All statistics for M50

Weight: 9.5 tons (8,640kg)

Length: 12' 6” (3.83m)

Width: 7' 6” (2.59m)

Height: 7' 0” (2.13m)

Crew: 3

Armor:

.5” (13mm) all around

Weapons:

-Primary

6x 106mm Recoilless Rifle M40A1C

-Secondary

4x .50cal Spotting Rifle M8C

1x .30cal M1919A4 machine gun

-Ammunition

18x 106mm

80x .50cal

1,000x .30cal

Engine: General Motors Model 302, 6 cylinder

Power/weight: 13hp/ton

Fuel Capacity: 47USG (177l)

Range: 115 miles (185km)

Speed: 30mph (48km/h)

The vehicle being offered, T165E1 Pilot Model Ontos, is in need of a complete restoration. Many pieces are missing. The overall hull armor is intact. Wheels and tracks are present and appear to be serviceable. All weaponry is missing.

Design work on the Ontos (Greek for “thing”) began in late 1951. The vehicle was initially designed to be a low cost, lightweight, and highly mobile on a universal chassis. This would allow it to be built as an armored personnel carrier (apc) or anti-tank vehicle. The first two pilot vehicles were completed as apc's in 1952. A third vehicle was equipped with a single 106mm recoilless rifle and was completed in July 1952. Various other pilots were built as apc's or with 6 recoilless rifles.

A six recoilless rifle equipped pilot, the T165E2, was standardized in 1955 as the multiple 106mm self-propelled rifle M50. 297 were built by Allis Chalmers for the United States Marine Corps with production ending in November 1957. The M50 was powered by a General Motors 302, 6-cylinder engine. It was armed with six 106mm M40A1C recoilless rifles. Each one could be dismounted for ground use as needed. The 3 man crew was protected by .5” (13mm) thick armor. Between 1963 and 1965, 176 M50's were converted into M50A1's by exchanging the GM 6-cylinder for a Chrysler 361 V8.

The Ontos was used heavily by the USMC in the Vietnam War. Lacking suitable armor targets for its 106mm recoilless rifles, it was used as a direct fire weapon in support of USMC infantry. Its 106mm rounds packed a good punch and were effective at engaging bunkers and other built up positions. The flechette or “beehive” anti-personnel round was devastating when engaging VC or NVA infantry attacks.

The Ontos units were deactivated in 1969. Many of the vehicles were scrapped with a large number ending up as hard targets at the China Lake Naval Weapons Facility in California.

Transport Cost to Storage: $1,188