M42A1 DUSTER EARLY TYPE

The M42 Duster was an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on a tracked chassis from the Cold War period. The first prototypes of the car were developed in the early 1950s, and serial production continued in 1952-1960. It is estimated that about 3,700 vehicles of this type were built. The drive was provided by a single engine Continental AOS-895-3 with a power of 500 hp. It was armed with two 40mm M2A1 automatic cannons and a single 12.7mm M1919A4 machine gun. The M42 Duster was built on the basis of the US Army's experience in the Korean War (1950-1953), which indicated the need to develop a new self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog tank was used to shorten the time of analytical and implementation works, as well as to facilitate later operation. The M2A1 automatic cannon, which was a license-produced version of the Bofors gun, was also used. Finally, a vehicle with good mobility and good maneuverability was created, capable of fighting air targets at a distance of up to 5,000 meters and ground targets at a distance of up to 9,000 meters. However, the M42 Duster had a relatively poor means of guidance and aiming which, with the development of jet aircraft in the 1960s, undermined its combat value. However, due to the high rate of fire, vehicles of this type were used on a large scale in the Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975) to defend bases and support their own infantry. The M42 Duster vehicles were used, among others, by Austria, Greece, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Taiwan and Turkey.