M59 APC

History

The M59 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was developed to US Army specifications to replace the previous short-lived M75 APC series during the Korean War (1950-1953). The M75 operates reliably under pressure and performs as designed, although the type is also expensive, with procurement only managing 1,729 examples, all from International Harvester and Food Machinery and Chemical Corp (FMC). The M75 is lightly armed with a heavy 12.7mm Browning machine gun, built on the chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank, and powered by a 295 hp Continental gasoline engine.

The M75 has a top speed of 43 mph and a range of 115 miles.

In late 1951, when the M75 was still taking shape, Food Machinery was producing a more refined vehicle. This effort resulted in the "T59" prototype, which featured a more compact profile, less armor protection (and therefore lighter), a lower profile and the performance of a cheaper twin-engine arrangement. Another important feature is the stand-alone price of the device, surpassing that of the more expensive M75. The U.S.

Army, which had adopted the M75, ordered the production of the T59 system, codenamed "M59," to replace the limited-edition M75 with a new vehicleeventually for supply to allied Belgium.

The design of the M59 closely follows that of the previous M75 (both will heavily influence the upcoming M113). A basic boxy hull shape was chosen, with front, side and rear hull panels all vertical to maximize interior volume.

Due to its sloping nature, the Glacis panels have some ballistic protection value, while the hull roofline is flat except for the commander's cupola and sights for crew positions. Like the M75, the M59 features a tracked undercarriage with five twin-tire wheels on one side of the fuselage, a drive sprocket at the front and a track idler at the rear. Only three track return rollers are visible under the side armor skirts. The structure consists of welded steel armor up to 25mm thick on key panels.

The total weight is 42,600 lbs, the barrel length is 5.6 meters, the width is 3.26 meters, and the height to the roofline is 2.77 meters. The vehicle is run by two usual emergency services, consisting of a driver and a driver. Up to ten combat-ready infantrymen can be accommodated in the passenger compartment.

The driver is on the left front, the commander is on his right. Behind them are two benches facing the centerline of the passenger seats and providing hatches along the top of the fuselage (above each bench). Access to the cabin is via a rectangular door that folds into a ramp.

The interior is arranged so that if the bench is removed, a full size JEEP type vehicle can be stowed in the APC hull for protected transport. Like the M75, the M59 is designed as an amphibious vehicle with a maximum wading speed of 4.3 miles per hour, propelled by the movement of its tracks through the water.

The M59 range is powered by 2 GMC 302 inline 6-cylinder petrol engines, each rated at 146 hp (292 hp combined). The engines are mounted on both sides of the fuselage and work with the 301MG hydraulic transmission system. The hull is suspended by a torsion bar setup to allow off-road cruising.

All in all, the M59 has a top speed of 32 mph and a range of 120 miles -- it's much slower than the M75.

Like the M75 before it, the M59 was armed with a 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola. Carrying 2,200 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, the gun is capable of defeating lightly armored targets and low-flying aircraft, and suppressing enemy infantry units at long distances.

For self-defense, an M3A1 "Grease" submachine gun was carried.

The M59 arrived too late to serve in the Korean War (unlike the M75 that preceded it), although the model was heavily used during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). However, sources say the M59 never entered service in Southeast Asia. Despite limited acquisition, operation and maintenance costs - due to the less than excellent twin-engine layout - the M59's powertrain proved unreliable, and its light armor protection was vulnerable.

Thus, like the M75, the M59 had a relatively short service life in the US Armed Forces, the series was phased out in the mid-1960s and replaced by the ubiquitous and highly successful M113 series of tracked armored vehicles, which began in 1960 went live (and is still in use today). The success of the M113 is at least partly attributable to the pioneering vehicles of the M75 and M59 series, whatever reflects their shortened operating careers.

The M59 designation is a nod to the original production vehicle, while the M59A1 is a slightly improved form of the original. There was only one major offshoot of the M59, and that was the 1957 M84, a dedicated mortar transporter using the M59's chassis and hull, albeit with a 6-man crew and a 106mm mortar system.

The production of the M59 aircraft carrier ran from 1953/1954 to 1960, with approximately 6,300 examples completed by then. All were issued to the U.S. Army, and many were passed on to foreign militaries after retirementBrazil, Ethiopia, Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Turkey became the largest non-US operator with a fleet of 1,550 vehicles.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

2,200 x 12.7mm ammo

Changes