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M114
M114A1

Armored Command and Reconnaissance Carrier M1141-9

M114: General
Date of first acceptance 1962 Total acceptances 615
Manufacturer Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp. Crew
4 men:
  • Commander in hull center
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Observer in hull right rear
  • Passenger in hull left rear
M114: Dimensions
Combat weight 15,093lbs
6846.2kg		 Height over MG 94.1"
239cm
Length 175.75"
446.41cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width over track shrouds 91.75"
233.0cm		 Tread 72.75"
184.8cm
Ground clearance 14.25"
36.20cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 5.0psi
.35kg/cm²
M114: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse
.50cal M2HB MG Commander's cupola 1000 rounds 360°
(manual)
7.62mm M60 MG Flexible on mount M142 3000 rounds 360°
(manual)
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M114: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled aluminum armor
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.25"
3.18cm		 70°
Lower front 1.75"
4.45cm		 28°
Upper sides 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Lower sides .75"
1.9cm		 0°
Rear 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Top 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Floor 1.00"
2.54cm		 90°
M114: Automotive
Engine Chevrolet 283-V8 Military; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 115@3600rpm
Gross: 160@4200rpm		 Torque Net: 210 ft-lb@2400rpm
Gross: 240 ft-lb@2800rpm		 Fuel capacity 110gal
420L
Transmission Hydramatic Model 305MC, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Allison GS 100-3, geared, clutch-brake, steering bar
Brakes Multiple plate, oil cooled
M114: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 4 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
M114: Track
T135
Double center guide, band type
Width 16.5"
41.9cm		 Pitch 32" long sections;
4" cross bar pitch
81cm long sections;
10cm cross bar pitch		 Shoes/track 10 sections/track;
160 cross bars/track		 Ground contact length 91"
230cm
T135E1
Double center guide, band type
Width 16.5"
41.9cm		 Pitch 32" long sections;
4" cross bar pitch
81cm long sections;
10cm cross bar pitch		 Shoes/track 10 sections/track;
160 cross bars/track		 Ground contact length 91"
230cm
M114: Performance
Max level road speed 36mph
58kph		 Max water speed 3.4mph
5.5kph
Max trench 60"
150cm		 Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 20"
51cm		 Min turning diameter 16'
4.9m
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~275mi, roads
~443km, roads

The boxy M114 somewhat visually resembled the M113 APC, but was smaller and performed a different task. However, the front hull of the M114 extended in front of the tracks, which made crossing ditches or climbing out of streams very difficult. This and other cross-country limitations caused the US Army to initiate retirement of the M114 in 1973; the last vehicles were removed from the inventory in the early 1980s.

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Armored Command and Reconnaissance Carrier M114A11-10

M114A1: General
Date of first acceptance 1962 Total acceptances 3095
Manufacturer Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors Corp. Crew
4 men:
  • Commander in hull center
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Observer in hull right rear
  • Passenger in hull left rear
M114A1: Dimensions
Combat weight 15,276lbs
6929.2kg		 Height over MG 84.9"
216cm
Length 175.75"
446.41cm		 Gun overhang forward 0"
Width over track shrouds 91.75"
233.0cm		 Tread 72.75"
184.8cm
Ground clearance 14.25"
36.20cm		 Ground pressure, zero penetration 5.1psi
.36kg/cm²
M114A1: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
.50cal M2TTHB MG M26 cupola 1000 rounds 360°
(manual)		 +60° to -15°
(manual)
7.62mm M60 MG Flexible on mount M142 3000 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
Night vision
Infrared periscope M19 for driver
M114A1: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled aluminum armor
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front 1.25"
3.18cm		 70°
Lower front 1.75"
4.45cm		 28°
Upper sides 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Lower sides .75"
1.9cm		 0°
Rear 1.25"
3.18cm		 0°
Top 1.5"
3.8cm		 90°
Floor 1.00"
2.54cm		 90°
M114A1: Automotive
Engine Chevrolet 283-V8 Military; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 115@3600rpm
Gross: 160@4200rpm		 Torque Net: 210 ft-lb@2400rpm
Gross: 240 ft-lb@2800rpm		 Fuel capacity 110gal
420L
Transmission Hydramatic Model 305MC, 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Allison GS 100-3, geared, clutch-brake, steering bar
Brakes Multiple plate, oil cooled
M114A1: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 4 individually sprung dual/track Flat track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first and last road wheels/track
M114A1: Track
T135
Double center guide, band type
Width 16.5"
41.9cm		 Pitch 32" long sections;
4" cross bar pitch
81cm long sections;
10cm cross bar pitch		 Shoes/track 10 sections/track;
160 cross bars/track		 Ground contact length 91"
230cm
T135E1
Double center guide, band type
Width 16.5"
41.9cm		 Pitch 32" long sections;
4" cross bar pitch
81cm long sections;
10cm cross bar pitch		 Shoes/track 10 sections/track;
160 cross bars/track		 Ground contact length 91"
230cm
M114A1: Performance
Max level road speed 36mph
58kph		 Max water speed 3.4mph
5.5kph
Max trench 60"
150cm		 Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 20"
51cm		 Min turning diameter 16'
4.9m
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~275mi, roads
~443km, roads

The M114A1 was armed with a new commander's weapon station, and the .50cal MG could be aimed and fired from within the vehicle. The new weapon station was lower than the M114's external machine gun mount, and M114A1 also featured a reinforced trim vane. The manual traverse for the cupola was superseded by hydraulic traverse from late 1963 with vehicle serial number 2520. The maximum powered traverse rate was 94°/second.

In 1969 the 20mm automatic gun M139, which was the designation given to the Hispano-Suiza HS-820, replaced the .50cal MG on some M114A1s; these were designated M114A1E1 and weighed 15,678lb (7,111.5kg). Four hundred 20mm rounds were carried in 25-round containers. When armed with the 20mm gun, the M26 cupola was renamed M27.

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References

  1. 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.
  2. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
  3. TM 9-2320-224-10 C4 Operator's Manual for Carrier, Command and Reconnaissance: Armored, M114/M114A1 (2320-860-2349) (2320-987-9536). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 25 November 1964.
  4. TM 9-2350-244-24P Organizational, Direct Support, and General Support Maintenance Repair Parts and Special Tools List (Including Depot Maintenance Repair Parts and Special Tools) Carrier, Command and Reconnaissance: Armored, M114 (2230-860-2349) and Armored, M114A1 (2320-987-9536). Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 8 March 1972.
  5. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.
  6. Holloway, Mark. "M114's." E-mail to the author. 23 Nov 2001.
  7. TM 9-2320-224-10 C9 Operator's Manual for Carrier, Command and Reconnaissance: Armored, M114 (2320-860-2349) M114A1 (2320-987-9536) M114A1E1 (2320-937-6189). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 25 November 1964.
  8. TM 9-2530-200-24 Organizational, Direct Support and General Support Maintenance Manual Standards for Inspection and Classification of Tracks, Track Components and Solid-rubber Tires (FSC 2530). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 15 July 1976.
  9. Track Data. Warren, MI: Track & Suspension Laboratory, Components Research and Development Laboratories, Research & Engineering Directorate, US Army Tank-Automotive Center, 23 June 1965.
  10. Tactical Vehicles. Fort Benning, GA: US Army Infantry School, June 1969.
Last updated 13 Feb 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners