Rare photo of M76 Otter in action via Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

Marine Otter Supports Members of 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, May 1968
"Otter: A Marine Otter moves up to support Leathernecks of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines [2/4] during the fighting around Dai Do Village east of Dong Ha. Allied forces accounted for over 1,000 confirmed NVA dead in the week-long battle that was part of Operation Napoleon/Saline (official USMC photo by Lance Corporal Teacher)."
From the Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections

The M76 Otter is the most obscure vehicle in Marine Corps history.  It appears to have served widely but little is written on it and few examples remain...even harder to find are pics of it in action.  From what I can find it was born of the push toward tracked mechanization that swept the US Army and Marine Corps following combat in the muddy, slushy, snowy and frozen terrain found during the Korean War.  Funny how history repeats and both organizations are now settling on wheels with IED protection after protracted combat in the Middle East.

Bonus coverage.  Below are additional pics released from Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections via their Flickr account.  If you're not subscribed you're missing out.