ACV-15T1, The M113A1’s Continued Legacy

Yontzee · March 29, 2025, 8:37pm

ACV-15T1, The M113A1’s Continued Legacy

An ACV-15T1 during testing.

Imagery/Media

Images of the new ACV-15T1’s.

https://youtu.be/_iZ1sIJnb5o?si=jdmlww8DPnByZ-7n

Video covering the ACV-15T1’s capabilities and armor profile.

Interior views of the ACV-15T1, Gunner Station, Driver’s Station, and Squad Compartment.

Testing of the NEFER’s turret at the factory.

Hull’s being refurbished.

Description:
- The FNSS ACV-15, or ZMA-15 (Zırhlı Muharebe Aracı), is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle developed by the Turkish defense firm FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş., with production starting in 1992 and ongoing to the present. It is based on the American Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle design, which itself derives from the M113A1 armored personnel carrier. The ACV-15 was created to fulfill the operational needs of the Turkish Land Forces Command, and as of now, a total of 2,945 units have been built. The vehicle has a mass of 14 tonnes, with a length of 5.26 meters, a width of 2.83 meters, and a height of 2.88 meters. It is manned by a crew of three, plus it can transport eight additional soldiers. Armor protection is rated to withstand 14.5×114mm armor-piercing rounds, and its main armament includes a 25mm cannon in the DAF or DRAGAR Turrets, along with a secondary 7.62mm machine gun. Powered by a Detroit Diesel Model 6V-53T engine generating 300 hp, the ACV-15 has a power-to-weight ratio of 21.43 hp/tonne, allowing for a maximum speed of 65 km/h (40 mph) and an operational range of 490 km (300 miles). The design incorporates features such as passive night vision, a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system, and smoke grenade launchers, making it versatile for various battlefield scenarios.
- The modernization of the ACV-15 represents a significant and cost effective advancement in Turkey’s defense capabilities. As part of a comprehensive modernization project initiated by the Presidency of Defense Industries in 2019, the ACV-15s were upgraded through a contract with ASELSAN, with FNSS as a main subcontractor. This modernization, which commenced with the delivery of the first five units in December 2022, aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies, including the NEFER (also known as SARP 100/25) unmanned turret equipped with a 25mm MKE ILGAZ 25mm Dual-Feed autocannon (a copy of the M811) and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, enhancing the vehicle’s firepower. Additionally, the modernization focus on situational awareness through the use of upgraded Battlefield Management Systems, new weather and data Sensors, and, survivability, and maneuverability is evident with the installation of advanced systems such as LIAS-100D Laser Warning Receivers, close-range observation capabilities like the YAMGÖZ-200 360-degree Situational Awareness Camera System, driver vision systems, and navigation aids. These upgrades are intended to meet the operational demands of contemporary combat environments, particularly in urban warfare scenarios. The project plans to incorporate improvements in threat detection and resistance to kinetic and blast threats, reflecting lessons learned from recent military operations. With a total of 134 vehicles scheduled for the initiative, deliveries were completed by 2024, significantly strengthening the Turkish Land Forces’ operational readiness and effectiveness.
  
  Turkish-ACV-Modernisation-1024×684 102 KB
Specifications:
- Armament:
  - Primary: MKE ILGAZ 25mm Dual-Feed Auto-Cannon
    - Ammunition:
      - APFSDS-T
      - APDS-T
      - API-T
      - HEI-T
    - Stowage: 165-ready Rounds.
  - Secondary: 7.62mm Machine Gun (500rds Total)
- Mobility:
  - Engine: 300hp Detroit Diesel Model 6V-53T
  - Transmission: Allison X200-4, 4-to-1 Ratio
- Dimensions:
  - Weight: 14+ Tonnes
  - Length: 5.26m
  - Width: 2.83m
  - Height: ~3.00 meters
- Crew (3x)
  - Gunner
  - Commander
  - Driver
Features:
- ASELSAN’s NEFER (also known as SARP 100/25) Unmanned Combat Module
  - -9 and +50 degrees Depression/Elevation
  - STANAG 4569 Level 2
- Laser Rangefinder
- YAMGÖZ-200 360-degree Situational Awareness Camera System
- LIAS-100D Laser Warning Receiver
- Spall Liner
- 6x Smoke Grenades
In-game:
- A versatile light platform that would excel at ripping apart all types of vehicles and aircraft thanks to its wide assortment of rounds (APFSDS-T, HEI-T, etc.) however, would be highly limited with only 165rds ready to fire. Players would have to manage trigger discipline. Not to mention, the vehicle is relatively slow due to it using its legacy engine/transmission. Overall, a deadly IFV for any future Turkish Tree.
- Estimated BR: 9.0
Sources

Would you like to see the ACV-15T1 in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

_Kawaii_UwU · March 29, 2025, 8:38pm

looks good, +1

Crociato97 · March 29, 2025, 8:44pm

You can play WT only with the M113 thanks to all its versions. hahaha

foxmeup · March 29, 2025, 9:06pm

ok, shitty vbci/vbc pt2. i’m not sure how it would be balanced tho, it has very good firepower for an ifv, but everything else (aka mobility) is lacking. I don’t know if i want it or not, it doesn’t really serve any purpose and seems more like a hassle than anything else.

Yontzee · March 29, 2025, 10:34pm

I mean it’s not terribly slow, it’s like driving a M113A1 (TOW) around with a little more horsepower. For its BR, you’ll have:

Fast-firing, stabilized cannon with APFSDS-T
Unmanned Turret
IRST Tracking
3rd-generation Thermal Imager
LWS
Spall Liner
Increased protection against Artillery

Like you said, it’s slower than the VBCI/ VBC PT2 with comparable firepower, it balances itself well around the same BR with the advantage of an unmanned turret which makes hiding behind terrain/obstacles (hull-down) its best strategy.

BasherBenDawg8 · March 30, 2025, 12:06am

The XM800T all grown up 🥹

lLiberté · March 30, 2025, 12:15am

ZMA-15s, and its derivatives, are highly underrated workhorses, glad to see a proper suggestion, appreciate your effort, +1 from me.

Got few points:

A tad too high to be honest considering Bradley sits at 8.3 with ATGMs, ZMA-15T1 should not be higher than 7.3-7.7

Mobility

I’m having hard time to find primary or reliable sources citing 300 figure for horsepower. FNSS’ old ACV-15 Brochure mentions 350 horsepower engine with optional 400 horsepower one; so I cannot really lean into believing it has 300 horsepower engine.

Relevant Brochure

Protection

Visual Evidence of Spall Liner
Apparently Spall Liner is consists of two layers: Outer Soft Layer and Inner Hard Layer

Assuming ACV-15T1 weighs around 16-17 tons, SARP 100/25 weighs around 1700 kg, additional armor around 700 kg, it would have power-to-weight ration around 20.5 hp/t - 21.8 hp/t which is not that far behind of VBCI or VBC (PT2)

Yontzee · March 30, 2025, 12:49am

I think it will depend on the ammunition. The Bradley has APDS rounds with non-Tandem missiles but this would have APFSDS-T, high rate of fire, and clear thermals which will likely supersede the Bradley by a mile.

I base the 9.0 BR in comparison to other vehicles of similar capability and this thing is pretty loaded with useful tech compared to vehicles in the 7.3-7.7 bracket which are rudimentary. I think the base ACV-15 would be good at 8.0 since it’s a stabilized 25mm APDS slugger. Not to mention, the Wiesel 1A4 is 7.3 with semi-similar disposition with the ACV-15T1 but the ACV-15T1 blows it away in firepower.

Yontzee · March 30, 2025, 8:50am

@lLiberté doesn’t the ACV-15 base version also have a 25mm variant of turret that’s unstabilized? I think it’s the DAF version because the Dragar is stabilized. That would probably be a good fit for 7.3-7.7 even with APDS-T.

lLiberté · March 30, 2025, 10:59am

Yes there is, the on with DAF EWS Turret is not stabilised as far as I know. I might have under BR’ed ZMA-15s slightly, as you’ve suggested. Something like ZMA-15 (EWS) 7.3, ZMA-15 (Dragar) 7.7 and ZMA-15T1 8.0.

For the Reference ZMA-15 EWS Turret

ZMA-15 Dragar Turret

Well Turkey might not be actively using 25mm APFSDS in its IFVs. Though auto-cannon ammunition is kind of balancing factor in War Thunder unlike higher caliber rounds if I’m not mistaken. ZMA-15T1 could receive APFSDS as its cannon, either KBA B02 or M811, is capable of using them.

Gunner’s Suite of ZMA-15T1 with APDS-T as Selected Ammunition

Gunner’s Suite of ZMA-15T1 with HEI as Selected Ammunition

Yontzee · March 30, 2025, 11:28am

Personally I would recommend:

ZMA-15 (EWS): 7.3
ZMA-15 (Dragar): 8.0
ZMA-15T1: 8.7-9.0
- Pending ammunition, if only APDS-T, BR 8.3 tops.

I think the vehicle(s) going to exceed your expectations, especially if you can track air targets with it (and gets APFSDS-T), it’s going to be a little monster. The inner/outer spall liner will definitely differentiate it too since it will be a lot more survivable against the lower-caliber rounds it would go up against whether it’s at 9.0 or lower. Not to mention, regarding all three variants, having them staggered will help reinforce the different BR’s and prevent them from being too clustered together since each one is unique in its own way. Either way, your suggestion is solid and I’m looking forward to it 🤙

Interesting, I didn’t see much information on the APDS-T rounds. If it did get only APDS-T, then there’s no way it could be higher than 8.3 (8.3 because of all its advancements like air tracking, spall liner, etc.). Like you said, ammo is a variable that can change based on Gaijin’s balancing methods. Do you happen to have a breakdown of the rounds that are used/made?

Also, nice images of the vehicle FCS!

lLiberté · March 30, 2025, 2:35pm

Probably, I do not play top tier like at all so my judgements on Battle Ratings are kind of wonky. My main reasoning keeping it at 7.0-8.0 range is that there is better platforms.

It makes more sense to me now, I actually never thought about APFSDS not gonna lie.

It indeed has Target Tracking and Ballistic Calculation; though It is not specified it it is just for ground target so it might also engage aerial targets too.

From 03:00 Onwards You Can See Target Tracking Capabilities

ZMA-15T1 In Action

https://youtu.be/_iZ1sIJnb5o?si=fmTZo0stwc28bRF2&t=180

Well nothing fancy MKE produces only M791 APDS-T.

Sure, as far as I know only MKE produces 25mm rounds in Turkey. Those are the rounds produced by MKE

Yontzee · March 30, 2025, 5:37pm

I wouldn’t worry about any better platforms, it’s all good to have overlapping of vehicles at these BR’s and even provides more lineup.

Nice, this is pretty big. Slow moving aircraft would be decimated by a vehicle like this with APDS/APFSDS rounds.

I wonder if they import any rounds like PMB 090 or France’s KNDS 25mm APFSDS-T rounds. PMB 090 the very least is a very exported APFSDS-T round.

BOMBAY9997042-live · March 30, 2025, 10:32pm

abomination (no offense to anyone I just think that’s an abomination of the m113)

lLiberté · March 31, 2025, 10:18am

I don’t believe so. I is quite hard to track ammunition purchases especially they’re not publicly announced. I’ve went through some of the local firms to see if they produce any 25mm ammunition it seems MKE is the sole 25mm provider in Turkey.

Repkon might have as their portfolio is getting expanded rapidly but they do not have a website for ammunition production as of now.

Neobushido · March 31, 2025, 10:36am

Yet another immortal “gavin”