The M42 Duster is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on a tracked chassis of the Cold War period. The first prototypes of the machine were developed in the early 1950s, and mass production continued from 1952 to 1960. It is estimated that about 3,700 machines of this type were built. The drive was provided by a single Continental AOS-895-3 engine with a capacity of 500 hp. It was armed with two 40 mm M2A1 automatic cannons and one 12.7 mm M1919A4 machine gun.
The M42 Duster was built on the basis of the experience of the US Army in the Korean War (1950-1953), which indicated the need to develop a new self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog tank was used to reduce the time of analytical and implementation work, as well as to facilitate further operation. The M2A1 automatic cannon was also used, which was a licensed version of the Bofors cannon. In the end, a vehicle with good mobility and maneuverability was created, capable of engaging air targets at ranges of up to 5,000 meters and ground targets at ranges of up to 9,000 meters. However, the M42 Duster had relatively poor guidance and aiming capabilities, which with the development of jet aircraft in the 1960s undermined its combat value. However, due to its high rate of fire, vehicles of this type were widely used in the Vietnam War (1964/1965-1975) to protect bases and support their own infantry. M42 Duster vehicles were used, among others, by Austria, Greece, the Federal Republic of Germany, Taiwan and Turkey.
