos
- ACRC M114 at the AFV Database
- Running M114 at the Fort Snelling Military Museum
- The M114, The Armored Jeep / Eaglehorse.org