Heavy Recovery Vehicle M511-2
M51: General
Date of first acceptance August 1954 Total acceptances 187
Manufacturer Chrysler Corp. Crew
4 men:
  • Commander in cab center
  • Crane operator in cab right rear
  • Rigger in cab right front
  • Driver in cab left front
M51: Dimensions
Combat weight ~120,000lbs
~54,400kg		 Height over AAMG ~129"
~328cm
Length with boom and spade in travel position 399"
1010cm		 Width over tracks 143.0"
363.2cm
Tread 115.0"
292.1cm		 Ground clearance 18"
46cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration 11.5psi
.810kg/cm²
M51: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2HB MG AA mount on commander's cupola 1500 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M51: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .75"
1.9cm		 36°
Lower front 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Upper sides .75"
1.9cm		 0°
Lower sides 1.0"
2.5cm		 0°
Upper rear .75"
1.9cm		 0°
Lower rear 1.5"
3.8cm		 0°
Top .75"
1.9cm		 90°
Front floor 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Rear floor 1.0"
2.5cm		 90°
M51: Automotive
Engine Continental AVSI-1790-6; 12 cylinder, 4 cycle, 90° vee supercharged fuel-injected gasoline
Horsepower Net: 765@2800rpm
Gross: 980@2800rpm		 Torque Net: 1670 ft-lb@2100rpm
Gross: 1870@2400rpm		 Fuel capacity 400gal
1500L
Transmission XT-1400-2A, 3 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Steering Mechanical, T-bar
Brakes Multiple disc
M51: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 7 independently sprung dual/track 4 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth rear drive Dual compensating at front of track On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track
M51: Track
T107
Center guide, double pin, rubber chevron
Width 28"
71cm		 Pitch 7.09"
18.0cm		 Shoes/track 81 Ground contact length 186.25"
473.08cm
M51: Performance
Max level road speed 30mph sustained
48kph sustained		 Max trench 110"
280cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter Pivot Max fording depth 60"
150cm
Cruising range ~150mi
~240km


The M51 heavy recovery vehicle utilized suspension components of the 120mm gun tank M103. A 30-ton (27-metric ton) crane boom occupied the center of the vehicle, and a 45-ton (41-metric ton) winch was located in the front of the vehicle. A 5-ton (4500kg) auxiliary winch was located beside the main winch and was accessible through a hatch in the hull front. During recovery operations, the vehicle was stabilized by spades fitted to the bow and rear.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1988.

  2. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.



Last updated 12 Dec 2006.

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© Copyright 2001-06 Chris Conners