The M116 was a lightweight low-silhouette vehicle designed to transport cargo or personnel over unimproved roads, loose sand, soft marshy terrain and inland waterways.

Its low ground pressure of 1.67 to 2.74 psi (11.5 to 18.9 kPa) when fully loaded gave good mobility on marginal terrain.

Pacific Car and Foundry built four prototypes and then three pre-production models, however the production contract was awarded to Blaw-Knox which produced 197.

[2] The M733 was an armored variant of the M116 with steel armour plates added to provide ballistic protection capable of stopping .30-caliber ball ammunition.

[3] The M116E1 was placed into service in April 1969 by the 11th Motor Transport Battalion to support the 1st Marine Division in the low and often inundated areas south of Danang.