M56 Scorpion

Last updated
M56 Scorpion
M56 at AAF Tank Museum.JPG
M56 Scorpion preserved at the American Armored Foundation Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia.
Type Self-propelled gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Wars Vietnam War
Western Sahara War
Production history
Manufacturer Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors
Produced1953–1959
No. built325
Specifications
Mass7.1 tonnes (16,000 lb)
Length4.55 metres (14 ft 11 in) (excluding gun)
5.84 metres (19 ft 2 in) (overall)
Width2.57 metres (8 ft 5 in)
Height2.05 metres (6 ft 9 in) over gun shield
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver)

Armor unarmored except for blast shield
Main
armament
90 mm M54 Gun
29 rounds
Engine Continental AOI-403-5 gasoline engine
200 brake horsepower (150 kW)
TransmissionAllison CD-150-4, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
SuspensionTorsion tube over bar at wheels 1 and 4, torsion bar at wheels 2 and 3
Ground clearance0.32 m (1 ft 1 in)
Fuel capacity210 litres (46 imp gal; 55 US gal)
Operational
range
230 kilometres (140 mi)
Maximum speed 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph)

The M56 "Scorpion" self-propelled gun is an American unarmored, airmobile self-propelled tank destroyer, which was armed with a 90mm M54 gun with a simple blast shield, and an unprotected crew compartment.

Contents

History

The M56 was manufactured from 1953 to 1959 by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors for use by US airborne forces, though the vehicle was eventually used by the Spanish Navy Marines, Morocco and South Korea. With a crew of four (commander, gunner, loader and driver), the M56 weighed 6.4 tonnes (14,000 lb) empty and 7.7 tonnes (17,000 lb) combat-loaded. It had infrared driving lights but no NBC protection and was not amphibious.

The M56 was a fully tracked vehicle with rubber-tired run-flat road wheels and front drive sprocket wheels. It was powered by a Continental AOI-403-5 gasoline engine developing 200 brake horsepower (150 kW) at 3,000 rpm, allowing a maximum road speed of 28 miles per hour (45 km/h) and a maximum range of 140 miles (230 km). Twenty-nine rounds of main gun ammunition were carried, and only the small 5 mm thick blast shield was armored.

In service

M56 Scorpion of 16th Armor, US 173rd Airborne Brigade firing at Viet Cong during Operation Toledo 17 June 1966 M56 SPAT during Operation Toledo 17 Jun 66.png
M56 Scorpion of 16th Armor, US 173rd Airborne Brigade firing at Viet Cong during Operation Toledo 17 June 1966

The M56 saw combat service with U.S. forces in the Vietnam War. It was deployed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which was the only Airborne Brigade deployed with the M56, [1] where it was used mainly in a direct fire-support role. Its function as an air-mobile, self-propelled, anti-tank vehicle was eventually replaced in Vietnam by the troubled but effective M551 Sheridan which had a fully armored turret. The USMC used the M50 Ontos, which had an armored cabin and was armed with recoilless rifles, in a similar role (the running gear of the first Ontos prototype was the same as on the M56, but it was replaced for the production variant).

As for foreign operators, Morocco was the only export customer which used M56 Scorpions in actual combat. M56 Scorpions were deployed against Polisario rebels during the Western Sahara War. A number of examples were made available to South Korea but not used.[ citation needed ]

Operators

Map of former M56 operators in red M56 operators.png
Map of former M56 operators in red

Former operators

An APC based on the Scorpion APC based on the M56 Scorpion.jpg
An APC based on the Scorpion

Survivors

Diorama of destroyed M56 at the AAF Tank Museum. Note the prominent rubber tires on the road wheels. M56 Diorama of Destroyed M56 at AAF Tank Museum.jpg
Diorama of destroyed M56 at the AAF Tank Museum. Note the prominent rubber tires on the road wheels.
The outdoor display of M56 Scorpion 1740950 at VFW Post 2524, Culpeper, VA. M56 Culpeper.jpg
The outdoor display of M56 Scorpion 1740950 at VFW Post 2524, Culpeper, VA.

United States

South Korea

New Zealand

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured fighting vehicle</span> Combat vehicle with both armament and armour

An armoured fighting vehicle or armored fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured cars, assault guns, self-propelled artilleries, infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), and armoured personnel carriers (APC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assault gun</span> Class of self-propelled artillery

An assault gun is a type of armored infantry support vehicle and self-propelled artillery, mounting a infantry support gun on a protected self-propelled chassis, intended for providing infantry with direct fire support during engagement, especially against other infantry or fortified positions, secondarily also giving some armored protection and anti-armor capability. Assault guns were pioneered by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during the 1930s, initially being self-propelled guns with direct fire in mind, with Germany introducing the first purpose-built assault gun, the Sturmgeschütz III, in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tank destroyer</span> Armoured fighting vehicle designed to engage and destroy enemy tanks

A tank destroyer, tank hunter or tank killer is a type of armoured fighting vehicle, predominantly intended for anti-tank duties. They are typically armed with a direct fire artillery gun, also known as a self-propelled anti-tank gun, or missile launcher, also called an anti-tank missile carrier. The vehicles are designed specifically to engage and destroy enemy tanks, often with limited operational capacities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanized infantry</span> Units with transport and combat vehicles

Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M551 Sheridan</span> American light tank

The M551 "Sheridan" AR/AAV was a light tank developed by the United States and named after General Philip Sheridan, of American Civil War fame. It was designed to be landed by parachute and to swim across rivers. It was armed with the technically advanced but troublesome M81/M81 Modified/M81E1 152 mm gun/launcher, which fired both conventional ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh guided anti-tank missile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M50 Ontos</span> American tank destroyer

Ontos, officially the Rifle, Multiple 106 mm, Self-propelled, M50, was an American light armored tracked anti-tank vehicle developed in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SU-76</span> Light self-propelled gun

The SU-76 was a Soviet light self-propelled gun used during and after World War II. The SU-76 was based on a lengthened version of the T-70 light tank chassis and armed with the ZIS-3 mod. 1942 76-mm divisional field gun. Developed under the leadership of chief designer S.A. Ginzburg (1900–1943). Its quite simple construction and multipurpose combat role made it the second most produced Soviet armored fighting vehicle of World War II, after the T-34 medium tank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SU-85</span> Self-propelled anti-tank gun

The SU-85 was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as tank destroyers; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. As with the other AFVs in the SU series, the designation "85" refers to the vehicle's main armament, the 85 mm D-5T gun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISU-152</span> Soviet heavy assault gun

The ISU-152 is a Soviet self-propelled gun developed and used during World War II. It was unofficially nicknamed Zveroboy in response to several large German tanks and guns coming into service, including Tigers and Panthers. Since the ISU-152's gun was mounted in a casemate, aiming it was awkward, and had to be done by repositioning the entire vehicle using the tracks. Therefore, it was used as mobile artillery to support more mobile infantry and armor attacks. It continued service into the 1970s and was used in several campaigns and countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weapons of the Vietnam War</span> Weapons used in the Vietnam war

The Vietnam War involved the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) or North Vietnamese Army (NVA), National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (NLF) or Viet Cong (VC), and the armed forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), United States Armed Forces, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and New Zealand Defence Force, with a variety of irregular troops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M7 Priest</span> American self-propelled artillery vehicle

The 105 mm howitzer motor carriage M7 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during World War II. It was given the service name 105 mm self propelled, Priest by the British Army, due to the pulpit-like machine gun ring, and following on from the Bishop and the contemporary Deacon self-propelled guns.

<i>Panzerjäger</i> Branch of service of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War

Panzerjäger is a term used for an anti-tank vehicle, as well as anti-tank units. The term was first used in the Wehrmacht, and also post-war by the German Federal Republic Bundeswehr. The term Panzerjäger was used in the Bundeswehr as a designation of rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">90 mm gun M1/M2/M3</span> Type of anti-aircraft gun and anti-tank gun (M1, M2) and tank gun (M3)

The 90 mm gun M1/M2/M3 was an American heavy anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun, playing a role similar to the German 8.8cm Flak 18. It had a 3.5 in (90 mm) diameter bore, and a 50 caliber barrel, giving it a length of 15 ft (4.6 m). It was capable of firing a 3.5 in × 23.6 in shell 62,474 ft (19,042 m) horizontally, or a maximum altitude of 43,500 ft (13,300 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordnance QF 6-pounder</span> British anti-tank gun

The Ordnance quick-firing 6-pounder 7 cwt, or just 6-pounder, was a British 57 mm gun, serving during the Second World War as a primary anti-tank gun of both the British and United States Army. It was also used as the main armament for a number of armoured fighting vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post–World War II Sherman tanks</span> Medium tank

This article deals with Sherman tanks extensive use around the world after World War II and catalogues foreign post–World War II use and conversions of Sherman tanks and variants based on the Sherman chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASU-85</span> Soviet assault gun

The ASU-85 is a Soviet-designed airborne self-propelled gun of the Cold War era. From 1959, it began to replace the open-topped ASU-57 in service. It was, in turn, replaced by the BMD-1 beginning in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yad La-Shiryon</span> Military Museum in Latrun, Israel

Yad La-Shiryon is Israel's official memorial site for fallen soldiers from the armored corps, as well as one of the most diverse tank museums in the world. The cornerstone for Yad La-Shiryon was laid on December 14, 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2S25 Sprut-SD</span> Russian self-propelled tank destroyer

The 2S25 Sprut-SD is a self-propelled anti-tank gun developed and to be manufactured by the Volgograd Tractor Plant to meet the requirements of the VDV. In mid-2001, the Volgograd tractor plant revealed that the development of the 2S25 had lasted several years. The Bulgarian light amphibious tank project "Oktopod" was used in its design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanks of the United States in the Cold War</span>

This article deals with the history and development of American tanks from the end of World War II and during the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M41 howitzer motor carriage</span> Self-propelled artillery

The 155 mm howitzer motor carriage M41 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle built on a lengthened M24 Chaffee tank chassis that was introduced at the end of the Second World War. Out of a planned run of 250, only 85 were produced before cancellation of the order at the end of 1945. The M41 went on to serve extensively in the Korean War, its success influencing the design of later U.S. self-propelled artillery. The type was retired after the conclusion of that conflict but went on to serve in the French Army from 1956 to 1972.

References

Notes
  1. Rottman, Gordon L.; Anderson, Duncan (22 April 2008). The US Army in the Vietnam War 1965-73. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN   9781846032394 via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 Estes 2016, p. 44.
  3. Estes 2016, p. 46.
Bibliography