Lot 1011

The Littlefield Collection

Cargo Carrier M548A1

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$32,200 USD | Sold

United States | Portola Valley, California

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Addendum: PLEASE NOTE: This lot is being sold on Bill of Sale only

Weight: 14.1-tons (12,836-kg)

Length: 19' 4” (5.89-m)

Width: 8' 10” (2.69-m)

Height: 9' 3” (2.81-m)

Crew: 2-4

Armor:

None

Weapons:

Provision for 1x .50-cal M2HB machine gun or 1x 7.62-mm M60 machine gun

Ammunition:

600x .50-cal or ? x 7.62-mm

Cargo capacity: 6-tons (5,443-kg)

Engine: GM 6V53, 6-cylinder diesel, 212-hp

Power/weight: 15-hp/ton

Fuel Capacity: 105-USG (397-l)

Range: 300-miles (482-km)

Speed: 35-mph (56-km/h)

The vehicle being offered, Cargo Carrier M548A1, serial number MQ00JY, is in unrestored condition and is currently painted in its original U.S. Army summer MERDC pattern. It retains markings for its last known unit, 7th Bn, 9th Artillery Regiment. The exterior paint is in good condition and is as if it were still in a U.S. Army motor pool. All exterior lights are present. All doors open and close normally. The wheels and tracks are in serviceable condition. It runs and drives normally. The interior of the crew cab appears complete. All driver's controls function normally. All instruction placards and stencils appear to be in place. The cargo bed is in good condition. The bed cover is present and serviceable. The ring-mount for the machine gun needs to be installed over the crew cab.

In 1960, the Signal Corps set forth a requirement for a full-tracked vehicle that could carry the AN/MPQ-32 counter battery radar. Using the M113 armored personnel carrier as a basis for this new vehicle, FMC delivered two pilot model vehicles designated the XM548. Further development of the radar system showed that it would be too heavy for the suspension of the XM548 to handle and the project was cancelled. However, the work on the XM548 provided valuable information that was used when the Army Material Command Technical Committee Minutes of June 25, 1964, put forth the need for a new fully-tracked cargo carrier. This new carrier was initially designated XM548E1. It used the power train and running gear of the M113A1 APC. It was soon standardized as the cargo carrier M548.

The M548 quickly became the primary fully-tracked cargo carrier in the U.S. Army. It had a 6-ton payload and was used extensively as an ammunition carrier in self-propelled artillery units. It could also carry the extra crew members required for such weapons as the M107 175-mm SP gun and M110 series 8-inch howitzer. Along with being an ammunition carrier, the M548 series provided the basis for numerous other specialized vehicles including the M688 loader-transporter for Lance missiles, the M752 self-propelled launcher for Lance missiles, and the M730 Chaparral anti-aircraft missile system. The M548 could also be used to carry small radio and electronic warfare shelters.

When the M113A2 was introduced with an improved engine cooling system and upgraded suspension, the M548 was upgraded with it as well and became the M548A1. This started taking place in 1982. In 1994, a new power pack was installed and this created the M548A2.

The M548 series is still in U.S. Army service and has been exported to most NATO allies along with Iran, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland, just to name a few.

Transport Cost to Storage: $1,716