VI50 (M706) CommandoSeriesThe Commando series of light armored vehicles has been produced in a variety of configurations and is in widespread service. The basic Commando is a 4 X 4-wheeled vehicle with no vertical surfaces and a low superstructure or turret ring. Weapons fitted to the vehicle range from 7.62-mm machine guns to 90-mm cannon.

VARIANTS •V-100 with Chrysler 191-hp gasoline engine; V-200 in several variants to Singapore; V-150 with gasoline or diesel engine, five-speed manual transmission replaced by two-speed automatic; V-150S with 18-in (0.46-m) stretch and systemupgrades; Mexican-built DN-III/V Caballo. Also command, recovery, air defense, internal security, air force basesecurity variants.

DEVELOPMENT • Manufactured by Cadillac Gage Co., Warren, Michigan, achieving initial operational capability in1964. The original Commando was the gasoline-powered V-100 model. The V-200 was sold only to Singapore. Since 1971, the four-wheel production model has been the V-150, a model with a loaded weight approximately halfway betweenthe V-100 and the V-200 and powered by a diesel engine. In 1985, the V-150 was replaced in production by the longer V-150S. In limited US Air Force service, but operated by more than 20 other countries.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE • V-lOOs were used by the United States Army and Air Force in the Vietnam War. Although troubled at first by rear-axle failure, they proved handy as light security vehicles. The turret's ability to accept a variety ofweapons and the relatively high ground clearance were considered assets.

SPECIFICATIONS (V-150S) •CREW 3 (commander, gunner, driver)+ 2 troopsCOMBAT WEIGHT V-150 21,800 lb

(9,888 kg); V-150S 24,000 lb (10,886kg)DIMENSIONS

hull length V-100/150 18 ft 8 in (5.69m);V-150S20ft2in(6.14m) width 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) height to hull top 6 ft 6 in (1.98m) wheelbase V-100/150 8 ft 9 in (2.67m);V-150S10ft3in(3.12m)ground clearancehull 25.5 in (650mm),axles 15 in (380 m)MAIN ARMAMENT (options fitted toV-150/150S) GROUND # AND CALIBER ELEVATION (DEC) ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION

2 7.62mm -13/+55 800 ready, 3,000 in hull2 12.7mm -10/+55 400 ready, 1,000 in hull1 20-mm Oerlikon -S/+55 200 ready, 200 in hull1 25mm -8/+60 230 ready, 400 in hull1 20-mm Vulcan 1,3001 30mm1 12.7-mm MG and 40-mm grenade launcher -8/+4S 100 (40 mm), 200 (12.7 mm)1 76 mm 190mm -8/+2S 8 ready, 31 in hull1 81-mm mortar +40/+85 62 in hullTOW antitank 7 missiles in hull

ARMOR Cadloy steel armor plate protectsagainst 7.62-mm fire

POWERPLANT

Chrysler 191-hp liquid-cooled V-8 gasoline engine; power-to-weight ratio 20.23 hp/metric ton or Cummins V-504 202-hp liquid cooled V-8 automatic transmission with 4 forward/1 reverse gears; power-to-weight ratio V-150 20.43hp/metric on, V-150S 18.56 hp/ metric ton

SUSPENSION 4 X 4 (all wheels powered, front wheels steering), solid beam axle, semi-elliptic multileaf springs, double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers

SPEED 55 mph (89 km/h), 3.1 mph (5km/h) in water, road range 500 mi (800 km), cross-country range 400 mi (643 km)

OBSTACLE CLEARANCE vertical V-100/ 150 2 ft 0 in (0.61 m), V-150S 3 ft 0 in (0.91 m), gradient 60%, 30%, amphibious