Rumble in the Jungle: American Tanks in Vietnam

[Cedric]

Three of the five vehicles you mention are wheeled (and two of them essentially the same vehicle with different armament). Considerable effort was given to a conversion from wheels to tracks in the post-WWII environment due to mobility issues cross-country. Everything pretty much went to tracks and wheeled combat vehicles lost advocacy until the late '60's-early '70's with the introduction of several "scout" vehicles that were wheeled. XM800(W), XM808 Twister, XR311, V100 variants (Cadillac Gage) etc. Lockheed, in particular, pushed wheels. At the same time there were some publications comparing wheels vs. tracks with newer technology. Only the Stryker has found any real "traction".

Forgot half tracks in the squadron also. When you got up to Mechanized Cav groups such as the 2d there were 2=3 recon squadrons and a tank battalion. My point was whether wheeled or tracked or ideally a combination of both, we had the focus on recon with complimentary capabilities in WWII. I understand the movement to tracks because outside of Germany with its logging trails and manicured terrain, tracks would be necessary instead of wheels. However, putting all of our eggs in spinning off a CFV from an IFV as our singular solution was nuts.

 

[Ascout]

Forgot half tracks in the squadron also. When you got up to Mechanized Cav groups such as the 2d there were 2=3 recon squadrons and a tank battalion. My point was whether wheeled or tracked or ideally a combination of both, we had the focus on recon with complimentary capabilities in WWII. I understand the movement to tracks because outside of Germany with its logging trails and manicured terrain, tracks would be necessary instead of wheels. However, putting all of our eggs in spinning off a CFV from an IFV as our singular solution was nuts.

Halftracks were at the top of the list of alternatives to full-tracked vehicles to be axed. The entire creation of the APC class of vehicles owes itself to the inadequacies of the halftrack, esp. crew exposure. They still found some use in Korea but they were already condemned.
The Army had been given their Scout Platoon shot at designing two vehicles for it's composition...and screwed it up. When the XM800---- series came around it wasn't a hill worth dying on if the Bradley program was to be given a chance.

 

[LarryT]

A dear, late friend of mine was on the team that completely restored the M50 then at Ft. Knox, Patton Museum, completed in 2006. It resided there until the Armor Center got BRAC'ed to Ft. Benning/Moore. It is in the historical Cavalry and Armor Collection to this day. He left me a trove of information on the vehicle & lots of pics from it's restoration. RIP Don Moriarty.
Two views of the USMC M50A1 restored by the Patton Museum crew, left = 2006 when first completed. Right = 2021 at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, Ft. Moore. My photos.

Thanks for sharing.