The M113 is a fully tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC) that entered service with the Australian Defence Force in 1964 and remained in service with the Australian Army for almost 50 years.
Model: M113A1
Serial Number:
Year of Manufacture:
Manufacturer: FMC Corporation
Country of Production: USA
Specifications:
Crew: 2
Other Troops: 11
Power Plant: General Motors 6V-53 Detroit Diesel 215hp
Transmission: Allison TX 100-1 3-speed automatic
Weight: 11.1 Tonnes
Speed: Up to 60 km/hr
Range: Up to 500km
Suspension: Torsion bar suspension
Armament: Originally fitted with a single .50 calibre machine gun which was mounted in a pintle above the crew commander’s position. It was subsequently fitted with an Aircrafts Armament Incorporated M74C turret and later, with its current Cadillac Gage T50 turret. With the T50 turret, it initially carried only twin .30 calibre machine guns. In later service, the APC with T50 turret carried the .30 cal/.50 cal combination and after the .30 cal was retired from service, only a single .50 cal. The T50 turret was initially fitted with an optical sight, however in later years, this was removed and the guns were solely aimed using ranging bursts of 6-10 rounds (2 tracer).
Armour: 5083 aluminium alloy 28–44 mm
Theatre of Operations: APCs were integrated and manned by Cavalry, Armoured and Mechanised Infantry Regiments in APC and Light Reconnaissance roles.
This particular APC saw service in Somalia as part of the Unified Task Force Somalia (UNITAF) 1992-1993 and Rwanda as part of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR) with B Squadron 3/4 Cavalry Regiment and 5/7 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1994-1996. It saw further service in East Timor with B Squadron 3/4 Cavalry Regiment from October 1999 as part of Operation Warden, International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). It was used extensively for patrol and security duties mainly in border regions in support of 2RAR Infantry Companies and on independent operations. From October 2000 to April 2001, it was crewed by the relieving force from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment as part of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).
