M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (1960)
Some 80,000 M113 APCs in various forms have appeared in service with over 50 countries worldwide.
The first instance of the M113 was being developed as early as 1956, with the initial production models - the M113 - coming out in 1960. These initial models were fitted with a gasoline engine though the follow-up model - the M113A1 - was soon fielded in 1964 with a more powerful and efficient diesel engine. The improved M113A2 followed over a decade later and found its way into frontline service by 1979. Features incorporated into this variant included improvements to the suspension system and the cooling system. The M113A3 represents the M113 in its fully evolved form, being fitted with a turbocharged version of the diesel engine. Software updates and additional armor protection also round out the list of improvements from the basic M113.
The M113 is a highly identifiable piece of battlefield machinery, appearing almost as a featureless fundamental design. The front features a sloping appearance whilst the rest of the vehicle is nearly box-like. The system can be crewed by a minimum of 2 personnel and an additional 11 passengers can be carried aboard. Armored protection, at least in earlier M113's, was kept light and was intended to protect airborne troop elements from shrapnel injuries while delivering them into combat. Over the decades, the system has been reconfigured and retooled to fulfill a variety of battlefield roles depending on the customer.
Standard defensive armament for the M113 consists of a 12.7mm machine gun, though this can be substituted for the customer's needs and the specified role of the vehicle. The chassis has proven highly adaptable and can be found in other roles such as that supporting an air-defense turret system as in the anti-aircraft missile-wielding M730 Chaparral or the gattling alternative in the M741 Vulcan. Additionally, many M113's have been converted to battlefield ambulances, cargo carriers, mortar carriers, smoke dispensing systems, missile carriers and mobile command posts. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
M113
Armored Personnel Carrier
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: United Defense LP Ground Systems, San Jose, CA, USA
Initial Year of Service: 1960
Production: 80,500
Focus Model: M113A1
Crew: 2 + 11
Overall Length: 8.27ft (2.52m)
Width: 8.83ft (2.69m)
Height: 6.07ft (1.85m)
Weight: 12.5 US Short Tons (11,343kg; 25,007lbs)
Powerplant: 1 x General Motors 6V53 6-cylinder diesel engine generating 212 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 38mph (61 km/h)
Maximum Range: 298 miles (480 km)
NBC Protection: Yes - Optional
Nightvision: Yes - Passive or Infra-red
Armament:
1 x 12.7mm heavy machine gun
Other armament may include:
1 x 7.62mm machine gun
1 x 20mm cannon
2 x TOW anti-tank missiles
4 x 25mm SPAAG
1 x 107mm mortar
1 x 81mm mortar
Ammunition:
2,000 x 12.7mm ammunition
Variants:
M113 - Base Model with gasoline engine; introduced in 1960.
M113A1 - 212hp diesel engine upgrade; similar to M113 base model.
M113A2 - Updated suspension and cooling package
M113A3 - Modernization Program including appliqué armor protection and software upgrades.
Mechanized Smoke Obscurant System
M106 - 107mm Mortar Carrier
M125A1 - 81mm Mortar Carrier
M163 Vulcan - Air Defense Gatling Gun System
M741 Vulcan - Air Defense Vehicle
M548 - Cargo Carrier
M667 Lance - Battlefield Missile Carrier
M730 Chaparral - Battlefield Missile Carrier (M113 chassis)
M548A1/A3 - Unarmored Cargo Carrier
M577A2/A3 - Command Post Carrier
M901A1 ITV - Improved TOW Vehicle
M981 - Fire Support Team Vehicle
M1059/A3 - Smoke Generator Carrier
M1064/A3 - Mortar Carrier
M1068/A3 - Standard Integrated Command Post System Carrier
OPFOR Surrogate Vehicle (OSV)
ACAV - Armored Cavalry Vehicle; additional armor protection; shielded machine gun stations.
NM135 - Norwegian Army Variant; 1 x 20mm cannon in one man turret; 1 x 7.62mm machine gun.
NM142 - Norwegian Army Variant; 2 x TOW anti-tank missiles.
SIDAM - Italian Army Variant; 4 x 25mm SPAAG guns (M113 chassis).
ADATS - Canadian-produced Air Defense Anti-Tank System (M113 chassis).
M113 A/A - Egyptian Army Variant; 2 x 23mm cannons.
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