Ontos grew from a postwar requirement for a light mobile antitank system that could be moved by available transport aircraft and landing forces. The Army left the program, but the Marine Corps adopted the vehicle.
Six externally mounted recoilless rifles gave a heavy first salvo for such a small chassis, but only limited ammunition could be carried and reloading required crew members to leave armored protection. Backblast also complicated firing positions. 1, 2
Operational use
In Vietnam, enemy tanks were not the dominant target set. Marines instead used Ontos high-explosive and antipersonnel effects against buildings, bunkers, and strongpoints, especially in urban fighting such as Hue. 1, 2
Role and significance
Ontos is a classic case of a vehicle succeeding in a different mission from the one that justified its development: a tank destroyer by design, but often a close-support assault weapon in combat. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
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