M66 Tight End
| M66 Tight End | |
|---|---|
 M66A1 Tight End schematic | |
| Type | Towed/VTOL Antiaircraft Laser System |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  U.S. Army |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3,289 lb (1,492 kg) |
| Crew | 1 Gunner, 2 Loaders |
| Elevation | -20° to +90° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Effective firing range | 2,200 meters (effective range) 5,000 meters (deterrent range) |
The M66 Tight End, officially the Multiple Laser Direct Lift Mount M66, is a laser antiaircraft artillery system in service with the U.S. Army. The Tight End is a very short-range complement to the M62 Lineman contained within divisional Antiaircraft Artillery Battalions. It is equipped with two single-beam laser cannons, capable of reliably destroying fast-moving aircraft or soft ground targets 2,200 meters away, and deterring aircraft at 5,000 meters. Unlike the Lineman, the Tight End is technically considered a weapon system rather than a vehicle because it needs to be towed while on the ground.
The M66 is essentially a M56 Vehicle Mount (made for mounting on ground vehicles) but mounted on a fan-powered direct lift fan designed to hover or move at 10 meters (33 feet) in altitude. This allows the M66 to get a vantage point above trees, buildings, and other obstacles, particularly during convoy protection operations. Its turret drive has additional depression over the M56 to allow for more practical use of the hover mode, from -5° to -20°.
A version of the M66, the GAU-72, is used by the U.S. Air Force for operations on Luna. However, the GAU-72 doesn't have the direct lift fan (as there is no atmosphere for it to function on Luna). It is more or less similar in appearance to the M56, but is in fact a M66 converted into a stationary mount. The USAF chose the M66 as the base for a close-in laser defense system at its lunar batteries due to its increased gun depression (convenient for batteries located on the rim of craters which might have to aim downward) and the larger battery capacity of the M66 to power the lift fan.
Gallery
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A schematic and specifications of the M66A1 Tight End as featured in a Bazza's Sinowatch cassette.
