M113 armored personnel carrier – the most massive in the history of

APC M113A3 US Army on maneuvers in Germany, 2015 year

US M113 APC has become the most massive in the history of armored vehicles. Put into service in 1960 was tracked combat vehicle is still used in the armies of many countries. At the same time the design was so successful, that it has served to create a variety of specialized military equipment: from anti-aircraft self-propelled machines and staff to self-propelled mortars and flamethrowers.

all with 1960 year raised more than 80 thousands of armored personnel carriers M113 and other combat vehicles, built on its base. For example, created at the same time, the Soviet BTR-60 sold around the world by a series of 10 to 25 thousand cars.

Among other things, M113 tracked armored personnel carrier was the first in the world fighting machine, body which was made entirely of aluminum. Using aluminum armor possible to reduce the weight of the combat vehicle, maintaining acceptable for the crew and troops protection against fire from small arms.

In this case, an armored personnel carrier is still in the US Army arsenal, where the timing of its replacement constantly shift. Completely abandon the car in all divisions of the US military to count 2030 of the year, that is after 70 years after adopting.

Making of a legend

The need for a new armored personnel carrier in the United States have realized at the time of re-ground forces on the new models of military equipment. After the end of World War II in the United States were adopted by the light tanks M41 «Walker Bulldog", medium tank M48 «Patton III», heavy tank M103, the armament of the Marine Corps, and new self-propelled anti-M56 «Scorpion" and other samples of military equipment.

In these circumstances, the military and wanted to get a new armored personnel carrier, which could be used, as a universal machine, and which would correspond to the new technological requirements and your time.

BTR M59

To work on the new machine began in the 1950s with the development of tactical and technical requirements. The basis of the future machine was based on the principle "battle taxi" or "battle bus". The plan was to create an armored vehicle with a closed housing, that could deliver on the separation of motorized rifle battle. dismounted, Marines immediately had to engage in battle with the enemy.

On the basis of a particular concept, APC presented a new set of requirements:

• aerotransportabelnost;
• the possibility of overcoming the deep water obstacles;
• large power reserve;
• possibility of transport infantry squad;
• good defense;
• high cross.

Separately specified high versatility by adapting the ease of self-supporting Armored Corps for solving various problems, needed military.

AT 1956 year to create a new APC engineers started the US company Food Machinery Corporation (FMC), who has extensive experience in the development and production of such equipment. Back in the early 1950s, the company had established successful models of tracked armored personnel carriers, which is easy to guess and future M113. These were the BTR M75, to participate in the Korean War, and more advanced amphibious M59. Last, in addition to the ability to swim, It is smaller and was substantially cheaper to produce. To 1960 APC, the M59 was released an impressive series - more 6 thousand cars.

two basic prototype was ready for testing now, including the T113 with the reservation of aluminum plates. Used for the production of special aviation aluminum, that the fortress was not inferior to steel. Two copies were presented with a light and a heavy aluminum booking.

The second version was a prototype T117, which differ only in the steel case. tests have shown, that the T113 with a thick aluminum armor with less weight, than T117, It provides the same level of protection of the crew and landing, why the military chose on this model.

After the improvements in 1960 was an improved version of an armored personnel carrier T113E1 was officially put into service the US Army under the designation M113. Originally it was a combat vehicle with a petrol engine, but in 1964 year of the series production model it replaced T113E2, adopting, under the designation M113A1. In this APC was set more advanced diesel engine.

Prototype M113 - T113

Created at the turn of 1960's light amphibious tracked armored personnel carriers (floating were only first modification), It proved to be very successful machine, which can carry a crew of two and up to 11 Marines in full gear. In future, APC became the basis for dozens of a wide variety of specialized military vehicles, and repeatedly modernized. There are three major modernization of machines - M113A1, M113A2 и M113A3, the last one was held in 1987 year.

Technical features M113 armored personnel carrier

The layout of the American M113 armored personnel carrier is traditional for the majority of tracked armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles of various countries. The transmission and engine disposed at the front of housing, mehvoda place from the housing axis is shifted to the left side. The commander of an APC, who concurrently serves as an arrow, It sits at the center of the combat vehicle, at his disposal is the pinnacle to monitor the situation.

In the troop compartment at the rear housing is a place for 11 Marines. 10 of them are sitting on folding benches along the sides facing each other, 11-th Marine is located on the jump seat facing the exit ramp, through which the soldiers were leaving the car. Engine-transmission compartment from other compartments separated by a special combat vehicle fire wall, wherein the carriage and landing can move freely between the compartments.

Armored casing is made of aluminum armor (special alloy with the addition of manganese and magnesium) welding. The case itself is a box-like structure, which awarded the APC recognizable silhouette. body armor thickness is from 12 to 44 mm. The front part consists of two thick armor plates 38 mm, top of which is disposed at an angle 45 degrees to the vertical, lower - 30 degrees.

The boards are arranged vertically, the upper part of them has a book 44 mm. Initial booking option provides protection for airborne and crew from the fire 7.62mm small arms and shell splinters and mines, in the frontal projection armor held hit 12.7 mm armor piercing bullets, the distance to 200 m.

Chassis M113 armored personnel carriers apparently remained unchanged throughout the entire production combat vehicle. For a board consists of five doubles rubber rollers, dual rubberized idler and dual drive wheel. Suspension of rollers torsion, individual. On the basic model 1960 , the shock absorbers are equipped with only the first and last support roller on each side of the combat vehicle.

As the power setting on the machine was installed M113 petrol 8-cylinder engine Chrysler 75M V8 power 209 HP. This power is enough, to disperse the armored personnel carrier combat weight 10,2 tons to 64 km / h on the motorway, floating car can develop a speed of 5,6 kmh. The movement of the water surface is carried out by rewinding caterpillars. Cruising on the motorway was estimated at 320 km.

The primary arms installed on M113 armored personnel carriers well-proven large-caliber machine gun 12.7mm Browning M2NV, which designers have placed next to the commander's cupola. Fire from a machine gun could be conducted not only on land, but also at air targets. Ammunition consisted of machine gun 2000 rounds. At the same time to fire at the enemy paratroopers could not, since the sides of the body no loopholes for shooting from the sidearms.

Major modifications APCs M113

The need to upgrade the new armored personnel carrier came quickly enough. In September 1964 in the United States have started to collect new version of the standard, which was designated M113A1. The new combat vehicle was very close to the accepted into service in 1960 model year, differing primarily in the new engine - diesel, and transmission.

Armored personnel carriers received this modification motor 6V-53 Detroit Diesel, The maximum power 215 HP. at 2800 rpm. Also fighting vehicle has a new powertrain manufactured by General Motors, together with the diesel engine it constituted a single power unit. The use of the diesel engine increases fire safety of an armored personnel carrier, wherein the engine is also provided a new fuel economy.

Together with the installation of new fuel tanks, which rose to container 360 liters, These steps would bring the maximum cruising range up to about 480 km. At the same time modernization has led to an increase of combat weight of about APC 900 kg, that did not affect the mobility of the war machine by compensating for heavy-duty engines.

The following updates have affected tracked armored personnel carrier is already in 1979 year. The new model received index M113A2. The program of creation of this model was primarily aimed at improving the reliability and performance of the combat vehicle.

Main changes affected the suspension and the engine cooling system. The new hydro-mechanical transmission provides six speeds forward and one BTR ago (on the previous model 3+1), the use of high-strength torsion shafts allowed to increase the ground clearance of the machine with 400 to 430 mm, and bringing the total number to six shock absorbers (there were shocks in the second rollers) positive impact on ride and comfort of movement over rough terrain.

Also optional on the armored personnel carrier could be installed two external fuel tanks, which are located on both sides of the back ramp. Especially for the M113A2 it was also designed smoke grenade kit. With all the changes in the model began to weigh 11,34 tons and is almost completely lost its buoyancy.

APC M113 and M113 ACAV (Assault armored car) Vietnam

The last large-scale modernization of the M113 occurred 1987 year, the updated model was designated M113A3. Main innovations concerned the increase of security of the crew and landing and take into account the experience of recent local conflicts, including in the Middle East. During the work on this model, the designers managed to significantly improve the performance of body armor and mobility of combat vehicle.

To increase security of the landing and the crew played additional steel armor plates, which were mounted on the main body armor aluminum as additional screens, bolted connection. The use of hinged armor all-round protection from fire machine 14.5-mm heavy machine guns, and in the frontal projection armor from a distance 200 meters can withstand hit a 20-mm armor-piercing rounds for automatic guns.

Besides, improve the protection of troops contributed Ballistic knocked out of composite material, which protects soldiers from flying debris main armor. Additional steel sheets have been strengthened and the bottom of the hull. Two external fuel tanks armored finally spelled out in the stern of the combat vehicle, replacing a tank, disposed within the housing. In this case, change the size and BTR, which has grown in length by 44 cm. The solution with the removal of the fuel tanks of the housing, increased the survivability of the crew and troops.

As a result of all the changes combat weight M113A3 rose to almost 14 tonnes (without the additional armor 12,3 tons). The increase in fighting weight of the machine required the designers increase installed power. The power plant has been seriously altered. The heart of the new model was the diesel engine 6V-53T Detroit Diesel turbocharged. Its power has grown to 275 hp, while the designers managed to reduce fuel consumption 22 %.

Due to the increase in power, armored personnel carrier not only maintained high-speed characteristics, but seriously added in the dynamics and acceleration. With the new engine to 50 km / h the car accelerates in combat 27 seconds instead 69 seconds from previous versions. Besides, improved driver comfort work, who ran an armored personnel carrier not levers, a road wheel.

/Sergey Yuferev, topwar.ru/

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