M42 Duster
The "Duster" as it's called, is a self propelled anti-aircraft defense weapon system. It is a fully armored vehicle with the engine at the rear. Although designed for deployment with armored divisions as a means of providing mobile anti-aircraft defense, their rapid rate of fire has proven to be an invaluable infantry support weapon against ground targets. Two Swedish Bofors 40mm fully automatic cannons are mounted in the turret, and can fire 240 rounds per minute. The chassis is based on an M41 light tank model with a flat opposed 6 cylinder air cooled gasoline engine, providing 500 hp. The gun system was used in World War II on a similar vehicle, and later upgraded to this model. It is manned by a crew of six men, and has a top speed of 45 mph.
The Duster self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was a result of design work during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Fist produced in 1952 and entering service in 1953, the M42 Duster hull was made of all-welded steel armor varying in thickness from 0.35in (9mm) to 1in (25mm). The Duster hull was a modified version of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank and included most of the same automotive components including the engine and transmission.
The Dusters in Vietnam played a key role in ground support and anti-guerilla activity.
