Wednesday, September 20, 2006

M42A1 Duster.

Also on display was this M42 A1 Duster Tank.
The M42A1 Duster was an improvement on the old M19 Twin 40mm Anti-Aircraft Tank of World War II. The Duster was built by Cadillac and American Car and Foundry, using the M41 Walker Bulldog chassis. To avoid major reconstruction, the twin-gun turret was designed to fit into the hull turret ring in place of the normal tank turret. Production began in 1952 and continuted until 1957. A total of 3,700 Dusters were built. Its main purpose was to escort tank columns and provide medium range air defense against aircraft and attack helicopters. Now obsolete, the duster is still used in Austria, Germany, Japan and several Middle Eastern countries.

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