M113 APC of Bangladesh ~ Bangladesh Defence

M113 Armored Personnel Carrier
United States Army M113A3 participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Type	Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1960–present


Production history
Number built	~80,000 (all variants)
Variants	Numerous, see text
Specifications
Weight	12.3 tonnes (13.6 ST; 12.1 LT)
Length	4.863 metres (15 ft 11.5 in)
Width	2.686 metres (8 ft 9.7 in)
Height	2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Crew	2
Passengers	11 passengers

Armor	aluminum 12–38 millimetres (0.47–1.5 in)
Primary armament	M2 Browning machine gun
Secondary armament	varies (see text)
Engine	Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 6-cylinder diesel engine 275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight	22.36 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar, 5 road wheels
Operational range	~480 km (~300 miles)
Speed	67.6 km/h (42.0 mph), 5.8 km/h (3.6 mph) swimming

Design

Armament

Australian M113

The basic M113 armored personnel carrier can itself be fitted with a number of weapon systems. The most common weapon fit is a single .50 caliber M2 machine gun. However, the mount can also be fitted with a 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. A number of anti-tank weapons could be fitted to the standard variant: the U.S. Army developed kits that allowed the M47 Dragon and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile systems to be mounted. In the case of the M47, the system mated to the existing machine gun mount, without having to remove the machine gun. This allowed the commander to use the weapon, as well as the machine gun. A large array of turrets and fixed mounts are available to mount high explosive cannon from 20mm to 105mm to the M113 series making them function also as assault guns and fire support means; while in many cases still having room inside to carry dismounted infantry or cavalry scouts.

Armor

The 10.5-ton M113 is built of 5083 aircraft-quality aluminum alloy which gives it some of the same strength as steel at a slightly reduced weight, as the greater thickness allows structural stiffness.

Mobility

Its weight allows the use of a relatively small engine to power the vehicle, a 6V53 Detroit 2-stroke six cylinder diesel, with an Allison tx100-1 3 speed automatic transmission, and allows the vehicle to carry a large payload cross-country and to be transported by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The M113 can swim without deploying flotation curtains, powered in the water by its tracks.