| M59 | |
|---|---|
_3.JPG) | |
| Type | Armored personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1954 – Late 1980s US |
| Wars | Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1951 |
| Manufacturer | FMC Corporation |
| Produced | 1953–1960 |
| No. built | 6,300 (approx) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 42,600 lb (19,300 kg) |
| Length | 5.61 m |
| Width | 3.26 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Crew | 2 (commander, driver) + 10 passengers |
| Armor | Welded steel between 25 mm to 9.5 mm thick |
| Engine | Two GMC Model 302 six-cylinder inline petrol engines 146 hp at 3600 rpm (per engine, combined 292 hp) |
| Transmission | Hydramatic model 301MG transmission |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Fuel capacity | 135 US gallons |
Operational range | 120 mi (190 km) |
| Maximum speed | Road: 32 mph (51 km/h) |
The M59 was an American armored personnel carrier that entered service in the spring of 1954 replacing the M75. It had three key advantages over the M75: it was amphibious, had a lower profile, and was considerably cheaper to produce. Production ended in 1960, by which time approximately 6,300 had been built. The M84 Mortar Carrier was a derivative of the M59. The M59 was replaced in service by the M113 family of vehicles.