M59 APC

M59 when loading via the head ramp

M59 in the Ordnance Museum (Aberdeen / Maryland)

The M59 was an armored personnel carrier vehicle (English APC. A rmored P ersonnel C arrier, as AIV - called Armored Infantry Vehicle) of the US Army , which by the FMC Corp. was produced, in service from 1954 until the end of 1989.

After the M75, as the successor to the M3 half-track vehicle, had proven to be completely unsuitable and far too expensive, development work on a successor model began during its introductory phase.

technology

The M59 was completely redesigned, the engine and transmission were sealed off from the fighting compartment, and there was a large ramp with a man hatch in the stern. The roof of the crew compartment was also equipped with hatches. Due to the shape of the bow, the buoyant vehicle had an additional wooden trim plate above the engine flap, which the driver had to set up by hand using a lever system when driving in water. The first construction lot had no commander's cupola, but a rotating mount for a 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun . In this variant, only 1470 rounds of ammunition could be carried.

In the second construction lot, the vehicle was then equipped with a commander's cupola; here the previously used Kinon view blocks were replaced by corner mirrors . The machine gun was outside the dome and therefore still not under armor protection. Only with the introduction of the third construction section was the armament moved inwards, the slightly lower M13 dome was used here.

The further development of the M113 can already be seen clearly from the shape.

Technical specifications

M59 infantry fighting vehicle
Technical specifications
Introductory year:	1953
Crew:	Commander, driver, 10 infantrymen
Dimensions
Armor:	15.9 mm
Length:	5613 mm
Width over chain:	3264 mm
Height above dome:	2769 mm
Combat weight:	19.3 t
drive
Engine power:	215 kW (292 hp) at 3600 rpm
Engine:	Twin GMC Model 302, 6-cylinder, 4-stroke petrol engine
Driving range (street) :	approx. 190 km
Speed:	51 km / h
Water speed:	6.9 km / h
Climbing ability:	approx. 460 mm
Trench crossing ability:	approx. 170 mm
Gradeability:	60%
Ground pressure :	0.59 kg / cm²
Chain:	Hinge chain with replaceable rubber pads type T91E3
Chain width:	530 mm
Number of chain links:	72
Support length of the chain:	3079 mm
Turning circle:	9100 mm
Transmission :	Twin Hydramatic Model 301MG (4 forward gears, 1 reverse gear)
Suspension:	Torsion bar
Drive:	Front-wheel drive - drive wheel with 12 teeth
Ground clearance:	457 mm
Control:	Steering lever
Armament:
Main armament:	1 machine gun Browning M2 12.7 mm
Secondary armament:	no
Ammunition supply 1st construction lot:	1470 rounds
Ammunition supply from 2nd construction lot:	2205 rounds

swell

• Fred W. Crismo: US Tracked Military Vehicles , Motorbooks International Osceola WI 1992.

Web links

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