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Welcome to another suggestion, here we’ll be having a look at a Dutch M113 variant: the M113 C&V.
The M113 C&V (Commando en verkenning), also known as the M113 C&R is the smallest M113 variant that has been produced. The vehicle was designed in the 1960s with reconnaissance as its intended purpose. To achieve this goal, the vehicle was altered in a few ways. First of all, the height was decreased to make it a smaller target. The crew compartment in the back was also entirely removed. This freed up space for the engine to be shifted to the rear of the vehicle. The engine was formerly situated above the drivetrain, this location switch changed that, which thus made it possible to lower the roof height. The removal of the crew compartment also shortened the vehicle, making it possible to reduce the amount of wheels from 5 on each side to 4. The base vehicle does retain the same engine, however, thanks to the C&V being an overall smaller and lighter vehicle, it has a slight advantage in mobility over the standard M113.
The Dutch army acquired 266 M113 C&Vs in 1966. In their original configuration, they were equipped with an M2 Browning .50 machine gun that could be fired without the crew having to expose themselves. This armament clearly did not suit the Dutch as only 5 years later the decision was made to look for an upgraded armament for the vehicles. 2 Years later, in 1973, it was announced that the vehicles would be fitted with the Oerlikon-Bührle GBD-ADA turret. This turret features a 25mm KBA-B autocannon, which drastically improved the firepower of the vehicle. The new turret also featured night vision equipment and a FN MAG 7,62 mm machine gun. The original upgrade plan called for 234 M113 C&Vs to receive the new armament, but in 1974 it was decided to upgrade all 266 vehicles instead. One thing to note is that the added weight of the new turret on the chassis did remove the amphibious capabilities of the vehicle.
The Dutch M113 C&V remained in service for a significant period of time, eventually being retired in 1994 in favor of the YPR-765, which has in turn been replaced by the Fennek, Boxer and CV9035. Some of the retired Dutch vehicles have been sold to other countries. 35 Vehicles ended up in Bahrain, another 8 in Chile.
General Characteristics:
- Crew: 3 (commander, driver, observer)
- Weight: 9 t combat load, 8.1 t empty
- Length: 4.80 m
- Width: 2.27 m
- Height: 2.73 m to turret top
- Engine: GMC 6V53 6-cylinder diesel
- Power output: 215 hp at 2.800 rpm
- Max speed: 71 km/h on road
- Power to weight ratio: 23.9 hp/t
Armament:
- Main armament: 1x 25 mm Oerlikon KBA-B autocannon
- Ammunition: 450 rounds, 80 APDS and 120 HEI ready to fire
- Elevation: -12/+52
- Coaxial armament: 1x 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun
Place in-game:
The M113 C&V is a unique Dutch variant of the M113 which has been in service with the Dutch army in significant numbers. Besides this it also simply appears to be a very interesting vehicle, combining good mobility, low visibility and a comfortable amount of firepower. All of these properties make it a very worthwhile addition to the game. With the Netherlands now being part of a subtree in France, the vehicle could also serve to further ameliorate the lack of tracked autocannon vehicles that the tree is currently struggling with.
Players can expect this vehicle to perform somewhat like a cross between a Wiesel and a more traditional IFV, making for a vehicle that is very well suited to flanking operations and striking from where it is least expected. If positioned correctly, you can fire while only exposing your gun, making it very hard for the enemy to spot you. The -12° of gun depression also allows players to make use of a lot of positions that are inaccessible to plenty of other vehicles.
All-in-all this should be a very fun and useful addition to the game, and one that enthusiasts of the Dutch armed forces will very much welcome.
