VI50 (M706) Commando Series

The 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 system upgrades; Mexican-built DN-III/V Caballo. Also command, recovery, air defense, internal security, air force base security variants. DEVELOPMENT Manufactured by Cadillac Gage Co., Warren, Michigan, achieving initial operational capability in 1964. 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 between the V-100 and the V-200 and powered by a diesel engine. In 1985, the V-150 was replaced in production by the longer V150S. 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 of weapons and the relatively high ground clearance were considered assets. SPECIFICATIONS (V-150S) CREW 3 (commander, gunner, driver)+ 2 troops
COMBAT 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 hull 2 12.7mm -10/+55 400 ready, 1,000 in hull 1 20-mm Oerlikon -S/+55 200 ready, 200 in hull 1 25mm -8/+60 230 ready, 400 in hull 1 20-mm Vulcan 1,300 1 30mm 1 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 hull 1 81-mm mortar +40/+85 62 in hull TOW 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, doubleacting 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