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M42 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (Duster) |
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The M42 “Duster” was based on the M-41 Walker Bulldog, and was developed in the early 1950s. The first production vehicles were completed in 1951.
The chassis was the same as the M-41’s, with five dual road wheels per side, three return rollers, a front idler wheel, and a rear sprocket.It featured a large power-operated open-topped turret with twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns. The guns were fitted with flash suppressors, and could fire at a rate of 120 rounds per minute per barrel. The weapons‘ effective range was 1,300 meters, and they could also be used in the ground fire role. Target acquisition and tracking was by optical sights only.The Bundeswehr used 469 M42s and were a major improvement in air defense for field formations. Its cross-country mobility allowed it to keep up with the fastest-moving armored elements, but it could only fire accurately while stationary. It was finally replaced by the Gepard anti-aircraft tank (which was based on the Leopard I) in 1979.
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