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C_Sherman · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 590

Hi,

Saw this running down the road today, here at Ft. Lewis (or Joint Base Lewis-McChord, if you prefer):

[img]http://www.com-central.net/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10540/normal_img-20101014-00004w%7E0.jpg[/img]

I took the pics with my cell phone, after jumping from our car and crossing the road to get in front of it. As soon as I saw it, my first thought was "I HAVE to put that on AFV News!" I have no idea what this is for, where it is from, or what the heck it is doing here.

Anyone have any ideas about it?

Chuck

FSMMREP · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 4:53 am Post subject: Re: Oddball stuff...The Colonel!

It appears to be a Vietnam era guntruck. Some of the early versions took M113 APC's that had damaged running gear and mounted them on a deuce or five ton truck. The truck provided the speed and mobility necessary for convoy escort duty, and the APC body provided some minimal protection for the gunners. They were often up-gunned with the addition of more/larger weapons. Minniguns were a favorite, as were multiple M-60's and .50 cals. The crews would often line the interiors of the hull with sandbags to provide more protection. It was common practice to name each gun truck, and paint designs/logos on them. The white rim on the front wheel of the truck would indicate that the crew took pride in the appearence of their vehicle. The paint job is typical of the Vietnam era.

I was under the impression that the "Eve of Destruction" was the only surviving guntruck from the war. Last I knew, it was at the Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, VA. My personal favorite was the "Iron Butterfly" that was used to escort convoys from Bong Son to Qui Nhon in the area where I was stationed.

This could be an actual truck from the Vietnam war, but I suspect that it is more likely a re-creation that was assembled for display somewhere.

Doug_Kibbey · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Oddball stuff...The Colonel!

- FSMMREP

It appears to be a Vietnam era guntruck. Some of the early versions took M113 APC's that had damaged running gear and mounted them on a deuce or five ton truck. The truck provided the speed and mobility necessary for convoy escort duty, and the APC body provided some minimal protection for the gunners. They were often up-gunned with the addition of more/larger weapons. Minniguns were a favorite, as were multiple M-60's and .50 cals. The crews would often line the interiors of the hull with sandbags to provide more protection. It was common practice to name each gun truck, and paint designs/logos on them. The white rim on the front wheel of the truck would indicate that the crew took pride in the appearence of their vehicle. The paint job is typical of the Vietnam era.

I was under the impression that the "Eve of Destruction" was the only surviving guntruck from the war. Last I knew, it was at the Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, VA. My personal favorite was the "Iron Butterfly" that was used to escort convoys from Bong Son to Qui Nhon in the area where I was stationed.

This could be an actual truck from the Vietnam war, but I suspect that it is more likely a re-creation that was assembled for display somewhere.

Having seen many such guntrucks (VN) I have to agree with John. While there are some excellent post-war repros around, I haven't seen any using the M113 hull as was sometimes done during the war.
I am aware of a couple of more recent attempts to put something like together in the current conflict, but it was more sophisticated, with the driver position of the M113 being incorporated wth that of the truck and a window put in front slope of armor. This looks like a VN lashup, or recreation of one.

D.