Fore Hobby FOR2004 1/72 M19 Twin 40mm Gun Motor Carriage

The M19 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage was a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon developed by the United States during World War II. It was based on the chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank and armed with two 40 mm Bofors guns mounted in an open-topped turret. The M19 was intended to provide mobile air defense for armored units, but it also proved effective against ground targets such as infantry, light vehicles, and bunkers.

The M19 was designed in 1943 as a replacement for the earlier M13 and M16 half-track variants, which had less mobility and firepower. The M19 used the same turret as the M42 Duster, which was developed later in the war. The M19 had a crew of six: a commander, a driver, a gunner, a loader, and two ammunition handlers. The vehicle carried 352 rounds of 40 mm ammunition in clips of four. The guns could traverse 360 degrees and elevate from -5 to +85 degrees. The M19 had a maximum speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) and a range of 150 miles (240 km).

The M19 GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun from the Second World War and the Cold War. Cars of this type were produced in the years 1944-1945, about 280-290 of them were produced in total. They were in service with the US Army in the years 1945-1953. The drive was provided by a double Cadillac Model 42 engine with a total power of 220 HP. The main armament was two 40mm Bofors cannons. Cadillac and Massey-Ferguson plants were responsible for its production.

The M19 GMC was developed based on the chassis and hull of the M24 Chaffee light tank. Interestingly, it was originally planned to mount a new self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on the chassis of the M5 light tank, but with the withdrawal of this production vehicle, the M24 tank was chosen as the basis for the new weapon. Due to minor delays in putting the M19 into production, vehicles of this type did not take part in combat during World War II. However, they were used on a fairly large scale during the Korean War (1950-1953). However, due to the lack of an effective guidance and fire control system, they turned out to be of little use in the fight against jet aircraft. For this reason, it was used primarily to support the activities of its own land forces. After 1953, they were quickly withdrawn from service, and a small number of them were handed over to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

The M19 entered service in late 1944 and saw action in the European and Pacific theaters. It was especially useful in the Battle of the Bulge, where it helped counter the German Luftwaffe attacks on Allied supply lines. The M19 also supported the amphibious landings in the Philippines and Okinawa, where it engaged both aircraft and kamikaze boats. After the war, the M19 remained in service with the US Army until 1953, when it was replaced by the M42 Duster. Some M19s were also exported to other countries, such as France, Netherlands, Belgium, and South Korea.

In Dutch service the M19 soldiered on until 1978, when it was replaced by the highly advanced PRTL, the Dutch version of the Flakpanzer Gepard.