"Last US M41 Walker Bulldog units" Topic

I am interested in when the US forces had withdrawn their M41 from active service? (particularly Cavalry rather than National Guard) Most sources are very vague in specific years, but from gather they were still around in 1969 when Sheridan entered service?

IN '65 they were used by regular units on big exercises in Thailand still.

Of course a number of countries used the M41s they bought/were given to by the US. E.g. the ARVN was using them thru out much of the war in SE Asia. As well as some other nations for quite some time. But I think the US stopped using the M41 long before the M551 entered service. You may have seen this already – link

The M41 was never used by US forces in Vietnam. They had been relegated to Army Reserve and ARNG units. The rest were sold as part of the MAP starting in the late 60's as the Sheridan came into service.

A pic of an M41 during the 67 Detroit Riots.

I think it was the 25 Inf Div that took them on exercise to Thailand in '65.

The M551 didn't pan out as well and as fast as expected, so a lot of units retained them a nit longer into the end of the '60s.

Capnviv, that is a great picture.

I know it was not used in Vietnam, separate MTO&E was issued that saw the replacement of all M114s with M113 APCs (and when available, fitted with ACAV kit) and the replacement of the three M41A3 with two M48A3 tanks.

Which imply M41A3 was in use, but I don't know in which year that particular MTO&E was issued (likely around 1965). By the late 1960s, M41 was being withdrawn, but I am trying to dig out if some units (particularly in Europe) kept their light tanks until Sheridan started reaching operational service in 1969.

The M41 was never used by US forces in Vietnam.

Yes, I've never seen it mentioned being used by the US in SE Asia. However, the ARVN and later the PAVN …

I too believe it was still in some NG units during Vietnam. But as it said in the link I posted it was not considered as useful and effective for modern conventional warfare.

With the introduction of increasingly well-armored Soviet main battle tanks, the M41 was no longer perceived as powerful enough for frontline service, and it was replaced by the much lighter and more heavily armed Sheridan during the late 1960s.

If you can find a copy of the Squadron M41 Walker Bulldog book, there is a lot of details about the M41 and its variants like the M75, M42 Duster, and the M44 155mm Howitzer.