Although the Army had abolished the tank destroyer as a concept and equipment after WWII, and the

Marine Corps mimicking with the M3 GMC had ended in 1944, the Marine Corps development of the M50 Ontos (Thing) must be considered as a reversion to that doctrine. The installation of a Chrysler 361B engine developing 180 hp and new track during 1963-64 produced the M50A1, which had sufficient automotive improvements to enable it to reach designed speeds. The criticism of the M50 Ontos increased with an unusually poor provisioning of spares upon introduction and the quartermasters admitted a total lack of parts in the FMF. Moreover, the effectiveness of the 106mm recoilless rifle as a tank killer looked inferior to the new generation of antitank guided missiles now entering service. Even the Marine Corps Reserve saw inadequacies, as only two Ontos per company were provided as training vehicles. During the dry weather period in Vietnam (March-September) officers like LtCol. Walter Moore, a tanker since 1944 now commanding the 1st Antitank Battalion, urged the infantry regiment and division commanders to make greater use of the vehicles and their firepower to provide direct fire support to the infantry and to conduct motorized reconnaissance. Moore chafed at the use of Ontos for protecting command posts, artillery positions and bridges (the saying went, two on the ridge, three on the bridge for such tank and Ontos platoon missions), The Battle for Hue began on 30 January, when eight battalions of NVA infantry infiltrated the city and the NVA 2d Division threatened to reinforce. The responding Marine Corps forces included tank platoons from both 1st and 3d Tank Battalions, and Ontos of A Company, 1st Antitank Battalion. Here, with the enemy in known and observable positions, the armored vehicles gave key support to the embattled infantry and undoubtedly provided the measure of superiority. The key Marine Corps infantry battalion commanders fighting there differed in their opinions but valued the support equally. LtCol. Ernest Cheatham, commanding 2/5, liked the Ontos for its speed and agility and thought that the tanks drew too much fire. LtCol. Robert Thompson of 1/5 preferred the tanks for their armament and staying power. Both tanks and Ontos received frequent hits by RPG and recoilless rifle rounds. Several tanks went through up to five crews and remained in action. Three of the Ontos stayed knocked out of action when hit. Most commanders rated the 90mm fire best, provided that the tankers had and used concrete piercing fuzes on their HE rounds. Otherwise, the 106mm projectiles of the Ontos worked better in knocking down buildings and walls to facilitate the infantry advance. Both Thompson and Cheatham had to hold up their advance at times for lack of 90mm and 106mm ammunition, illustrating the essential role of their armored fighting vehicles. Ironically, the Army made some use of excess Ontos acquired from the Marine Corps in Vietnam. Formed in Company D, 16th Armor, for use with the 173d Airborne Brigade, the former Marine Corps vehicles gave good support to the troops when flown into action

by the flying crane heavy lift helicopters supporting the Brigade. The last operational Ontos stationed with the Guantanemo Bay garrison continued to operate until April, 1980, by then with only one vehicle still operational and two used for parts.