Hobby Master HG5701 | US M35 2.5 ton Cargo Truck US Army, Vietnam War, 1968

Production of the M35 2.5 Ton Truck “Deuce and a Half” began in 1949 and was first delivered to the U.S. Army in 1950. When production ended in 1988 there were 150,000 of these vehicles produced in several variants. There are cargo trucks, water or gasoline tank trucks, wreckers, dump trucks, ambulances, tractors, shop vans, gun trucks and many more. These trucks were so durable and so plentiful they became popular world wide with some vehicles still in operation today.

The Vehicle:
During the Vietnam War the M35 Deuce and a Half became more sophisticated by using them as the prime mover for M55 Quad .50 cal Gun Trailers. Some M35s became more than cargo trucks and prime movers, they became gun trucks equipped with M55s mounted on the truck bed, or possibly 2 M60 belt-fed machine guns, M79 grenade launchers, M16 assault rifles, shot guns, an M134 Minigun and probably the most feared, the Browning M2 .50 caliber belt-fed machine gun. One M35 was usually among 15 to 20 vehicles in a line.

General specifications M35 2.5 Ton Truck

Production period – 1950 – 1988

Variants
1950–88 (M35A1, M35A2) 1993–99 (M35A3)

Dimensions
Length – 274 ¾ in   (6.98 m)
Width – 93 in   (2.36 m)
Height – 111 in   (2.82 m) to cab

Weight with winch
Empty – 12,880 lb   (5,840 kg)
Loaded – 17,880 lb   8,110 kg)

Engine
Various Manufacturers - OA-331 Continental Gas I-6; LDS-427 Turbo Multi-fuel I-6; LDS-465
Multi-fuel I-6; Caterpillar 3116 Diesel I-6
Horse Power Varied - 127 to 170 horsepower depending on particular engine

Performance
Maximum Road – 55 mph   (88.5 km/h)
Range On Road – 450 miles   (724 km)