Marine LAV-AD

[Sewter]

Interesting info on the M42 Duster is that, around 1982, a 'tracking device' was offered as an upgrade for all nations who had purchased the presentable weapon. However, no one seems to have purchased it, relying more on its manual tracking, than optically assisting it. It seems so obsolete.

[IanWilliams]

Yes its obsolete as a SPAA but as a light infantry support tank it's still quite useful.

I often purchase a couple of sections when playing against masses of infantry.

[Randy]

To my knowledge I don't think the Marines ever used the Duster.

[Sewter]

I think that the M42 may have been 'loaned' to the Corps, during times of deployment. However, I agree with your statement. I have not found any information which would stand to your strong position. It appears that the USMC depended more on its AA batteries and, most important, the use of Redeye/Stinger missiles. Because of the mobility of the Marines, the individual teams of infantry SAMs were the cheif deterant of AA. And the use of Naval Carrier Air Superiority. Very interesting. Which seems to be backed by its present day inventory of air deterance:

2000 Stingers/infantry
250 deployable Avengers
17 LAV-AD

Unsure of 20mm Vulcan AA.

Neat stuff

[Randy]

I agree, I was reading "Marines Under Armor" by Col. Estes, and he mentioned a battle where the Marines used some Dusters which were loaned by the Army. Nonetheless, the Duster (like the M16 halftrack) is a great anti personnel weapon, especially when fighting off human wave attacks!