Proper designation- V100 or M706

[kubotaman]

Was V100 the manufacture designation and XM706 (and variants) was the US Military Designation? I always see the 2 used together but was not sure why.

Thanks.

 

[M813rc]

V-100 is the Cadillac-Gage model number for the vehicle, which was designed as a private venture.

The US military started using it as an urgently needed non-standard vehicle, initially as the V-100 until they came up with the XM706 type number. The X indicates a non-standardized, or an experimental vehicle (Y means a prototype/development type).

Once the military started ordering them in numbers, they came up with XM706E1 for the turreted version, and XM706E2 for the Air Force parapet style vehicle.
The E after the model number designates it as a development type.

The Army later standardized the XM706E1 as the M706.

The designation V-100 was used by the military for a while in the absence of an M-number, so it had stuck by the time the M706 number came along.
The most common nickname I have heard from those who drove them was "The V". They all refer to them as cars.

Cheers

 

[M813rc]

(disregard this extra post, can't delete it)

 

[B3.3T]

Rory is completely correct. I might add that the South Vietnamese army used them first and retained the factory "V-100 Commando" name. This is where most US personnel first became aware of the vehicle and the name stuck.

 

[kubotaman]

Alright thanks

 

[Rickv100]

It has been awhile since I posted, actually as with the government it is not that easy. The original V100's were purchased under a special funding program for the troops in Vietnam called ENSURE (Expedited Non Standard Urgently Requested Equipment). This is why they had the X designation, they were never formally tested and adopted in the usual procurement manner. The XM177 Commando rifle is another of those items.

Once they needed parts for the XM706's they ran into a problem. Because they were not formally adopted the parts where not in the US Army supply chain and had to be funded out of the special program budget. Since the money was not there no parts. So the Army changed the designation to M706 to get the parts into the system.

I have copies of the correspondence about the issue if anyone is really interested.

Rick

 

[bikeman]

It has been awhile since I posted, actually as with the government it is not that easy. The original V100's were purchased under a special funding program for the troops in Vietnam called ENSURE (Expedited Non Standard Urgently Requested Equipment). This is why they had the X designation, they were never formally tested and adopted in the usual procurement manner. The XM177 Commando rifle is another of those items.

Once they needed parts for the XM706's they ran into a problem. Because they were not formally adopted the parts where not in the US Army supply chain and had to be funded out of the special program budget. Since the money was not there no parts. So the Army changed the designation to M706 to get the parts into the system.

I have copies of the correspondence about the issue if anyone is really interested.

Rick

Sounds not much unlike the Army today!

I'd be curious just from a historical perspective.

 

[Rickv100]

Sounds not much unlike the Army today!

I'd be curious just from a historical perspective.

Ok, I have a box with copies of all my research from the National Archives. I will dig it out.

Rick

 

[M813rc]

Thanks Rick. I'm interested to see any and all documents that you are willing to post.

Cheers

 

[kubotaman]

Same.

 

[Rickv100]

Here you go.