M114 CRV

History

The M114 command and reconnaissance carrier enters combat service following the ubiquitous family of M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The 1960 M113 was widely serviced around the world and was listed in various pro-American countries as a multi-purpose general-purpose platform. In addition to the original APC product, the M113 has survived in a variety of useful battlefield forms and has since become a dedicated missile launch platform, armored assault vehicle, dedicated command vehicle, and smoke generator variants, to name a few.

Compared to the 80,000 M113 systems built, just over 600 M114s were eventually delivered to the U.S. Army.

The M114 wasn't as lucky as its older sister, a mount that was successful in the Vietnam War and basically paved the way for the smaller M114. The newer M114 was in service with the U.S. Army for a short period of time and played some role in the conflict, but was retired early after only a few years of service. Overall, her tenure will last more than a decade. Their reconnaissance value in the Vietnam War was eventually replaced by the more powerful four-man M551 Sheridan light reconnaissance tank in 1969, armed with a powerful 152mm main gun.

One of the main limitations of the M114 is its poor mechanical reliability, especially in the harsh environment of the jungle environment. She was also considered too weak for an off-road role and had little protection for the crew - especially from landmines. Her hull also proved unwelcome when trying to cross ditches, and wading was a chore. The M114 was withdrawn from service in the Vietnam War as early as November 1964.

It wasn't until 1973 that Gen. Creighton Abrams officially ordered the M114 to be retired from the U.S. Army's inventory - describing the small machine as a "failure."

While the M113 is specifically designed to transport combat-ready troops into a theater of operations while providing some level of protection, the tiny M114 is specifically classified as a "command and reconnaissance vehicle" designed for speed and evasion from the enemy - ready Direct the enemy's position, action, or response in front of the main task force. So compared to the M113, it's still a lighter, smaller model - even airdropped - and has one less wheel on one side of the track. Both the M113 and M114 are amphibious, allowing them to traverse certain bodies of water, albeit with some prior preparation, propelled through water by the power of their turning tracks. The M114's drive sprocket is fixed at the front of the fuselage (near the engine), and the chain idler is at the rear.

No orbital deflection rollers.

The M114 was evaluated using the T114 pilot (prototype) vehicle. These went into service with the main (and initial) M114 production model. Next, the M114A1 came online and was equipped with a modified Commander's Weapons Station that could fire the M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun from inside the vehicle via a manually operated cupola.

In addition, the decorative pieces of the amphibious beams have also been reinforced. The M114A2 was originally the M114A1E1 and entered production in 1969. She features an improved weapons kit including 1 x M139 (essentially Hispano-Suiza HS. 820) 20mm gun mounted on a hydraulically powered commander's cupola.

However, this update is not enough to save the M114 series from extinction in a few years. Production of the M114 was taken over by General Motors' Cadillac division.

From the outside, the M114 appears to be nothing more than a compact version of the M113. She has a decidedly boxy overall shape with angled glacis panels and raised bow sections. The sides are straight and the roof is flat. The captain's cupola protrudes from the top of the fuselage, and the scope is clearly visible.

The cupola is significantly offset to the left of the top of the fuselage and contains the main armament. The driver maintains a left-forward position in the front body, managing access through a circular hatch, and the engine bay is located forward right - indicated by a rectangular access panel on the front fascia and grille vents on the roof. In the rectangular rear of the hull is a large rectangular inlet and outlet hatch. A third aft-mounted roof hatch (diagonally rearward from center) allows the third (and final) crew member - the designated "observer" - to fire the pedestal-mounted auxiliary armament.

The armor protection of the entire vehicle has been rounded to 44.5mm at its thickest point. Overall, the car is a welded construction with a rolled aluminum hull.

The primary armament is centered on a 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine gun, with a 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine gun as a secondary weapon. This enables the vehicle to engage soft-skinned targets and vehicles as well as enemy infantry when necessary.

Both gun positions can cover all sides of the vehicle. Up to three M72A1 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) launchers can be stowed on the rear door for additional offensive "strikes" if needed.

The M114 has a nominal weight of 15,000 lbs. It is 4/46 meters long, 2.33 meters wide and 2.39 meters high. Power comes from a single 8-cylinder Chevrolet 283 Series gasoline engine with 160 horsepower. This gives the vehicle a top speed of 36 mph and a range of 275 miles.

The suspension system is of the torsion bar type to ensure acceptable off-road performance.

The US Army remained the sole operator of the M114 until production was discontinued.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

1,000 x 12.7mm ammo.

3,000 x 7.62mm ammo.

Changes