T249 Vigilante
Encyclopedia
The T249 Vigilante was a prototype 37 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) designed as a replacement for the Bofors 40 mm gun
and M42 Duster
in US Army service. The system consisted of a 37 mm T250 six-barrel Gatling gun
mounted on a lengthened M113 armored personnel carrier
platform. In the early 1960s, the Army decided that gun-based systems were outdated, and canceled further development in favor of the MIM-46 Mauler
missile system that also failed to enter service. Sperry later revived the Vigilante, rechambering it for NATO-standard 35x228mm rounds and mounting it on a M48 tank
chassis for the DIVADs contest. However, it ultimately lost to Ford's M247 Sergeant York
.
, it was decided that Springfield Armory take responsibility due to their previous development experience with smaller caliber rotary cannon such the 20mm T171
. The T250 was the largest Gatling gun ever assembled. Its 37x219mmSR round was based upon a shortened and necked-down 40x311mmR Bofors cartridge case. Hydraulically powered, the gun was able to vary between 120 rpm for ground targets and 3,000 rpm for air targets. It had a 192-round drum magazine, which in the 3,000 rpm mode would have equated to approximately 5 seconds of fire. When Springfield engineers finished their work in 1962, the design was handed over to Watervliet for production. The Sperry Utah Engineering Laboratory was selected to handle the integration of the T250 gun with the modified M113 chassis to create the T249.
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
and M42 Duster
M42 Duster
The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or "Duster," is an armored light air-defense gun built for the U.S. Army from 1952 until December 1959. Production of this vehicle was performed by the tank division of the General Motors Corporation. It used components from the M41 light tank...
in US Army service. The system consisted of a 37 mm T250 six-barrel Gatling gun
Gatling gun
The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. It is well known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat...
mounted on a lengthened M113 armored personnel carrier
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
platform. In the early 1960s, the Army decided that gun-based systems were outdated, and canceled further development in favor of the MIM-46 Mauler
MIM-46 Mauler
The General Dynamics MIM-46 Mauler was a self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system designed to a late 1950s US Army requirement for a system to combat low-flying high-performance tactical fighters and short-range ballistic missiles...
missile system that also failed to enter service. Sperry later revived the Vigilante, rechambering it for NATO-standard 35x228mm rounds and mounting it on a M48 tank
M48 Patton
The M48 Patton is a medium tank that was designed in the United States. It was the third and final tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle It was a...
chassis for the DIVADs contest. However, it ultimately lost to Ford's M247 Sergeant York
M247 Sergeant York
The M247 Sergeant York DIVAD was a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon , developed by Ford Aerospace in the late 1970s. Based on the M48 Patton tank, it replaced the Patton's turret with a new one that featured twin radar-directed 40 mm rapid-fire guns...
.
Development
Very little information exists of the T249 Vigilante and its T250 cannon. The conceptual design for the T250 cannon was initiated in 1956. While the design of cannon of this caliber would ordinarily be handled by Watervliet ArsenalWatervliet Arsenal
The Watervliet Arsenal is an arsenal of the United States Army located in Watervliet, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, and today produces much of the artillery for the army, as well as gun tubes for cannons, mortars,...
, it was decided that Springfield Armory take responsibility due to their previous development experience with smaller caliber rotary cannon such the 20mm T171
M61 Vulcan
The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...
. The T250 was the largest Gatling gun ever assembled. Its 37x219mmSR round was based upon a shortened and necked-down 40x311mmR Bofors cartridge case. Hydraulically powered, the gun was able to vary between 120 rpm for ground targets and 3,000 rpm for air targets. It had a 192-round drum magazine, which in the 3,000 rpm mode would have equated to approximately 5 seconds of fire. When Springfield engineers finished their work in 1962, the design was handed over to Watervliet for production. The Sperry Utah Engineering Laboratory was selected to handle the integration of the T250 gun with the modified M113 chassis to create the T249.
See also
- GAU-8 AvengerGAU-8 AvengerThe General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm, hydraulically-driven seven-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon that is mounted on the United States Air Force's Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is among the largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft cannons in the United States military...
- GAU-13 cannonGAU-13 cannonThe General Electric GAU-13/A is a 30 mm electric Gatling Gun derived from the GAU-8 Avenger cannon.-Description:The GAU-13 was developed in the late 1970s for use in gun pod applications for fighter aircraft and attack aircraft use, primarily for air-to-ground and anti-tank attacks.The GAU-13/A is...
- GAU-12 EqualizerGAU-12 EqualizerThe General Dynamics GAU-12/U Equalizer is a five-barrel 25 mm Gatling gun-style rotary cannon. The GAU-12/U is used by the United States, Italy and Spain, which mount the weapon in their fighter jets such as the AV-8B Harrier II, airborne gunships such as the Lockheed AC-130, and land-based...
- Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23 is a powerful, fast-firing six-barreled 23 mm Gatling gun used by some modern Soviet/Russian military aircraft....
- M61 VulcanM61 VulcanThe M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...