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M-59 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Over 6,000 welded steel hull M-59 and M59A1 APCs were produced from 1953-1960 by FMC as a replacement for the more expensive M-75 APC. The M59 was itself replaced by the M-113 APC in the 1960s.

The fully amphibious M-59 incorporated many cost-saving civilian components. However, its twin engines were underpowered for its 21 tons and difficult to maintain.

The M-59 had a crew of two and could transport a squad of ten. Its dimensions were 7ft 10in high, 18ft 5 in long. It could travel 32mph on the road and 4mph in the water. Amphibious capability made the M59 very versitile but it was limited to calm water.

The commander's cupola was armed with a .50 cal. machine gun. The configuration changed as the M59 evolved through several variants. Early M59s had a rotating mount for one M2 HB .50 cal. machine gun around the commander's vision block cupola. Mid-production M59s were equipped with periscopes instead of vision blocks, but retained the external MG mount. Late-production M59s were fitted with the M13 cupola, armed with an internally-mounted .50 cal. machine gun.

The M84 was the mortar carrier version of the M59, configured with folding hatches that could be opened to deploy the mortar.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the M-59 Armored Personnel Carrier at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup:

M59 APC (left) and M48 Patton tank at checkpoint, West Berlin, circa 1961.
The 4.2-inch mortar is fired from the M84 armored mortar carrier, a variant of the M59 armored personnel carrier.
US Army M59 Armored Personnel Carriers in a public relations event, West Germany, 16 March 1959.
M-59 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) towing the warhead for an M31 Honest John tactical missile.
M59 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), serial number F3961, built by FMC in May 1958. This vehicle was Lot 1094 of The Jacques M. Littlefield Collection, Military Vehicle Technology Foundation, Portola Valley, CA, auctioned 11-12 July 2014 by Auctions America. Courtesy: Auctions America by RM.
M59 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), serial number F3961, built by FMC in May 1958. This vehicle was Lot 1094 of The Jacques M. Littlefield Collection, Military Vehicle Technology Foundation, Portola Valley, CA, auctioned 11-12 July 2014 by Auctions America. Courtesy: Auctions America by RM.

[Thanks to Jim Chorazy for help with this section.]

M-59 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) Photo Gallery

M-59 APC
M-59 APC.

M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

Detail of cupola on M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit
Detail of cupola on M-59 APC at the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, TX, 30 January 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Bob Pettit.

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