Ref.: ACAD-13211
M113A3 , Iraq 2003
History
The M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) was introduced in 1960 and has been in continuous service for nearly fifty years! Operated by a Driver and Track Commander (TC), it is designed to transport a squad of 11 infantrymen across a hostile battlespace.To maximize its?tactical mobility it was made to be swimmable, air-transportable and air-droppable, enabling it to be employed in a wide range of combat scenarios. In 1979 the suspension and cooling system were upgraded resulting in the M113A2 version. This variant was used in the 1989 invasion of Panama, "Operation Just Cause" where it was an invaluable asset to U.S. infantrymen. Large numbers of the A2 also participated in "Operation Desert Storm" usually in support roles since combat duty in that 1991 action was usually handled by the newer Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Because the M113A2 had difficulty keeping pace with the Abrams tank and Bradley, in 1987 the M113A3 was created. A 275HP turbocharged engine increased top speed producing cross-country performance comparable to the Abrams and Bradley. To enhance crew protection, spall liners were installed and the single internal fuel tank was replaced by dual armored tanks mounted externally?on the rear of the vehicle. The simplicity of the M113's box-like structure has enabled this versatile vehicle to be employed in many functions. Although superseded by the M2 Bradley as the combat infantry transporter, the "113" is still widely used by the U.S. Army. During "Operation Iraqi Freedom" up through the present, the venerable M113?is being?used for many of the same vital missions for which it was designed so many years ago.