|
|
|
||||||||
|
The 'Ontos'
Where Are They Now?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Note:
This is a comprehensive listing of current examples of surviving Vehicles. I believe it is representative of most vehicles, but several still elude my discovery.
If you know of any examples of the Ontos, still in existing, please contact this site so that we may include the vehicle on this list.
Many of the vehicles are part of Private Collections. During my research I have been privileged to be provided many photos and information from the owners, which has enabled me to offer a fairly complete listing and photographic examples of the surviving vehicles.
Other examples are available for public viewing, at Museums. Sadly most are Static Displays, and are subject to the elements. As time goes by, deterioration will cause the surviving vehicles to slowly dissappear.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
United States Marine Corps Museum (Quantico, Virginia):
This is an M50A1 version, which is in the long term process of a full restoration.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor (Ft Knox, Kentucky):
This is an M50A1 version which has now completed a full operational restoration. It was Displayed at the annual 'Armor Warefighter Conference' at Ft Knox May 15-19 2006.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Aberdeen Proving Grounds Museum (Aberdeen, Maryland):
This is a T165E2 (#19) prototype version which is in the process of a cosmetic restoration. It is currently not on public display.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
American Heritage Park (El Monte, California):
This is an M50A1 version on Static display and is available for public viewing. Unfortunately it is displayed without the weapons mounted.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rock Island Arsenal Museum (Rock Island, Illinois):
This is an M50A1 version on Static display and is available for public viewing.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base (29 Palms, California):
This is an M50A1 version on Static display and is available for public viewing. It is uniquely painted in a desert camoflauge. The Ontos was never deployed with this paint pattern.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Camp Atterbury Army Post (Atterbury, Indiana):
This is a T165 prototype version whch is cosmetically restored, it is on static display on the military installation. This is appearently the sole remaining T165 Ontos prototype, left in existance.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
USMC Museum of the Carolinas (Jacksonville, North Carolina:
This is an M50A1 version whch is operational, but currently not on public display. The vehicle is used periodically in local parades. it is a privately owned vehicle .
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Private Collection (Hockley, Texas):
This privately owned M50A1 version of the Ontos is operational. The owner participates in a number of voluntary public exhibits. This vehicle has been returned to its original configuration from forestry service configuration.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (Portola Valley, California):
The privately owned Foundation currently has two versions of the Ontos.
1) A T165E1 prototype version with the original GM 302ci engine. It is undergoing a total operational restoration.
2) A T165E2 prototype version of the Ontos.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Private Collection (Staten Island, New York):
This privately owned M50A1 version of the Ontos is being restored from its former forestry service configuration. It is currently not available for public viewing.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Private Collection (Vine Grove, Kentucky):
This privately owned M50A1 version of the Ontos is planned to be restored from its current forestry service configuration. It is currently not available for public viewing.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Private Collection (Crawfordsville Indiana):
This privately owned M50A1 version of the Ontos is restored but without its 106mm Recoilless Rifles. The vehicle is uniquely paint in 'tiger stripe'. It is currently accessable to public viewing in the 'Ropkey Armor Museum' in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
** In 1970 the USMC 'disposed' of a large portion of surviving Ontos at a US Navy desert facility in California. A typical disposition of obsolete / out of service armored vehicles, is to be used as targets for direct or indirect live-fire training. Such 'hard targets' are doomed to be shot up and then disposed of as 'junk'. Due to its small size, a large number of Ontos still remain, untouched since the 70's. They are in an 'Off Limits' impact area, rusting away. Efforts are ongoing to rescue several documented vehicles with provinance, to preserve their place in Armor History.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| page created with Easy Designer |