M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956-70: US Tank Destroyers of the Vietnam War

by Kenneth W Estes, Henry Morshead (Illustrator), Johnny Shumate (Illustrator)

Overview

Designed in the 1950s, the US Marines' M50 Ontos and the US Army's M56 Scorpion were both intended to be fast, light, air-droppable tank-killers for the Cold War battlefield—an answer to the cumbersome and ineffective World War II-vintage tanks that had taken to the battlefield during the Korean War. Although they shared the aim of bringing light, mobile, and lethal antitank firepower to the infantry, the two vehicles varied wildly in design to cater for their unique mission demands. They first saw service in the Lebanon intervention of 1958 but it was in the Vietnam War that they made their name, with the M50 Ontos seeing intense combat action in the 1968 Battle of Hue.

Detailed illustrations and expert analysis provide the reader with a comprehensive history of these deadly antitank vehicles, from early development through to their combat history and the eventual disbandment of the Marine Corps' last antitank battalion with M50A1s in 1971.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472814739
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	11/22/2016
Series:	New Vanguard , #240
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Kenneth W Estes is a Naval Academy graduate who served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the US Marine Corps until his retirement in 1993. He earned his doctorate in European History in 1984 and has taught at Duke University, the US Naval Academy, and local schools. He is the editor of several books, and has written extensively in military and academic journals throughout his career. Kenneth was made an Honorary Legionnaire in the Spanish Legion in 1992.

Henry Morshead is the Chief Designer for the Hill HX50 helicopter. He also works in the automotive and bespoke sectors, with clients including BAC Mono and Arrival, and is a STEM Ambassador with the Bloodhound supersonic car project. A former officer in the Royal Engineers and illustrator for Jane's, he maintains a keen interest in the design and use of military land and air vehicles.

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani, and Édouard Detaille.

Table of Contents

Introduction: original procurement concept of M50 & M56

M50 Ontos development

M56 Scorpion development

Into service, 1950s to Vietnam

Combat history in Vietnam

Analysis & Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

This volume is packed full of interesting photos of these vehicles and I particularly liked the illustrations that accompany the book. It is a great look at two little known, but pretty cool vehicles and one that you should have on your library shelves.” —Modeling Madness

From the Publisher