The Military Channel’s “Top Ten” series named the M113 the most significant infantry vehicle in history. The U.S. Army planned to retire the M113 family of vehicles by 2018, seeking replacement with the GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle program, but now replacement of the M113 has fallen to the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program.
When mentioning the M113 series of APCs it is difficult to avoid superlatives, for the type has become the most widely-produced and utilised APC of the Western World, Since production by FMC (now United Defense) commenced in 1960 well over 32,000 M113 s and its derivatives have been received by the US Army alone and the overall production total in 1992 had reached nearly 75,000 of all types; production seems set to continue both in the USA and with several licence-producers elsewhere.
Yet despite the huge number of variants and sub-variants, the base M113 APC remains a welded aluminium box-shaped hull set on an uncomplicated tracked chassis.
Over the years the size and weight of the vehicle has grown and numerous components have been altered to accommodate that growth but the basic outline has remained the same – the latest production model is the M113A3 with a longer hull, more armour, a more powerful engine, and a revised layout of items such as the fuel cells which are moved to the hull rear, either side of the main entry ramp.
On nearly all models the main armament has been a single 12.7 mm MG on a pintle over the commander’s cupola; sometimes this station is set behind a shield or small open turret but variations abound, as indeed they do for the entire M113 series.
Derivatives are legion, ranging from command posts (M577) to anti-tank vehicles armed with TOW ATGW turrets (M901), There are also mortar carriers (M125 for 81 mm, M1064 for 120 mm), smoke screen producing vehicles(M1059), numerous air defence missile and gun carriers, combat engineer vehicles, ambulances, recovery and repair vehicles, etc.
Today’s M113 fleet includes a mix of M113A2 and A3 variants and other derivatives equipped with the most recent RISE (Reliability Improvements for Selected Equipment) package. The standard RISE package includes an upgraded propulsion system (turbocharged engine and new transmission), greatly improved driver controls (new power brakes and conventional steering controls), external fuel tanks, and 200-amp alternator with four batteries. Additional A3 improvements include the incorporation of spall liners and provision for mounting external armor.
The future M113A3 fleet will include a number of vehicles that will have high speed digital networks and data transfer systems. The M113A3 digitization program includes applying appliqué hardware, software, and installation kits and hosting them in the M113 FOV.
The US Army stopped buying M113s in 2007, with 6,000 vehicles remaining in the inventory.
Many user nations have added their own variations and modifications, as have licence producers such as Belgium and Italy. M113s and variants are used by at least 48 countries.
Specification (M113A3) Crew: 2 Seating: 11 Weight: (combat) 12,150 kg Length: 5.3 m Width: 2.686m Height: (hull top) 1.85m Ground clearance: 0.43 m Track: 2.159m Max speed: (road) 66 km/h Fuel capacity: 360 litres Range: 480 km Fording: amphibious Vertical obstacle: 0.61 m Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V-53T V-6 diesel Power output: 275 hp Suspension: torsion bar Armament: 1 x 12.7 mm MG
