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The replica weapons on this M114 serve to illustrate what a fully-armed vehicle would resemble. Although amphibious, the small angle of approach served to limit the vehicle's ability to climb out of streams or up steep banks. The commander was armed with a .50cal machine gun, and a 7.62mm MG was positioned at the right rear by the observer's hatch.
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This picture gives a better view of the M114's band type tracks. The driver's hatch is open, and is visible resting on the front hull plate. The trim vane only reaches halfway up the hull front, and its outline can be seen in front of the headlight guards.
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The M114 featured a round rear entry door, and it is open on this vehicle. Visible on the door interior are the mounting points for three M72 light antitank weapons.
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Looking through the open hatch, the stations for the crewmen are visible. The observer was positioned in the right rear of the vehicle; his hatch is obvious in the roof, and his seat faces inward on the floor. The folded passenger jump seat is visible across from the observer's spot. The commander's cupola is in the center of the vehicle's roof, and the driver sat in the front left of the M114. The vehicle's engine compartment is to the driver's right, and a radio would normally be placed on the shelf just to the commander's left. Guards for the suspending torsion bars can be seen running across the floor.
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The driver's position is visible in this view. To his immediate right is the engine. The steering bar is obvious, as is the positioning of his M26 viewing periscopes. An infrared periscope M19 could be installed in his hatch for night operations. The switch just above the right arm of the steering bar is for dimming the headlights, and the large round structure in front of the driver is the engine's air cleaner.
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A closer view of the driver's position is presented here. His seatback is folded forward, allowing us to view the large holed accelerator pedal. The black knob to the right of the accelerator pedal is the parking brake lock. The brake pedal, hidden by the driver's seat, is at the end of the lever to the left of the accelerator, and to the left of the brake is a foot rest. The panel above the foot rest housed the round white accessory outlet receptacle, and below this is the larger black auxiliary power receptacle. The transmission shift lever is visible to the right of the steering bar. The stowage box for the M19 infrared periscope is nicely labeled, and the driver's switch panel is just ahead of the periscope box.
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© Copyright 2002 Chris Conners