- Side
- United States and South Vietnam
ARVN received M113s in 1962 and used them in combat against Viet Cong forces, while U.S. forces later deployed large numbers of mostly M113A1 carriers and ACAV conversions with extra machine guns and gun shields.
Armored Vehicles
M113
Also known as
- M113 APC
- M113 armored personnel carrier
- M113 family of vehicles
- M113 ACAV
- M113A1
- M113A2
- M113A3
- M-113A3
- M113A3 APC
A lightweight tracked armored personnel carrier that became a long-lived family of troop, command, mortar, medical, missile, and field-conversion vehicles. Its use spans Vietnam-era ACAV combat adaptations, Desert Storm coalition service, U.S. and partner-supplied Ukrainian evacuation and mobility vehicles, Israeli remote explosive conversions in Gaza, Egyptian M113s under IED threat in Sinai, Yemen service, and captured Iraqi Army vehicles used by Islamic State.
Role in Conflicts
- Side
- Coalition forces
During Operation Desert Storm, large numbers of M113s and M113-family variants deployed with U.S.-led coalition forces across the Kuwait-Iraq theater.
Role details- Side
- Ukraine
Ukraine received M113-family vehicles from the United States and partner governments for protected infantry movement, battlefield casualty evacuation, demining support, and other armored mobility roles.
Role details- Side
- Israel
In the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, the IDF used old M113 APCs as remote explosive demolition vehicles in Gaza, packing them with explosives to clear booby-trapped areas and destroy Hamas infrastructure.
Role details
Yemeni Army M113 and M113M APCs were documented in the pre-war inventory available to Yemeni parties as the war began, while M113 armored infantry vehicles were also spotted in Saudi Army operations in Yemen; the sources support M113-family use but do not give a detailed M113M combat employment record.
Role details
Egyptian forces used M113 armored vehicles in North Sinai security operations; 2015 and 2016 reporting documents Wilayat Sinai IED attacks against Egyptian M113s around Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, and the Al-Arish-Rafah road.
- Side
- Islamic State
During the anti-ISIS campaign in Iraq, Islamic State seized or destroyed Iraqi Army M113 armored personnel carriers at Camp Saqlawiya near Fallujah, with open-source imagery assessed as showing at least one fighter driving a captured M113.
- Side
- Islamic State
In the 2013 War in Iraq, Islamic State seized or destroyed Iraqi Army M113 armored personnel carriers during the September 2014 Camp Saqlawiya rout north of Fallujah; at least three appeared operational in the published imagery.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States / international operators and donor inventories
- Built by
- FMCBAE Systems
- Built in
- United States
- Type
- Armored personnel carrier
- Service note
- Cold War design, modern support role
- Designed
- 1956-1960
- Produced
- 1960-1992 or later
- Number built
- More than 80,000 M113-family vehicles
Specifications
- Crew
- 2 plus about 11 passengers
- Armament
- Typically one .50 cal M2 Browning MG; variants vary widely
- Weight
- About 11.5-13.5 short tons depending variant
- Dimensions
- About 15 ft 11 in long, 8 ft 10 in wide, and 8 ft 2 in high for the early M113
- Mobility
- About 64-67 km/h road speed; amphibious by track propulsion; about 320-480 km range depending variant
- M113A3 powerpack
- Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged diesel rated at 275 hp with an Allison X200-4 cross-drive transmission
- M113A3 mobility
- About 41 mph (66 km/h) land speed, 300 mi (483 km) cruising range, hydrostatic steering, power brakes, and pivot-in-place turning
- M113A3 capacity
- Driver and track commander plus 11 infantry personnel; about 27,000-27,200 lb combat-loaded weight
- Protection
- Aluminum armor against small arms and shell splinters; A3 configuration data lists spall liners, armor mounting provisions, and external fuel tanks
- Family roles
- APC, ACAV, command post, cargo, medical evacuation, mortar carrier, TOW carrier, and other mission variants
Adaptation Pattern
The M113 is less a single fixed troop carrier than a reusable tracked hull adapted to different battlefield jobs. The same family appears as a baseline APC, Vietnam-era ACAV, command and medical vehicle, mortar or missile carrier, Israeli remote explosive vehicle, and Iranian ATGM launch platform.
| Adaptation | Documented role | Conflict or service context |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline APC | Protected movement for infantry and support troops | U.S. Army design adopted in 1960 and later exported widely |
| ACAV-style carrier | Added machine guns and gun shields for direct fire support | ARVN and U.S. adaptations in the Vietnam War |
| Mission carrier family | Command, cargo, medical evacuation, mortar, TOW, and other specialist roles | Post-Vietnam M113 family expansion |
| Improvised or remote demolition vehicle | Explosive-laden armored vehicle used for clearing or striking built-up positions | IDF employment in Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War |
| Missile launch platform | Vehicle mount for Dehlaviyeh twin-arm laser-guided ATGM launcher | Iranian Army Ground Force drill reporting |
M113A3 Upgrade Package
The A3 standard is the most relevant factory upgrade for many late-service M113-family vehicles. It retained the compact tracked carrier layout but changed the driver controls and powertrain, moved fuel storage outside the troop compartment, and added survivability provisions that made the hull more useful for later support roles.
Powertrain
275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged engine with Allison X200-series cross-drive transmission.
Driver controls
Steering-yoke controls, power brakes, hydrostatic steering, and pivot-in-place turning replaced the earlier lateral-control feel.
Survivability
External fuel tanks, spall liners, and armor mounting provisions are listed in A3 configuration data.
Sources: M113A3 Armored Personnel Carrier; TM 9-2350-277-10 M113A3 Operator's Manual; M113 | WeaponSystems.net.
Variants
Local and separately documented conversions sit alongside factory A-series upgrades in the wider M113 family.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| M113A1 | Diesel-engine APC upgrade | The A1 replaced the original gasoline engine with a diesel powerpack and entered U.S. Army service in 1964. |
| M113A2 | Suspension and cooling upgrade | The A2 entered service in 1979 with suspension and engine-cooling improvements for the carrier family. Sources: M113 armored personnel carrier history, M113 | WeaponSystems.net |
| M113A3 | RISE powertrain, driver-control, and survivability upgrade | Introduced in 1987, the A3 upgraded the M113A2 with a 275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T engine, Allison X200-series transmission, steering-yoke and power-brake controls, external fuel tanks, spall liners, and provisions for bolt-on armor. Sources: M113 armored personnel carrier history, M113 | WeaponSystems.net, M113A3 Armored Personnel Carrier |
 | M113-family TOW missile carrier | Department of the Army transport guidance lists the M901A1 inside the M113 Family of Vehicles; the catalog covers the TOW carrier separately. |
| M113M | Yemeni upgraded APC | Oryx documents M113M APCs in Yemen's pre-war inventory and notes at least one M113M field modification with a BRDM-2 turret. |
 | Yemeni fire-support conversion | Yemeni M113 hull fitted with an AML-90-family 90 mm turret; covered separately as a field-conversion record. |
Launched Missiles
Weapons documented as launched from the M113 when fitted with the Dehlaviyeh twin-arm system.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Laser-guided anti-tank missile | IRNA reports that a Dehlaviyeh twin-arm laser-guided missile launcher was installed on M113 armored personnel carriers of the Army Ground Force, so the vehicle served as the launch platform. Sources: Iranian army unveils 3 upgraded missiles during drills |
Timeline
M113 Key Events
M113 production acceptance begins
After T113 prototype work, FMC's aluminum-hulled carrier moved into U.S. Army acceptance as the M113.
First Vietnam combat use
M113s arrived in Vietnam for ARVN service and quickly drove field changes that led to ACAV-style gun shields and added weapons.
M113A1 diesel variant enters service
The M113A1 replaced the gasoline powerpack with a safer diesel engine and increased operating range.
M113A2 upgrade introduced
The M113A2 added suspension and engine-cooling improvements while the family continued to expand into mission variants.
M113A3 upgrade introduced
The U.S. Army introduced the M113A3 with the RISE powertrain, improved driver controls, external fuel tanks, spall liners, and armor-kit provisions.
Desert Storm service
The M113 family deployed with U.S.-led coalition units during Operation Desert Storm.
Ukrainian evacuation vehicles reported
Ukraine reported receiving M113 armored evacuation vehicles, with more expected for combat-unit handover.
U.S. aid fact sheet lists M113s
The U.S. Department of Defense listed M113 armored personnel carriers among security assistance supplied to Ukraine.
Media
M113 Videos
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
M113 armored personnel carrier historyPublisher: The Army Historical Foundation | Note: Supports M113 design history, baseline specifications, major U.S. Army variants, 1955 Vietnam War direct use by ARVN and U.S. forces, and 1990 Gulf War direct use by coalition forces. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Iranian army unveils 3 upgraded missiles during drillsPublisher: IRNA | Note: Supports that M113 armored personnel carriers of the Army Ground Force carried a Dehlaviyeh twin-arm laser-guided missile launcher, documenting the vehicle as a launch platform. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 Family of VehiclesPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer and background context for the M113 family, including its large production base, ongoing updates, and broad service role. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 | WeaponSystems.netPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports M113 developer, producer countries, production period, production scale, A-series distinctions, specifications, and M113-family chassis roles. | Accessed: 2026-07-08TM 55-2350-224-14 M113 Family Transport GuidancePublisher: Headquarters, Department of the Army | Note: Supports Department of the Army transport guidance treating the M113A2, M113A3, M901A1, mortar carriers, command-post carriers, and other vehicles as members of the M113 Family of Vehicles. | Accessed: 2026-07-08TM 9-2350-277-10 M113A3 Operator's ManualPublisher: Headquarters, Department of the Army | Note: Supports M113A3-family vehicle identities including personnel, command post, smoke, mortar, and command-post-system carriers. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113A3 Armored Personnel CarrierPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports M113A3-specific RISE, Detroit Diesel 6V53T, Allison X200-series transmission, driver-control, external fuel tank, spall liner, armor-kit provision, fielding, weight, capacity, speed, and range claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 Armored Personnel CarrierPublisher: AFV Database | Note: Supports general system specifications and background. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 armored personnel carrier reference guidePublisher: Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide | Note: Supports additional system background. | Accessed: 2026-07-08US M113 armored personnel carriers prove crucial to Ukraine's fighting forcesPublisher: Voice of America | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use; Ukrainian forces used M113 armored personnel carriers for assault operations and infantry protection. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Benelux donates refurbished armored infantry vehicles to UkrainePublisher: Netherlands Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer context; Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg planned to donate refurbished M113 vehicles to Ukraine for armored infantry movement. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Lithuania approved transfer of M113 for UkrainePublisher: Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer context; Lithuania approved M113 armored personnel carriers for Ukraine's demining coalition support. | Accessed: 2026-07-08The land warPublisher: War in Yemen, made in Europe | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct use; used by Saudi Army forces in Yemen as M113 armored infantry vehicles during Saudi-led coalition operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Handbook Of Pre-War Yemeni Fighting VehiclesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War context; fielded by the pre-war Yemeni Army as M113 and M113M APCs, including at least one M113M with a BRDM-2 turret, and described as available to Yemeni parties on the battlefield. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Egypt Security Watch Monthly Briefing June 2015Publisher: The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy | Note: Supports 2011 Sinai Insurgency direct use; used by Egyptian forces as an M113 armored vehicle in Rafah, North Sinai, where Wilayat Sinai claimed an IED attack against it in June 2015. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Sinai Province claims destruction of army platoon near Sheikh ZuweidPublisher: Daily News Egypt | Note: Supports 2011 Sinai Insurgency direct use; used by Egyptian Armed Forces in North Sinai when Sinai Province claimed it destroyed an M113 on the Al-Arish-Rafah road in June 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Islamic State photos detail rout of Iraqi Army at Camp SaqlawiyaPublisher: FDD's Long War Journal | Note: Supports 2013 War in Iraq and 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use; used by Islamic State after it seized or destroyed Iraqi Army M113 armored personnel carriers near Fallujah, with one fighter shown driving an M113. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to UkrainePublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War military aid context for M113 armored personnel carriers supplied to Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Ukrainian forces receive dozens of APCs to evacuate wounded soldiersPublisher: Ukrinform | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use of M113 armored evacuation vehicles for battlefield casualty evacuation. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Reuters: Israel used explosive-laden APCs in GazaPublisher: The Jerusalem Post / Reuters | Note: Supports the 2023 Israel-Hamas War; used by the IDF as Israeli M113 armored personnel carriers repurposed to carry explosives in Gaza. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Ynet explosive-laden M113 APCsPublisher: Ynetnews | Note: Supports the 2023 Israel-Hamas War; used by the IDF as old M113 APCs packed with explosives and remotely detonated in Gaza to clear booby-trapped areas. | Accessed: 2026-07-08AFU M113 maintenance training imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War training context for Ukrainian soldiers using an M113 armored personnel carrier in Germany. | Accessed: 2026-07-083rd Infantry Division divests M113 for Ukraine imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War transfer context for M113 armored personnel carriers supplied as military assistance to Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 Vietnam training photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army M113 photo from South Vietnamese training in 1963. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 i photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a gallery M113 image. | Accessed: 2026-07-08M113 armored personnel carrier photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a gallery M113 photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-08IDF M113 armored personnel carriers photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the Israel Defense Forces M113 gallery photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-08