ARVN M41 Tiger’s Claw (Vuốt Hổ) Tank Destroyer:
The existence of the ARVN’s M41 Tank Destroyer (TD) programme is inextricably linked to the US Army’s less than successful deployment of the M551 Sheridan to Vietnam and the introduction of the Gavin Armoured Reconnaissance/Airborne Fire Support Vehicle (AR/AFSV). A somewhat rash and misguided decision in the late 60s saw the US Army deploy several hundred M551 Sheridan reconnaissance vehicles into South Vietnam where they generally replaced M48s in the infantry support role. With its complex gun/missile armament and lightweight aluminium hull, it was a role for which the M551 was manifestly unsuitable. Nevertheless, the operational deployment continued while the replaced M48s were passed on to the ARVN to bolster their armoured corps which up until that point was still entirely reliant on the 76mm armed M41. The M48s were a welcomed addition to the ARVN inventory as encounters with NVA T-55s were become more frequent and, against such an opponent, the M41 was severely outmatched.
Realising the Sheridan’s short comings, the US Army eventually introduced a limited number of 105mm armed Gavin AR/AFSV which, in turn, freed up an equal number of M551 turrets. It was then that an aspiring member of the ARVN General Staff put forward a proposal to utilise the spare M551 turrets. Although the US Army was transferring M48s, the ARVN was still heavily dependent on its numerous but inferior M41 formations. What was needed was a long-range punch that could reach out and interdict the NVA’s heavy armour before they could engage the M41s. The proposal would see the M551 turrets mounted on spare M41 hulls (it is ironic that this very configuration had been used as a test bed for the early M551 turret development) and the reactivation of the MGM-51 Shillelagh missile as its primary long-range armament. It is a further irony that it would be the ARVN and not the US Army that ended up utilising the M81E1 152mm gun/launcher in its intended AT role. As a TD, the M41 Tiger’s Claw proved itself most capable although it was never available in the numbers needed to make any significant difference to the eventual outcome of the war.
It should be noted that the gun/missile launcher’s slow breach cyclic rate (2 rpm) was less of an issue in the TD role as missile time of flight and a general shoot and scoot employment tactic made a rapid rate of fire less critical. Furthermore, the heavier steel hull of the M41 gave a steadier platform when firing the M657 HE or M625 canister round and thus there was less of an issue in throwing off the missile guidance optronics. Given its heavier reliance on missiles, the M41 TD’s standard load was 15 x Shillelagh missiles and a mix of 6 x M657/M625 rounds.
The model is made up from the hull of a Tamiya M41, the turret of a Tamiya M551 and, as always, some bits of plastic/styrene card.
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