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45-405: A total of 3,700 M42s were built. The vehicle has a crew of six and weighs 22,500 kg (49,500 lb) fully loaded. Maximum speed is 45 mph (72 km/h) with a range of 100 miles (160 km). Armament consists of fully automatic twin 40 mm M2A1 Bofors , with a rate of fire of 2×120 rounds per minute (rpm) enabling nearly 85 seconds of fire time before running out of ammo, and either

90-462: A .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 or 7.62mm M60 machine gun . The 500 hp, six-cylinder, Continental (or Lycoming Engines ), air-cooled, gasoline engine is located in the rear of the vehicle. It was driven by a cross-drive, two-speed Allison transmission . Although the M42 Duster was initially designed for an anti-aircraft role, it proved to be effective against unarmored ground forces in

135-743: A field artillery role during the Bougainville counterattack in March. The remainder of regiment remained in California until broken up into battalions as part of an Army-wide reorganization. Regiment relieved from WDC and broken up 28 February – 5 June 1944 with its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows (units at Fort Ord, CA except 2nd Battalion at Bougainville): Headquarters and Headquarters Battery on 5 June 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 152nd Coast Artillery Group (155 mm gun) (Colored). 1st Battalion on 5 June 1944 as

180-1308: A corps-level ADA asset. 2nd Battalion, 263 ADA, headquartered in Anderson, SC was the last unit to operate the M42 when the system was retired in 1988. Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L Look for Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L on one of Misplaced Pages's sister projects : [REDACTED] Wiktionary (dictionary) [REDACTED] Wikibooks (textbooks) [REDACTED] Wikiquote (quotations) [REDACTED] Wikisource (library) [REDACTED] Wikiversity (learning resources) [REDACTED] Commons (media) [REDACTED] Wikivoyage (travel guide) [REDACTED] Wikinews (news source) [REDACTED] Wikidata (linked database) [REDACTED] Wikispecies (species directory) Misplaced Pages does not have an article with this exact name. Please search for Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L in Misplaced Pages to check for alternative titles or spellings. You need to log in or create an account and be autoconfirmed to create new articles. Alternatively, you can use

225-509: A fairly simple piece of machinery on which the crews could perform maintenance. Better yet, the Duster's high ground clearance and excellent suspension-system design gave it an ability to withstand land mine explosions with minimal crew casualties. Although the Duster's 40mm shell had a terrific blast and fragmentation effect, it also had a highly sensitive point-detonating fuse that limited effectiveness in heavy vegetation. Under those conditions,

270-699: A few early air kills, the air threat posed by North Vietnam never materialized and ADA crews found themselves increasingly involved in ground support missions. Most often the M42 was on point security, convoy escort, or perimeter defense. The "Duster" (as it was called by U.S. troops in Vietnam because it turned the enemies into dust) was soon found to excel in ground support. The 40 mm guns proved to be effective against massed infantry attacks. According to an article that appeared in Vietnam Magazine : M-55s and M-42s were old pieces of equipment that needed

315-414: A lot of maintenance and required hard-to-get spare parts. The gasoline-powered Dusters were particularly susceptible to fires in the engine compartment. Thus, despite its cross country capability, it was not wise to use the Duster in extended search and destroy operations in heavy jungle terrain because of excessive wear on engines, transmissions, and suspensions. On the plus side, the Duster was essentially

360-645: A member of C Battery, 1-44th Artillery was awarded the Medal of Honor . The second Duster battalion to arrive in Vietnam was the 5th Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery . Activated in June 1966 it arrived in Vietnam in November 1966 and was diverted to III Corps , II Field Force, Vietnam and set up around Bien Hoa Air Base . Attached units were D Battery71st Air Defense Artillery equipped with Quad-50s and I Battery, 29th Artillery Searchlights. The "Second First" served

405-562: A replacement battalion for the tractor-drawn artillery regiments. The 3rd Battalion remained at Haussimont and Angers, France and functioned as the training battalion for the railway artillery regiments. In December 1918, after the Armistice that ended the fighting, the regiment was re-formed. In March 1919 the regiment returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Devens , Massachusetts. Redesignated 13 January 1941 as

450-655: A self-propelled version of the HAWK SAM instead. Accordingly, the M42 was retired from front line service and passed to the National Guard with the last M42s leaving the regular Army by 1963, except for the 4th Battalion, 517th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in the Panama Canal Zone , which operated two batteries of M42s into the 1970s. The HAWK missile system performed poorly in low altitude defense. To ensure some low altitude anti-aircraft capability for

495-525: A variety of different anti-aircraft systems in armored divisions. In 1956, the M42 received a new engine and other upgrades along with other M41 based vehicles, becoming the M42A1. Production was halted in December 1960 with 3,700 examples made during its production run. Sometime in the late 50s, the U.S. Army reached the conclusion that anti-aircraft guns were no longer viable in the jet age and began fielding

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540-412: A wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a double quatrefoil Or charged with a chameleon displayed paleways barry of four Gules and Vert. Motto PER ARDUA (Through Adversity). The shield is red for Artillery with a gold bend from the arms of Lorraine, cottised potenté counterpotenté as in the arms of Champagne. The units of this organization changed designation five times from 1917 to 1918. They were part of

585-821: Is an Air Defense Artillery regiment of the United States Army , first constituted in 1918 in the Regular Army during World War I . During World War II the unit served as the 54th Coast Artillery Regiment Organized 26 March 1918 in the Regular Army from existing units in France as the Howitzer Regiment, 30th Brigade, Coast Artillery Corps , initially without weapons. The regiment was one of several US Coast Artillery regiments created to operate heavy field artillery and railway artillery on

630-653: The 54th Coast Artillery Regiment (155 mm gun) (Mobile) (Colored), a mobile coast defense unit. References indicate this was the only African American coast artillery regiment in World War II that was not an antiaircraft unit. Activated 10 February 1941 at Camp Wallace , Texas with cadre from 76th and 77th Coast Artillery regiments (Antiaircraft) (Colored); moved to Camp Davis , North Carolina 22 May 1941, garrisoned Temporary Harbor Defenses of Wilmington. 1st Battalion moved to Fort Cronkhite , California 28 February 1942. 2nd Battalion garrisoned Fort Macon , NC in

675-687: The Vietnam War , Primarily against standard Infantry . During the course of the Korean War , the U.S. Army decided to phase out all vehicles based on the M24 Chaffee chassis, such as the M19 multiple gun motor carriage 40 mm anti-aircraft, in favor of designs that utilized the chassis of the M41. Since the 40 mm guns were still seen as an effective anti-aircraft weapon, a modified version of

720-607: The Western Front . Redesignated 7 August 1918 as the 44th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) with an authorized strength of 24 British-made 8-inch howitzers ; served with the 32nd Brigade and 39th Brigade, including support of the IV Army Corps . Returned to the US February 1919 and moved to Fort Totten , New York. Inactivated 31 August 1921 at Camp Jackson , South Carolina. Redesignated 1 July 1924 as

765-405: The article wizard to submit a draft for review, or request a new article . Search for " Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L " in existing articles. Look for pages within Misplaced Pages that link to this title . Other reasons this message may be displayed: If a page was recently created here, it may not be visible yet because of a delay in updating the database; wait a few minutes or try

810-531: The 1-44th Artillery and their Marine counterparts in I Corps set the pattern of Quad and Duster operations. Because of an early scarcity of armored-combat vehicles, M-42s were first used as armor. Often thankful men quickly learned the value of high volumes of 40mm and .50-caliber fire, both in the field and perimeter defenses. Quads beefed up the defenses of remote fire bases, while Dusters accompanied both supply and tactical convoys along contested highways to break up ambushes. Dusters of Battery C, 1-44th Artillery, led

855-492: The 1st Field Artillery Missile Brigade at Fort Sill , Oklahoma. Lt. Col. Patrick W. Powers took command on 13 October 1962, receiving the colors from Dr. Finn J. Larsen, assistant secretary of the Army . On 1 September 1971 the 2/44th was deactivated and reformed as the 3rd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment . A gold color metal and enamel device 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 inches (2.9 cm) consisting shield, crest and motto of

900-680: The 44th Artillery, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. Redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 44th Air Defense Artillery. In the 1973 timeframe, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery's batteries occupied positions south of Seoul, South Korea. Withdrawn 16 March 1988 from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System . The Battalion

945-763: The 44th Coast Artillery (Tractor Drawn), a mobile coast defense unit. Nine Maine National Guard and four Regular Army Coast Artillery Corps companies of the Coast Defenses of Portland , Maine were used to form the 54th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps), a regiment that was sent to France and slated to be armed with 24 6-inch guns as heavy field artillery . The regiment was organized in January 1918 in Maine and moved to France in March 1918, stationed at an artillery base, Operations and Training Center No. 6 at Mailly-le-Camp and Haussimont . However, on 2 May 1918

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990-403: The 44th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 4th Infantry Division. In 1963, the 6th Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery (HAWK), 38th Artillery Brigade was deployed to South Korea. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 54th Artillery Group; 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion; and the 49th and 44th Field Artillery Battalions consolidated, reorganized, and redesignated 7 November 1969 as

1035-476: The 49th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 7th Infantry Division. Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division 607th Coast Artillery Battalion disbanded 31 July 1944 at Camp Rucker , Alabama Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with the 44th Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 3) and consolidated unit designated as

1080-632: The 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 1) and consolidated unit designated as the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 3d Armored Division Inactivated 1 October 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 3d Armored Division 49th Coast Artillery Battalion inactivated 20 January 1946 in the Philippine Islands Consolidated 28 June 1950 with the 49th Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 2) and consolidated unit designated as

1125-497: The 606th Coast Artillery Battalion (Colored). 2d Battalion on 28 February 1944 as the 49th Coast Artillery Battalion (Colored) (deployed to New Guinea 18 March 1945, Philippines 27 August 1945). 3d Battalion on 5 June 1944 as the 607th Coast Artillery Battalion (Colored). After 5 June 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 152nd Coast Artillery Group, disbanded 3 August 1944 at Camp Livingston , Louisiana Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in

1170-400: The 6th and 7th Provisional Regiment, C.A.C.; part of the 51st and 52nd Artillery, C.A.C.; and were organized as a unit called the Howitzer Regiment, 30th Artillery Brigade, C.A.C.; later designated the 81st Artillery, C.A.C.; and changed to the 44th Artillery, C.A.C. The variegated chameleon alludes to this fact. The double quatrefoil with the chameleon is an anagram of the figures "44" and "81";

1215-439: The 81st Artillery, C.A.C.; and changed to the 44th Artillery, C.A.C. The variegated chameleon alludes to this fact. The double quatrefoil with the chameleon is an anagram of the figures "44" and "81"; the chameleon divides the figures into two fours and the full number of projections with the chameleon gives eight-one. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 44th Coast Artillery Regiment on 1 February 1937. It

1260-726: The Duster NCOs had received training at the Non Commissioned Officers Candidate School which was also held at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery was the first ADA battalion to arrive in South Vietnam in November 1966. A self-propelled M42A1 Duster unit, the 1-44th supported the Marines at places like Con Thien and Khe Sanh Combat Base as well as Army divisions in South Vietnam's rugged I Corps region. The battalion

1305-437: The Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 54th Field Artillery Group Activated 17 January 1955 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Redesignated 21 June 1958 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 54th Artillery Group Inactivated 7 November 1969 in Vietnam 606th Coast Artillery Battalion disbanded 3 August 1944 at Camp Livingston, Louisiana Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with

1350-683: The Temporary Harbor Defenses of Beaufort , NC 31 July 1942 until relieved by 3rd Battalion, 2nd Coast Artillery 3 September 1942. The unit was probably initially armed with 24 155 mm GPF-type guns (eight per battalion), and may have later received the 155 mm gun M1 . 1st and 3rd Battalions assigned to the Western Defense Command (WDC) at Fort Cronkhite and Fort Ord , California 22 April 1942. 2nd Battalion deployed to Espiritu Santo 26 October 1942 and Bougainville 7 February 1944 where it saw combat in

1395-459: The better weapon was the Quad, because the heavy .50-caliber projectile could easily punch through cover that would detonate the Duster's 40mm shell too early for it to be effective. At long ranges, however the 40mm shell was far more useful, particularly against field formations. The Duster also was able to deliver indirect fires by using data from field artillery fire-directions centers. Soldiers of

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1440-457: The chameleon divides the figures into two fours and the full number of projections with the chameleon gives eight-one. The coat of arms was originally approved for the 44th Coast Artillery Regiment on 2 March 1929. It was amended to correct the blazon of the shield on 23 May 1936. It was redesignated for the 54th Coast Artillery Regiment on 11 March 1941. The insignia was redesignated for the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 22 July 1954. It

1485-455: The coat of arms. The shield is red for Artillery with a gold bend from the arms of Lorraine, cottised potenté counterpotenté as in the arms of Champagne. The units of this organization changed designation five times from 1917 to 1918. They were part of the 6th and 7th Provisional Regiment, C.A.C.; part of the 51st and 52nd Artillery, C.A.C.; and were organized as a unit called the Howitzer Regiment, 30th Artillery Brigade, C.A.C.; later designated

1530-449: The entire Central Highlands, but also supported firebases and operations along the DMZ to the north and Saigon to the south. Each Duster Battalion had four line batteries (A, B, C, D) and a headquarters battery. Each battery had two platoons (1st, 2nd), which contained four sections each with a pair of M42A1 Dusters. At full deployment there were roughly 200 M42 Dusters under command throughout

1575-411: The entire war. The Duster and Quads largely operated in pairs at firebases, strong points, and in support of engineers building roads and transportation groups protecting convoys. At night they protected the firebases from attack and were often the first targets of enemy sappers, rockets, and mortars. Searchlight jeeps operated singly but often in support of a Duster or Quad section at a firebase. Between

1620-525: The ever-increasing amount of forces fielded in South Vietnam , the Army began recalling M42A1s back into active service and organizing them into air defense artillery (ADA) battalions. Starting in the fall of 1966, the U.S. Army deployed three battalions of Dusters to South Vietnam, each battalion consisting of a headquarters battery and four Duster batteries, each augmented by one attached Quad-50 battery and an artillery searchlight battery. Despite

1665-525: The gun mount used in the M19 was mounted in a redesigned turret to accommodate the larger turret ring of the M41 and designated as the M42. The 40 mm guns were initially planned to be aimed with the assistance of a radar fire control system housed in a secondary vehicle of similar design but this idea was scrapped as development costs mounted. Production of the M42 began in early 1952 at GM's Cleveland Tank Plant. It entered service in late 1953 and replaced

1710-491: The purge function . Titles on Misplaced Pages are case sensitive except for the first character; please check alternative capitalizations and consider adding a redirect here to the correct title. If the page has been deleted, check the deletion log , and see Why was the page I created deleted? Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_Automatic_Gun_L " 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment The 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

1755-407: The regiment became a replacement training unit, redesignated as the 54th Artillery Replacement Training Regiment. On 20 September 1918 the regiment was reorganized, with its battalions sent to different locations. The 1st Battalion was posted at Angers (Marne-et-Loire) as a training battalion for replacement men. The 2nd Battalion was stationed at Doulevant-le-Château (Haute Marne) and functioned as

1800-626: The southern Saigon region through mid 1971. D-71st Quads remained active through March 1972. The third Duster battalion to arrive was the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery . Activated in June 1966 it arrived in Vietnam in June 1967 and set up operations in the Central Highlands , based out of An Khê (1967–70) and later Tuy Hoa (1970-71). Attached units were E Battery 41st Artillery equipped with Quad-50s and B Battery, 29th Artillery Searchlights (which were already in country since October 1965). Members of these units not only covered

1845-616: The task force of Operations Pegasus that broke the siege of Khe Sanh in April 1968. Dusters and Quads provided critical final-protective fires throughout Vietnam during the Tet offensive and later took part in Operation Lam Son 719. Whenever fire support was needed, M-42s and M-55s could be found. Most of the Duster crew members had their AIT training in the 1st Advanced Individual Training Brigade (Air Defense) at Fort Bliss, Texas. Some of

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1890-465: The three Duster battalions and the attached Quad-50 and Searchlight batteries over 200 fatalities were recorded. The three M42A1 equipped ADA battalions (1-44th, 4-60th and 5-2d) deactivated and left Vietnam in late December 1971. Most if not all of the in-country Dusters were turned over to ARVN forces. Most of the training Dusters at Fort Bliss were returned to various National Guard units. The U.S. Army maintained multiple National Guard M42 battalions as

1935-482: Was activated at Fort Campbell, KY on 16 March 1988. The 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, was for a long period the divisional air defense battalion for the 101st Airborne Division , but now appears to have taken up the C-RAM role. As of 2018, at least two battalions of the regiment are active: The 2nd Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery Regiment was the first Pershing 1 missile battalion in June 1962 under

1980-524: Was assigned to I Field Force, Vietnam and was located at Đông Hà . In 1968 it was attached to the 108th Artillery Group (Field Artillery) . Attached to the 1-44th was G Battery 65th Air Defense Artillery equipped with Quad-50s and G Battery 29th Artillery Searchlights . The 1-44th served alongside the 3rd Marine Division along the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in I Corps thru December 1971. Sergeant Mitchell W. Stout ,

2025-407: Was redesignated for the 54th Coast Artillery Regiment on 13 March 1941. The insignia was redesignated for the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 22 July 1954. It was redesignated for the 44th Artillery Regiment on 31 December 1958. Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Gules, a bend double cottised potenté counterpotenté Or. On

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