M114 (tank)

M114
M114 of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (2006)
General properties
crew	3 (commander, driver, gunner) + one passenger
length	4.46 m
width	2.33 m
height	2.39 m
Dimensions	6.85 tons (combat weight)
Armor and armament
Armor	up to 44.5 mm (aluminum)
Main armament	1 x 12.7 mm - Browning M2 - machine gun
Secondary armament	1 × 7.62mm M60 machine gun
agility
drive	8-cylinder (V8) Chevrolet petrol engine 160 hp (120 kW)
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	58 km / h
Power / weight	21.5 hp / ton
Range	443 km

The M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier was an American reconnaissance tank that was mainly used by the United States Army during the Vietnam War . It was manufactured by Cadillac in the early 1960s.

history

The M114 was intended to support or supplement the M113 transport tank in command and reconnaissance missions. Overall, the vehicle is more compact and significantly lighter than the M113; however, it is not possible to transport soldiers, which turned out to be a disadvantage compared to the M113 in the long term. There was no export to other countries.

technology

The tank is air transportable, amphibious and can easily operate in rough terrain. On paved roads, the vehicle could reach relatively high speeds of 60 km / h for the time.

The commander's hatch, on which the .50 caliber machine gun is mounted, can be rotated 360 degrees. The vehicle was powered by a Chevrolet - V8 -Benzinmotor with an output of 160 hp. The M114 was inferior to the M113 in terms of technology and armament. Furthermore, reconnaissance missions in Vietnam were increasingly taken over by the more armed M551 Sheridan reconnaissance tank . The fact that the M114 had various disadvantages compared to the M113 (carrying people inside, etc.) ultimately led to its being taken out of service.

Versions

• T114 : Prototype with a recoilless 105 mm M40 gun
• M114 : basic version
• M114A1 : The M2 machine gun can be operated from the inside
• M114A2 : armed with a 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.820 cannon (US designation: M139 ); from 1969

Web links

Commons : M114  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Detailed overview of the technical data of the M114 and M114A1 (English)