ACADEMY PLASTIC HOBBY MODEL KIT 1/35 M151A2 TOW MISSILE LAUNCHER

In 1951, the Ford Motor Company was given a contract a MUTT(Military Utility Tactical Truck) to replace the WWII era MB Jeep and it's descendant of the M38. This new 1/4 ton 4WD vehicle would introduce new technologies such as a Uni-body Chassis and all wheel independent suspension system to the heep type vehicle. In 1960, the first production contract was signed to produce over 10,000 units, and it would be used by whole U.S army and many other foreign military forces. The production of the M151 was not continued for a long time. It is because M151 had a serious problem with the suspension that made the M151 unstable and give a possibility to roll-over in the tight cornering situation. In order to provide the infantry with heavier fire-power,  US and many other countries mounted recoilless rifle and missile system in the small trucks and APCs. In the 1960's, Hughes Aircraft Company developed the BGM-77A or TOW(Tube launched, Optically tracked, Wire guided) missile system to replace earlier generation weapons, This system was designed as a Heavy Anti-Tank Weapon to engage targets at range from 62m to 3700m. This Heavy Anti-Tank Weapon doubled the fire-power of the M40A2 106mm recoilless rifle. The mounting system of the M232E1 1/4 ton consisted of the launcher and M220 Optical Tracking System mounted on a fixed pedestal with a control box secured to the floor next to it. The M151 also carried two spare missiles and a tripod mount that allowed the launcher and tracking system to be deployed at some distant from the vehicle.

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