First Look Review – TAKOM's M247 Sergeant York 

Backstory - Ground defense from low flying aircraft traces back to World War I with significant advancements seen during World War II into the Cold War.  Initially, ground based air defense consisted of small to medium caliber guns mounted on existing platforms such as the British Morris C9/B with Bofors 40 mm gun mounted on a Morris "Quad" Field Artillery Tractor, the German Wirbelwind with a 20mm quad gun mount on a Panzer IV chassis, the U.S. Army’s M16 halftrack with a quad M2 .50 cal, and the U.S. Marine Corps M19 with a twin Bofors 40mm guns mounted onto an M24 chassis.  Post WWII self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAG) development continued into the late 1950s producing systems such as the Soviet ZSU-57-2, the U.S. M42 Duster.   

The arrival of attack helicopters such as the Soviet Mi-24 HIND spurred the next generation of SPAAG system in the late 1960s.  Multiple nations, both East and West, developed SPAAG platforms to counter this low altitude “threat”.  Most recognizable SPAAG systems were the Soviet ZSU-23-4, the German Flakpanzer Gepard, and the U.S. M163 Vulcan. In the mid 1970s, seeking to develop a SPAAG system to operate alongside of the emerging M2 Bradley and the M1 Abrams, the U.S. began development of the M247 Sergeant York.  Based on the M48 chassis, the M247 was equipped with a radar based target acquisition system coupled to twin Bofors 40mm guns with autoloader. 

From the onset the M247 development was beset with controversy, target acquisition system failures, cover-ups, and escalating costs which ultimately doomed the system.  The Department of Defense formally cancelled the project in 1984.   A sad outcome to associate with the heroics of Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Alvin York.   

Of the 50 M247 produced, the vast majority ended up in target ranges.  Only a few survive today. Most notably at the Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park (Pall Mall, TN); another at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ;  a third is at the American Armoured Foundation Museum (Danville, VA), a fourth was at the Fort Snelling Military Museum in Minneapolis, MN (now closed), and the final M247 can be found at the Arkansas National Guard Museum (Camp Robinson, Arkansas).  

The developmental failure of the M247 was captured in the satirical film “Pentagon Wars” in a secondary role to the M2 Bradley.  A portion of the film discussing the M247 is captured here in this clip.   The Army uses excerpts of this film to teach the dangers of ever changing requirements adversely affecting systems development.   

Today, the U.S. has re-emphasized the division level air defense to counter low flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs), with systems such as the M6 “Linebacker”, the HMMWV based M1097 Avenger Air Defense platform, and the Stryker based Mobile Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system.  These missile systems have supplanted guns, offering increased range and lethality.     

What’s in the box?  - The kit arrives in a large (15” L x 10” W x 5” D) sturdy box loaded with 19 cellophane bags containing 24 sprue trees, one small photo-etch fret, a length of cable, decal sheet and a set of instructions.   

Sprue Tree “A” – This tree contains surface decking plates and a turret ring.     

Sprue Tree “B” – This tree contains an assortment of parts including the transmission cover plates, fuel cans and surface details.     

Sprue Tree “C” – This set of 3 trees contain the track link parts.  Each sprue tree holds 8 groups of link segments, and another 8 groups of guide horns.  Each group holds 7 individual links.  Looking at the track assembly instructions, it appears the track is assembled in groups of 7 links held in place by a sprue arm that is cut off after assembly.  Each group of 7 links is sandwiched between upper and lower track pads (sprue tree “D”) to create a 6 shoe pad length of track.   Repeat this step 13 times to achieve a single set of 78 track links.    Repeat once again for the other side.     

Sprue Tree “D” – This set of 3 trees each contains the upper and lower track shoe pads.  Each tree holds 112 lower and upper half shoe pads.  Each tree also holds a track assembly jig.   The track shoe parts count is 84 per side, leaving an extra set of 6 shoe pads per side beyond the required 78.        

Sprue Tree “G” – This set of 2 trees contains a collection of radar parts and the 40mm gun.     

Sprue Tree “H” – This tree contains additional small parts including the suspension arms and the machine gun.     

Sprue Tree “J” – This set of 2 trees contain suspension road wheels and drive sprockets and related details.     

Sprue Tree “K” – This tree contains numerous suspension detail parts.     

Sprue Tree “L” – This tree contains hull surface parts.     

Sprue Tree “M” – This tree contains the turret parts.     

Sprue Tree “N” – This tree contains radar assembly parts.     

Sprue Tree “Q” – This tree contains turret radar parts.    

Sprue Tree “R” – This tree contains a range of smaller detailed parts.     

Sprue Tree “W” – This tree contains the clear parts for the headlights and vision blocks.       

The Photo-Etch fret contains air intake cover grills and a few finer detail parts.    

The Decal sheet contains a mixture of administrative and tactical unit recognition markings.     

The final parts are the lower and upper hulls -  The upper and lower hulls halves have excellent detail with well depicted casting textures along the hull. 

A dry fit of the hull revealed an excellent fit with no discernable gap or seam to address later in the build.  Yah! 

Instructions -   The 25 page instructions lists the 30 steps to build the M247 Sergeant York.  The steps are shown in black and white with large and clearly discernable illustrations and numbering.       

Painting and Marking Options -  TAKOM  offers the builder 5 different painting and marking options.  These are shown in crisp colored profile views, citing AMMO paint and weathering products in the painting guide.  Of the 5 options, three depict actual vehicles from the early 1980’s, and two “What If” markings for units participating in REFORGER 1985.     

Initial Impressions.  Once again TAKOM has produced a kit based of a subject where few have ventured.  Before this kit was released only two other M247 kits existed, and both are based on molds created more than 20 - 30 years ago.   TAKOM’s M247 is a newly tooled mold with crisply portrayed detailing that we have come to expect from TAKOM.  I look forward to this build, especially the track assembly jig.            

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders, pending full build.

Thanks goes out to TAKOM for this review kit.

Reviewed by Brian Eberle

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