them too heavy to swim, such as heavy-duty winches, communications shelters that made them top heavy, or radar gear. It was designed to be air-transportable and droppable by parachute. Typical problems and malfunctions In May 1972 Fort Hood cited the following problems as a result of examining 566 vehicles: Additional specifications Articulation Roll at center axle: ± 15 degrees Roll at rear axle: ± 30 degrees Pitch at rear axle: ± 40 degrees Wall climb (vertical): 18 in (460 mm) Angle of approach: 62 degrees Angle of departure: 45 degrees Hump angle: 140 degrees Suspension Front and rear independent coil springs at each wheel Center single leaf spring and swing axle Steering system Type: Mechanical front and rear simultaneously operated Steering ratio: 24:1 Turning radius: 29 ft (8.8 m) Variants M561 Cargo / personnel (eight troops) carrier TOW ATGM team carrier (originally intended to be a dedicated Anti-Tank variant with its own TOW launching platform) Communications (separate shelter installed in the cargo compartment) Mortar carrier Radar (counter-mortar/artillery system) Radar (FAAR System) M60 Machine gun and mount on passenger fender M792 Ambulance See also G-numbers List of "M" series military vehicles References SNL G874 External links M561 Gama Goat page on olive-drab.com Articulated vehicles Military trucks of the United States Off-road vehicles Military vehicles introduced in the 1970s