Description

The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Self-Propelled Gun, also known as the“Duster“, is a U.S.-origin armored light anti-aircraft defense weapon built for the U.S. Army during the 1950s and in service until nearly the late 1980s.

The vehicle has a crew of six and weighs 22,500 kg fully loaded, its top speed is 72 km/h and its armament consists of twin 40 mm M2A1 Bofors automatic cannons, with a rate of fire of 2×120 rounds per minute, it is also equipped with a Browning M1919A4 .30 caliber machine gun or a 7.62 mm M60 machine gun.

Its power plant is a Continental six-cylinder, 500 hp, air-cooled, six-cylinder gasoline engine. It is powered by an Allison two-speed transmission with cross drive.

A total of 3,700 M42s were built.

Although the M42 Duster was initially designed for an anti-aircraft role, it proved effective against unarmored ground forces during the Vietnam War.