Ukraine fortifies frontline with arrival of M113 armored vehicles, source undisclosed
- The defense forces have received new M113 armored personnel carriers outfitted for evacuating the injured from the battlefield - we read on Facebook. "Dozens" of vehicles have reportedly arrived in Ukraine, with several hundred more expected soon.
The Ukrainian's statement, regrettably, does not contain information on the country that has provided this assistance. It's worth mentioning that in recent months (in the year 2023), Baltic nations and Spain have donated this type of transport to Ukraine.
The latest M113s have already been assigned and are currently serving on the frontline - they are a significant form of support, particularly at a time when recent reports suggest a shortage of vehicles for removing injured soldiers, including those engaged in skirmishes in Avdiivka.
American M113 Transporters
It's worth mentioning that the M113 Transporters are presently among the oldest vehicles in the Ukrainian military's arsenal. They were developed to meet the needs of the US military during the 1960s. Over time, they expanded to more military forces and today, they're popular across the globe, being in use in over 50 countries.
The M113 is constructed with 5083 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, which shields a 13-person team from gunfire and shards from artillery shells. The transporter's power unit, developed by FMC (Food Machinery Corp.), propels the vehicle to roughly 43 mph in favorable conditions and approximately 4 mph in water. The basic armament of the M113 includes M60 machine guns with a caliber of 7.62mm and M2 guns with a caliber of 12.7mm.
It's important to highlight that the Ukrainian military has been equipped with these types of vehicles for many months. They appreciate them mainly for their ease of repair. One of the M113 platoon leaders noted that "in terms of design, the M113 has much in common with the popular combines from John Deere". Thus, the servicing of the transporters does not cause issues for the Ukrainians. Furthermore, the military hasn't reported any shortage of spare parts.
