M106 mortar carrier

The M106 is a tracked 4.2-inch mortar carrier: a lightweight, low-profile armoured personnel carrier adapted to transport a heavy mortar and its four-man crew. It was built from the early 1960s by the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) of San Jose, California, and shares its chassis and running gear with a large family of related vehicles.

Design

The hull is made of aluminium and the vehicle weighs about 9.5 tonnes (21,000 lb). Power comes from a Detroit Diesel engine giving a road speed of about 64 km/h (40 mph); the note in the archive says it was among the US Army's first diesel-powered vehicles, chosen for better fuel economy and lower fire risk. Its light weight makes it air-transportable.

The M106 can swim on inland lakes and rivers. In the water, as on land, it is driven and steered by its tracks alone.

Service

The vehicle saw extensive combat in Vietnam and has served with many armies around the world. The archive note's claim of more than 120,000 built refers to the whole chassis family rather than the mortar carrier alone.