RAAC M113A1 | |
|---|---|
| Land | Usa |
| Ämne | Bepansrad personalbärare |
| Kod | APC Vietnam |
| Beskrivning | Album av 53 foton walk-around av en «RAAC M113A1» |
M113 är en pansarvagn som har utgjort ryggraden i den amerikanska arméns mekaniserade infanterienheter från tiden för dess första fälttåg i Vietnam i april 1962. Version M113A1 : Från och med 1964 byttes bensinmotorn ut mot en dieselmotor på 215 hk (160 kW) för att dra nytta av dieselmotorns bättre bränsleekonomi och minskade brandrisk. Suffixet A1 användes på alla varianter för att beteckna en dieselmotor, dvs en M106A1 var en M106 granatkastarbärare utrustad med en dieselmotor.
| M113 Promenad Runt | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | Viktor Krestinin |
| Leta upp | Krigsmaskiner och transportmuseum, Vilnius |
| Bilder | 53 |
Se även:
| M113A2 APC Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Lokalisering | Unknow |
| Bilder | 132 |
The **RAAC M113A1** is the Australian Army’s version of the widely used American M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), serving the **Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC)** since the mid-1960s. It is a highly reliable and versatile **fully tracked** vehicle, known for its iconic box shape and effectiveness in transporting infantry under light armor protection.
The A1 Upgrade and Core Design
The M113A1 variant represents a significant improvement over the original M113. Its design emphasizes mobility and air transportability:
Primary Specifications:
- Engine: The crucial upgrade to the **-A1** standard was the replacement of the original gasoline engine with a more powerful and safer **Detroit Diesel 6V53** engine.
- Armor: Its armor is constructed from **lightweight aluminum alloy**, which provides protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments while keeping the vehicle light enough to be air transportable.
- Mobility: The M113A1 is highly mobile on varied terrain and possesses **amphibious capability**, although performance in water is marginal, especially when fully loaded.
- Capacity: The vehicle is designed to carry a crew of two (Driver and Commander/Gunner) and a fully equipped infantry section of up to **11 troops**.
Unique Australian Modifications
Australian M113A1s received several distinct modifications over their service life to increase firepower and crew survivability, particularly those employed during the Vietnam War:
- T50 (Aust) Turret: The standard Australian APC was commonly fitted with the **T50 steel turret**, replacing the simple open pintle mount. This turret significantly improved protection and mounted a combination of two weapons: a **.50 caliber M2HB Browning** heavy machine gun and a **.30 caliber L3A3 Browning** light machine gun.
- Fire Support Vehicles (FSV): Australia developed specialized fire support variants based on the M113A1 hull, notably vehicles modified to mount a **76 mm gun turret** (first from the Saladin armoured car, later from the Scorpion light tank) to provide mechanized forces with direct fire support.
- Survivability Kits: Operational experience led to field and depot modifications such as the installation of internal **spall curtains** and, on some vehicles, external **bolt-on belly armor** to better protect the crew against landmines.
Service History
The M113A1 saw extensive combat service with the Australian Army, most famously during the **Vietnam War**, where it formed the backbone of mechanized infantry operations. Its reliability and adaptability led to its continued use in various roles and conflicts well into the 21st century, including peacekeeping operations in **Somalia, Rwanda, and East Timor**.
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