M274 Truck, Platform, Utility 1.5-ton, 4x4 (Military Mule)

History

Well known as a mule, the car's official name is "M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 ton." But its versatility and simple looks do make the mechanical mule a fitting name. Four different companies produced six different Mule variants between 1956 and 1970. All M274 cars are four-wheel drive, and the first five variants can be configured by the driver in normal two-wheel-steer or four-wheel-steer mode.

However, the top speed of the mule is only around 15 miles per hour.

Two different versions of the rear-mounted air-cooled engine have been used to power the mules over the years. The engines of the first five models were started by trains.

The first two models (M274 and M274A1) used the Willys A04-53 four-cylinder engine. All subsequent models used the military-standard A042 twin-cylinder engine, culminating in electric start in the final version, the M274A5.

Retrofitting the A0-42 engine to earlier M274 and M274A1 vehicles resulted in the M274A3 and M274A4, respectively. Mules are widely used by the Army and Marine Corps in Vietnam.

The first five versions are made of magnesium; the last type (M274A5) is made of aluminum. The M274 has twice the transport capacity of a Jeep.

M274 Truck, Platform, Utility 1.5 Ton, 4x4 (Military Mule) Spec

Basics

Years of Service

1956

Origins

United States

Crew

1

Production

11,240

Manufacturers

Willys / Bowen-McLaughlin-York / Batfield / Brusnwick - USA

Carrier

United States

Roles

Utilities

Generally user-centered design to perform various battlefield missions, usually in an indirect combat fashion.

Designed to play an equally special role on the battlefield.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

9.8 feet

3m

width

4. 2 feet

1.27m

Height

4. 2 feet

1.27m

Weight

794 lbs

360 kg

Power and Performance

Engine:

1 x Willys AO4-4-53 16hp petrol engine.

Speed

24.9 km/h

(40.0km/h)

Area

108. 1 miles

(174.0 km)

ARMOR

Usually none. Some versions come with mission requirements: 1 x 7.62mm M60 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) 1 x 12.7mm M2 Browning Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) 1 x 106mm Recoilless Rifle 1 x TOW Anti-Tank Missile (ATGM) System1 x 7.62 mm M134 Minigun

AMMOTION

Depends on weapon.

Variant

M274 "Military Mule" - Name of Base Line M274 Truck, Platform, Utility 1/2 Ton, 4X4 - Official US Army Inventory Designation.