Brownwood in Brown County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

United States M59 Armored Personnel Carrier

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

1. United States M59 Armored Personnel Carrier Marker

Inscription. Designed and built by FMC Corporation from 1954-1959. The M59 was amphibious with two engines from General Motors Corporation. The M59 was used as an ambulance, load carrier, and command vehicle. Experimental models included a flamethrower, remote-controlled machine guns, and a 106mm M40 recoilless rifle. The M59 was and improvement over the earlier M75 and was cheaper to produce. It was underpowered and somewhat difficult to maintain. The crew of 12 included: Commander, Driver, and 10 infantry. Weight loaded was 42,600 lbs, road speed 32 mph, water speed 4.3 mph, range 102 miles. The M59 had a 50 caliber Browning with 2,000 rounds.

Erected by City of Brownwood.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military.

Location. 31° 40.614′ N, 98° 59.469′ W. Marker is in Brownwood, Texas, in Brown County. It is at the intersection of Burnett Road and Morris Sheppard Drive on Burnett Road. The marker is located at the central section of the Camp Bowie Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2710 Burnett Rd, Brownwood TX

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76801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 8cm kanon vz. 30 (within shouting distance of this marker); 107 MM Gun M1910/30 (within shouting distance of this marker); WW II Japanese Model 92 (1932) 105mm Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); 10.5cm lhFH 18 (within shouting distance of this marker); S.J. "Skipper" Howard Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Roy Eldon "Buck" White (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1Lt Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs (about 300 feet away); Major Jack Carlson (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownwood.

Also see . . . M59 armored personnel carrier. Wikipedia

Development work on a replacement for the M75 began in late
Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

2. The United States M59 Armored Personnel Carrier and Marker
The view is of the rear door of the M59 APC.
1951, with the Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation producing a number of prototypes. The best performing of these, the T59, was selected and type classified as the M59 in May 1953. FMC was awarded the production contract.

In order to keep costs down, instead of a single large powerful engine, the vehicle used two smaller, less powerful civilian truck engines, mounted one each side of the hull. The unreliability of this power system, along with the reduced armor protection provided compared to the M75, were the major disadvantages of this APC.

(Submitted on June 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The United States M59 Armored Personnel Carrier - Front View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

3. The United States M59 Armored Personnel Carrier - Front View

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.