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M54A1/A2/A2C

5-Ton Gun Truck

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	USA
First Produced/Service Dates:	Early 1950's for Cargo Truck; 1967 for Gun Trucks.
Manufactured by:	Chassis: Mack (M54A1), Kaiser Jeep Corp./AM-General (M54A2); Armor: US Military
Crew:	4-8
Armament:	Various weapon configurations created by individual crews and units including the 7.62mm M60 machine gun, M2 .50 cal HMG and XM-134 mini-guns. Quad .50 gun truck mounted (4) M2 .50 caliber MG.  Many also included an additional 7.62mm M60 Machine Gun.
Engine:	6-Cylinder Diesel (M54A1) and Multi-Fuel (A2)
Miscellaneous Info:	The M54 5-ton cargo truck was first produced from approximately 1952 to 1964 by Diamond-T, International Harvester and Mack.  The M54 was equipped with the Continental R6602 gasoline engine.  The next version, the M54A1, was then produced from about 1959 to 1966 by Mack and equipped with their ENDT-673 diesel engine. The final version, the M54A2, was produced from approximately 1966 thru 1970 by Kaiser-Jeep, and by AM-General from 1970 to the early 1980's after Kaiser's acquisition by AMC, AM General being their military division. The M54A2 models were equipped with a Continental LDS-465 multifuel engine.  Lastly, the M54A2C variant, equipped with a dropside cargo bed, was introduced in the late 1960's. The M54 and M35 2 1/2 ton chassi trucks were very similar.  However, the M54 contained a higher capacity hauling load due to automotive improvements, including engine, transmission and suspension. Some unique gun trucks were also built on the M54 including those using M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) hull/bodies fitted to the rear cargo area. Additional information provided by "JD" MSGT USA (Ret).
Data Sheet Available:	None Available

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
M54 5 Ton Gun Truck "Wild Thing" Photos	Patrick Keenan - Editor
M54 5 Ton Gun Truck "Wild Thing" Photos	Bill Soppet - Homer Glen, Illinois USA
M54 5 Ton Gun Truck Photos	James Lyles - Florida USA
M54 5 Ton "APC" Gun Truck Photos	Mark Aldrich - IPMS/USA Tacoma Green Dragons (Washington)
M54 5 Ton "APC" Gun Truck Photos	Brent Sauer - Editor of HMMWV In Scale
M54 5 Ton APC Gun Truck Photo (with M113 APC hull Armor)	James Lyles
M54 5 Ton Gun Truck Photo (with Multi-Angled Armor)	James Lyles
M54 5 Ton Gun Truck Photo (with Wooden Armor)	James Lyles
5 Ton Dump Truck Gun Truck Photo	James Lyles

References Available

Online

Printed

Reference	Author
Armored Car- A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles	R.J. Hunnicutt
"Battle Bus" (February 2018 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Louise Lamb
"Braving Vietnam's Roads" (November 2017 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	John Teasdale
"Convoy Protection" (January 2021 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine)	Andrew Stone
Gun Truck: A Visual History of the U.S. Army’s Vietnam-Era Wheeled Escort Platforms (Ampersand Group, Inc.) Review on WarWheels by Alan Crawford	David Doyle
Gun Trucks (Squadron-Signal Publications)	Timothy J. Kutta
Gun Trucks in Vietnam: Have Guns, Will Travel Review on WarWheels by Patrick Keenan	James Lyles
The Hard Ride - Vietnam Gun Trucks (Part/Volume 1) Review on WarWheels by Patrick Keenan	James Lyles
The Hard Ride - Vietnam Gun Trucks (Part/Volume 2) Covers both the 1st & 2nd Editions   Review on WarWheels by Patrick Keenan	James Lyles
"Mother of Invention" (November 2018 Issue of Airfix Model World Magazine" (Author Converts a 1/35 Italeri M925 Shelter Carrier into a Vietnam Era M54 Gun Truck)	John Paulding
U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles	Fred W. Crismon
"Vietnam Gun Trucks" (February 2013 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine)	Roy Stevenson

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit	Manufacturer	Scale	Other Information
M54A2 6x6 5-Ton Truck Model Kit (AF35330) Photos of the model via AFV Club can be seen here.	AFV Club	1/35	Injection Molded Plastic; New Tooled.
M54 5-Ton Truck Model Kit (35112)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch
Aftermarket Set	Manufacturer	Scale	Other Information
M54A2 Cargo Truck Sagged Front Wheel Set #1 - Civilian Type (DW35108)	DEF Model	1/35	Resin; for the AFV Club Kit.
M54A2 Cargo Truck Sagged Front Wheel Set #2 - Military Type (DW35109)	DEF Model	1/35	Resin; for the AFV Club Kit.
M54A2 Cargo Truck Sagged Rear Wheel Set (DW35110)	DEF Model	1/35	Resin; for the AFV Club Kit. .
M54A2 Cargo Truck Sagged Rear Wheel Set - Standard Loaded (DW35116)	DEF Model	1/35	Resin; for the AFV Club Kit.
“Gun Trucks in Vietnam -Part 1” Decal Set (D356256)	Echelon Fine Details	1/35	Decals. Covers M54 5-ton Trucks.
“Gun Trucks in Vietnam -Part 2” Decal Set (D356257)	Echelon Fine Details	1/35	Decals. Cover M54 5-ton Trucks.
“Gun Trucks in Vietnam -Part 3” Decal Set (D356261)	Echelon Fine Details	1/35	Decals. Cover M54 5-ton Trucks.
“Gun Trucks in Vietnam -Part 4” Decal Set (D356274)	Echelon Fine Details	1/35	Decals. Cover M54 5-ton Trucks.
US Army Gun Truck "King Cobra" Decals (LMX0015)	LM Decals	1/35	Decal Set for M113 Guntruck
"M113 APC No. 4" Decal Sheet (DE-AP04)	MEC Models	1/35	Decal Sheet includes markings for M54 Gun Truck "The Lifer" with M113 APC Hull.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck Cab Conversion (35028)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for Italeri M923 Big Foot/Shelter Carrier Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Eve of Destruction" Conversion (35123)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for Italeri M923 Big Foot/Shelter Carrier Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Black Widow" Conversion (35128)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for Italeri M923 Big Foot/Shelter Carrier Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Black Widow" Conversion (35163)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for the AFV Club M54 Truck Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Satan's Li'l Angel" Conversion (35130)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for Italeri M923 Big Foot/Shelter Carrier Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Satan's Li'l Angel" Conversion (35164)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for AFV Club M54 Truck Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Uncle Sam" Conversion (35138)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for Italeri M923 Big Foot/Shelter Carrier Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Uncle Meat" Conversion (35166)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for AFV Club M54 Truck Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Ace of Spades" Conversion (35165)	Real Model	1/35	Resin/Photo Etch; Conversion for AFV Club M54 Truck Kit.
M54 5-Ton Gun Truck "Ace of Spades" Decals (RMD35004)	Real Model	1/35	Decals only
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #1: US M54 5-ton Truck with M113 'The Lifer'" (35-C1176)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #2: US M54 5-ton Truck with M113 'The Colonel’ (Red)" (35-C1177)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #3: US M54 5-ton Truck with M113 'The Colonel’ (Blue)" (35-C1178)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #4: Quad .50 cal Gun Truck" (With 'Easy Rider' & 'Young Crusaders') (35-C1197)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #5: Quad .50 cal Gun Truck" (With 'Freedom Fighters & 'Mad Man') (35-C1198)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
"Vietnam Gun Trucks #6: Quad .50 cal Gun Truck & Quad .50's" (With 'Bounty Hunter') (35-C1199)	Star-Decals	1/35	Decals.
US Army M54A2 5-ton Truck Basic Detail Set (PE35964)	Voyager Model	1/35	Brass.  For the AFV Club M54 Truck Kit.

Model Photos