The Cadilac Gage Company of Detroit, Michigan began work on its four-wheel drive armored car in the early 1960s. The first prototypes were immediately tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the results of these tests immediately influenced the development of subsequent prototypes. The new armored car was called Commando and later V-100. It was powered by a Chrysler 361 gasoline engine (i.e. with a capacity of 361 cubic inches - about 5.9 liters) - the same as the one that powered the first versions of the M113 transporter. The drive was transmitted through a five-speed gearbox to both axles - identical to those used by trucks from the M35 family. The vehicle used specialized tires of size 14 x 20, which were adapted to work without air (after a puncture) - also called "run flat" tires. The wheels also powered the vehicle in water - it was adapted to swim without preparation. Some of the prototypes were immediately sent for testing under the conditions of the Vietnam War.
At the same time, work on the prototypes was still ongoing - further modifications were introduced, such as the sides of the vehicle being made of bent armour plates instead of welding two plates together at an angle. Two-piece side doors were introduced, and the rear doors were rebuilt from one-piece to two-piece. Various turrets armed with various weapons were also tested, from machine guns through automatic cannons to a 90 mm cannon.
The variant equipped with the T50 turret, which could be armed with two 7.62 mm machine guns or one 7.62 mm and one 12.7 mm machine gun was designated XM706 and began to be purchased for the Army of South Vietnam - ARVN. Already during the production of the XM706, changes were introduced to increase the hull's resistance to cracking - the fender openings were changed from angular to rounded and one visor and one gun port on each side of the front part of the hull were removed.
In addition, changes were introduced such as replacing the flat hatch covers for the driver and his assistant with convex ones, and introducing an additional cover over the shutter of the upper engine cover, which was to make it difficult to attack the vehicle with Molotov cocktails. Vehicles modified in this way were designated XM706E1 and later standardized as M706. A separate variant of the vehicle was also prepared for the USAF, which had no turret but instead had a large, lockable opening in the upper part of the hull and the possibility to mount up to 5 machine guns and other weapons. This in turn was designated XM706E2 and was intended for the protection of air bases. Still other versions of the V-100 armed with various weapons were produced for export and for the police.
My model of the M706 represents a vehicle used by the USAF to protect air bases in Vietnam. It is equipped with two M60 machine guns and an experimental 40mm automatic grenade launcher type XM174. This and other details of the equipment are based on the recollections of a USAF Vietnam veteran who used such a vehicle during his service.
| Length: | 5690 mm |
| Height: | 1930 mm |
| Width: | 1867 mm |
| Service weight: | 7370 kg |
| Armament: | Up to 5 machine guns or automatic grenade launchers |
| Armor, hull: | from 6.4 mm (sides) to 9.5 mm (front, floor) |
| Propulsion: | Chrysler 75M; 8 cylinder, vee, four-stroke engine; |
| Power (gross): | 140 kW @ 4000 obr/min. |
| Torque: | 440 Nm @ 2400 obr/min. |
| Fuel capacity: | 300 L |
| Transmission: | New Process 540, 5 forward gears (2 to 5 synchronized), 1 reverse |
| Suspension: | Leaf springs |
| Speed (on road): | 100 km/h |
| Range: | 640 km |
| Fording: | Swims without preparation |
| Trench: | 0,46 m |
| Vertical obstacle: | 0,61 m |
| Crew: | 4 people |
