M151 MUTT (Military Utility Tactical Truck)

History of the M151 MUTT (Military Multi-Purpose Tactical Truck)

Before the ubiquitous HUMVEE 4x4 utility vehicle, the U.S. military relied on the world-famous "jeeps" that appeared in combat during World War II (1939-1945). The original design came from engineers at Bantam, then prototypes were made by the U.S. Army, including Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Company using original Bantam work. The Willis MB was commissioned in 1941 and its history is almost certain.

The vehicle then morphed into various battlefield roles and was shipped to far-flung corners of the world through direct exports and leases. In total, around 634,000 examples were produced through a joint Willys/Ford effort. While the vehicle did work well, it wasn't the ultimate solution to the U.S. military's need for a light 4x4 vehicle. When looking for improved form, Willis-Overland offered the post-war M38 series, which was officially named "Jeep" at the time.

A limited force of these vehicles served in the Korean War (1950-1953), although they still far outnumbered WWII-era variants. The M38 existed through the base M38 and the improved M38A1, with more than 160,000 units produced.

Still looking for a better 4x4 utility solution, the U.S. Army considered another light truck requirement, which fell to Ford in 1951. World War II Jeep.

The Ford template was named M151 in US military nomenclature and was given the further technical acronym "Military Utility Tactical Truck" (MUTT). Despite the Willys MB/M38's obvious influence, the car turned out to be quite different from the wartime Jeep.

The M151 is specifically classified as a "1/4 ton tactical light truck" and is powered by a 71 hp Ordnance Continental 4-cylinder petrol engine. This is linked to a 4-speed (1 reverse) drivetrain. Dimensions include a length of 133 inches, a width of 64 inches, and a height of 64 inches. In a traditional car arrangement, the engine is mounted at the front of the vehicle. The body structure adopts a monocoque steel body/frame approach rather than the individual steel tube/steel frame approach of the Willis line, and promotes more interior space, higher ground clearance and lower average mass.

However, the circular inlaid headlights continue the "Jeep" look, as the MUTT is a Ford-centric product, and the grille consists of horizontal louvers rather than the trademark vertical lines of the Willys product. Wheels are placed at the extreme corners of the frame. The driver is seated on the left of center and a passenger is seated on the right of center. As with earlier Jeeps, the front windshield can be folded over the hood to allow unobstructed long-barreled weapons such as recoilless rifles.

Additional passengers can be carried through the stern benches or replaced with supplies and equipment.

The MUTT differs from the conventional Jeep design in one key respect - the use of independent wheel suspension, rather than the original rigid axle arrangement. The new system enables better off-road performance and, combined with the more powerful engine, improves performance across the board. However, these changes came at a cost - it was later found that the M151 was more prone to rollover accidents when operating at high speeds or in turns under heavy duty loads. The culprit turned out to be the rear wheels, which tended to slip under the frame during this maneuver, leading to some pretty deadly situations that followed.

As many drivers are accustomed to the tighter handling characteristics of their Willys MB and M38 models, this makes for a more alert experience when trying to drive the new M151. Unlike previous Jeep series, it was this rollover issue that prevented civilian sales of the M151.

The original production series model of the M151 MUTT appeared in 1960 and officially replaced the M38A1 line. Willys-Overland (now Willys Motors, then Kaiser-Jeep) joined Ford in production.

Interestingly, the Willys/Caesars brand outpaces Ford, which is already busy managing a lucrative commercial vehicle market.

The U.S. Army recognized the rollover problem, focused on the rear wheels, and then attempted to correct a potentially disastrous long-term investment. The extra work resulted in an improved M151A2, which entered production in 1969 with an all-new, completely revised rear suspension.

While an advantageous solution, it was also considered prudent to introduce a fixed roll bar assembly to further protect the driver and passengers of the M151A2.

Willys/Caesars/Ford produced over 100,000 M151/M151A2s in total. Production stretched from 1959 to 1982.

In practice, the M151 served its purpose. When the United States was involved in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) - the MUTT was in full service - M151 trucks were used in frontline and secondary roles. From this, a plethora of battlefield formats are envisaged, including armed and unarmed variants, including ambulances. Despite its inherent shortcomings, the M151 performed as admirably in conflict as previous generations of WWII-era opponents. Knowing MUTT's light truck mechanic certainly helps the driver control his dynamic vehicle.

In the end, the M151 performed well, even though the Americans eventually pulled out of Southeast Asia in 1975.

Although the M151 was shown in battle theaters, it turned out that the M151 was no better answer than the lightweight 4x4 that came before it, and was officially replaced by AM General's state-of-the-art HUMVEE utility vehicle from 1984. When the new design proved to be larger and heavier than the M151, MUTT's inventory was retained by various service departments across the United States, whatever value they still held. Collectibles were provided during some notable deployments in the 1980s and 1990s, often in special operations teams and airborne troops, where mobility, transportability and speed were highly valued.

The M151 can be towed by medium base helicopters, unlike the Humvee system they replace. Many of MUTT's overseas operators still use their M151s today, although the system appeared in the 1960s.

The U.S. Marine Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division are two well-known units that use the M151 branded Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV), which are armed accordingly. For a while, the M151 was the staple of NATO light trucks, and about 100 countries ended up using the type in one form or another - a testament to this Cold War-era rugged design, even when trying to portray a war hero. the same time.

Replaces the Willis line.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Depends on weapon.

2 x 149mm TOW anti-tank missiles

Changes