M422 Mighty Mite
| M422 'Mighty Mite' | |
|---|---|
M422 'Mighty Mite' |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | Max. 6th |
| length | 3.37 m |
| width | 1.58 m |
| height | 1.30 m (hood folded down) |
| Dimensions | 0.77 t |
| agility | |
| drive |
Four clock - Otto motor , 4-cylinder V-engine 53 hp (39 kW ) |
| suspension | Leaf springs |
| Top speed | Max. 108 km / h on the road |
| Power / weight | 65 hp / t |
The M422 'Mighty Mite' was a particularly lightweight, military off-road vehicle that was specially designed for air pollution . It was manufactured specifically for the United States Marine Corps by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1959 to 1962 .
description
Although it was clear from the start that the vehicle should only be used by the United States Marine Corps , and therefore only comparatively small quantities were required, the M422 has technically very sophisticated design features and is equipped with many innovations.
The M422 has a doorless aluminum body that is open to the top , and is the first US off-road vehicle with independent wheel suspension (trailing arm with leaf suspension) on both axles. The windshield can be folded forward. Further design features include the inside of the differentials mounted drum brakes, and developed by American Motors air-cooled 1.8 liter V4 - gasoline engine with an aluminum block and a power of 39 kW (53 hp ) and a maximum torque of 122 Nm. This enabled the M422 to reach a top speed of 108 km / h. Similar to the M151 MUTT , the synchronized transfer case is only used to engage or disengage the front-wheel drive, which is also possible while driving. Fully equipped and without a driver, the M422 weighs 770 kg and is still the lightest US off-road vehicle to this day. Nevertheless, its weight is 160 kg higher than that of the Wehrmacht 's VW Type 82 'Kübelwagen' .
The M422 is used as a two-seater by default. Thanks to two folding seats integrated in the tailgate and two additional folding seats on the rear fenders, up to six people can be transported. The vehicle is designed for a transport load of 390 kg off-road, 30 kg more than all other standard 0.25-ton vehicles in the USA (even the M151 MUTT). This off-road vehicle could transport additional loads with a special trailer.
As with all other USMC vehicles , the M422 is factory- fitted with deep- water equipment.
history
The development history of the Mighty Mite dates back to 1946 when the planning of a new off-road vehicle for the US military in the post-war period began. In the 1950s, a working group that also included four Bantam engineers built on these plans and developed the vehicle further. The design, which was called MARCO MM-100, was equipped with an air-cooled Porsche engine and independent suspension .
The rival company Willys-Overland also submitted a prototype with the “Bobcat” or “Aero Jeep”, which featured a large number of identical parts with the M38 and M38A1 Jeeps, thus saving costs and logistic effort. However, this prototype was rejected in favor of the technically more sophisticated M422.
In 1958, seven prototypes survived extremely grueling tests and the first 250 vehicles were built by American Motors (AMC). After beginning mass production in 1960, AMC made 3,922 Mighty Mites for the USMC by 1962 . Over time, the vehicle was built in the versions M422, M422A1, and M422A2.
At over US $ 5,000 each , the M422 was a relatively expensive vehicle, and by the time production was fully up, the military helicopters had become so powerful that the vehicle was quickly obsolete. For example, the Marine Corps Sikorsky H-19 helicopter with a payload of 1,200 kg was replaced by the UH-1 "Huey" helicopter known from the Vietnam War , which could carry 1.5 times the weight. This also explains the small number of units and the short production time of the M422 Mighty Mite.
Individual evidence
- ↑ White, Lloyd. "The Development of the M422" Army Motors , issue 91, Spring 2000 , accessed August 19, 2010.
- ↑ Description on Revivaler.com. Retrieved November 30, 2019 .
- ↑ Description on the Universal Jeep website. Retrieved November 30, 2019 .
- ↑ Versions and quantities M442. Retrieved November 30, 2019 .
- ↑ Description on the Universal Jeep website. Retrieved November 30, 2019 .