A richly illustrated guide to modeling the nimble M113 Armored
Personnel Carrier, a Cold War veteran of the jungle and desert, filled
with previously unseen inspirational photographs and drawings.
The M113 has become as much a recognizable part of the US military
machine at war as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois and M16 assault rifle. Earning
its stripes in the jungles and highlands of Vietnam, it became the most
widely armored vehicle of the campaign. Such was its prowess that the
Viet Cong gave it the nickname Green Dragon on account of its ability to
go virtually anywhere.
Its groundbreaking aluminum hull gives the M113 a relatively low weight
of 12ts, this allows it to be easily transported by air and gives it an
amphibious ability. The design was also easy to modify and can carry a
range of support and indirect fire weapons. From mortars to ballistic
missiles, the M113 spawned a progeny of useful and innovative
vehicles.
The base M113 is lightly armored and safe against only the lightest of
small arms fire and shell splinter. As a result a range of up-armor
packages have been used in the past, from sandbags to complex appliqué
armur.
80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and are in use with over 50
countries, making it one of the most widely used armored fighting
vehicles to be produced. Indeed such was its popularity that the US
bought their final M113s in as late as 2007.
The M113 was designed and developed by the Food Machinery Corporation
(FMC) to replace the heavier and less reliable steel-bodied M59 and M75
armored personnel carriers. It was specifically designed to be lighter,
air-portable and have amphibious capability. Carrying a crew of two,
driver and commander, who manned the M113's only weapon, a .50cal
machine gun, the M113 would transport 11 soldiers into combat before
withdrawing to the rear.
Powered initially by a V8 petrol engine the M113 would be continuously
up-engined throughout its frontline and subsequent rear support
lifespan. Changes included improved suspension, smoke dischargers and
externally fitted fuel tanks. Other changes have included armored
commander's turrets and slat armor.
This LandCraft title looks at the M113s development where the FMC sought
to utilize its chassis into as many roles as possible, from smoke
generators to flamethrowers. The book also looks at how the M113 was
adapted for use by numerous overseas customers and how these are
upgraded to suit local conditions.
Finally the title looks at the M113's changing roles in the more
sophisticated contemporary battlescape and how it's still providing
service in theaters across the world in a variety of roles, both combat
and support.
For the modeler there is nothing more important than the little things
and this image-rich section of Land Crafts M113 title delivers the
goods. Filled with crisp photos that show the M113's many details,
combined with helpful accompanying text, forms an enviable visual guide
for the enthusiast and modeler alike.
