Type cargo carrier In service 1960–present | Used by Swiss Army | |
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Length 4.863 metres (15 ft 11.5 in) | ||
The M548 is a tracked cargo carrier. It is based on the M113 armored personnel carrier, and was built by FMC Corp. in San Jose, California in the USA.
Contents
Design
Its light weight allows the use of a relatively small engine to power the vehicle, a 6V53 Detroit 2-stroke six cylinder diesel, with an Allison TX-100-1 3-speed automatic transmission, and allows the vehicle to carry a large payload cross-country and to be transported by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
The driving gear is a rotating rod spring-loaded 7-roll drive. It consists of five wheels, a guide wheel at the rear and the front drive wheel. Support rollers are not necessary because of the taut and relatively light chain. In off-road driving, the driver must be careful to keep the chain tension constant. Even with a failed torsion bar of the M548 is still roadworthy. The power of the motor drives the intermediate drive, generator and oil pump for the hydraulic ramp and cooling of the steering gear. Of the intermediate drive can be used as a separating clutch in the towing of the vehicle and serves to reduce the motor speed. In the power transmission between the drive follows the torque converter with automatic lock-up clutch.
United States
It has the same improvements as M113A2. Improved suspension and cooling system. Entered service in 1982.
In Swiss Army Service
The M548 was mainly used as ammunition transporter in the units equipped with the self-propelled M109 howitzer. Also the armor and weapons mechanic schools recruits as well as at the tank mortar unit 16/5 also used the M548. The usual load is 10 pallets to 8 projectile 15.5 cm including charges and detonators. The handling is done with an electric hoist. A M548 is located in the Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full.