M113
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M113.jpg
- See also Mercedes-Benz M113 engine
The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles. It was first introduced in 1960, developed from the M59 and M75 which were designed by Ford and Kaiser Aluminium and Chemical Co. in the late 1950s. The M113 was originally manufactured by the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) of San Jose, CA. It has also been manufactured under license by the Italian company, Oto Melara and other firms. At the present time, numerous companies are engaged in producing M113 spare parts and upgrade options. It is a tracked vehicle capable of limited amphibious operation in lakes and streams, extended cross-country travel over rough terrain, and high speed operation on improved roads. The M113 family has many variants and modifications that are used in a variety of combat and combat support roles. Approximately 80,000 units of all types have been produced worldwide making it the most widely used armored fighting vehicle of all time. The M113 is unofficially known as M113 Gavin.
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History
The M113 was the first modern "battle taxi," developed to transport infantry forces on the mechanized battlefield; it requires a crew of two and can carry an additional seven infantry. Its main armament is a single .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 heavy machine gun, with secondary armament consisting of a single .30 Cal machine gun. The M113 is built of aircraft quality aluminium which gives it some of the same strengths as steel at a much lighter weight (the vehicle weighs approximately 13 tons). Its low weight allows the use of a relatively small engine to power the vehicle, a Detroit 2-stroke six cylinder diesel, as well as allowing the vehicle to carry a large payload cross-country and to be transported by aircraft.
The M113 has a 480 km range and a maximum speed of 64 km/h. The upgraded M113A3 has added spall suppression liners, armored external fuel tanks, a more powerful engine and transmission, and mounting plates for the optional bolt-on aluminum armor.
Variants
the basic vehicle can take an add-on bulldozer blade
M1064
M1064A3, mortar carrier, equipped with 105 mm mortar
M163
Vulcan weapon system for anti-aircraft defense. (See M163 VADS)
M901
Twin TOW anti-tank missile launcher mount
M577
Command vehicle with a taller rear compartment so occupants can stand up.
M981
Artillery fire support vehicle. Equipped with sights and other targeting instrumentation in a turret deliberately designed to resemble that of the M901.
M113 Ultra
Modernised by Singapore with 40/50 and 25 mm Bushmaster guns and improved armour.
Destroyed_bradley.jpg
The M113 has very light armor, insufficient against modern ammunition and weapons. The M113 basic armor can easily be penetrated by anti-tank missiles like the Russian RPG-7, and even by heavy machine gun fire. During the Vietnam War, this APC was considered such inadequate protection that most American soldiers rode on top of the vehicle since they considered it suicidal to ride inside. Most of the M113s which are still in service are upgraded with add-on armor, reactive armor coats and sandbag protection. However, they are still lightly protected compared to modern APCs or IFVs such as the M2 Bradley or IDF Achzarit.
Operators
NASA_M113.jpg
- US
The M113 is also used by NASA for emergency evacuation of astronauts during a launch pad emergency.
- Argentina
- Australia (Australian Army)
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Cambodia (Forces Armées Nationales Khmères (FANK), (Khmer Rouge), (Royal Cambodian Army)
- Canada
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Germany
- Greece
- Iran (Imperial Iranian Army), (Islamic Iranian Ground Forces (IIGF))
- Israel (Israeli Defence Forces)
- Italy (Italian Army)
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Netherlands (Royal Netherlands Army), (Dutch Police)
- Norway (Norwegian Army)
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia (Royal Saudi Army), (Saudi National Guard)
- Singapore
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (Republic of China Army)
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam Army (ARVN)), (Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN))
External links
- Army Fact File for M113 (http://www.army.mil/fact_files_site/m113/)
- NASA Kennedy Space Center site (http://images.ksc.nasa.gov/photos/2000/captions/KSC-00PP-1135.html)