Although it is not a super hero, the M113 is a true soldier. Since the day it was put
into service, the vehicle has fought in almost all around the world and fulfilled all duties
successfully. Although it was originally designed as an armoured personnel carrier, the M113
also performed numerous other tasks. With its simple and effective design, it has existed
wherever needed. As the Weapon Detective, we are investigating the M113, a true tracked
armoured vehicle legend. Please don't forget to subscribe to our channel
before we start. What makes many systems legendary is generally
that it is the first in its class. The M113 deserved this title with its achievements.
The story of tracked armoured personnel carriers goes back to older times.
Tanks were first baptized with fire at the Battle of Somme in 1916. It was also seen
that infantry support was essential for effective use of tanks in this battle. However, losing
so many soldiers on the battlefields was considered normal according to the First World War doctrines.
Therefore, the work on a vehicle that allowed the infantry to accompany the tank under armour
protection progressed slowly. The Mark IX which is the first tracked armoured
personnel carrier, could not be operational before 1918. In the same year, the First World
War ended, and military planners lost interest in armoured personnel carriers.
With the 1930s, interest in tanks began to rise in Europe again. In France, Germany and
the UK, important studies of the armoured warfare doctrine began almost simultaneously.
Although these efforts focused primarily on tanks, they soon developed to include armoured
personnel carriers. At that time, it was generally working on
half-track design. They were considered as bearing the advantages of both wheeled and
tracked vehicles. As you know, theory and practice never always
meet. During the Second World War, it was understood that half-tracks also bore the
disadvantages of wheeled and tracked vehicles. Mass production was prioritized during the
war rather than developing a new concept vehicle. For this reason, it did not occupy the agenda
for the replacement of half-tracks. However, one person seriously pondered on this problem.
General James Gavin who was the commander of the US 82nd Airborne Division during the
Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of Bastogne, realized that a full-tracked armoured personel
carrier, light enough to be transferred by air was needed. In this respect, studies began
in 1945 on a new system. The first examples such as the M39, M59, and
M75 designed according to the new concept were used in the Korean War. Yet, these steel
hulled vehicles were heavier than 15 tons and the US Army needed a lighter and smaller
model that could be transported by the aircraft. For this reason, a program was started in
1956 to develop a lighter and cheaper vehicle to replace the M75.
Two different prototypes, the T117 with a steel hull and the T113 with a ballistic aluminium
hull, were developed. After the trials, the T113 was seen to meet better the criteria
defined by the U.S. Army such as air transportability, amphibious capability, easy production and
low cost. Mass production of the new vehicle, now named
M113, began in 1960. The success of the system did come from from
its advanced technology or billion-dollar budgeti but its simplicity. The M113 had a
box-shaped armoured hull which provides large usable volume. The vehicle was a platform
suitable to be installed with different mission equipment or weapons, as well as carrying
troops and supplies. This simple design also allowed the M113 to be easily modernized to
adapt to the changing conditions. The first production models had the 250 horsepower
Chrysler 75M V8 petrol engine. In 1963, the mass production of the M113A1
version was started. This model were equipped with a 215 horsepower diesel engine in order
to increase its range and eliminate the risk of immediate deflagration and potential explosion
in case of a hit. The first prototype of the M113A2 was produced
in 1978. This variant has a more advanced engine cooling system and more powerful suspensions.
Its internal volume was increased. The crew safety was also improved by the placement
of the fuel tanks position out of the hull which was previously located inside the hull.
The M113A2 was so successful that, many users of older models also upgraded their vehicles
to this standard later. In 1987, the M113A3 version was introduced.
This model had a 275 horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V-53T turbo diesel engine. Also it was equipped
with Togo type armour on the front. The A2 version of the M113 has two crew members
including the commander and driver. It can also carry 11 infantries. The vehicle is approximately
4.9 meters long, 2.7 meters wide and 2.5 meters high. Its combat weight is 11.25 tons. The
210 horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V-53N diesel engine provides a maximum speed of 60 kilometers
per hour. The road range of the M113A2 is 480 kilometers. Although many users preferred
different weapons on the vehicle, it is usually armed with a 12.7mm M2HB machine gun.
Over the past 60 years, many different countries have modernized their M113s to their needs.
Of course, we don't have enough time to talk about all these modernization programs.
Still, if we mention a few of them, Brazil, for example has equipped 600 units of its
M113s with Mercedes-Benz OM 352A diesel engine. Around 1,000 Turkish M113s were equipped with
275 horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V-53T turbocharged diesel engines and Allison TX-100-1 fully
automatic transmissions. Saudi Arabia's models, which are modernized
by FNSS and called M113A4, have 350 horsepower diesel engines.
The USA also developed many M113 derivatives for different missions.
M106, M1064, and M125 mortar carriers, M163 self propelled anti-aircraft gun, M48 air
defence missile system, M577 command control vehicle, and M901 armoured anti-tank missile
carrier are the first ones that come to mind. Moreover, many countries have modified these
vehicles according to their needs. The M113 is commonly equipped with anti-aircraft
guns for air defence missions. Even, Singapore and Turkey have also developed
a model of the vehicle equipped with Igla and Stinger air defence missiles.
Numerous local models have been developed, such as radar carrier, engineering vehicle,
mortar carrier, armoured ambulance, anti-tank missile carrier.
Many users have transformed their M113s into an armoured infantry fighting vehicle by equipping
it with a cannon. Some Chilean M113s were equipped with the
GBD-ADA unmanned gun turrets with a 25mm KBA-B gun. The turrets on these vehicles had been
dismantled from the M113-based Lynx armoured reconnaissance vehicles of the Netherlands.
The German company FFG equipped Danish M113 with a 25mm gun. This model, called PNMK M/92
Wildcat, is now retired. The Philippines also equipped some M113s with
a 25mm gun in 2014. The NM 135 which is retired today, is an M113
derivative equipped by Norway with a 20mm gun.
Switzerland has also integrated the turret of Pbv 302s onto its M113 models, called Schützenpanzer
63/73. The Singapore version, M113A2 Ultra is fitted
with a Togo type additional armour at the front and an OWS 25 remote-controlled weapon
station. M113 derivatives equipped with the same turret are also used by Israel.
The most interesting derevative among all is the Arisgator. This Italian made vehicle's
hull took the shape of a boat and two water jets were placed onto the rear part of the
it. This way, the effectiveness of the vehicle in the fast-flowing rivers and in amphibious
operations increased significantly. The Arisgators retired by Italy are used by Indonesia today.
In addition, many countries have developed their own unique vehicles based on the M113.
Different from the M113, The Italian VCC-1 has sloped sides in the rear. There are also
firing ports on the sides. Pakistan, which acquired the license production
rights of M113 in 1989, later developed this vehicle-based Al Talha.
Similiar with the VCC-1, the Taiwanese CM-21 has also has sloped sides in the rear and
firing ports. In the 1970s, even the USA developed an M113-based
armoured infantry fighting vehicle called the ACV. Even though M2 Bradley became the
final choice of the U.S. Army, the vehicle were preferred by many countries.
Until today, M113 has been involved in many large and small battles. Due to the time limit
of our video, we will talk about the main ones of these combat experiences.
The vehicle gained its first combat experience in the Vietnam War. In 1962, the USA donated
some M113s to South Vietnam. In this country, with its jungles as well as wet and soft soil,
the M113 displayed better performance than heavier vehicles. Initially, the South Vietnamese
Army used them in accordance with the concept of battle taxi. According to this concept,
when contact with the enemy, the infantry had to fight by leaving the vehicle. Due to
this tactic, sufficient communication could not be provided between the infantry outside
the vehicle and the gunner of the vehicle. Therefore, the losses were high. Also, the
exposed gunner was highly affected by enemy fire.
For example, During the 1963 Battle of Ap Bac, 14 M113 gunners lost their lives, because
of lack of armour protection. As a solution, an armour was fitted in front
of the gunner's position and armour plates were welded onto the sides or sand bags were
placed. Also two 7.62mm machine guns with armour plates on the front were placed on
top of the infantry compartment. In order to increase protection against landmines,
sand bags were put on the floor. These measures were very effective.
So, the US troops have begun to implement similar modifications to their own M113s.
And in the 1967 Battle of Ap Bac, a small number of M113s destroyed the 514th Viet Cong
Battalion. One of the important users of M113 is Israel.
Some Jordanian M113 were captured by Israel Defence Forces during the 1967 Six-Day War.
It was quickly understood that these vehicles had a superior advantage over half-tracks
used in armoured personnel carrier in those years.
Therefore, Israel ordered additional M113s from the USA in 1970 and used them extensively
in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Although superior to half-tracks, M113's ballistic
protection has been found insufficient by Israel, which is more sensitive to human loss
due to its small population. For this reason, the vehicle was continuously
reinforced with additional armour packs in the future.
As this did not achieve as much success as expected, Israel soon turned to armoured personnel
carrier designs with tank hulls and started using M113s in second line missions.
Today, higher ballistic protection is needed in the modern battlefield.
In addition, the demand for wheeled vehicles with mobility similar to tracked ones has
also increased. In Western armies, these wheeled armoured
vehicles replace M113s. Thanks to its simple and effective structure,
more than 80,000 vehicles of M113 series were produced. The vehicle, used in more than 30
countries. The armies in many parts of the world are not ready to give up on it yet.
Many modernization programs are still in progress to keep this vehicle up to date. The legend
of the M113, which has an important place in the perception of modern tracked armoured
vehicles, seems to continue to be with us for many years.
Thanks for watching our video. And please don't forget to subscribe to our channel.