The M114 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle. It was the only scout specific vehicle developed, tested, funded and widely issued to the active Army in the sixteen year period between the end of World War II until the early 1960s. In many ways, it presaged the M551 Sheridan in both design and fate. The Airborne Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle was built to be fast, stealthy, swim capable and deployable by parachute. It was a blank sheet project integrating new materials and concepts that spanned the designer’s table, the manufacturing floor and Army hardstands in Germany. Prototype and manufacturing milestones were set, then met. The US Army monitored each step and umpired the final acceptance trials. An experienced major corporation managed the program from design to first production vehicle, to final copy off the assemble line. It was an interesting design and a marginal performer with trooper recollections running from "death trap" to "an acceptable performer" . Thousands were built, about forty were sent to Vietnam where the problems mounted and they were parked and locked. In service in Germany some technical problems were solved but, by trying to retrofit the scout vehicle into a fighting vehicle, old chronic problems mounted. This interesting vehicle was a product of the Cleveland Tank Plant, it was with the 14th Cavalry at Daley Barracks for some ten years with apparently the last ones turned in during the early years of the Eaglehorse in Germany.
An excellent reference - Bradley-A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles, |
|
HOME ABOUT CAV BABY CAV GEAR CONTACT HISTORY JOIN LINKS SEARCH SITE MAP TRADITIONS TRAINING DOWNLOADS BUY CAV STUFF PHOTOS JOIN THE CAV WARRANT OFFICERS CAV WIVES |