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Upgraded M113s Headed for Iraq
The U.S. Army is upgrading the armor on 734 M113/A3s and M577s armored vehicles, at a cost of $115,000 each, and sending the vehicles into Iraq. The 16 foot long and 8.75 foot wide M113 is a 1960s vintage armored personnel carrier that was replaced, in the 1980s, by the larger and heavier M-2 Bradley. The army still has over 10,000 M113s, but they are used in secondary roles, or kept in storage. The M577 is a M113 modified (with a higher rear compartment) to serve as a command vehicle. The M113 served effectively during the Vietnam war, and was the main American APC (armored personnel carrier) throughout most of the Cold War. About 80,000 M113s were manufactured. At 13 tons (probably closer to 15 tons with the added armor), the M113 is lighter than the M-2 and Stryker. For many chores in Iraq, especially convoy protection, the M113 could be effective (despite its max speed of only 65 kilometers an hour, about a third less than what many convoys make). However, the M113 will be expensive to use in Iraq, because it is a tracked vehicle, and those tracks wear out quickly and have to be replaced at great expense (over $10,000) every 6,000 kilometers (or less, as traveling on roads wears out the tracks faster). However, the M113 has proved to be a very flexible platform, lending itself to modifications by many of the dozens of armed forces that still use it. Some countries have added turrets, mounting 25mm cannon. It's likely that some M113s would be equipped with the new remote control .50 caliber machine-gun turret (as is used in some Strykers). One advantage the Stryker has is its wheels, which make it quieter in action. This has proved to be a major advantage in Iraq. But on the convoy routes, it's armor and firepower that count most.I suspect that we are more than glad to use these vehicles, and the mountains of spare parts for them in storage, for something practical, rather than just scrap them. Then they will make a fine gift to the new Iraqi army. Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-01-16 |
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