M39 Armored Utility Vehicle

M39 Armored Utility Vehicle

An M-39 Armored Utility Vehicle in the Korean War
Type Artillery tractor
Place of origin  United States
Service history
Used by  United States Germany
Wars World War II, Korean War
Production history
Designed 1943
Manufacturer Buick
Specifications
Weight 35.500 LBS
Length 214-inches
Width 113-inches
Height 80.5-inches
Crew 3
Main
armament
 M2 Browning
Engine Continental R-975-C4, 9 cyl, radial gasoline
Transmission 3 speed + high/low ratio
Operational
range
 240 km
Speed 60 MPH (80 km/h)

The M39 Armored Utility Vehicle (T41) was an American armored vehicle designed during the Second World War, which saw service in that conflict and in the Korean War. Like a number of vehicles of this type, it was built using an existing chassis, that of the M18 Hellcat.

History

The M39 was originally designed as a prime mover for the 3-inch Gun M5. Approximately 650 (640 utility/APC variants, 10 command and reconnaissance) were modified from M18 chassis between October 1944 to March 1945. They saw service in Europe during the last months of World War II and were widely used during the Korean War, where they were employed in variety of roles, including as troop transports, medevac 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 crew were vulnerable to enemy fire, and the fully enclosed M75 armored personnel carrier would eventually replace it in this role.[1] The M39 was withdrawn from service in 1957.

Ambush in the Battle of Imjin River

M39s were employed as ammunition carriers in the African American 999th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, which fought in the Battle of the Imjin River, where it provided artillery support for the 1st Republic of Korea Infantry Division. During the battle, Battery B was forced to evacuate its position after neighboring units withdrew. Because the M39s carriers had .50 caliber machine guns, unlike the unit's M41 self-propelled howitzers, they lead the retreating column. During the retreat, it was ambushed by Chinese forces; in the battle, the unit lost 7 killed in action, 2 M39 Armored Utility Vehicles and had two M41s damaged and 31 wounded. However, the unit broke through the ambush, inflicting an estimated 100 casualties on the ambushing forces, and promptly resumed providing artillery support afterwards.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "M39 Armored Utility Vehicle". Military Encyclopedia of the Web. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Bowers, William T. (2011). Passing the Test: Combat in Korea April-June 1951. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 39–58. ISBN 978-0-8131-3452-9. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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