Danish M113 in Ukraine, 12.7mm Piranha 8×8 AFV may also be there soon

By Boyko Nikolov

COPENHAGEN, ($1=7.05 Danish Krones) — As a real opportunity, reports the Danish online portal OLFI, is Denmark to send its armored fighting vehicles 8×8 Piranha III to help the Ukrainian armed forces. This information comes just hours after the government in Copenhagen confirmed that Kyiv will receive from the Danish stockpile M113 armored personnel carriers [APC].

M113 tested LUCH anti-aircraft missile at an angle of 15 degrees
Photo credit: Defence-Blog

The online portal Euroactive writes that M113 has already been decided and will leave for Ukraine. However, the Piranha III 8×8 AFV is under discussion and is currently only being included in the Danes’ plans as a possible option. Experts from Denmark think that the chance of Piranha III 8×8 AFV ending up in Ukraine as a donation is very high, so we will not be surprised if the government in Copenhagen confirms this information in the coming days.

Denmark is not indifferent to what is happening in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Danes have donated thousands of body armor, field first aid kits, several thousand M72 LAW light anti-tank weapons, and at least 300 FIM-92 Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

At the beginning of the war, the Danish government approved 22 million euros to support the Ukrainian resistance. That amount has already been increased after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visited Kyiv nearly a week ago and announced that Denmark was ready to provide another nearly $ 90 million in military aid to Ukraine.

M113 and Piranha III 8×8 AFV

Both vehicles are in the infantry category, but differ significantly, not only in form, functionality, and years of faithful service.

The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier [APC] designed in the 1960s. Despite its outdated design, this infantry vehicle has serious combat experience and is popular among dozens of countries around the world that have adopted it. It is a long service and the outdated, already non-functional design for the new conditions on the battlefields is the reason why several countries are taking action on their retirement. As it became clear in recent weeks – hundreds of M113 will not be retired but will be spent on the defense of Ukraine.

The M113 has a crew of two soldiers and can carry between 12 and 15 additional soldiers. It has an integrated bumper type 5083 Aluminum Alloy 28–44 millimeters [1.1–1.7 in]. It is powered by a Detroit Diesel 6V53T, a 6-cylinder diesel engine that provides 275 hp [205 kW]. The maximum speed it develops is 67 km, with one tank it can reach a range of 480 km, and the main armament consists of an M2 Browning machine gun.

Mowag Piranha is an armored fighting vehicle with a Swiss design. It is in service in over 20 countries around the world. Its production began in 1972. The crew of the vehicle can vary from 3 to five people and can carry five more soldiers separately. The bumper of the vehicle is quick-mount selection, including defense against RPG, IED, and NBC. The main armament consists of a 12.7 mm MG turret, MOWAG apex mount, grenade launcher, or TOW anti-tank missile.

It is powered by a diesel engine that provides 275 horsepower. The transmission is Allison MT-653 automatic 6-speed planetary gearbox. It can be in 6×6, 8×8, and 10×10 variations. The maximum speed is 100 km / h and travels 780 km with one refueling of the tank.

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