Obrněné bojové vozidlo M114 – Fotografie a video

Fotogalerie M114, The M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier is a Vietnam War-era tracked armored fighting vehicle, used by the United States Army. It was manufactured by the Cadillac Division of General Motors in the early 1960s. The M114 was designed to be fast and stealthy. Like the larger M113, it was amphibious and could be deployed by parachute. However unlike the M113 which became one of the most successful armoured vehicles, it quickly proved unsuited to use in the Vietnam war, and was replaced in the reconnaissance role by the M551 Sheridan light tank. By 1973, it had been branded a failure and retired by the US Army, but some released as surplus continue to be used by police departments.

Zdroj: M114 na Wikipedii

Tá Bojové obrněné vozidlo M114 was a command and reconnaissance carrier that served in the Vietnam War with the United States Army. It was produced by the Cadillac Division of General Motors in the early 1960s, and was intended to be a fast and stealthy vehicle that could scout ahead of the main force and report enemy positions and movements. The M114 was based on the M113 armored personnel carrier, but was smaller, lighter and lower in profile. It had a three-man crew and was armed with a .50-caliber machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The M114 was also amphibious and air-droppable, making it versatile for different terrains and missions.
M114 se však brzy ukázal jako nespolehlivý, nedostatečně výkonný a zranitelný v boji. Měl špatný výkon v terénu, zejména v džungli Vietnamu, a byl náchylný k mechanickým poruchám. Chyběla také dostatečná ochrana posádky, která byla vystavena nepřátelské palbě a pozemním minám. M114 nebyl schopen snadno překonat příkopy nebo potoky a měl potíže s plaváním kvůli nízkému volnému boku. M114 byl stažen z Vietnamu v roce 1964 a nahrazen schopnějším lehkým tankem M551 Sheridan. M114 byl oficiálně vyřazen z americké armády v roce 1973 poté, co byl generálem Creightonem Abramsem považován za neúspěšný.