M163 Vulcan Air Defense System - Fort Stewart - Hinesville, GA
N 31° 51.715 W 081° 36.699
17R E 442139 N 3525293
The M163 VADS was used by the US military in the 1980s and 1990s. This vehicle is located at the Fort Stewart Museum at Fort Stewart near Hinesville, GA.
Waymark Code: WM3F7A
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 03/27/2008
Views: 136
The museum is located on an active military installation. In order to visit the Museum, all adults need a government
issued picture ID card to gain access to the Fort. If you drive
onto the post, you also need current registration and proof of
insurance.
From Wikipedia:
"The Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled
anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) used by the United States Army. It is
also known as the M163. The M168 gun is a variant of the General
Dynamics 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon—the standard cannon in most
US combat aircraft since the 1960s.
The weapon is either mounted on a modified M113 vehicle (the
M741 carrier) or on a towed trailer, which is designated the M167.
The systems were designed to complement the M48 Chaparral missile
system. The M163s uses a small, range-only radar, the AN/VPS-2, and
an M61 optical lead-calculating sight. The gun fires at 3,000
rounds per minute in short bursts of 10, 30, 60, or 100 rounds, or
it can fire in continuous fire mode at a rate of 1,000 rounds per
minute. The system is suitable for night operations with the use of
AN-PVS series night vision sights that mount above the sight
reticle. Vulcan was slated to be replaced by the M247 Sergeant York
DIVADS (Divisional Air Defense System), but that system was
cancelled due to cost overruns and technical problems.
Although it was designed primarily as an air defense weapon, it
is not very effective against modern fast moving fixed wing
aircraft. Consequently the Vulcan gun system was in use throughout
the late 80's and early 90's primarily as a ground support weapon.
For example, VADS guns were used to support American ground assault
troops in Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause. One Vulcan of
B btry. 2/62 ADA even sank a PDF Vosper PT boat.
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