The M41 Walker Bulldog, officially 76-mm gun tank M41, was an American light tank developed for armed reconnaissance purposes. Between 1951 and 1954 Cadillac produced some 5,467 M41 tanks. Although engineered as a reconnaissance vehicle, the M41’s weight and armament also made it effective in the close infantry support role and for rapid airborne deployments. Initially designated as the M41 Little Bulldog, the name was changed to Walker Bulldog in honor of the late General Walton Walker.
In 1946, a U.S. Army project was commissioned to replace the M24 Chaffee light tank. Armored vehicle production after WWII had declined based on decreased spending and intent. The outbreak of the Korean War generated a rush to increase production of the M41. The late production of the M41 prevented its entry into the Korean conflict. The M41 was the first postwar American light tank to see worldwide service and was exported in considerable numbers by the U.S. It was further developed in some 16 variants.
The M41 first entered combat with CIA trained forces during the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. It was deployed to Vietnam and was heavily used by South Vietnamese forces. The M41 tank saw service in South America, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, and West Germany. By the late 1960s, the advancements in Soviet tank armor left the M41 underpowered for frontline service. The U.S. Army retired the M41 tank from service in 1969. At present, the M41 Walker Bulldog remains in service with four nations.
