M56 Scorpion
| M56 Scorpion | |
|---|---|
M56 Scorpion preserved at the American Armored Foundation Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia. | |
| Type | Self-propelled gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Vietnam War Western Sahara War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors |
| Produced | 1953–1959 |
| No. built | 325 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7.1 tonnes (16,000 lb) |
| Length | 4.55 metres (14 ft 11 in) (excluding gun) 5.84 metres (19 ft 2 in) (overall) |
| Width | 2.57 metres (8 ft 5 in) |
| Height | 2.05 metres (6 ft 9 in) over gun shield |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver) |
| Armor | unarmored except for blast shield |
Main armament | 90 mm M54 Gun 29 rounds |
| Engine | Continental AOI-403-5 gasoline engine 200 brake horsepower (150 kW) |
| Transmission | Allison CD-150-4, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse |
| Suspension | Torsion tube over bar at wheels 1 and 4, torsion bar at wheels 2 and 3 |
| Ground clearance | 0.32 m (1 ft 1 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 210 litres (46 imp gal; 55 US gal) |
Operational range | 230 kilometres (140 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) |
The M56 "Scorpion" self-propelled gun is an American unarmored, airmobile self-propelled tank destroyer, which was armed with a 90 mm M54 gun with a simple blast shield, and an unprotected crew compartment.