M6 Bradley Linebacker1-4

M6: General
Date of first acceptance November 1997 Total acceptances 99
Manufacturers
  • United Defense, L.P.
  • Boeing Corp.
Crew 4 men
M6: Dimensions
Combat weight 64,000lbs
29,000kg
Height 102"
260cm
Length 256"
650cm
Gun overhang forward 0"
Width 142"
360cm
Tread 96"
240cm
Turret ring diameter 60"
150cm
M6: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
25mm Chain Gun M242 Bushmaster Turret 600 rounds
(300 ready)
360°
(manual and electric)
+59° to -9°
(manual and electric)
7.62mm M240C MG Coaxial to 25mm gun 3,600 rounds 360°
(manual and electric)
+59° to -9°
(manual and electric)
Quadruple Stinger missile launcher Turret 6 Stinger missiles + 4 in launcher 360°
(manual and electric)
N/A
Aiming equipment
Integrated sight unit and backup sight for gunner and commander
Rangefinder
Laser
Stabilizer
Azimuth and elevation
Night vision
Thermal
M6: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Steel, 5083 aluminum, and 7039 aluminum armor
Turret
Steel and 5083 aluminum armor
M6: Automotive
Engine Cummins VTA-903T; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee, turbosupercharged diesel
Horsepower Gross: 600@2,600 rpm Torque Gross: 1,225 ft-lb@2,350rpm Fuel capacity 175gal
662L
Transmission General Electric HMPT-500-3 or HMPT-500-3EC hydromechanical, automatic range selection
Steering Hydrostatic, steering yoke
Brakes Multiple plate, oil cooled
M6: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 6 individually sprung dual/track 1 dual/track, 2 single/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
11-tooth front drive Dual adjustable at rear of track On first 3 and last road wheels/track
M6: Track
Center guide, single pin, steel with detachable rubber pad
Width 21"
53cm
Pitch 6"
15cm
Shoes/track Left side: 84
Right side: 82
Ground contact length 154"
391cm
M6: Performance
Max level road speed 37mph
60kph
Max water speed 4.0mph
6.5kph
Max trench 100"
250cm
Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter Pivot
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~280mi, roads
~450km, roads

The M6 Bradley Linebacker was a short-range air defense vehicle based on the M2A2ODS Bradley. The twin-tube TOW missile launcher was replaced by a standard vehicle mounted launcher holding four Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and a further six missiles were stowed in the passenger compartment. The M6 was provided with a digital compass that allowed the turret to automatically traverse onto a target that had been acquired by the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel acquisition radar. The M6 could engage targets at speeds of up to 40kph (25mph). All M6s were converted into other Bradley variants by 2006.

The infrared-guided fire-and-forget Stinger missiles used included the FIM-92D and Block I FIM-92E. The missiles were 70mm (2.8") in diameter and 150cm (59") long with a 3kg (6.6lb) high explosive-fragmentation warhead. Performance data included a maximum speed of Mach 2.2, engagement range of 200-4500m (220-4900yd), and a maximum altitude of 3800m (4200yd).

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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. Green, Michael, and James D. Brown. M2/M3 Bradley at War. Minneapolis: Zenith Press, 2007.
  3. Kable. "Bradley Linebacker - Army Technology." Army Technology. 25 Mar 2018 <http://www.army-technology.com/projects/linebacker/>.
  4. "M6 Linebacker." GlobalSecurity.org. 7 Jul 2011. 25 Mar 2018 <https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m6.htm>.
Last updated 12 Mar 2024.
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