Ukraine gets Australian M113AS4 with 12.7mm Browning M2HB-QCB, 355hp
KYIV ($1=29.61 Ukrainian Hryvnias) — Australia has promised Ukraine to provide 14 M113 APC units as military assistance in the war against Russia. The first four APSs have already been delivered and Kyiv is waiting for the remaining ten. The delivery of the first four units were confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Australia, the latter publishing photos of the loading of the M113 on Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft nearly two weeks ago.
- Australia shows coastal Bushmaster PMV with 185km-range NSM AShMs
- See pictures of 40km range 155mm M777 howitzers traveling to Ukraine
- Pentagon suspended a deal to sell four MQ-1C UASs to Ukraine
Ukrainians receive and will operate with the Australian version M113AS4. It differs from the standard M113 in several ways: a reinforced composite armor designed to protect crew and soldiers from 14.5mm weapons, a reinforced floor to withstand anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, and a new turret with an upgraded 12.7mm Browning machine gun M2HB-QCB.
The M113AS4 is powered by a German MTU 6V199TE engine. In the Australian version of the M113, the transmission has been replaced and the engine guarantees at least 355 horsepower. M113AS4 also has a larger body than the base model – 660mm larger.
Australia provides $ 285 million in military aid. The delivery of these 14 armored vehicles for the infantry is part of this assistance, as Canberra has already provided Kyiv with the towed 155mm M777 howitzers, as well as the Bushmaster MRAP.
In addition to Australia, Denmark, Lithuania, the United States, Portugal, and the Netherlands have already delivered their versions of the M113 to help Ukraine’s armed forces.
The base M113 APC version
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 Despite its outdated design, this infantry vehicle has serious combat experience and is popular among dozens of countries around the world that have adopted it. It is a long service and the outdated, already non-functional design for the new conditions on the battlefields is the reason why several countries are taking action on their retirement.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.
***
Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news, follow our Google News, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Subscribe to our Newsletter and read our stories in News360App in AppStore or GooglePlay or in FeedlyApp in AppStore or GooglePlay. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical princliples.