Was the Ontos good?
The North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong had almost no armor of their own, but the Ontos was an excellent fire-support vehicle. It fired high-explosive shaped charges into fixed positions and “beehive” anti-personnel rounds — which were packed with thousands of sharp steel projectiles — at charging enemy troops.
What tank did the Marines use in Vietnam?
The M48A3 medium tank was the most numerous tank employed by the US during the Vietnam War. Serving with both Army and USMC armored units the M48 saw extensive use and produced numerous variants. Developed from the M47 “General Patton” tank, some 11,703 M48s were built between 1952 and 1959.
Are there tank destroyers still used?
Since World War II, gun-armed powerful tank destroyers have fallen out of favor as armies have favored multirole main battle tanks. However, lightly armored anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) carriers are commonly used for supplementary long-range anti-tank work.
How does a recoilless rifle work?
On firing, the propellant expands rapidly, pushing the pistons outward. This pushes the projectile forwards towards the target and the countermass backwards providing the recoilless effect.
Was the M50 ontos good?
The M50 Ontos was a powerful psychological weapon as well thanks to its distinct and easily identifiable profile. Wartime accounts by veteran Marines from that conflict suggest that the M50’s destructive potential was recognized by the North Vietnamese and actively avoided.
What is the best tank destroyer of WWII?
The Hellcat was the most effective U.S. tank destroyer of World War II. It had a higher kill to loss ratio than any other tank or tank destroyer fielded by U.S. forces in World War II. Kills claimed were 526 in total: 498 in Europe, 17 in Italy, and 11 in the Pacific.
What is the Ontos anti tank vehicle?
The Ontos Anti-Tank Vehicle. By any measure, the Ontos was one of the most interesting “things” to come down the road of United States military armored development. The idea for this vehicle was born in the aftermath of World War II when the U.S. Army perceived the need for a new reconnaissance vehicle.
What is the history of the US Marine Corps Tank Destroyer?
The idea for this vehicle was born in the aftermath of World War II when the U.S. Army perceived the need for a new reconnaissance vehicle. Then it evolved into a tank destroyer for use with the Army on the nuclear battlefields of Europe. Next it was deployed in Marine Corps anti-tank (AT) battalions.
When was the Ontos removed from service?
The American stock of Ontos was largely expended towards the end of the conflict and the Ontos was removed from service in 1969. The Ontos (Greek for “thing”) project was created to be an air transportable tank destroyer capable of being lifted by the cargo aircraft of the 1950s.
What was the Ontos in the Marines?
For Marines, being shot at was nothing new. The Ontos’ official name was: “Rifle, Multiple 106 mm self-propelled M50.” At its heart was the M40 106 mm recoilless rifle, a weapon which had been developed after World War II as a tank killer, based on the earlier M27, 105 mm recoilless rifle, which turned out to have a number of key deficiencies.