Armored Utility Vehicle M391-5

M39: General
Date of first acceptance October 1944 Total acceptances 640
Crew
10 men:
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Assistant driver in hull right front
  • 8 passengers
M39: Dimensions
Combat weight 35,500lbs
16,100kg		 Height over AAMG 80.5"
204cm
Length 214"
544cm		 Width overall 113"
287cm
Tread 94.625"
240.35cm		 Ground clearance 14.25"
36.20cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 11.25psi
.7898kg/cm²
M39: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG Concentric ring mount 6560258 900 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +85° to -13°
(manual)
M39: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .5"
1.3cm		 64°
Upper middle front .5"
1.3cm		 38°
Lower middle front .5"
1.3cm		 24°
Lower front .5"
1.3cm		 53°
Upper sides .5"
1.3cm		 23°
Lower sides .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Upper rear .5"
1.3cm		 13°
Lower rear .5"
1.3cm		 35°
Top .31"
.79cm		 90°
Floor .19"
.48cm		 90°
M39: Automotive
Engine Continental R-975-C4; 9 cylinder, 4 cycle, static radial, supercharged gasoline
Horsepower Net: 400@2,400rpm
Gross: 460@2,400rpm		 Torque Net: 940 ft-lb@1,700rpm
Gross: 1,025 ft-lb@1,800rpm		 Fuel capacity 165gal
625L
Transmission 900T Torqmatic, 3 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M39: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track 4 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
31-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track
M39: Track
T69
Center guide, single pin, rubber bushed, steel, parallel grouser
Width 12"
(14.375" including track pins)
30cm
(36.513cm including track pins)		 Pitch 5.09"
12.9cm		 Shoes/track 83 Ground contact length 116.5"
295.9cm
M39: Performance
Max level road speed 50mph
80kph		 Max trench 73.2"
186cm
Max grade 60% Angle of approach 28°
Angle of departure 26.5° Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter 66'
20m		 Max fording depth 48"
120cm
Cruising range ~100mi, roads
~160km, roads

The M39 used the hull of the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer with the turret replaced by a open-topped superstructure with a .50cal machine gun ring mount at the front. The M39 served as a personnel and cargo carrier or artillery towing vehicle.

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References

  1. TM 9-755 76-mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 and Armored Utility Vehicle M39. Washington, DC: War Dept., 25 Apr 1945.
  2. Hunnicutt, R.P. Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999. Reprinted with permission from Bradley, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1999, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  3. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  4. TM 9-2800-1/TO 19-75A-89 Military Vehicles (Ordnance Corps Responsibility). Washington, DC: Depts. of the Army and Air Force, 13 Feb 1953.
  5. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
Last updated 17 May 2023.
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© Copyright 2001-23 Chris Conners