M59 APC – WalkAround

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The **M59 Armored Personnel Carrier** was a tracked military vehicle developed by the United States in the early 1950s. It was designed to replace the earlier, heavier, and more expensive M75 APC, with a primary focus on reducing cost and adding an amphibious capability.

Key Characteristics

While often nicknamed a “box on tracks” due to its simple, slab-sided appearance, the M59 was a significant, albeit transitional, vehicle for the U.S. Army.

• Amphibious: A major upgrade over the M75, the M59 could float and propel itself in calm water using its tracks.
• Cost-Saving Design: To keep production costs low, it utilized two smaller, less powerful civilian truck engines—one mounted on each side of the hull—rather than a single, expensive military engine. This dual engine arrangement, however, became known for reliability issues.
• Capacity: It was crewed by two (a driver and commander) and could transport up to 10 fully equipped infantry soldiers.
• Access: Troops entered and exited via a large, power-operated rear ramp, which included a smaller emergency escape door.
• Low Profile: It had a lower height than the M75, making it a slightly less visible target.

Specifications at a Glance

Feature	Detail
**Type**	Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
**Mass (Combat)**	approx 19,300 kg (42,600 lbs)
**Crew/Capacity**	2 crew + 10 passengers
**Armament**	One .50-caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun
**Powerplant**	Twin GMC Model 302 inline gasoline engines (approx 292 hp combined)
**Max Road Speed**	approx 51 km/h (32 mph)
**Armor**	Welded steel (approx 9.5 mm to 25 mm thick)

Service History

The M59 entered service in **1954** and was the standard U.S. Army APC for several years, seeing use in the **Vietnam War**. Production ended around 1960 as it was quickly phased out by the significantly improved and highly successful aluminum-hulled **M113 APC**.

Variant

The most common variant was the **M84 Mortar Carrier**, which mounted a 4.2-inch M30 mortar within the troop compartment for indirect fire support.

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