M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956–70

US Tank Destroyers of the Vietnam War

M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956–70 cover

M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956–70

US Tank Destroyers of the Vietnam War

Description

Designed in the 1950s, the US Marines' M50 Ontos and the US Army's M56 Scorpion were both intended to be fast, light, air-droppable tank-killers for the Cold War battlefield – an answer to the cumbersome and ineffective World War II-vintage tanks that had taken to the battlefield during the Korean War. Although they shared the aim of bringing light, mobile and lethal antitank firepower to the infantry the two vehicles varied wildly in design to cater for their unique mission demands. They first saw service in the Lebanon intervention of 1958 but it was in the Vietnam War that they made their name, with the M50 Ontos seeing intense combat action in the Battle of Hue in 1968.
Detailed illustrations and expert analysis provide the reader with a comprehensive history of these deadly antitank vehicles, from early development through to their combat history and the eventual disbandment of the Marine Corps' last antitank battalion with M50A1s in 1971.

Table of Contents

Introduction: original procurement concept of M50 & M56 /M50 Ontos development /M56 Scorpion development /Into service, 1950s to Vietnam /Combat history in Vietnam /Analysis & Conclusion /Bibliography /Index

Product details

Published 17 Nov 2016
Format Ebook (Epub)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781472814753
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 7 col
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 240
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Illustrator

Henry Morshead

Henry Morshead is the Chief Designer for the Hill…

Illustrator

Johnny Shumate

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator li…

Resources

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