M548

M548 cargo carrier
M548 in the Armee Museum Full
Type	cargo carrier
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1960–present
Used by	Swiss Army
Specifications
Weight	12.8 tonnes (14.1 short tons; 12.6 long tons) (5 t Cargo)
Length	4.863 metres (15 ft 11.5 in)
Width	2.686 metres (8 ft 9.7 in)
Crew	4
Armor	none
Main armament	M2 Browning machine gun
Engine	Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 6-cylinder diesel engine 204 hp
Suspension	torsion bar, 5 road wheels
Operational range	480 km (300 mi)
Speed	61 km/h (38 mph)

The M548 is a tracked cargo carrier. It is based on the M113 armored personnel carrier, and was built by FMC Corp. at its San Jose, California, and Charleston, WV facilities.

Its light weight allows the use of a relatively small engine to power the vehicle, a 6V53 Detroit 2-stroke six cylinder diesel, with an Allison TX-100-1 3-speed automatic transmission, and allows the vehicle to carry a large payload cross-country and to be transported by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

The driving gear is a rotating rod spring-loaded 7-roll drive. It consists of five wheels, a guide wheel at the rear and the front drive wheel. Support rollers are not necessary because of the taut and relatively light chain. In off-road driving, the driver must be careful to keep the chain tension constant. Even with a failed torsion bar the M548 is still roadworthy. The power of the motor drives the intermediate drive, generator and oil pump for the hydraulic ramp and the cooling of the steering gear. The intermediate drive can be used as a separating clutch when towing the vehicle and serves to reduce the motor's speed. The power transmission between the drive follows the torque converter with an automatic lock-up clutch.

It has the same improvements as M113A2. Improved suspension and cooling system. Entered service in 1982.

The M548 was mainly used as ammunition transporter in units equipped with the self-propelled M109 howitzer. Also, the armor and weapons mechanic school's recruits, as well as at the tank mortar unit 16/5, used the M548. The usual load is ten pallets to eight 15.5 cm projectiles including charges and detonators. The handling is done with an electric hoist. An M548 is located in the Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full.