M706 / V-100 Commando
The V-100 Commando was a highly mobile, fully amphibious armored car used for reconnaissance, convoy escort, riot control, security and as a personnel carrier. The vehicle protected the crew from small arms fire, grenades and anti-personnel mines. All surfaces were angled for maximum deflection. The armor is up 1/4 inch thick. The vehicle is powered by 215 hp, 361 cu inch Chrysler V8 engine. Its 4 wheel drive, run flat tires and high clearance give it excellent mobility. It has a 550 mile range. Cadillac Gage built them in the mid- to late- 60s.
The V-100 APC originally was designed for convoy escort, reconnaissance, or police riot control. The first prototype was completed in March 1963 and production began in 1964. It is an amphibious vehicle with a hull of welded, high hardness ballistic armor plating which protects against small arms fire, grenades, and anti-personnel mines.
The commando was used extensively in Southeast Asia, not only by the U.S. Army [as the XM706E2] and U.S. Air Force, but also by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and Thai forces. The V-100, designated XM706E2 by the USAF, was employed by Air Force personnel for base perimeter defense during the was in Southeast Asia. They were used mainly by military police units and saw extensive service in Vietnam as road patrol vehicles.
In July 1967, V-100 Commando armored cars became a welcome addition to the 720th and 504th Military Police Battalions. Prior to their arrival, the 18th Military Police Brigade depended on gun-jeeps. The V-100 was tested and evaluated by the military police in Vietnam, resulting in an authorization for the procurement of seventy-two. They provided a big morale boost for the MP and were a great augmentation for the gun-jeeps. Due to added military police commitments and the fact that the battalion's V-100s were positioned in Saigon to assist the 716th MP Battalion, the 720th MP Battalion acquired twelve armored personnel carriers armed with .50-caliber machine guns. The importance of putting the carriers into action as soon as possible did not leave time for the MP to receive formal instruction on the operation of this vehicle. The MP instead took the initiative and learned on their own.
The M706 was used heavily in Vietnam war by United States forces mainly for light security vehicles, it had high rate of rear-axle failure. This system, produced by Textron Marine and Land Systems Division, is not currently used by the US military, although it is available for Foreign Military Sales. LAV-150s are in service in twenty countries.
