Obrnené bojové vozidlo M114 – fotografie a video

Fotogaléria 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.

Zdrojový: M114 na Wikipédii

Komisia Bojové obrnené 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 sa však čoskoro ukázal ako nespoľahlivý, nedostatočne výkonný a zraniteľný v boji. Mal slabý výkon v teréne, najmä v džungli Vietnamu, a bol náchylný na mechanické poruchy. Chýbala mu tiež primeraná ochrana posádky, ktorá bola vystavená nepriateľskej paľbe a nášľapným mínam. M114 nebol schopný ľahko prekročiť priekopy alebo potoky a mal problémy s plávaním kvôli nízkemu voľnému boku. M114 bol stiahnutý z Vietnamu v roku 1964 a nahradený schopnejším ľahkým tankom M551 Sheridan. M114 bol oficiálne vyradený z americkej armády v roku 1973, potom, čo bol považovaný za zlyhanie generálom Creightonom Abramsom.