There were 5,467 M41s built, and while the United States never used it in combat, it was bloodied in several engagements in both Western and Eastern hemispheres. In the Bay of Pigs “invasion” of Fidel Castro’s Cuba on April 17, 1961, the CIA provided a brigade of anti-Castro exiles with 5 M41 tanks and while they did have early success against Communist T-34/85 tanks, they eventually ran out of ammunition, and all were either destroyed or captured.
The Republic of Vietnam was the largest user of the M41 Bulldog. Provided to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in 1964, they were first used in combat in October 1965. Notably used by ARVN forces in the Tet Offensive of early 1968, they also saw combat in many other theatre actions. In February to March 1971, M41s led a cross-border incursion into neighboring Laos called Operation Lam Son 719. The ARVN Bulldogs destroyed NVA (North Vietnam Army) T54 and PT-76 tanks in tank vs tank duels, but the operation was not a success with ARVN forces entering Laos with 62 tanks and 160 M113 APCs and returning to Vietnam with only 25 M41s and 64 M113s.
Other nations that used the Bulldog include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa and West Germany, where the M41 was the Bundeswehr's first post-war tank in 1955.
Specifications:
Weight 23.49 Tonnes (51,200 pounds or about 23,220 kg)
Length 19’1” (5.81m)
Width 10’6” (3.19m)
Height 8’11” (2.72m)
Top speed- 45 mph
Range- 110 miles (180 km)
Engine- Continental air-cooled, opposed six-cylinder, gasoline powered, with 500 HP
Main gun-M32A1 76 mm canon
Auxiliary armament-.30 cal coaxial MG and .50 M2 Commander’s MG
Reference links of interest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41_Walker_Bulldog
https://mikesresearch.com/2019/03/24/m41-walker-bulldog/
The Kit
It’s Tamiya’s venerable 1/35 M41. This kit appeared first, in this form in 1975, with an earlier version released in 1964! I started construction about one year ago and have worked on it sporadically since. It was painted with Humbrol and Model Master enamels, through the old Paasche H. Quite a few products were used for weathering effects including AK and Vallejo muds of various sorts and Vallejo Earth Oxide pigments. Vallejo acrylics were used for the rust effect on the three mufflers, while Flory washes and pastel chalks were also employed. I used diluted oil paint on the fuel fillers. In a few spots, Cyber Top watercolor pencils also came in handy. Uschi’s Trinity Splatter stencils helped weather the paintwork.
Resin stowage came from Value Gear and Squadron Dioramix. The resin M2 is an Eduard product. The dried leaves scattered about are from AK as well, in three different types. The crew came from a vendor in China, via Ebay and they are painted with Vallejo acrylics too. And, I made some "shades" for that tank commander. I also used some Evergreen sheet to make bottoms for the sponson boxes and to fill the holes in the hull’s bottom.
I did a fair amount of scratch building on this project, including the three supports for the driver’s opened hatch cover, damage to the headlight guards and the cleaning rod staffs (brass tubing) seen attached to the turret’s rear. I removed the pioneer tools and bracket from the front right fender, (often done by the ARVN tankers) replacing them with “field improvised” parts from brass angle and a strip of thin, sheared sheet-metal. The gun mantlet cover is made of tissue soaked in diluted PVA glue with the cover hold-down made from plastic rod, strips cut from an aluminum can and detailed with Grandt Line nut/bolt heads. The characteristic reinforcing stampings seen on the sponson’s sides were replicated with stretched sprue.
Tamiya completely disregarded the auxiliary muffler, so I was obliged to make one from an ancient model car muffler, aluminum tubing and electrical wire. The ropes are various sizes of thread soaked in diluted PVA and the two radio aerials are just stretched sprue. Another omission by Tamiya were the two lifting rings seen just beneath the headlights and those were done with copper wire. Balsa provided the wood for the “road barrier” pressed into use between the headlights. I also had to use Evergreen to replace a lost hinge for the cupola’s hatch cover. The driver’s vision blocks were filled with Microscale Krystal Klear, tinted with dark acrylic paint.
So, there you have it! Much too much info I’m sure, but maybe there’s some interest in the details. It was a fun project with the biggest headache being that resin M2. I believe it was taken too green from the mold and that thin barrel always wants to curve upwards. It was nicely detailed but not a great fit in the kit’s pintle mount.
Build thread:
viewtopic.php?t=6106
Thanks for hanging in this far, and thanks for stopping by to have a look! I appreciate your interest in the Bulldog, and please feel free to leave your comments, good or bad!
Lightbox photos:
This M41 represents an ARVN tank operating in Saigon's (Ho Chi Minh City today) Cholon sector, circa 1968. These location atmosphere photos hopefully somewhat evoke that time and place:
Photos by Richard W. Krall:
Now, where did I put that Tamiya Tiger I...? 
