According to the book "Vietnam gun trucks" by Gordon L. Rottman, there was one truck with a 40mm Bofors M1 anti aircraft gun mounted. The French 22nd colonial anti aircraft group (22ème GCFTA) used 40mm Bofors on armored 2 1/2 ton GMC's for convoy escort during the Indochina war, but I've never seen this set up on an M-series vehicle. Has anyone here seen or heard about this configuration?.
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40mm Bofors Gun Truck
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vtdeucedriver
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I'd take a lot of the info in that book and not make it gospel. I'm glad someone bought it for me as I would have been pissed if I personally paid money for it.
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I can't say anything about the 40MM but when I was in country (66-6
what ever could be found, borrowed, scrounged, that just showed up, ect. was used, so a set of 40 MMs would not be unheard of.
what ever could be found, borrowed, scrounged, that just showed up, ect. was used, so a set of 40 MMs would not be unheard of.
SteveKuhn
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Well, now hear this. The USS Ling's museum has a Bofors and I have an M103 trailer. Before too long, both should be under restoration, then Haze Grey and Underway as a parade float. Any of the guys around here who read this are more than welcome to come 'n play. Veteran's Day will be a miracle; Sussex is a possibility. Memorial Day or Bust. It'll look best at > 10'.
To keep this on topic, I obviously can't comment on Vietnam, but I've been all over the Internet for photos and information to use in the restoration. The Bofors apparently started as an Army weapon, and there are a number of pictures of it on its actual trailers. I found the TMs for both the gun and the naval conversion necessary for salt water operations. I haven't seen one on an M series 6x6 researching either period trucks in the past couple of years or the gun more recently.
Steve
To keep this on topic, I obviously can't comment on Vietnam, but I've been all over the Internet for photos and information to use in the restoration. The Bofors apparently started as an Army weapon, and there are a number of pictures of it on its actual trailers. I found the TMs for both the gun and the naval conversion necessary for salt water operations. I haven't seen one on an M series 6x6 researching either period trucks in the past couple of years or the gun more recently.
Steve
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Cleptomaniac
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I have a friend who has a bofers he is restoring...
vtdeucedriver
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Ive done a fair amount of research and I have never seen or heard a 40mm going in a M-Series truck to be considered a "GunTruck" during the US involvement in Vietnam. What you need to understand is the definition of a "Guntruck" is loosely noted as a "Task vehicle" meaning a cargo truck "that is modified for the use of security protection of a convoy". Now some forward infantry bases would have problems moving quad .50's on the handling dollys during the monsoon season so many units would install them in the back of a deuce or 5 ton. Per definition, this is not a "Guntruck" either but it is fact that these trucks were also used outside perimiters fences and where ever they might be needed for fire support. So many have labled these as Guntrucks for just that reason.
I cant say that mounting a 40mm in a truck would not seem useful for someone who needed the distance but if you look at the history, close fire support and lots of it was needed the most. The French did put 40mm in some GMC's for anti-aircraft but for convoy protection, that would not be helpful. The largest caliber attempted that I have heard of was a 20mm from a airforce jet and they came to the conclusion that the useful use and safety of it being mounted would not justify the attempt and a GE mini gun was chosen instead........the rest is history.
I cant say that mounting a 40mm in a truck would not seem useful for someone who needed the distance but if you look at the history, close fire support and lots of it was needed the most. The French did put 40mm in some GMC's for anti-aircraft but for convoy protection, that would not be helpful. The largest caliber attempted that I have heard of was a 20mm from a airforce jet and they came to the conclusion that the useful use and safety of it being mounted would not justify the attempt and a GE mini gun was chosen instead........the rest is history.
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vtdeucedriver
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If you would like more information that is better written. Find a copy of the "Hard Ride" by James Lyles. There are 3 books of it, the first being Hard Ride I, then there was II that came out but the publisher printed lots of pictures in Black and white. The 3rd version has more pictures and information. All 3 are useful and can be found on Ebay.
Thanks for your replies. I do have all the books by Lyles, and have not found any information about this in any of them, however I thought maybe since this author claims that there was one example with 40mm, then some evidence of this must exist. Maybe it's just a rumour, or mix up based on the French vehicles.
BTW, the author also claims that at least on 106mm M40 recoilless rifle was mounted on a gun truck. Seems a bit unsafe, risking to get the blast in the gun box.
BTW, the author also claims that at least on 106mm M40 recoilless rifle was mounted on a gun truck. Seems a bit unsafe, risking to get the blast in the gun box.
vtdeucedriver
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Well then if you do have ALL of Lyles books................Pg 5 of the first book (the black one) in the upper right corner is a PICTURE of the French GMC with the 40MM!!!
The Rothman book is basically a collection of information out of the already existing GT books.