- Yes
- No
M113A2 ABL KUKA
History:
The first M113 arrived in Chile at the end of the 1960s and arrived in the A1 version, there were about 60 units that were distributed in different regiments and a decade later they were sent to the south of Chile to the Magallanes region where they serve until now.
In 1990, Chile started the “Alcázar” project with the purpose of reorganizing, restructuring and modernizing the components of the Land Force. One of the priorities was to provide the Chilean infantry and engineer units with a mechanized force. In this way, in 1996 the purchase to Italy of a consignment of 128 second-hand M113A2s, followed later by a batch of 14 M113A2 Plus with dozer blade , minesweeper and polymer tube launching fajinas with recovery crane , which they might as well carry weapons on top, a Browning HB .50 M2 or also a KUKA turret with a oerlikon KBA-B 25mm autocannon.
Chilean M113A2 Plus with minesweeper and a Browning HB .50 M2, behind with its KUKA tower version with oerlikon KBA-B 25mm autocannon
Chilean M113A2 Plus with dozer blade
Chilean M113A2 Plus fajina launcher with polymer tube with recovery crane
Project “Huracán II”
In 2003, the Chilean Army received 158 second-hand M113A2s purchased in the United States. These units were recovered and improved in the so-called Chilean project “Huracán II” which contemplated the implementation of baskets mounted on the sides of the hull to have greater storage capacity for the soldiers’ equipment, among other things, also the integration of 2 Wegmann Quadruple 76mm smoke launchers to conceal the vehicle in combat, and deployment of a variety of weapons, some with anti-armor capability featuring a GBD-AOA (KUKA) turret with an Oerlikon KBA-B 25mm autocannon. This process took 21 months and the vehicles were assigned to the Mechanized Infantry Battalions in the north of the country. All these improvements gave it a distinctive appearance compared to other m113 variants from other countries. This variant of the M113 is used both as an anti-armor vehicle to confront other lightly armored vehicles or as an anti-aircraft vehicle to shoot down helicopters or other low-flying aerial targets.
Turret characteristics
The turret is equipped with a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA-B automatic cannon and consists of two parts, the dome with the body of the turret and the upper part that supports the weapon. The turret is made of an armored aluminum plate that protects the gunner from small-caliber shots and explosive splinters, a compensator balances the weight of the support and the weapon. The gunner has an adjustable seat and points the gun through a sight on the front of the turret and also has a periscope that also points forward, in addition to 7 vision blocks, it also has a passive night sight with x6 magnification. During firing the cartridge cases and links are ejected outside the turret. The cannon is capable of firing up to 570 rounds per minute.
Specifications :
- Crew:
- 2 (driver, gunner and 12 soldiers.)
- Armament:
- Primary: GBD-AOA (KUKA) turret with an Oerlikon KBA-B 25mm autocannon (570 rounds per minute)
- Secondary: 2 × Wegmann 76mm quadruple smoke launchers
- Dimensions:
- Length: 4.8m
- Width: 2.6m
- Height: 2.5m
- Weight: Combat weight 11.2 tons.
- Maneuverability:
- Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V-53T with 6 cylinders that develops a power of 275 CV at 2,800 rpm.
- Maximum speed: 60.7 km/h.
- Power/weight: 18.51 hp/t.
- Suspension: torsion bars.
- Transmission: Allison TX-100-1A automatic with three forward gears and one reverse.
- Fuel capacity: 360 liters.
- Autonomy: 480 kilometers.
- Slope: 60%
- Side slope: 30%
- Vertical obstacle: 0.6 meters.
- Accesories:
- Passive night sight with x6 magnification
Photos:
