Please note that this is just a reference image and does not represent the exact model I am suggesting, please see image labeled m355 for the exact version I am suggesting
The M35A1 is a transport truck that was designed by General Motors. It was used during the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was used to transport troops and supplies; while it was in Vietnam, a number of the flatbed variants of the truck were modified to be used as anti-aircraft vehicles, however, they were not very effective in that role due to the fast speeds of newer aircraft and were later on put to use as fire support vehicles due to their high rate of fire being able to offer suppressive fire and “mow down” vegetated areas that infantry often found themselves in. The truck was mounted with a small amount of additional armor to the sides of the driver and co-driver. Along with that, it was given an m45 quad .50 gun mount, the same mount seen on the M16 in the US and Japanese tech trees. The m35 is a sibling to the CCKW 353 (M45) seen in the Chinese TT, as it is indeed the same design. And the M35A1 shares the exact quad gun mount seen on the, with the only major difference being the visual model, increased armor for the driver and co-driver, and the addition of the M60 machine gun.
the m45 mount
The M45 mount is known to be the primary weapon, it is comprised of 4 12.7mm Browning heavy machine guns mounted on a turret with 360 degrees of rotation. However, when seen on the M35A1, it is occasionally seen to be modified with two additional armor plates to the side of the mount, likely to protect the ammo that is behind it.
In addition to this, it was also occasionally equipped with a 7.62mm M60 machine gun mounted in front of the co-driver position (most likely for use in defending the truck from the front)
BASE VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS
Classification: SPAAG (self-propelled anti-aircraft gun)
Built: 1950-1988
Operated: 1951-2000’s (with the US military/National Guard)
6x6 all-wheel drive
Top speed: fwd 56 mph /rev 9 mph *
Cruising speed: 46mph
Engine: 140hp Continental LDS 427-2
Transmission: 5-speed fwd/ 1 reverse gear *
Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander/machine gunner)
Weight: greater than 2 1/2 tons
Armor thickness:
Front: 1-2mm
Sides: 1-2mm
Top: none
Additional armor thickness: There is no exact info due to the add-on armor being unauthorized field modifications done by the crews with whatever they could get their hands on, but it is likely less than 1inch in thickness and would offer protection against rounds up to 7.62 at the most
“These trucks were designed and built by 18- and 19-year-old cocky males protecting their convoy, not a college-educated truck designer sitting at a desk in a Detroit office who was awarded a contract! The Army brass had nothing to do with these trucks. No two trucks were exactly alike, ‘Army issue.’”
-An unknown veteran of the 359th stated this to describe the creation of the gun trucks
The additional armor seen on the M35A1 was not standardized, so the exact armor thickness would be left up to the designers.
POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS
Tier 1: Tires-Improved Parts-horizontal drive-API- Add on cab armor
Tier 2: Suspension-Brakes-FPE-Adjustment of fire-AP
Tier 3: Transmission-Filters-Crew replenishment-Add on gun armor-APIT-Vertical drive
Tier 4: Engine-Artillery support- M60 LMG
. * -https://www.liberatedmanuals.com/TM-9-2320-209-10-1.pdf page 52
images
sorry for the poor quality images, it was Vietnam after all so the camera quality wasn’t that great.
- YES (with additional armor)
- YES (without additional armor)
- YES (with the additional armor as a modification)
- NO
- 2.7
- 3.0
- 3.3
- 3.7
- 4.0
- I said no
- M45 mount +M60 LMG
- M45’S mount only
M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck - Wikipedia (not a source I actually used it just has info on the m35 in general)
Personal request: While this may be unusual I don’t think that its anything that would be against any rules regarding suggestions, my request is simple: to have the driver view be located inside the cab like how the m3 GMC’s driver view is and not in front of the windshield like seen on many trucks
