M50/M50A1 Ontos: Self-Propelled Multiple 106 mm Recoilless Rifle

The M50 Ontos was created to combat the threat of a massed Soviet armored assault. It was an inexpensive, heavily armed vehicle armed with six powerful recoilless rifles. The Army initially lost interest in the vehicle, but the United States Marine Corps believed in it and entered production in 1955. The Ontos saw considerable use in Vietnam, where Marines used it to blast open walls and create faux smoke screens. Over 270 photos chronicle the development, production, combat use, and details of the vehicle and the men who used it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 20 December 2022
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd

The M50 Ontos, a formidable defense system designed to counter the threat of a massed Soviet armored assault, demonstrated its effectiveness in the treacherous jungles and bustling streets of Vietnam. This remarkable vehicle emerged from Project Vista, a top-secret initiative aimed at enhancing NATO defenses. Project Vista identified a critical need for an affordable, heavily armed "something" capable of thwarting waves of Soviet armor. Equipped with six powerful recoilless rifles, the diminutive M50 was aptly named "Ontos," an Army mistranslation of Greek for "the Thing." Initially, the Army considered the Allis-Chalmers T165E1 (later standardized as the M50) as the ideal solution to Project Vista's recommendation. However, after some debate and controversy, the Army eventually lost interest in the vehicle. Nevertheless, the United States Marine Corps saw great potential in the Ontos and decided to enter production in 1955. While the Corps initially deployed the Ontos in Santo Domingo in 1965, it truly gained fame in Vietnam, where both the M50 and its modernized version, the M50A1, saw extensive use as antipersonnel weapons and in perimeter defense. In the streets of Hue, Marines employed the Ontos with remarkable ingenuity, employing its powerful cannons to blast open walls and create simulated smoke screens using antipersonnel rounds. Over 270 photographs, many of them in vibrant color, provide a captivating chronicle of the Ontos' development, production, combat deployment, and intricate details. These images not only showcase the remarkable capabilities of this famed vehicle but also honor the brave men who wielded it, showcasing their bravery and adaptability in the face of challenging circumstances.

Weight: 816g
Dimension: 237 x 237 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780764365126