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M578 LARV

1962 COLD WAR VIETNAM WAR

History

In the context of success on the battlefield, serviceable vehicles rarely get the attention they deserve because their role is as important as any other weapon or tool. The M576 Light Armored Rescue Vehicle (LARV) (G309) became an example of this, despite serving in a dozen militaries around the world during a long and storied tenure.

His notable service will always be associated with U.S. military operations during the Vietnam War (1955-1975), although other examples show substantial service in units such as the Israeli Army.

The M578 is a tracked vehicle based on the chassis of the M107/M110 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) that debuted during the Vietnam conflict. In this way, the landing gear remains almost unchanged, with five large wheels on one side of the fuselage and the drive sprocket in front, eliminating the need for track idlers or track idlers. As with the M107/M110, the driver occupies the front left position of the fuselage, and the power pack is shielded to his right. Propulsion comes from a single GM 8V71T 8-cylinder supercharged diesel engine that produces 345 horsepower, boosts speed by nearly 37 mph, and has a range of up to 450 miles.

A standard operator consists of three people, including the driver and two taxi drivers.

An additional two crew members are deployed in a 360-degree rotating light armoured cab turret mounted to the rear of the vehicle, replacing the M107/M110's large barrel and associated mounting and recoil hardware. The cabin integrates a heavy duty crane from the front panel and provides the necessary headroom and elbow room for protected operation of the two crew members.

Rectangular wing doors on the sides and rear of the cab provide access, while roof hatches provide visibility of the crane and forward action. As an indirect combat vehicle, the M578 is armed with a 12.7mm Browning heavy machine gun for localized defense against air and land-based threats.

The original M578 form was conceived by FMC Corporation engineers to be an air transport vehicle for servicing M107 and M110 vehicles during barrel changing operations. The car was known as the "T120" in the pilot's name at the time, but evolved into a modified "T120E1" before being officially adopted as the "M578 LARV".

U.S. Army needs evolved accordingly, and the M578 was used in a more general battlefield recovery role rather than a dedicated barrel replacement vehicle. Bowen-McLaughlin-York was in charge of the official production run of the vehicle, just like the M107 and M110 mounts.

The M578 is designed to maintain power even when the vehicle is turned off. This was addressed by implementing an auxiliary power unit located directly aft of the main engine. The auxiliary system powers the onboard generator and hydraulic pump, which in turn powers the nacelle, boom, a pair of winches and anchor shovels - the latter mounted aft of the hull. Two powered winches were installed - a 30,000 lb boom assembly and a 60,000 lb winch assembly.

The M578 is capable of recovering light armored vehicles and components of similar weight.

The outer panels of the cab provide storage space for items such as "pioneer" tools (axes, shovels, etc.) and general safety features such as fire extinguishers. A small headlight is mounted on the crane jib for working in low light conditions/night, and the headlight for night driving is also mounted on the front corner of the hull. Using periscope equipment for limited situational awareness, the crew can be fully "buckled" in their respective positions.

The full rotation capability of the turret adds tactical flexibility and combines this capability with the height range provided by the boom itself.

As a light armoured vehicle, the M578 is not really a front line vehicle, as its armour protection only protects the occupants from small arms fire and shrapnel. However, it provided protection from the elements, which became a feature much appreciated by the crew.

Heavy machine guns are mounted on top of the turret, forcing the operator to partially expose himself when operating the weapon - some protection is better than none, though.

Carriers outside of the US and Israel include Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, United Kingdom and Vietnam. The M578 debuted in 1962.