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The following is an extensive catalogue of the variants and specific unique elements of each variant and/or design stage of the M113 armored personnel carrier. For a broader article on the history of the M113, with descriptions of the basic variants, see M113 Armored Personnel Carrier.
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Overview
The M113 has become one of the most prolific armored vehicles of the second half of the 20th century, and continues to serve with armies around the world into the 21st century. Not without its faults, the otherwise versatile chassis of the M113 APC has been used to create almost every type of vehicle imaginable. Few vehicles ever created can claim the application to such a wide range of roles from basic utility to ballistic missile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) to air defense to even a flame throwing vehicle.
Even beyond the myriad of vehicles created by the United States for its own use, scores of variants have been created independently all over the world. While still bear resemblance to the basic M113, even more share simply the chassis and are in many ways completely new vehicles.
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US Variants
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XM45/E1- Lightly armored servicing and refueling vehicle for the M132 based on the M548.
M58- The Wolf Smoke Generator Carrier can produce 90 minutes of visual and 30 minutes of infrared screens.
XM106/M106- Self-propelled Mortar carrier with 107 mm (4.2-inch) M30 mortar firing through large, circular roof hatch in hull rear. The XM106 was originally known as the T257E1 before the US Army changed their designation system.
M106A1- M106 with diesal engine.
M106A2- M106/A1 with M113A2 improvements.
M125- Mortar carrier similar to M106, but with 81 mm M29 mortar.
M132- A full-tracked self-propelled flame thrower carrier, with small turret carrying an M10-8 flamethrower and coaxial M73 machine gun, plus fuel and pressure tanks in rear of hull.
M132A1- Modified M113A1s rather than M113s.
XM546- Guided missile carrier/launcher for the MIM-46 Mauler surface to air missile.
XM546E1- Proposed version with lengthened chassis featuring a sixth set of road-wheels.
XM548/M548- Unarmored 6 ton cargo carrier.
XM548E1- Unarmored carrier/launcher for the MIM-72 Chaparral surface-to-air missiles of the M54 system. Redesignated XM730.
M577- This variant is used as a command vehicle, generally as a tactical operations center (TOC). The passenger compartment is raised to 74.75 in (189.9 cm). The compartment has a commander's hatch with no weapons mount or vision blocks. A tent is carried on the top rear and attaches directly to the rear of the track to provide greater work space. Multiple M577s can be connected via the tents forming a larger operations center. An additional fuel tank is mounted in the right rear of the compartment. Long-range communications is expedited by the use of a hand-cranked extendible antenna system. A 4.2 kW auxiliary power unit (APU) is mounted on the right front of the vehicle to provide 120 volt power. The APU can be dismounted and sandbagged for noise suppression. The compartment includes features such as map boards, folding tables, radio, computer terminals and other command and control equipment.
M579 Fitter - Repair vehicle.
M727- Unarmored carrier/launcher for the MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missiles.
XM730/M730- Unarmored carrier/launcher for the MIM-72 Chaparral surface-to-air missiles of the M54 system. The XM730 was formerly the XM548E1. The complete system is known as the M48.
M730A1- M730 with M113A2 improvements.
M730A2- M730/A1 with M113A3 Reliability Improvement of Standard Components (RISE) upgrades.
XM734 - Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV) prototype. Variant of the standard M113A1 APC with 4 firing ports and vision blocks on each side of the hull.
XM741/M741 - Carrier vehicle for the Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS). See M163.
M752 - MGM-52 Lance missile launcher. M667 with Lance launch fixture.
M901 Improved TOW Vehicle (ITV) - M113 with twin BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile launcher mounting on roof.
M901A1 - Based on M113A1.
M901A2 - Fitted with TOW 2.
M901A3 - Based on M113A3.
M981 Fire Support Team Vehicle (FISTV) - Artillery forward observer vehicle. Equipped with sights and other targeting instrumentation in a turret deliberately designed to resemble that of the M901.
M1015 Tracked Electronic Warfare Carrier.
M1059 Lynx Smoke Generator Carrier- Smoke generator carrier. Uses the M157 smoke generator set.
M1064- Mortar carrier, equipped with M121 120 mm mortar as replacement for M106.
M1068 Standard Integrated Command Post System Carrier- A modification of the M577 Command Post Carrier.
XM1108 Universal Carrier.
M113-1/2 Command and Reconnaissance (Lynx)- Smaller command and reconnaissance vehicle built by FMC using M113A1 components, with four drive wheels on each side and engine in the rear. Lost out in US competition to the M114, but was employed by the Netherlands and Canada (where it was known as the Lynx).
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Australian variants
M113 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV)- The M113 FSV was a variant fitted with turret from Alvis Saladin armoured car. The FSV was introduced into Australian Army units in the mid-1960s following the withdrawal of the Saladins and was armed with a 76mm gun, a .30 calibre coaxial machine gun and a .30 calibre machine gun mounted on the roof of the vehicle's turret. The M113 was an interim vehicle and was replaced by the M113 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle in the late 1970s.
M113 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle- A standard M113A1 with a the Cadillac Gage T50 turret as used on the V100/V150 series of armored cars, mounting two Browning machine guns, a .30 caliber and a M2 .50 caliber machine gun. While the standard armoured personnel carrier version in Australian service is also fitted with the the T50 turret it carries only a .30 caliber machine gun. For a short period of time in Vietnam the Aircraft Armaments Incorporated Model 74C Cupola/Command Station was used, but it was quickly replaced by the T50.
M113 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle (MRV)- Australian variant similar to the M113 FSV, but using the turret from the FV101 Scorpion light tank. The MRV replaced the FSV in Australian service.
M113AS3- significantly upgraded M113 with new engine, drive train and brakes.
M113AS4- upgraded to the same standard as the AS3, lengthened to fit an additional road wheel station and fitted with a new Tenix designed one man turret with a heavy machine gun.
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Israeli variants
Bardehlas (Hebrew for cheetah) - Israeli designation of the M113 APC. The name is rarely used, the M113 is usually referred to as Nagmash (APC).
Zelda - Upgraded Bardehlas (M113) with Toga armor suite - perforated steel plates mounted on an external frame around the front and sides of the vehicle. A special command version with additional radio equipment and auxiliary power unit also exists. The command version is usually referred to as Nagmash pikud (command APC).
Classical or Zelda 2 - M113 equipped with reactive armor and armored shields around roof hatches. Was introduced in mid-1990s and saw action in the Southern Lebanon security zone. The added weight of armor led to limited mobility and reliability problems and the vehicle was eventually removed from service.
Nagman - M113 equipped with Toga armor suite, hexagonal superstructure around the commander's hatch and armored shields on the sides of the rear roof hatch.
Kasman (Kesem ha-Mangina – The Charm of Music) - An urban warfare / counter insurgency version developed during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. Equipped with Toga armor suite and big armored superstructure around the roof hatches.
Kasman Magen or Kasman Meshupar - Upgraded Kasman with modified superstructure and external fuel tanks.
Giraf - M113 with TOW launcher.
Hovet, also spelled Chovet - Israeli designation for the M163 VADS.
Machbet - An Israeli upgrade of the M163 VADS. In addition to the 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, armed with 4-tubes FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile launcher.
Hatap, also spelled Chatap - A field repair vehicle for carrying spare part and equipment specific to the vehicles its tasked to support.
Mugaf - Israeli designation of the M577 command post carrier.
Alfa - Israeli designation of the M548 cargo carrier.
Shilem - Unarmored vehicle equipped with EL-M-2310 radar for artillery forces.
M113 AMEV - Armored Medical Evacuation Vehicle. A specifically modified and equipped M113 for use as an armored ambulance.
M113 HVMS - A prototype armed with a HVMS 60 mm gun in a turret.
M113 L-VAS - A prototype equipped with Light Vehicle Armour System (L-VAS).
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Other foreign variants
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M113 w/ M8 turret- The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN; South Vietnamese Army) fitted a small number of M113 armored personnel carriers with turrets taken from obsolete M8 Greyhound armored cars.
M113A2 Ultra- Originally an M113A1, upgraded to A2 standard and modernised by Singapore with 40mm AGL/.5in HMG or 25 mm Overhead Weapon System Bushmaster guns and improved armour.
NM-142- an anti-tank variant used by the Norwegian army, equipped with a TOW2 turret, developed in Norway by Kvaerner Eureka. The NM-142 mounts a turret containing a TOW2 guided anti-tank missile system with one launch tube on either side of the turret. Additionally, mounted on the commander's hatch, there is an MG3 machine gun for use as secondary armament and in situations where the TOW2-system is unsuitable.
Arisgator - Italian company Aris, has developed a full Amphibious version of M113 called Arisgator. This version carries the same amount of troops as the normal M-113. photo
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See also
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