M39 Armored Utility Vehicle
M39 Armored Utility Vehicle | |
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Torsion bar | |
Fuel capacity | 165 US gallons (625 litres) |
Operational range | 100 miles (160 km) on road |
Maximum speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) on road |
The M39 Armored Utility Vehicle (T41) is an American armored vehicle designed during the
History
Development and World War II
In March 1944, the
The T41 was equipped with an SCR-610 radio and stowage space for 42 rounds of 3-inch ammunition. It had a crew of two, and could seat up to eight passengers. The T41E1 had an SCR-506 or SCR-608 radio in addition to the SCR-610, with an auxiliary generator. It could carry up to seven passengers. A bazooka and three antitank mines were provided for self-defense in the reconnaissance role. On 26 June 1944, the Ordnance Committee approved the production of 650 T41 prime movers from early M18 Hellcat tank destroyers that had been returned under Ordnance directive to the Buick factory that March to fix problems with their transmission gear ratios, as well as incorporate the latest modifications. In November 1944, the number of T41s to be produced was reduced to 640 and the design was standardized as the Armored Utility Vehicle M39. Ten additional T41s were converted to T41E1 configuration for testing at the request of the European Theater, but the T41E1 was never standardized. Both variants saw limited service beginning in April 1945, immediately before the and of World War II in Europe, in particular because the 3-inch gun had begun to be phased out of service in early 1945 in favor of self-propelled tank destroyers. In March 1945, reports from Europe indicated it would be desirable to develop an armored roof for the open-topped M39.[1]
Month | Number | Serial Number | Registration Number |
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October 1944 | 10 | 3-12 | 9132509-9132518 |
November 1944 | 60 | 13-72 | 9132519-9132578 |
December 1944 | 163 | 73-235 | 9132579-9132741 |
January 1945 | 150 | 236-385 | 9132742-9132891 |
February 1945 | 150 | 386-535 | 9132892-9133041 |
March 1945 | 107 | 536-642 | 9133042-9133148 |
Korean War
The M39 was more widely used during the Korean War, where they were employed in variety of roles, including as troop transports, armored ambulances, and ammunition carriers for 155mm M41 Gorilla self-propelled howitzers. M39s played a vital role in supplying and ferrying troops to isolated outposts during the later defensive phase of the Korean War, though their thin armor and open tops meant the crews were vulnerable to enemy fire, and the fully enclosed M75 armored personnel carrier eventually replaced it in this role.[3]
Ambush in the Battle of Imjin River
M39s were employed as ammunition carriers in the African American
The M39 was declared obsolete in U.S. service in 1957.[5]
Cold War
Use in the Bundeswehr
In 1956, the United States offered 100 M39s to the West German Bundeswehr. Only 32 were put into service, and they were assigned to the Panzergrenadier-Lehrbataillon in Munster. After four years of service, they were replaced in 1960 by the Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 due to a shortage of spare parts.[6]
Gallery
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Medical corpsmen assist in helping wounded infantrymen down from an M39 Armored Utility Vehicle
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M39 Armored Utility Vehicle
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A U.S. Army M39 assists U.S. Marines picking up casualties on 25 July 1953 during an attack against Hill 111, also known as "Boulder City", during the Battle of the Samichon River during the Korean War
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An M5 3-inch antitank gun
See also
- List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
- List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog designation
- List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation
- 3 inch Gun M5
References
- ISBN 9780891414629.
- ISBN 978-0764359576.
- ^ "M39 Armored Utility Vehicle". Military Encyclopedia of the Web. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-8131-3452-9. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ISBN 9780891414629.
- ^ "SPz M39 (Bw)". www.panzerbaer.de. Retrieved 21 February 2017.