Keeping History Alive

First, a little background on this project: basically, how we came up with the idea to build a quad fifty gun truck.

We had wanted to build a gun truck ever since we visited Gun Truck Studios on the World Wide Web.  This is a modeling site which builds exact replicas of real vehicles.   It was there that we first found out about the quad fifty gun trucks.  And, although our first thought was to build a “standard” gun truck, we were soon interested in building something “different.”

We were lucky to stumble onto the National Dusters, Quads, Searchlights Association (NDQSA), and were invited to their reunion in San Antonio, Texas.  It was at the reunion that we were able to meet many of the veterans of these vehicles.  And, although we had already decided to build a quad truck, we were still a bit unsure as to exactly how to go about it.  Initially, we were planning on building a tribute truck, incorporating features from many different trucks.  However, at the reunion, we decided we had to build an exact replica of a truck.

We were fortunate to meet Peter laBarre, former crew member and the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) of The Widow Maker, a quad fifty truck that served up near the DMZ in Vietnam.  Mr. LaBarre gave us permission to build a replica of his truck, and has served as a source of information and guidance ever since.  In addition, Mr. LaBarre has located several former crewmembers of this truck, including the original artist for the artwork.  As soon as we are able, we will have the original artist come down and paint the artwork on the replica.

History Fanatics obtained copies of several photographs taken “in-country” by Mr. LaBarre in Vietnam from 1966-1968. These show the specific details we need in order to get everything correct on The Widow Maker. Continuing research involving the internet, the NDQSA yearbook, and interviews with veterans are helping with other details.

The research continued, as well as the search for a suitable truck.  In the meantime, our project lead, Robert Ratliff, joined the National U.S. Armed Forces Museum (previously known as the Military Museum of Texas), located in Houston, Texas.  The staff and volunteers with the Museum have proven a valuable asset to this project, and History Fanatics can’t thank them enough for their hard work.

History Fanatics was able to acquire a 1971 AM General M35A1 2-1/2 Ton 6x6 Cargo Truck from one of the members of the Museum.  The truck had been updated by the military in 1989 at the Tooele Army Depot to an M35A2, which included upgrading its mirrors, engine, transmission, seats, front axle, exhaust, etc.

Because History Fanatics is constructing a replica of an M35A1 which served in Vietnam in 1967, most of the upgrades that were made to the truck needed to be removed.  The engine, transmission, and front axle were left alone, but nearly everything else is being changed out.

In order to “convert” the truck back to its original “1967” appearance, several assemblies needed changing.  These included removing the current “West Coast” mirror assemblies and installing single arm mirrors as well as "flipping" the headlights, (which involved almost completely changing out the front end with all the different brackets), installing a new wiring harness on the truck (the old wiring harness was falling apart), having the generator rebuilt, changing the driver's seat from “spring-ride” to “box,” changing out the front turn signals, removing the stone guards on the grill, removing the bed rails / troop seats, installing a slave cable receptacle in the cab, installing electrical power receptacles in both the cab and the bed to power radios, acquiring and installing a vehicle intercom system, acquiring and installing a two-way radio, as well as a myriad of details not covered here.

A quick note about the slave cable receptacle: This truck never had a slave cable receptacle fitted to it.  A slave cable receptacle makes it possible to “slave” a vehicle with dead batteries off a running vehicle much like jumping a dead battery in the family car.  In this manner, a jeep can jump off a tank.  Further research found that it was common in Vietnam to not have slave receptacles as they caused problems, such as fires.  Due to the extreme heat and humidity of Vietnam, galvanic action would corrode the wires around the sockets and pin connections, interfering with good conductivity.  The result is overheating and the de-soldering or actual melting of the batteries and battery compartment fires.  So, the crews removed the slave cable receptacles.

Originally, the 24-volt system was obtained by using four 6-volt asphalt top automotive lead post and plate batteries with removable air vent / battery acid caps and connected with short cables.  The battery cells were subject to contamination from the constant rain, humidity, and mud during the monsoon season, and the ever present dust during the dry season.  The lead plate construction was fragile, and the asphalt tops were prone to softening from the tropic heat and the use of diesel fuel, gasoline, and brake fluid which was used to clean the trucks.

If you will take note in the accompanying photographs, you will note that the original truck does not have a vertical exhaust stack.  This posed somewhat of a problem until History Fanatics found a muffler shop that could re-route our exhaust the same as the original.

The primary reason for the project is mounting the quad fifty motorized turret in the cargo bed of the truck.  History Fanatics was able to locate a restored mount in the western half of the United States. 

Funding the purchase has proven somewhat difficult.  Banks won't loan us the money.  And, with the economy so tight, getting donations has proven to be most challenging.  We can really use some help here.

The mount on its trailer costs $20,000 with shipping. 

If you can help us with this, please use the contact form to send us a note.

Being as this is a quad fifty gun truck, four fifty caliber machine guns are mounted on a motorized turret in the cargo bed. 

As we are striving to construct the best replica we can, we wanted the best for the weaponry. 

Mounting “live” guns is simply not feasible due to the cost of the guns themselves (approximately $20,000 per gun for fully automatic and $8,500 per gun for semi-automatic) and the cost of ammunition ($4 per round x 4 guns x 450 rounds-per-minute cyclic rate).  Add to this cost the increased costs of fees, security, insurance, etc. 

So, we started looking for suitable replicas.  We found Bismarck Guns and Artillery of Bismarck, Arkansas.  Bismarck manufactures museum-grade replicas and replica simulators from steel.  These replicas are almost the same weight as the real guns, but are completely inert and unable to fire live rounds.

These replicas are not as expensive as “live” guns, but they aren’t cheap, either.  A single replica costs $1,595 plus shipping.  And, we need four!

We need your help is acquiring these replicas!  If you have questions, or would like to know more, e-mail Robert.

A “typical” quad fifty truck carried approximately 3,000 rounds of .50 caliber machine gun ammunition in metal links in ammunition cans.  A standard .50 caliber ammunition can holds 110 rounds of linked ammunition.  Doing the math, that works out to about 30 cans of ammunition.  With a cyclic rate of 400-500 rounds-per-minute for a standard .50 caliber machine gun, and mounting four guns, giving a combined cyclic of 1,600 to 2,000 rounds-per-minute, that gives less than two minutes of firing!  So, many trucks actually carried a bit more.  Some even pulled trailers loaded with more ammunition.

However, the 2-1/2 Ton cargo truck was limited in capacity as were the bridges these trucks travelled over.  The need for more capacity led to mounting the quad mounts on 5-Ton cargo trucks.  The 5-Ton trucks could carry the ammunition required plus mount armor for protection.  However, the 5-Ton trucks were too heavy for the bridges in northern South Vietnam.  The 2-1/2 Ton quad trucks, such as The Widow Maker, reigned in this area.

Okay, so how much ammunition did The Widow Maker carry?  10,000 rounds of .50 caliber machine gun ammunition!  This information comes from interviews with former crewmembers.  At 110 rounds per can, that works out to ninety (90) cans!

Keep watching here to see how we solve this problem.

According to information provided to us by Mr. LaBarre, The Widow Maker had a PRC-77 radio in the cargo bed for communication.

History Fanatics has obtained a working PRC-77 radio from Steve Haney of Haney Electronics.  We also obtained a non-working unit for display.

In addition, Mr. Haney is working with History Fanatics to install a working vehicle intercom system for safety reasons.

History Fanatics thanks Mr. Haney for his knowledge and helping us with the radios and intercom system. 

History Fanatics gives thanks to those who have made this project work:

The National Dusters, Quads, Searchlights Association for their tireless efforts in helping us out with research.

Midwest Jeep Willys for the front turn signals.

Erik's Military Surplus for the wiring harness and rubber wiring connectors.

Midwest Military for the correct mirror arms and brackets.

Saturn Surplus for the correct mirror heads.

National United States Armed Forces Museum staff and volunteers, for without them, this project would have never gotten this far.  Specifically, History Fanatics thanks” Charles Jr., Charles Sr., Little Kirk, Ed, Ray, and Coy.  These folks went above and beyond with their help.

Affordable Muffler for re-routing the exhaust.

Sherwin-Williams provided the paint.  Specifically, the folks at their store at the Westheimer Road / State Highway 6 location in West Houston, who helped with advice and finding the right color.

Baties Hardware and Paint and Hardware City provided a source for the tools, nuts and bolts, wiring accessories, and other odds and ends.

C and C Equipment provided a pair of new-in-the-box inner windshields.

Spring Army Surplus for providing the individual load-bearing equipment (LBE) consisting of the pistol belt, suspenders, canteens and carriers, and the butt-pack, for five crew members.

Moore Militaria provided both the jungle and sateen fatigue uniforms which Robert wears.

Bismarck Guns and Artillery for providing the guns.

Haney Electronics provided both the PRC-77 and the VIC-1 vehicle intercom that are installed in the truck.

Sir Plus Supply for providing the Barrel Changing Mitten and Barrel Covers for the armaments. 

If we have forgotten anybody, we do apologize. Please send a note to Robert so we can publicly thank you for your help.

Currently, we only have two (2) M1968 Fragmentation Vests for the “crew members.”  We’d like to get a couple more. 

History Fanatics is looking to acquire the following items for display:

5-Gallon U.S.G.I. metal fuel cans
5-Gallon U.S.G.I. metal water cans
.50 Caliber dummy ammunition and links
C-Ration boxes and individual meals
Shelter halves
Gun Covers

Please contact Robert for more information.