The U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1⁄2 Ton, 4X4 or "Carrier, Light Weapons, Infantry, 1⁄2 ton, 4x4", also known as the "Mule", "Military Mule", or "Mechanical Mule", is a 4-wheel drive, gasoline-powered truck/tractor type vehicle that can carry up to 1⁄2 short ton (0.45 tonnes) off-road. It was introduced in 1956 and used until the 1980s.
The M274 Mule was introduced in 1956 to supplement both the 1⁄4-short-ton (0.23-tonne) trucks ("Jeeps") and 3⁄4-short-ton (0.68-tonne) trucks (Weapons Carrier Series and M37 series) in airborne and infantry battalions. The M274 evolved from improvements to a vehicle designed at the end of World War Two by Willys-Overland as a medical evacuation litter carrier from areas and terrain that would be a problem for the standard light vehicle of the period (the Jeep) to access. U.S. Patent 2457400 for the original design was applied for on December 2, 1944 and issued on December 28, 1948. No patent appears to have been issued for the later production model. Further tests by the US Army at Eglin Field, Florida proved it also useful as carrier for both supplies and men. In 1948 the US Army purchased a small number of these test vehicles with the designation the 'Jungle Burden Carrier' for evaluation in jungle warfare and with airborne forces.[1]
There were 11,240 Mules produced between their introduction and 1970, when production ceased. They were used throughout as platforms for various weapons systems and for carrying men, supplies, and weaponry/ammunition during the Vietnam War and in other U.S. military operations until the 1980s. As a completely open and exposed vehicle, they offered absolutely no protection to the driver, yet that was relatively unimportant as they were mainly used as cargo carriers and medium-range infantry support vehicles, rather than tactical vehicles.
The driver's seat could be removed and the steering column moved forward and the vehicle driven in reverse to accommodate more cargo. If under fire the steering column could be moved further forward and down, so the operator could operate the vehicle while crawling behind it. They were phased out from military usage in the 1980s with the introduction of the HMMWV series vehicles. The HMMWV was, however, unable to fulfill the role of the Mule, so the M-Gator, a military variant of the popular John DeereGator vehicle, was introduced.
Armamentedit
The M274 Mules were often outfitted with a wide array of weaponry, especially in the Vietnam War. They could be modified to carry virtually any type of conventional weapon that could be mounted on a truck. Most commonly, the M274 was outfitted with:
The M274 Mules were all powered by internal-combustion gasoline engines. The variants of the M274 with respective powerplants were:
M274 – four-cylinder Willys four-cycle
M274 A1 – four-cylinder Willys four-cycle
M274 A2 to A5 – two-cylinder Continental-Hercules two-cycle, air-cooled
All Mules had three-speed manual, non-synchromesh transmissions with two-speed transfer cases, and were four-wheel drive vehicles. All Mules except the A5 variants had four-wheel steering. Only the A5 variants had electric ignition as standard. They had no suspension aside from the low-pressure tires and the seat cushions.
The lower speeds and high power (14 hp or 10 kW)[2] of the Mule made it a versatile off-road vehicle. It could climb over logs, go up steep slopes, and cross rivers in first gear.
Low range First – 1 mph (1.6 km/h) Second – 4 mph (6.4 km/h) Third – 9 mph (14 km/h)
High range First – 7 mph (11 km/h) Second – 18 mph (29 km/h) Third – 25 mph (40 km/h)
^"Jungle Buggy Packs A Load". Popular Science. 152 (5). Bonnier Corporation: 122. May 1948. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
^United States Army Materiel Command (April 1966). (PDF). Washington, DC: United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
Crismon, Fred W. (2001). US Military Wheeled Vehicles (3rd ed.). Victory WWII Pub. pp. 235–237. ISBN0-970056-71-0.
Doyle, David (2003). Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications. pp. 51–54. ISBN0-87349-508-X.
Ware, Pat (2010). The World Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles. Lorenz Books. p. 225. ISBN978-0-7548-2052-9.
"Mechanical Mule". US Army Transportation Museum. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to M274 Mechanical Mule.
Olive-Drab website on the M274
Bill Watson's M274 Mule website
Us Bechile Tamk
"Jungle Buggy Packs A Load" , May 1948, Popular Science vehicle from which M27 evolved
M274A2 at U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
May 03, 2024
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The U S Military M274 Truck Platform Utility 1 2 Ton 4X4 or Carrier Light Weapons Infantry 1 2 ton 4x4 also known as the Mule Military Mule or Mechanical Mule is a 4 wheel drive gasoline powered truck tractor type vehicle that can carry up to 1 2 short ton 0 45 tonnes off road It was introduced in 1956 and used until the 1980s M274 Truck Platform Utility 1 2 Ton 4X4M274 Mechanical MuleType1 2 ton 454kg 4x4 platform truckPlace of originUnited StatesProduction historyDesignerWillysManufacturerWillys Bowen Mc Laughlin York Baifield Industries BrunswickProduced1956 1970VariantsM274 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5SpecificationsMass795 lb 361 kg Length118 in 3 00 m Width50 in 1 27 m Height50 in 1 27 m EngineWillys AO4 4 5316 hp 12 kW Transmission3 spd x 2 range trf caseSuspensionLow pressure tires onlyFuel capacity8 US gal 30 L Operationalrange108 mi 173 8 km Maximum speed25 mph 40 km h M274 with M40 recoilless rifle Loaded M274 with steering column lowered In service during the Vietnam war for maintenance of a Bell UH 1 helicopter at Camp Radcliff 1966 Contents 1 Background 2 Armament 3 Powerplant drivetrain and speeds 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground editThe M274 Mule was introduced in 1956 to supplement both the 1 4 short ton 0 23 tonne trucks Jeeps and 3 4 short ton 0 68 tonne trucks Weapons Carrier Series and M37 series in airborne and infantry battalions The M274 evolved from improvements to a vehicle designed at the end of World War Two by Willys Overland as a medical evacuation litter carrier from areas and terrain that would be a problem for the standard light vehicle of the period the Jeep to access U S Patent 2457400 for the original design was applied for on December 2 1944 and issued on December 28 1948 No patent appears to have been issued for the later production model Further tests by the US Army at Eglin Field Florida proved it also useful as carrier for both supplies and men In 1948 the US Army purchased a small number of these test vehicles with the designation the Jungle Burden Carrier for evaluation in jungle warfare and with airborne forces 1 There were 11 240 Mules produced between their introduction and 1970 when production ceased They were used throughout as platforms for various weapons systems and for carrying men supplies and weaponry ammunition during the Vietnam War and in other U S military operations until the 1980s As a completely open and exposed vehicle they offered absolutely no protection to the driver yet that was relatively unimportant as they were mainly used as cargo carriers and medium range infantry support vehicles rather than tactical vehicles The driver s seat could be removed and the steering column moved forward and the vehicle driven in reverse to accommodate more cargo If under fire the steering column could be moved further forward and down so the operator could operate the vehicle while crawling behind it They were phased out from military usage in the 1980s with the introduction of the HMMWV series vehicles The HMMWV was however unable to fulfill the role of the Mule so the M Gator a military variant of the popular John Deere Gator vehicle was introduced Armament editThe M274 Mules were often outfitted with a wide array of weaponry especially in the Vietnam War They could be modified to carry virtually any type of conventional weapon that could be mounted on a truck Most commonly the M274 was outfitted with M60 7 62mm NATO light machine guns M2HB 50 Caliber machine guns M 40 106 mm recoilless rifles TOW anti tank missile systemsPowerplant drivetrain and speeds editThe M274 Mules were all powered by internal combustion gasoline engines The variants of the M274 with respective powerplants were M274 four cylinder Willys four cycle M274 A1 four cylinder Willys four cycle M274 A2 to A5 two cylinder Continental Hercules two cycle air cooled All Mules had three speed manual non synchromesh transmissions with two speed transfer cases and were four wheel drive vehicles All Mules except the A5 variants had four wheel steering Only the A5 variants had electric ignition as standard They had no suspension aside from the low pressure tires and the seat cushions The lower speeds and high power 14 hp or 10 kW 2 of the Mule made it a versatile off road vehicle It could climb over logs go up steep slopes and cross rivers in first gear Low range First 1 mph 1 6 km h Second 4 mph 6 4 km h Third 9 mph 14 km h High range First 7 mph 11 km h Second 18 mph 29 km h Third 25 mph 40 km h See also editG numbersReferences edit Jungle Buggy Packs A Load Popular Science 152 5 Bonnier Corporation 122 May 1948 Retrieved November 17 2015 United States Army Materiel Command April 1966 Vehicle Lunarization Study U S Army M 274 Mule Vehicle Volume 2 Part 1 Technical Discussion PDF Washington DC United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration p 29 Archived from the original PDF on 2010 05 25 Retrieved 2021 11 26 Crismon Fred W 2001 US Military Wheeled Vehicles 3rd ed Victory WWII Pub pp 235 237 ISBN 0 970056 71 0 Doyle David 2003 Standard catalog of U S Military Vehicles Krause Publications pp 51 54 ISBN 0 87349 508 X Ware Pat 2010 The World Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles Lorenz Books p 225 ISBN 978 0 7548 2052 9 Mechanical Mule US Army Transportation Museum 15 May 2013 Retrieved 4 December 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to M274 Mechanical Mule US Army Transportation Museum page on the M274 Mule Olive Drab website on the M274 Bill Watson s M274 Mule website Us Bechile Tamk Jungle Buggy Packs A Load May 1948 Popular Science vehicle from which M27 evolved Vehicle lunarization study US Army M 274 Mule vehicle Volume 2 part 1 Technical discussion Vehicle lunarization study US Army M 274 Mule vehicle Volume 2 part 2 Appendix M274A2 at U S Veterans Memorial Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M274 ton 4 4 utility platform truck amp oldid 1211634244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
