The tank destroyer that was light enough to fly and loud enough to break bricks

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The M50 Ontos was a mechanical paradox: a heavy-hitting anti-tank vehicle designed to be light enough for 1950s cargo planes. While the Army rejected it as a tank destroyer, the Marines turned it into a psychological weapon of war, using its massive firepower to shatter walls and break enemy resolve.

Developed in the 1950s, the Ontos was born from a specific logistical requirement: it had to be air-transportable by standard cargo aircraft. This forced engineers at Allis-Chalmers to keep the vehicle's weight between 10 and 20 metric tons. To achieve this, the vehicle utilized a six-cylinder engine common in GMC trucks and a chassis based on the M56 Scorpion. Its primary armament consisted of six 106 mm M40 recoilless rifles. Interestingly, the actual caliber was 105 mm, but it was designated 106 mm specifically to avoid confusion with the ammunition of the M27 recoilless rifle.

The vehicle's power was so concentrated that testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground revealed its violent nature; firing all six weapons simultaneously produced a backblast capable of knocking bricks out of nearby buildings and shattering car windows. Despite these capabilities, the Army canceled the project by 1955, citing the vehicle's high profile, limited ammunition capacity (only 18 rounds), and the dangerous requirement for the crew to exit the vehicle to reload the guns. However, the Marine Corps—desperate for anti-tank capabilities—ordered 297 units, with production running from 1955 to 1957.

During the Vietnam War, the Ontos's role shifted from its intended anti-tank purpose to direct fire support for infantry. Because the North Vietnamese Army deployed few tanks, the Ontos became a devastating tool for knocking down walls at ranges of 300 to 500 yards. Opponents frequently retreated simply because it appeared, and its speed was unmatched; once, it stood as the sole tracked machine with sufficient lightness to traverse a pontoon bridge. By 1969, the Ontos was removed from frontline service, with many remaining chassis eventually being sold for use as construction vehicles.

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