How Bad Is The M113 APC?

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The American M113 Armored Personnel Carrier was developed to provide the US Army with a low-cost, air-deployable, and mobile troop transport. It saw extensive use during the Vietnam War and has seen action in pretty much every conflict the US has been involved in since then. It's often heavily lambasted since it's championed by reformers, but exactly how bad is it?
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How Bad Is The M113 APC?

[@dogman9223]

M113 best aircraft

[@Stlaind]

Aerogavin!

[@remoquillojosemiguel1105]

Truly Mike Sparks was ahead of us all

[@enkilav2472]

Can't wait to send M113s in space

[@xRazProductions]

A E R O G A V I N

[@WoRstVoRt3x]

Gaijins next Premium

[@ShadowsOfTheSky]

I talked to my grandpa, who lost his leg in Vietnam while walking with an armored division including M113s, a few weeks ago. He said that the M113 would’ve obviously been useless against a tank, but were like a mobile fortress against the under equipped enemies. Able to provide adequate mobile protection for a number of soldiers and provide good supporting fire from the .50 cals, everybody felt much better when one was around. Able to hit decent highways speeds, the ability to carry so many infantry safely right into the heat of battle is a massive tactical advantage. Obviously, the vehicle isn’t perfect, but it was quite well suited to the strange conditions of Vietnam.

[@joeojeda4651]

Proper tools for a specific job

[@YoRHaUnit2Babe]

thank god for the Bradleys and other IFVs to exist

[@richardhill286]

average youtube comment try not to lie challenge (impossible)

[@ret7army]

@@richardhill286 troll much? The M113 was a battlefield taxi, good enough for its time, The M577 command track variant was/is also good enough had I the money I wouldn't mind buying 1 or 3 ... guess I'll have to play the lottery ;)

[@richardhill286]

@@ret7army no bro i just don’t really care enough to memorize every detail of vehicles

[@MrArgus11111]

I think it's harder to find APCs that infantrymen do NOT call "deathtraps" in some form or another.

[@piedpiper1172]

👆 Everything’s a death trap if you hit it hard enough.

[@fireknightofficial1340]

how about sisu xa-apc

[@Shinno.-.]

Had a Sgt that called AAV-7s "Floating coffins"

[@Jumpulaaa]

@@fireknightofficial1340 **laughs in Finnish conscript** Wanna guess again?

[@Sabrowsky]

As it turns out, if you drive metal boxes into a warzone with rocket propelled grenades, ATGMs and copious amounts of gunfire, a good number of them tend to get blown up. I know its a significant event for those caught inside it, but like, *who'da fucking thunk*

[@higgs923]

Served with the USN in Vietnam's Mekong Delta 20 klicks upriver from Can Tho. The M113 was the only armored unit that the Army could reliably deploy in that area due to the water table being so close to the surface of the ground. Tanks were vulnerable to getting stuck in the dry season, hopeless when it rained.

[@remoquillojosemiguel1105]

People forget what the M113 is for, it's a battle taxi and the modern incarnation of the Bren carrier. It's lightly armored but can be airlifted, is moderately amphibious, can transport men and material across various kinds of terrain and can mount various weapons from MGs to mortars to autocannons. Lastly, it can also become the ultimate weapon if you put wings and an engine on it and arm it with AIM-9 Sidewinders in the form of the Aerogavin

[@eddiestray4870]

Yup! it's original intent was to take troops and gear to the front lines and GTFO before geting shot. Sadly, for it's reputation, Vietnan war torn to pieces the concept of frontlines... Yet to this date, the M113 is a great logistical asset Also, you forgot that the AIM-9s should be mounted into the 360° arc turret with an autoloader to make better use of it's cargo hull.

[@drrocketman7794]

😆 🤣 😂

[@ret7army]

@@eddiestray4870 LOL

[@Sk0lzky]

Battle taxi? My man, I've seen an actual taxi driving through a street under fire from both sides and it had less losses than M113s in vietnam! (1 out of 1 surviving means 0% losses that's an achievement, no clue about the driver though, middle eastern taxi drivers are tough however! )

[@remoquillojosemiguel1105]

@@eddiestray4870 Mike Sparks is truly one of the soldiers to ever exist.

[@Orangefan77]

I love how the opening of the video is the M113 climbing like a 1* grade, something which is impossible for it to do in War Thunder

[@PAcifisti]

Warthunder is planes first and barebones&nothing for tanks. We still also got the incredibly poor modeled tracks that only give traction at the very front and back of it. None around the middle or in the parts of the track not touching ground.

[@Super_Tristan1005]

@@PAcifisti poor modeling aside, the traction problems are also because the devs are too lazy to balance the maps properly. so they just made tanks slip down hills instead fixing map exploits

[@vanillaghillie8912]

The traction used to be good but people kept mountain goating and climbing around gaijins broken maps and sniping people from impossible areas. Rather than fix their broken maps, they just added teflon to all the tank tracks and called it a day

[@lector-dogmatixsicarii1537]

@@Super_Tristan1005 They did a mobility nerf years back that fucked up just about every vehicle because they couldn't be bothered to work on their game. We have the same shitty map scope and incessant modes, but worse, that we had back when. We even lost the D point. Planes coming first is such a poster child common modern trash bin non-sequitur excuse for pussy player bases accepting dogshit as if a treat from bad people.

[@Christian---]

The BT-42 can go up basically a flat wall when you do it at an angle lol

[@bobisbell1837]

I was a scout and drove the 113 and tc'd them. They served well in a scout role and an anti armor role. It wasn't meant to take more than 7.62mm small arms fire. Easy to maintain and mobility was great

[@nelsoj11]

Yeah I thought it was great while we had them. It’s basically the Toyota Camery of armored vehicles.

[@jewelltuber]

@@nelsoj11 Best comparison I have ever heard, I'm gonna adopt that :)

[@miguelnavarrete7555]

plus they weren't bad to sleep on

[@Robertlynschultz]

I was a Combat Engineer in the cool-azz 1980s…. Our squad vehicle was a overloaded M113 pulling and equally overloaded trailer in every freaking unit I served with… found sleep in every available cubic inch of that thing.😅

[@dankmazzi2376]

Cav scout 1970s, our m113 was a very good vehicle in Germany we didn't have a heater like the tankers but we survived.

[@FlightSimHistorian]

My grandpa got his 3rd Purple Heart while riding on top of a 113 in Vietnam. He got his helmet clipped by an enemy sniper shot. If he'd been wearing his helmet correctly, the bullet would likely have killed him. As it happened, his helmet strap was undone, so the bullet glanced off, spinning his helmet around, causing a severe burn due to the helmet liner. He had a scar running all the way around his head.

[@dragonace119]

3rd one? Hot damn he was just built different and incredibly lucky.

[@Juel92]

Wow that's the kind of crazy injury one would call unrealistic if it happened in a movie xD

[@JoshuaC923]

That's badass

[@andresmartinezramos7513]

I have heard this kind of "thankfully the helmet was unstrapped" stories but all I can find in the official and medical literature is not strapping helmets lead to more and worse injuries. My guess is that he was lucky it was a glancing blow and the strap had little to do with the thankfully good outcome.

[@jasonxd5738]

Having driven one of these in real life, they're slow, but not nearly as slow as WT makes them. Believe it or not they CAN climb hills with relatively little trouble. That's my biggest gripe with how they are portrayed in game

[@alehop333]

Don't leak classified documents about it btw

[@TheBananamonger]

DO leak classified documents about it

[@kane-111]

@@TheBananamonger lmfao

[@ancaplanaoriginal5303]

@@alehop333 I don't think there is much classified about what's basically a tracked fridge

[@ashleystewart9428]

its been a year since ive played this shit game, but are slopes still covered in oil and shit to climb in general? lol

[@pinkycatcher]

My Uncle was in an M113 in Vietname when it was hit by an RPG, he was the radio guy and made it out alive. They can take some damage and keep the people inside (mostly) alive. If you search for "The Battle for Buttons", he was in Lt. Andrews ACAV. There's a paper one of the guys involved wrote about it, and has some very dramatic pictures. Also there's a note in there about the crews doing unauthorized "mine plate" upgrades to protect against mines

[@cheesytacos6498]

My neighbor told me that he bought chain licked fences about 10 feet far from the APC and they would stop an RPG before it could hit the M113

[@johnnyringo4463]

Its only unauthorized if you get caught. 🤣🤣 Even then, its only unauthorized if a Fobbit or REMF sees it. I havent had a field grunt officer tell an enlisted guy something is unauthorized. Only thing I can recall is when the desert tan blackhawk boots 1st came out. Way more comfortable. Just about every enlisted started buying them. the only ones that had a problem were the non-combatants. They even got so anal about having to through every lace eyelet in the boots and started writing up soldiers for being out of uniform. With officers like that, who needs enemies? 🤣🤣.

[@seanmurphy7011]

That's because the back of the vehicle is essentially empty.

[@shawnmiller4781]

@@cheesytacos6498 I read a story from a tanker who said they put the same chick wire up in front of their M551’s for the same purpose

[@richsmith7200]

In the seventies one of my dad's employees was a vet that lost his lower leg when their 113 was hit an rpg. He was the only survivor as he was standing in the cupola. He was a great guy, but always struggled with 'survivor's guilt'.

[@dodobird679]

Spookston's mention of the Grim reaper M48 made me look it up by my count, that's 6 machineguns in total, four of them were .50 cals, three of which were on tripods welded to the tank. There was the coax .30 cal, and then one final M60 in the bustle rack tank also mounted a Minigun ripped from a cobra, and a M79 grenade launcher in the ready rack, along with a folding stock m14 and a few other rifles Some real rpg protagonist moments there

[@JMAN-pg4tg]

As someone who’s spent a lot of time driving, commanding, and riding in a M113 during my army career, I really liked the vehicle. The only real gripe we had was there was no A/C…

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

You’d think at this point they’d give crews those liquid cooled vests to wear if they aren’t going to put A/C in

[@JMAN-pg4tg]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 it would be a lot easier just to put a/c in the thing lol

[@victoria19853]

The commanding m113s have ac because they got to keep the computers cool.

[@JMAN-pg4tg]

@@victoria19853 ah yes, the 1068. The problem with those is they’re always full of senior NCOs and junior officers

[@victoria19853]

@@JMAN-pg4tg I don’t see that as a problem 😎.

[@brothergrimaldus3836]

Was in one version, FiST-V, for years. It did its job. It's just the like TOW launcher you're using in the game, but without the missiles. It was just to house our LDR and thermal scope. B-FiST (Bradley FiST) was coming in just as I was getting out.

[@gattonero2915]

Ah yes, the FISTV, a vehicle that can destroy tanks without firing a single shot itself, but relying on its laser rangefinder-designator to guide the 155mm Howitzer gun-fired Copperhead anti-tank missile and Air-dropped JDAM to destroy whatever this thing is pointing its laser at lol

[@calebbroz6843]

Glad we have the Bfist, I see the mortar tracks and 1068s always broke down. Not thst the brads are much better here

[@abitofapickle6255]

We had FISTERS with the Bradley. Cool dudes

[@bunkphenomenon]

Were you guys able to keep up with the M1s and Bradleys in the field? I was on a Vulcan and they would leave us in the dust.

[@Panzermech]

GLLD, ground laser locator designator and the North Seeking Gyro. Old tech that predates and independent of GPS.

[@kolinmartz]

You should see the interim m113s the Philippines is using as they’re trying to modernize their mechanized infantry. That thing got a remote controlled auto canon up top. 😊

[@abnerdoon4902]

Soon enought, the Filipinos will have m113s for every combat role.

[@koimeme]

@@abnerdoon4902 mike sparks has now moved to the Philippines

[@usslexingtoncva-1639]

@@koimeme well we have an IFV, APC and Fire Supporr Versions XD

[@dwwolf4636]

Thr Dutch YPR765 had an open turret with a 25mm cannon

[@RedGurillia]

@@dwwolf4636 later on it had an fully enclosed one too (i don't know how many were actually upgraded) but they almost all got sold to egypt, and the few left over are now in the Ukraine

[@awf6554]

During the battle of Long Tan M113s assaulted through the VC/NVA troops attacking Australian infantry. Surprise and speed combined to make a very effective shock attack.

[@sixgunsymphony7408]

Critics of the M-113 want it to be a tank. They dont grasp the role of an APC.

[@gunnerpup7288]

Or the role of a support vehicle in general. I was in a unit that was still using these in 2019/2020 as a support vehicle or what some would call a “command” vehicle. For the most part, they were great. The only time you would ever really have an issue with them was with the onboard generator for the additional systems (or any time you let that new joe drive and they threw track, but that’s when we got to have a fun little party of teaching them how to put tracks back on), and that’s not an issue with the M113, that’s a generator issue cause we ran them like hell. People watch one shitty movie about an air force officer in the pentagon Who hated this thing because he had such an axe to grind because he didn’t get his way about his design for an aircraft, and they get all of their history from that one shitty movie. This isn’t to say that the movie isn’t necessarily bad, but I am so tired of everyone getting all of their information from that one movie. That man was absolutely pissed off And wasting taxpayer dollars. That’s it. Unfortunately, more recently, the same thing has been happening since the release of the movie “Tread” About the “Killdozer and Marvin Heemeyer. I’m not saying that what he did was right, but ever since that movie came out, people have been quoting it like we can’t get any of our information from anywhere anywhere else, and that the movie doesn’t conflict with anything at all. I’m not saying that the three people involved in the movie lied to you, But their story and Marvin’s tapes don’t match. You also see this with people who get all of their information about Erwin Rommel from his diary, trying to paint him out to be such an amazing man. He was not, and had he survived the war. He would’ve been dried as a war criminal. The man had an entire propaganda team with him in North Africa. I promise you everything in that man’s diary is catered to make him look better. All that to say, most people will not really do very much digging into the reality of a vehicle, or a topic, or a person even if it’s something that they’re really interested in. They will 99% of the time Take the first thing that they hear and run with it. And since the M113 Is an “armored” vehicle according to these people, it has to fit what their idea of an armored vehicle is. And since it doesn’t do the things that their favorite armored vehicle does very well it must be “bad”. In my opinion, I would have to agree with what was said in the video that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this vehicle being what it is today a support vehicle. It does its job excellently, and when the vehicle came out, it was par for the course. Does it need an upgrade? Absolutely not. Not in the role that it’s currently being used in. Because a lot of people tend to forget US doctrine when it comes to these vehicles. Vehicle is rolling around, 99% of the time, it’s not alone. It probably is attached to a mechanized unit that definitely has heavier armor, or something to knock out heavier armor. I know a lot of people like to think that infantry are out there like they were in Vietnam with these things, but they are not. From what I can understand (again, not infantry, nor was attached to one, but had friends attached to them and who were) If you’re not walking somewhere, you’re not taking mechanized you’re probably taking a wheel vehicle. Now heavier, infantry, like mechanized infantry, those guys might have a couple of these things, and typically they aren’t just riding around in them everywhere. They still get to get treated like infantry anyway. These things are usually just a shorten the distance, or more for carrying the guys with the big weapons like the stuff to take out, heavier, armor, or so this way you can keep up with the tank that you’re probably trying to keep up with and Support.

[@scernefhaal]

Btw I extremely love this new type of voiceover that you have in your later videos: the one where you are talking more live-is, without just constantly reading a script. It makes your videos feel a lot more alive, as well as it is better to get your point based in emotional factor of the voice line

[@beeno3487]

Agreed

[@briansmithwins]

The armor is good enough to keep out most artillery & mortar fragments which have been the biggest killer of infantry since WWI. It's not perfect but it was a pretty good product for its time.

[@SavageTactical]

True, I think it got an unfair reputation in Vietnam where there wasn’t much artillery or mortars and mines would destroy them pretty easily.

[@strategicperson95]

@@SavageTactical I think Vietnam has done a lot of damage with lots of Myths that don't really stand up to scrutiny. But because many of these myths lineup with a lot of agendas, good luck getting people to view it objectively.

[@Crosshair84]

People keep forgetting this because the West has spent 50+ years fighting goat herders and rice farmers. The M113 is effectively immune to any artillery that isn't a direct hit. It's cheap to produce and easy to support logistically, so you can effectively hand them out to everyone. Rather than have a few super APCs and everyone else has to ride in the back of an unarmored truck.

[@samsniper2000]

out of curiosity do you feel the same about BMP-1s?

[@Tinfoil_Hardhat]

@@SavageTactical Part of that reputation is partially a misuse of what it was intended for, as commanders tended to use them more like IFVs than battlefield taxis.

[@hiphip4808]

I’ve been on the M106 Mortar carrier and even though that thing gets no maintenance, last time it was maintained was about 20 years ago it still runs smoothly. I think that speaks a lot to its reliability.

[@cavtastic5691]

At a minimum you do services twice a year. It gets maintenance

[@lector-dogmatixsicarii1537]

@@cavtastic5691 You have to admit, even with "required" maintenance assumed, these things get treated like mullet Camaros. For the abuse and stretching, it's seen a lot for some child to come along decades later and neg it for rather plastic reasons, which may or may not be his fault.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@lector-dogmatixsicarii1537 Right Mr. Dogmatix - some non - mech infantry gameboy ripping a vehicle he never rode in , drove , worked on ect . This vehicle is COMBAT PROVEN ! Maybe I am biased , I worked at FMC in San Jose and served in First Battalion , Twelfth Cavalry , ( Mech ) 1st Cav Division during the mid seventies .

[@713devereux]

I personally like the M-113, I used one these in the late 80s when was in a scout platoon. Its basically a battle taxi. The M-113 is fairly quick vehicle and great option for transporting infantry troops to battle. The M-113 was never designed to go head to head with Russian tanks.

[@RavenholdIV]

I used to drive them quite a bit. Great fun! They were able to climb almost any slope that was on offer. I don't think I ever saw one slide off something, but we were in the desert so the ground was pretty good for tracks. It makes me hate the warthunder olive oil nerfs everything got. I have personally climbed mountains in the damn thing, I know just how effective tracked vehicles are. Riding up and down the waddis at a crawl was pretty spicy, especially when the sides were approaching 45 degrees, but the only thing that ever flipped was the Strykers. Still made me sweat lol. Gotta be so ginger with those brakes or you could flip the whole thing over it's nose.

[@ret7army]

I damn near did flip my 577 track ... scary as ... but yeah

[@charleslennonbaker]

Me too. I was an Evac Medic [1st ID HHC 1-16 Infantry Medical Platoon Evac Section] circa 1992-1996. She was a b*&^% to maintain, but she was my baby.

[@jaakko222]

But the tracks seem pretty narrow to me… i drove a MT-LB/v in the army for a year and that thing could drive on a swamp without sinking…. 0,28bar ground pressure….

[@RavenholdIV]

@@jaakko222 like I said, the desert was pretty good for tracks. I've never had to dig it out of a bog, almost certainly because they've never seen a bog.

[@jewelltuber]

I was in an M113 at night in blackout drive that was going up the side of a ravine and broke traction and slid backwards. The driver was smart enough to keep it pointed uphill and it was quite the ride in the dark until eventually we slid to the bottom, the diesel drowned out our sighs of relief but dammed if he didn't just drive along the bottom a bit and picked another line and powered up it that time. That was greasy German dirt though.

[@doge9176]

I think this may be one of your best vehicle history videos you have made to date just because of how in depth you go and that you atleast somewhat go over all the prototypes preceeding it.

[@UkrainianPaulie]

I was an 11C. In West Berlin we had the 4.2 inch Mortar Carrier version the M106A2. It was reliable and rarely broke down. I liked it.

[@bunkphenomenon]

I was a M163 Vulcan crewmember. I hated the fact that we could not keep up with M1s and Bradleys. The M113 was slow, but even slower with a multi-ton Gatling gun mounted on it.

[@ReviveHF]

M113 is actually good for infantry carrying role, but the Bradley is better for the tank destroyer role.

[@dogman9223]

Makes sense, given each’s role.

[@jasonxd5738]

If they just made a Bradley with no turret the US could phase out the 113 entirely. The Bradley is ridiculously large IRL and the turret is most of that space

[@dogman9223]

@@jasonxd5738given what spook said I think they did

[@jasonxd5738]

@@dogman9223 There is a few Bradley variants tried like the ADATS but I'm not aware of any that have actually entered service anywhere

[@cynicalmedic252]

@@jasonxd5738 It took the Army the better of a decade to start rolling them off the production line but that's what the new AMPVs are. If I'm lucky maybe I'll see it replace my M113 before I leave 😂

[@01Eldar]

My M901 ITV version did everything I asked of her. Hell, the heater even worked occasionally...

[@TheWizardGamez]

A good way of thinking about the m113 is like a tracked humvee. You wouldn’t want to have it anywhere near anti-armored weapons. But you also have to move your troops in fast. It’s not bad. It just isn’t the best thing ever.

[@TheJewishAzovMember]

I think you mean the Gavin, not the m113

[@matthewjones39]

@@TheJewishAzovMemberwhat?

[@TheJewishAzovMember]

@matthewjones39 It's an extremely niche joke about the m113.

[@hagamapama]

It was really really good when it was new. Now it's like 70 years old it's impressive that it can still find a battlefield role for itself. It's not that the M113 is a wonderful machine. What's wonderful is that sooooooooo long after it first entered the battlefield, it's still making itself useful.

[@able34bravo37]

We had M113s with RPG cages and an extra 1/4 inch or so of steel on the sides (Ramadi, 2007). They were loud, but they were terrific for moving troops around, and made amazing CASEVAC vehicles. The mortar carriers in particular were great for CASEVAC because the compartments for round stowage were also perfect for medical supplies. We usually didn't bring them on raids, but that was primarily due to their size with the cages attached, but they made great OPs, gates for outposts, CASEVAC like I said, you could move half of the platoon with one (we were at 60% strength). They were great for what we used them for. We did have one roll over a mine, though, and that aluminum floor ripped open like a banana peel. Like it literally ripped open and bent upwards. It made hamburger out of the medic, and the driver was literally cut in half. The TC was found about 20 feet away. He'd been blown clear and knocked unconscious. Dude was confused AF but otherwise fine.

[@hagamapama]

Still doing CASEVAC in Ukraine to this day.

[@user-fk4rx1jd3r]

​@@hagamapamait is used in every role in Ukraine with varying success.... But they are mostly moving coffins

[@philfree286]

It’s a box, but a good box for it’s time Also, can you play the CV90105 ? It got buffed with a new turret in the previous update and it’s now 9.7

[@klaustan1817]

9.7*

[@philfree286]

Oh my bad thanks for the correction

[@klaustan1817]

@@philfree286 np

[@AHappyCub]

XC-8 is not the same as the TML

[@philfree286]

Never said it was the same tho

[@apPaulpie]

In the Philippines M113's is basically a main staple of the armored units, they even had a modified M113 that had a FV101 turret in it and also a 25mm weapon station kinda acts like an IFV.

Nice Video. Recently many of us saw a Video in which an M113 performed a med evav in Soledar or Bakmut. Thats exactly what the M113 is good for. Just beeing a mobile armoured box, full of ways to use it in different ways.

[@hagamapama]

Yep. She's still getting it done all these years later. Excellent bit of kit. I seem to recall video of some enterprising Ukrainians having turned an M113 into a field kitchen to deliver hot meals right at the front. Incredibly resourceful people.

[@amhedgehog]

these types of history videos that you make are amazing, i could watch these for hours please do more!!

[@homefront1999]

Can you see about doing some Helicopter stuff? I would love to see videos on something like the H-34, MI-4, Hind, or the Huey series. Would love to hear some facts about these things. Especially some of the older Heli's like the H-34, showing the original designs for them.

[@beanonfire5323]

Yes that would be awesome.

[@sampackman69]

I would love Spookston to play the Lynx I like the Huey because of the Vietnam memes, and I like the Apache and Mi-24 because they are beefy, but for some reason the Lynx for me is just brilliant

[@rileyfitzsimons8875]

Spook, please try out the British Striker! I think you will love how much the missles can turn

[@Xenophon1]

I was a Cav Scout in the 1980's. I trained on the M113, the M557 Command M113, and the M901 Improved TOW vehicle (M113 with TOW "hammerhead" turret). They were all fine APC type vehicles for the time.

[@frankfreeman1444]

Good sir: My name is Frank Freeman. At the end of 1967 or very beginning of 1968 (old fart disease, I really can't remember), I was an Air Force radio maintenance technician, Ssgt., assigned to the 601st Tactical Control Maintenance Squadron at Sembach, Germany. We were Depot level maintenance, which means we fixed the radios that the techs at the squadrons couldn't fix. The Air Force had recently introduced the MRC-107 jeep-mounted radio system for use by forward air controllers in support of the Army. That was one of the two systems I was personally responsible for. It had HF, VHF and UHF radios all mounted on a pallet where the back seat of the jeep was supposed to be. We had just figured out that in the field, the jeep could not always stay with the tracked vehicles, which limited it's effectiveness as air support provider. They decided to try to fit the radio system of the 107 to an APC, but the Army insisted that it had to be done with no changes to the M-113. Some way that would allow the radio pallet and antennas to be transferred quickly into the 113, and then back, if necessary. I drew the assignment to make that happen. They dropped a 113, I don't know which version, off at my Squadron, and I personally and single handedly figured out how to do it. I got it working and it was field tested and worked well. I removed the system and they took the APC back. Of course I drove it a couple of times, because I was strictly ordered not to! Anyway, I left the Air Force after Vietnam, so I never really heard what they did with the system. But I was watching TV news at the start of the drive in Desert Storm, and I actually saw a 113 with my antenna configuration, streaking across the desert, and felt really proud. Thank you for your time if you read this!

[@19chevelle72]

I had some odd duties on the M113 when I was in the Army. I think I was on the A2 version with the laterals first. It could not keep up with M1A2 SEP tanks and was used for the HQ company. Then we got the A3 version which was turbo charged and had a steering yoke, that thing was fucken fast. Also - M one one three, no thirteen.

[@teddy268]

2:17 This is really reminding me of the LVTP-5 the predecessor of the AAV, this is monstrous having gotten to stand in one, and the damn thing is still in service over seas last i checked. They even put like a damn 105 on the thing, and enough rounds to make me laugh when hearing it.

[@madcat0559]

The brakes on that thing make the driver pull more Gs than any fighter jet could ever

[@desertdawg1991]

I drove the M577 (M113 Command Vehicle) in Desert Storm. Very reliable, but forget about surviving anything bigger than a 7.62 mm round. Glad to see them replace them, although they were never meant for anything more than a troop taxi and where to be behind something bigger and deadlier.

[@Ontos_M50]

Spookton this is the only channel I will click a video this quickly they are just so entertaining

[@jonasprusek4511]

To this day, AF still flies B-52. There always be use case where you need to carry something heavy, somewhere far. M113 can carry quite a lot through much worsel terrain than wheeled vehicle...

[@hagamapama]

Heard stories in Ukraine of M113s being set up as mobile field kitchens to deliver hot meals to the trenches.

[@Sabre22]

I drove one for a couple of years in the 70's . During the Carter years we could not get spare parts. So outr top speed on tank trails at Fort Carson was less than 20 MPH. When our unit was shipped to Germany. in 1976 we got issued almost new ones top speed there was 40-=45MPH. One thing I did not understansd was why was the fuel bladder in the crew compartment. It was sure fun to drive though.

[@nooblangpoo]

I like the M113, it's a workhorse that can do troop logistics and support while still being immune to most light gunfire. Nowadays M113s are being upgraded to have more modern powerplants, transmissions, suspensions, armor, and armaments but it still is keeping it's role as a battlefield taxi, logisctics carrier and infantry support vehicle. In the Battle of Marawi, they used a local variant of the M113 (M113FSV-F101, yes it's a M113 with a FV101 Scorpion turret) and it was just right against rifle gunfire to push and do troop recoveries.

[@arthursola2514]

As far as I know the earliest example of an APC was the "VBCP" based on the lorraine 39l chassis in 1940 It was still in developpement during the battle of france Its goal was to carry a squad of infantry known as "dragons portés" (mounted dragoons) and follow light tanks and reconnaissance vehicules

[@lector-dogmatixsicarii1537]

British MkIX tank*

[@connorgodchaux8475]

i worked and operated the shit out of m113a3s while I was in the army and i absolutely love them. they are an incredibly capable transport and mechanics vehicle which i used mine as. the biggest issue they had was the motors which could easily be fixed with a modernization program

[@cowboyx9380]

I started in the old 113…stick+detroit deisel….then when we got the A3s….Weeeeeeee it was like joyriding a stolen car! 2 years later the CFV replaced them. They were a true workhorse.

[@derekburge5294]

I'm just thrilled you mentioned the air superiority variant. It's my favorite. Because it's so sensible.

[@gilibran]

It was a battlefield taxi designed for the cold war and most important factor, it was NBC proof, perhaps the most important factor for a cold war vehicle being able to carry troops and keep up but staying behind MBT's and only engage the leftover groundtroops after the MBT's passed through.

[@joelsexton4434]

I wish that the designers of Battletech had seen this back in the day before they designed hovercraft sized APCs that carry a platoon of troops. This isn't an issue of feasibility of tech, it's just goofy.

[@joelsexton4434]

Also Rhino shoutout

[@honzapivovar591]

M113 was a alumunium box But that box was the box what could be used more ways than any other tank and was good for its purpose Italy made (i think) its own version called vcc-1 and made a second version of a nightmare m901

[@jaakko222]

I think the MTLB playtform could also be considered as a box that could be used for more ways than any other tank…

[@713devereux]

The M-901 is the TOW missile carrier version of the M-113, like in the video. I was in a scout platoon back in the late 80's. We had three M-113 and three M-901 in our platoon. Personally I loved them.

[@jewelltuber]

APC or track but not a tank.....

[@honzapivovar591]

@@jewelltuber yes mr correct

[@mr.miyagi1099]

love the videos man, history lessons and war thunder game play. such a cool combination keep it up!!!!

[@koendekortdk2198]

The Dutch YPR is quite a funky variant too.

[@baconcandy000]

Hi, I am currently operating a MEDEVAC M113A3 and wanted to say that yes the vehicle isn't that bad on paper, however and this is a big however, This vehicle, its engine, and transmission gets hot very quickly and is prone to breaking down. I believe it's a mix of issues such as poor PMCS practices, the fact we only have like 2-3 91H left, and most importantly the age of the vehicle and its parts. I take very good care of the vehicle that I am assigned to and don't have that many issues, but whenever we go out on movements and stuff after 3 hours it is on the verge of catching fire and the amount of POL fluids it burns through is ridiculous. Another track that I was driving nearly killed me with an exhaust leak and after returning to the TCP it started leaking every fluid in the track plus the steering went out, that started after 48 hrs of use. I personally can't wait for the AMVP as although it's a new system to learn, these 113 are just unreliable at this point and if I have a patient in the back I will be at a loss on what to do beyond calling it up due to how we operate.

[@p99guy]

The main issue at this point is age and wear…. No matter how good something is when brand new, when its 35+ years old, run hard and stored outside every day of its existence, its going to give a trooper a totally different experience,and general opinion of the unit, than the first several crews that vehicle had over its life. Small arms are much the same… once you get issued a twice rebuild 30+ yr old gun with failing springs Of course your going to think its a lump of crap ( M9 is a good example, a Beretta M92 was/ a great gun if you purchased a new one, and took care of it, and didn’t use govt contract check mate magazines that had a rough interior that held onto talcum powder sand, and springs that were sub par) leading young soldiers to hate the M9…. While I carried them several years, 3 different ones… without a single malfunction and shot expert. The difference was I wasn’t saddled with worn out ones that was used by 150 people before me.

[@jewelltuber]

Clapped out isn't a fair comparison, I used them in the late 1970s and had none of that. There is a rebuild interval for all of that kit and I'm sure yours is well passed it.

[@maxgomez164]

3rd time asking finally got here in time to comment so you can see it. 1st thing though I love your stuff you are my favorite warthunder KZbinr and was wondering if you could play the is-6 it’s my favorite tank I know you like light tanks but it would mean a lot if you played it

[@bobisbell1837]

The rear ramp didn't require power to drop open. Just a lever to release the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder. The hammerhead tow launcher turret was a mechanics nightmare and was very delicate.

[@ret7army]

yeah dropping the ramp like that a few times and you'll get the "Free Fall" warning on it

[@welcome741]

Using these at Ft. Drum in the 80's (42 Mech Inf.) cold weather training - and it's very cold there. The heater had two settings, won't start and incinerate.

[@andrewstrongman305]

I served with an Australian APC regiment, and we had a lot of respect for our M113's. At the Battle of Long Tan, a troop of 10 M113's were sent to relieve 109 Australian soldiers pinned down by over a thousand VC and NVA fighters. They broke up an attempt to encircle the Australian troops, despite the enemy being equipped with RPG's. They then pushed through to where the initial action had taken place, ensuring the recovery of the fallen. In this battle, the M113 was used as an IFV, pushing through enemy regiments unsupported by infantry. None were lost.

[@badrmoroccogothacked9017]

day of 18 of asking spookston to play the T-44-100

[@Dhannibal01]

At 19, after my AIT at Ft Knox, Ky in Dec '71 in M-60s I was diverted from my first PCS to APC drivers school for two weeks in Jan '72, I thought my young world had ended, boy was I surprised when I first got behind the laterals of a 113-A1! I fell in love with it, it was so much fun to drive! Unfortunately?? after my drivers school never got to use or ride in one again, when I PCSd to West Germany I was back in M-60s again for the rest of my tour. Did have an interesting side not during my drivers school, I was at the top of a slope when I lost completete directional control, laterals failed and we just rolled down the hill until we lost momentum, they opened the engine compartment and determined that someone had failed to use lacing wire on the connections to drive box and the U-joints came unbolted and flailed around and cracked the case housing.

[@MrAcuta73]

One major weakness of the M113 chassis was the torsion bar suspension. Didn't like sub-zero temps. When I was stationed in Korea, could sit in the guard shack at the motor pool and listen to a few of them explode every night. And that was just sitting there, not moving. It was a good platform because it was relatively cheap, did the job well enough, and was absurdly versatile. I had an M577 not long before I got out as our TacOps vehicle.

[@dankuser8303]

its better as a flying APC, the aerogavin

[@jbeverley67]

Noncredibledefence is leaking

[@alangordon3283]

It isn’t bad .

[@MacMcNurgle]

Was a trooper in the mid 80's. B Squadron. First year driving for a Lance Corporal. Named my 113 'Beast' and stencilled it in black on the side. Tore that sucker a-part. Even today I can tell you the ground pressure, ground clearance and max slope angle. Next year I drove for the Serge. I knew how to do daily AND weekly maintenance when in the bush; as well brew good coffee. That 113 was 'Behemoth' and I stripped her down to the rubber seal on the inspection plate on the bottom of the hull. Good thing too, as I was first to drive off the Tobruk while 200m off the beach. Serge made sure my boots were not laced up. Just in case. We didn't sink. But when we tested the bus prior to the real thing, we were in a man-made concrete culvert that was on base. Full of stinky water. Serge and I drove into this test ditch and the next thing I see Serge walking next to me. Big grin on his face. You know that grin. It means someone's having fun. Probably not you. He had abandoned the sinking, stinking ship. So much for being a 'float' test. He smiles some more and says - you better speed it up before she gets too heavy. The seals were bad and I could only drive up the ramp out of the float test bay by lowering the ramp and letting the water out. I checked every vehicle in the Squadron after that. Replaced every seal. Float tested every machine. Last year in I had developed good radio skills and most importantly, knew the secret of making an excellent jaffle; so I drove the Captain on the Cooktown to Cohen jaunt that year. Yanks and SAS were Blue Force. On the third radio I heard someone describe the show as a 'cluster f$%k' and I laughed hard. The RSM was not so happy. After a while we were getting close to Cohen and there was a long straight track with a cross roads about half a click off. Cap said - Driver, cross that dirt road. I said - are you sure, Blue Force are ... Yes, was the smiling reply. About thirty seconds later a referee jogs over to tell us that an RPG just wiped us out. Cap says - oh well then, 24 hours till we are back as reserves. Lets drive back to RHQ. Nice. We got a rest and the LT got to run the show for a while. Get some experience leading for a bit. Cap, he was a good man. Not happy about the stock market crash that hit while he was in the bush. Little servo on the track North to Nowheresville knew we were coming. Had t-shirts printed, cold drinks, porno mags and a metric ton of coins for the pay phone. Ha! That dates it. Cap saw the three day old paper and immediately got $20 in coins for the phone. He called his broker in Sydney and tried to sell everything but it was too late. In a funk after that, Cap tried to order in some ice cream through stores. And an actual bathtub. Not a canvas one. A real one. Everything the army has, has a number. That number is is in a book. He had a book. The Quarter Master was not well pleased. Funny. But the next lot of ration boxes delivered were older than me. Hmmm. There's rank, there's position and then there's power. Lesson learnt. Wasn't allowed to name the old girl as we were 'in polite company' on that run. But I called her 'Brutal'. It was the best job I ever had and the worst job I ever had.

[@dylanlin9079]

My dad used to be a mechanized infantry. He said that during an exercise, everyone would sleep in the vehicle while normal infantry had to walk on foot

[@commanderkei9537]

"It wasnt produced very much at all" "About 6,000 were made" It is mind boggling just how gigantic the military industrial complex is that 6,000 is considered a small amount of a probably pretty expensive vehicle.

[@honkhonk8009]

Compare that with other industry grade equipment and itl put into perspective just how small that number really is. Like compare it with tractors, construction equipment, trains, and all sorts of shit. The "military industrial complex" should be renamed to "government contractual complex". Because in reality, the same companies that participate in military type shit, are the same companies that participate in other contracts aswell. Its just regular corporations doing corporation type shit. Mitsubishi wouldnt come across as a your average defence contractor, but they are since their an engineering firm. Same story with chrysler and boeing. Same story with even SpaceX

[@commanderkei9537]

@@honkhonk8009 yeah but think of the huge demand for tractors, or really any other industrial machine. Now think of the demand for APCs. Is 6,000 really a low number? Let’s say you want to equip a mechanized division of the US army. Would it need over 600 APCs? And let’s say you keep 400 as spares and training vehicles per division. Thats six whole mechanized divisions. That seems like a pretty sizable amount. Compare that to some other WW2 vehicles, where sometimes the number was in the hundreds or even the dozens

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

Over 150 000 cars are produced *every day*. 6000 is small by industrial production standards, bit just military.

[@drmaulana2600]

no, its a small number even in civilian world, toyota probably produced 6k of trucks every year.

[@commanderkei9537]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 150,000 cars everyday for the 6.7 billion adults in the world. Again, I’m not saying it’s a technical feat to make 6,000 APCs, I’m saying that’s a pretty large number for something that has a relatively niche application. It’s not a jeep. It’s not a truck. It’s a purpose built APC.

[@hydroxideblue9367]

SuperGavin will return in Avengers: Endgame

[@jeffstone7912]

I used the M113A3 when I served in the military. It is not a tank. It is a personal carrier. I was a Medic. It is a good ambulance. It’s off road ability is extremely good. It can drive reasonably fast on roads. About 30-35 mph with no stress. It can go faster if you push it 40 mph. When used properly it’s a great vehicle. It give some projection from small arms fire. It can swim. When used as a personnel carrier it can carry quite a few troops. If you look at the Russian counterparts they are more cramped and because the doors are smaller are obviously more difficult to dismount troops. Especially American troops are taller than most people around the world. The large door in the back makes the vehicle easy to enter and exit. Also very easy to load cargo when this vehicle is used to haul supplies. There is a version that is a mortar vehicle. There also was a version that carried a Vulcan anti-aircraft Gatling gun. The m577 was the command vehicle or communication vehicle. Only a bunch of kids that play video games have a negative views of what this is. The M113 gives a lot better protection for troops being transported then a 2 1/2 ton truck.

[@SuperMadman41]

I miss these types of vids. I would like to see more these. Thanks for the vid

[@luskvideoproductions869]

My HS friend that served 2 tours in Afghanistan and 1 tour in Iraq said they were STILL using upgraded M113s...but mainly as armored ambulances, they would literally be the main means of evacuating injuryed military personnel give the high number of IEDs being used. Their relatively large interiors made them pretty well suited for that purpose, and were armored "enough" to protect the injured and the crew.

[@EviljapYaY]

Its actually quite amazing how the battle box and TOW launcher are both from 60s and still widely used, though obviously they have been updated over time

[@shadowraven3253]

*looks at M2 50. cal* timeless classics

[@emg910728]

I was TC of a 577 variant of the 113 at Graf in Winter of 2003 when I yelled at my driver to slow down. He was standing on the brake, but we were, in fact, a tracked sled. My unit also had 120mm mortars mounted on 113s

[@giuseppe4909]

I was a track (M113) commander in the 1980’s in Germany. I named mine “Sagger Bait” 👍 It was a good taxi for us crunchies, was pretty reliable and I loved rockin’ my Ma Deuce.

[@hagamapama]

Can you get more Murica than tooling around the battlefield in a Gavin drinking a Coke and blasting with Mama Deuce?

[@corindolan1025]

Funni flying bus

[@lord_o_muppet]

Ngl I think it could be used as APC or a tow launch but that's about it anything more is like......pain, as for topic I'd like a video on the avenger please spookston if you could

[@vaclavjebavy5118]

anything more, including every single role (even IFV if you include some foreign upgrades) which a light armored vehicle can perform, most of which it has performed with good result.

[@michaelhowell2326]

This was a damn good video. I would enjoy more of these.

[@512TheWolf512]

The fact that Ukraine doesn't ask to stop sending them and start sending something better instead, tells you the truth about quality already

[@maksuthesunpraiser4821]

Lol, no

[@davidty2006]

Though quite a few have been destroyed already they keep asking for more. Also they operate the MT-LB as well and have made serveral modifications them from heli rocket pods to anti tank cannons for indirect fire role.

[@jewelltuber]

@@maksuthesunpraiser4821 Lol, beats walking.........

[@nicgur_6981]

@@davidty2006 Fun fact: BMPs even now lack a hydraulic door mechanism. If you park one on a slope, it is nearly impossible to close the door from the inside.

[@Chopstorm.]

Before watching: it's not.

[@therover65]

My late older brother was a TC of an M113 as a conscript in Singapore in the late 70s. The most basic version with just a Browning HMG no cupola. But from accounts of both Israeli and Filipino troops, they would rather ride atop exposed to gunfire than to ride inside. Because in Lebanon and in the jungles of the Philippines, it is easy to get ambushed at close range with RPG and that would be pretty fatal for those riding inside.

[@sethl6626]

Bradley crewman here, we still tote 113s around for the time being (until they’re replaced by the AMPV), and they do their jobs well. Plus they can usually keep up with our Bradleys unless we’re driving flat-out. WT doesn’t represent the 113 as well as it could.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

Very interesting hearing comments from a Bradley crewman about the M - 113 , they are so different but do almost the same job . I worked at FMC in San Jose and drove a M - 113 in the Army during the mid - 70's . Even back then there was talk about the " new " APC , but it didn't show up until 1983 . A case could be made for calling the Bradley the Army's favorite vehicle. 40 years and still going strong . When I got to the factory , vehicle # 14 was on the assembly line . Only 5,986 more to go .

[@d.b.5070]

It pains me to hear “m one thirteen” instead of “one one three”

[@hibuddy1473]

the waffle house has found its new host.

[@ret7army]

there's a small museum an hour or 2 from where I live that has a number of working vehicles, mostly trucks and jeeps but a few M113 variants and others. One of the M113 variants was an experimental for using the Hellfire missile instead of the TOW. Not adopted into service, not sure but I think it was because the Hellfire was too large to load easily vs the TOW

[@runfoo2795]

My M113 had a gun shield mounted to the TC pintle. The previous command driver ordered the kit for the vehicle the one I drove replaced. I had no idea these parts had been ordered. He ordered the kit complete, which included pieces for the sides for complete protection, but we just mounted the shield. For a wile the track was the only track in the battalion with a shield,soon all the company commanders up had them.

[@mikilogaming1924]

The Waffle House Has found its new host

[@jamesozechoski8254]

Worked on the M113 while stationed in Germany with the 1st AD. Very quick.agile.very dependable.multi use.tow.mortor.command track. Still in use today with various upgrades.

[@samlewis4670]

I was assigned to drive one in ’74. Great vehicle for its time. Fast, easily maintained, cheap. If used per the doctrine of the time (battle taxi), then it was unparalleled.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

Couldn't have said it better .I learned a lot about sockets and wrenches by my time as a M - 113 driver at Ft. Hood , Texas and in Germany .

[@seanmurphy7011]

I was an M981 crewman for years. Neither the M901 nor M981 (basically the same vehicle) could drive with the TOW launcher/Targeting Head elevated. Any vehicle commander who did so would be relived. It could (easily) break the elevation/traverse mechanism aka 'arm'.

[@jakaphobia]

I’m enjoying the humor you’re injecting into these videos. The line about the Hawaiian roll made me chuckle

[@jacobbaumgardner3406]

An M48 tanker once told me he watched more than one of those go up like a tinderbox when they got hit by RPG’s in Vietnam.

[@Marc-vc1wo]

I was an officer in the U.S. Army from 88-98; my first unit, the 2-36 IN, (an Infantry Bn north of Frankfurt, Germany), transitioned from the M113A3 to the BFV. I've never heard the M113 called the "M one thirteen"; we always called it the "M-one-one-three".

[@chromemustang]

i love the m113 and all her variations so this was a awesome video

[@EricDaMAJ]

I drove on in the Cold War. I loved it. It was rugged and dependable and reasonably easy to maintain. Yes, it’s long in the tooth now and I can see why people would be haters. But as long as it’s used as a “battle taxi” to bring grunts no farther than 6k behind the FLOT it’s still perfectly fine. The aluminum armor will easily shrug off random small arms and shrapnel. Maybe you can even do a little light fire support with the .50 cal in open terrain if you know the enemy hasn’t anything heavy to throw at it. But if you try to ride one into battle besides or right behind the tanks it’s a death trap. And always has been.

[@maddogmaz1576]

I was a 113 driver in Germany in the 1989, I liked it, somewhat short and I could go anywhere with it. When we got the Bradley it just didn't feel right. It could only hold a fire team and it was tall. Always had to keep the gun forward when in the woods or you would hit a tree. It did shine when we went to Desert Storm

[@glennsherwood8944]

A mate who was in Nam said the reason they all sat on the roof was that if they hit a mine the floor would hit the roof so no one would sit inside

[@c.seanreilly5145]

I was a Professional Solder E-6 to 0-3 14 years AD. from 1972-1988. In 1973 korea I was in the 1/17th (M) Infantry .Rode around in them all year finally rolling over a 125 ft cliff that killed one injured seven including me the medic. Later I was in the 1/7th Cav Finally As a ATV Platoon Leader..The Track is useful to this day as you know all around the World.

[@MrWooaa]

I love your military history videos.

[@donlowry6469]

My unit had 113s, 106s, and a 577. They gave lite arms protection and were fairly reliable, I worked on all of them. They had some weak points, like the track tensioner, which you use a grease gun to tighten the track. Even the smallest round could cause you to lose a track. Was rear-ended by an AVLB in a 113, and it put a 1 1/2 inch hole in the back you could see thru.

[@knightflyer909]

Great video and I agree with your analysis. I served in the XM-163 air defense variant. It had a 20mm gatling gun that fired 3000 rounds per minute. It wasn't great as an air defense system -- it could be devastating against helicopters but more or less usless against jets. It was outstanding against ground targets. I swam it and I could take it places our duce-and-halfs could not follow. I felt it was a great vehicle.

[@Mitch18121]

If you're friends with 1SG's driver and you are in HQ platoon, he might let you sleep in his 113. Actually fits 2 cots but it's a tight fit. Great in the winter since it has a heater.

[@redspec01]

A dear friend of mine was in a mortar carrier version of this, and he has said many of the same things mentioned here, including using a lawn chair on top for traveling as it was safer and more comfortable. Mines were his biggest threat, you were more likely to run over a mine on the road, or get hit on the underside by an rpg while driving over a burm than anything else.