Cadillac Gage Commando (M706 / G-392)

History of the Cadillac Gage Commando (M706/G-392)

The Cadillac Gage "Commando" (V-100/G-392) was first used by the US Army for light armored 4x4 reconnaissance missions in the 1960s. In June 1962, a pilot vehicle was evaluated before it entered service in 1963. The series subsequently enjoyed healthy, long lives with multiple operators and continues to be used by many today (2014).

The chassis has been launched with several well-known brands, including the V-150, V-200, LAV-300 and LAV-600, and some SWAT units have also adopted the model.

The vehicle was equipped with the Chrysler 361 series 190-200 hp 8-cylinder gasoline engine, also in circulation by the US Army at the time, to power its early fleet of M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs). The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system, the hull is completely suspended on its two axles, and power is sent to all four wheels.

Large "run-flat" wheels were used in combat environments, which also encouraged high ground clearance for traversing obstacles and ditches. The arrangement allows for a maximum road speed of 62 mph and a range of 400 miles.

Total weight is 21,800 lbs. The fuselage is 18.7 feet long, the beam is 7.4 feet long, and the height to the roofline is 6.5 inches. This makes the vehicle compact enough for air and rail transport.

It features a powerful powered winch system under the front of the fuselage with a 10,000-pound towing capacity. The vehicle is also inherently amphibious and does not require crew preparation before entering the water.

The pilot vehicle differs slightly from its near-series form, as the fenders are cut at a greater angle. Production vehicles have easily identifiable circular fender assemblies.

Inside, the car is usually driven by a crew of three, but can accommodate up to five people. The driver is located on the left front of the hull superstructure. Access openings on the top of the fuselage and on the side doors allow personnel access. Alloy steel forms the armor protection scheme from .25 inches thick.

Power traverse turrets can accommodate multiple supported machine gun types or special combinations. Cadillac Gage -- now Textron Marine and Land Systems -- has been contracted to build it. This concern is known for other developments, including the U.S. Navy's Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) system and the U.S.

Army's new M117 armored safety vehicle.

The U.S. Army began buying G-392s in 1963-1964, at a time when U.S. involvement in Vietnam was increasing. These early vehicles ran under the development codename XM706, while the main shape - with rounded fenders - was used under the official codename M706.

Additionally, the M706 has slightly raised access ports on the top of the fuselage, and one of the side launch ports on the XM706 is missing.

In practice, the M706 performed well in wartime. Its sloping armor gives it basic ballistic protection against small arms fire, artillery jets, and certain types of bomb blasts (RPGs, mines, etc.). The high ground clearance enables it to traverse rough terrain, and the overall combat range is good.

The rear axle was prone to failure under the sheer weight of the armored hull, but it turned out to be tolerable.

The first troops arrived in South Vietnam in 1963 and served in the U.S. Air Force and Army Police. The U.S. Army received the XM706 vehicle in 1967 for use with the South Vietnamese Army. In 1968, the Army procured its own version of the XM706E1, which later became the standard M706 model.

The USAF prefers a special variant called the XM706E2, which eliminates the turret and incorporates an open-air box superstructure on the fuselage. All dimensions remain the same despite hundreds of pounds less operating weight.

The fuselage layout of the Commando can accommodate .30/7 calibers. 62mm machine gun or .50 caliber machine gun, or a combination of both as required. Other dedicated versions expand on this approach and include turret-mounted 90mm guns, 20mm automatic cannons or surface-to-air missiles.

The V-200 model has enlarged dimensions, but is similar in many respects to the V-100 model series. Developed at the request of Singapore, the variant is in service in the armored reconnaissance role, the security role and the modification of the mobile surface-to-air missile launch platform.

The V-150, despite its name, came after the introduction of the V-200 model, making it a bridge model between the original V-100 and subsequent V-200s. Developed exclusively for Saudi Arabia, these vehicles can be equipped with base diesel engines or gasoline-powered alternatives upon request.

These served in the 1991 Gulf War with poor results.

The LAV-300 extends the capabilities of the V-100 by becoming a 6x6 wheeled design with an extended chassis. It was introduced in 1979 with a turret-mounted 90mm main gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The Cummins 6 CTA turbo diesel propels three axles to 65 mph and has a range of up to 575 miles.

The LAV-300 series itself offers around 15 available models as sub-variants. Despite the extra size, it retains its air-shipping qualities. Kuwait, the Philippines and Panama have a more limited user base.

An extension of the LAV-300 series is the LAV-600, which retains the 6x6 wheel shape. The vehicle itself is heavier, armed with a 105mm main gun with a turret and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, plus a 7.62mm machine gun for anti-aircraft purposes.

Although still lightly armored, the 105mm main gun provided the vehicle with useful tank-killing capabilities during the Cold War. Introduced in 1986, it was eventually adopted by the United States, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The Vietnam War-era derived XM706 (V-100) was sold with a GE 7.62mm XM134 miniature machine gun Gatling system mounted in a closed turret on top of the fuselage. The turret allows for an unobstructed firefield from a protected position and can carry 3,000 rounds of ammunition in the commando hull.

The 130-pound gun can fire between 500 and 6,000 rounds per minute and is powered by the included power pack.

The V-100 series is growing in popularity and includes operators in about 35 countries - from Bolivia and Botswana to Taiwan and Thailand. The line was eventually replaced in US Army service by the M1117 Armoured Security Vehicle (ASV), which is described elsewhere on this website.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Depends on mounted weapon.

Changes