The U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1⁄2 Ton, 4X4 or “Carrier, Light Weapons, Infantry, 1⁄2 ton, 4×4”, also known as the “Mule”, “Military Mule”, or “Mechanical Mule”, is a 4-wheel drive, gasoline-powered truck/tractor type vehicle that can carry up to 1⁄2 short ton off-road. The M274 Mule was introduced in 1956 to supplement both the 1⁄4-short-ton trucks (“Jeeps”) and 3⁄4-short-ton trucks (Weapons Carrier Series and M37 series) in airborne and infantry battalions.
The M274 Utility Platform Truck evolved from improvements to a vehicle designed at the end of the Second World War. Willys-Overland designed a light vehicle as a medical evacuation litter carrier to access areas and terrain that would be problematic for the standard light vehicle of the period (the Jeep) to access. Tests by the US Army at Eglin Field, Florida proved the “mule” was also useful as carrier for both supplies and men. In 1948 the US Army purchased a small number of test vehicles for evaluation in jungle warfare and with airborne forces.
The M274 Mule was used throughout as platforms for various weapons systems and for carrying men, supplies, and weaponry/ammunition during the Vietnam War and in other U.S. military operations until the 1980s. As a completely open and exposed vehicle, they offered absolutely no protection to the driver, yet that was unimportant as they were used mainly as cargo carriers and medium-range infantry support vehicles, rather than tactical vehicles. Production of the Mules ended in 1970 with over 11,200 being manufactured.
