Feel free to give feedback on what you think could be improved about organization/ wording of this
The M113 is a legendary APC that has been widely used throughout the world ever since it was put into service. Throughout the years, it has been modified to perform many jobs, from its original job of transporting troops to being an anti-aircraft gun. However, there is one version that has been overlooked by history, the M113A1 Tow.
"In the mid-1950s, the Army issued specifications for a new APC. The specifications required a tracked, completely enclosed vehicle that could keep up with modern tanks so that tanks and newly developed mechanized infantry units could work together. The new APC was also required to be amphibious to be amphibious and capable of being air-dropped. It was also required to be easy to maintain and allow infantry easy access and egress. FMC developed two prototype APCs, known as the T113 and T117. The T113 was constructed from aluminum and was thus considerably lighter than the steel T117, allowing it to be used in airborne operations due to its lesser weight.
The Army was pleased with the overall performance of the T113 and awarded FMC the production contract. After a number of modifications, the Army began accepting the new APC, now designated the M113, in 1960. The Army now had its “battle taxi,” a vehicle capable of bringing infantrymen onto the battlefield, where they would dismount and work alongside tanks. The M113’s hull, measured 15 feet, 11 inches long, 8 feet, 10 inches wide, and 8 feet, 2 inches in height, and weighing just over twelve tons, could carry eleven fully equipped soldiers and a crew of two (driver and track commander). However, when equipped with the BGM-71 Tow, its crew increased to four (gunner and loader).
Its 209-horsepower Chrysler 75M gasoline engine gave the M113 a road speed of over forty miles per hour and a cruising range of approximately 200 miles. The vehicle’s armor consisted of aircraft-grade aluminum that ranged from 12mm to 38mm thick, which effectively shielded the crew from small arms fire and shell fragments. The armament consisted of a Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun operated by the track commander from a hatch at the top of the vehicle, in addition to the BGM-71 Tow anti-tank SACLOS missile.
The M113 was also planned to be amphibious, with its tracks propelling it through the water much the same way as the WW2 LVT. While the original M113 was in production, the Army and FMC began developing a prototype with a safer diesel engine that was planned to use diesel that was much less prone to fire compared to gas. Known as the M113A1, the new variant was equipped with a General Motors 215-horsepower diesel engine and first entered Army service in 1964. In addition to being less of a fire hazard, the new engine also improved the M113’s range by around 100 miles. As a result of this, the US Army decided to phase out the potentially hazardous early model M113s in favor of the -A1."
The M113 saw combat in almost every major theater since its introduction. The most well-known was during the Vietnam War. However, it had a few shortcomings, namely its ability to defend itself from armored threats; one solution to this was to simply mount the BGM-71 Tow launcher to it. However, this option was eventually abandoned in favor of the M901 due to its greater ability to fire while in a hull-down position.
About the above information
The above Info is gathered from and based on: M113 (Armored Personnel Carrier) - The Army Historical Foundation 1 I used this for a base because it included all the information I needed and it was worded in a way that I thought was better organized and structured than anything I could have done on my own, though I did add more info to it/change its wording in some places. I do not claim to have written the above section completely on my own.
The M113A1 Tow is essentially identical to the ones seen in Italy, China, And Israel. It would serve as a tank destroyer just like the m901 does, and while it may seem like the m901 is better, it suffers from a few issues that the M113 doesn’t. First, its Tow launcher does not fold down, unlike the m901, and would allow it to fire faster after stopping than the m901 giving the user a better chance of survival. Second, it has a smaller profile, allowing it to fire while less visible, unlike the m901 with its massive launcher that must be deployed in order to fire making it a large and visible target. Lastly, it has a .50 cal M2HB that would allow it to at least put up a fight against attacking aircraft if it comes down to it. The M113 would also be capable of scouting targets and would get access to a scouting drone if it were to be added at the same BR as the other M113 Tow’s (8.3); and this would give the m113 an advantage when it comes to being able to accurately locate targets.
Specifications
Weponry
M2HB 12.7mm HMG, ammo: 1000 (2000 with ammo box)
BGM-71C I-TOW, ammo: 11 (10 stored, 1 loaded) (21 with ammo box)
Gunner Zoom: 1.0x-8.0x
Mobility
Top speed: 40 mph fwd, 9 mph rvs
Hp: 215 hp
Weight: 11.2 tons
Armor
(All hull armor is made up of Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminum)
Front: 38mm
Sides: 44mm
Rear: 38mm
Top: 38mm
Bottom: 29mm
Additional images and resources
(thanks to OddPhenomena)
https://www.xm381.com/TMs_Files/TM%2043-0001-31.pdf (unclassified to the best of my knowledge)
SP TOW Carrier M113 (uses multiple sources)
https://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-tow.html (for a detailed history of the Tow program)
- Yes
- No