'Not for Wimps': Ukrainian Legion Soldier about M113

M113 Workhorse in Ukraine, in this video I talk what a German combat engineer thinks about the M113 and then I talk with a former Leopard 2A6 gunner about it as well, particularly we look how it compares to MRAP and other vehicles.

MT-LB at Technical Museum in Tolyatti 2020, Photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin, permission granted.

Disclaimer in 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2023 I was invited by the Panzermuseum Munster.

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00:00 Intro
00:24 Combat Engineer's Opinion on M113
02:11 T-Shirts & Books
02:37 Museum Introduction MHV
04:05 Leopard 2 Gunner's Opinion

#M113 #Workhorse #WorkhorseUkraine

[SeanMurphy-du]

I've served on various versions to include the M113A3, M577, and M981. Make no mistake: the M113 was designed to get you to your attack position/dismount point then you would fight as infantry as if you had gotten off a truck, helicopter or parachuted in well before making contact with the enemy.

[thekenneth]

I have ridden in an M113. It was far and away the most uncomfortable vehicle experience I have ever had. The seats are unyielding canvas, every bump or stone bangs you in the arsch, and unless you're the driver or the commander, you can see nothing, it's almost pitch black. Hideously memorable, and I was only in it for about 15 minutes.

[anghusmorgenholz]

I honestly liked my 113 ambulance. It did it's job and did it well. Once you lose the governor you can reach 45 to 50 mph. The periscope work. The engine is big robust and easy to work on. Mine was only 2 years older than I was in the eighties.

[MichaelRoss-bh]

From my time driving and commanding 113's in Australia, we used to tell the Grunts, "A second class ride beats a first class walk!"

[justnotgd]

We had M113 in Germany, 1977-1981. We also had the command version, M577 Command Post Carrier higher, can stand inside, with generator mounted just behind and above the driver. The M113 had a wood front flap that folded out to help keep the water from splashing up into the hatch when crossing a river. I crossed water in one, very scary, the water level was only two inches below the top of the APC. Fun vehicle to drive.

[drwaffle]

My uncle served in these during the Vietnam war, for the longest time he thought the hulls of them were made of steel. I had to inform him that he was only protected by aluminum all that time.

[reddevilparatrooper]

The M113 is basically a "Battle Taxi" to carry infantry to combat. 100 to 200 meters in some sort of cover before dismounting the infantry, the .50 Cal machinegun is for suppression and support. Once infantry has been dismounted the carriers then leave to a support by fire position. That's the way we had trained with the M113.

[mensch]

At 1:52 I'm pretty sure that MHV (and by extension the German combat engineer serving in Ukraine) are talking about "riding on the roof" and not 'driving on the roof' as the narration says. The popular conception of M113s in Vietnam was that soldiers would ride on the roof because their main worry was mines, and not a peer or near-peer competitor with a full suite of artillery, aircraft, missiles and drones to cause pain from overhead.

[MrCharon]

113 is a fantastic vehicle if you use it correctly. Versatile, adequate protection for its initial role, adequate armament for that role, loved the A2. Fun to drive.

[TheGreatWhiteScout]

I actually have an affection for the vehicle as I had three in my Scout platoon.

As a scout vehicle, it was actuall superior to even the bradley. Much more manueverable, better cross country mobility, quick as a hiccup.

Less firepower perhaps, but the scout who engages anything with a weapon OTHER than a radio has already screwed up royally.

The meatball (MTLB)? Nowhere close. Rode in several as OPFOR at the NTC at Fort Irwin. Wouldnt do it again on a bet.

Give me the M113 anytime.

[rodroper]

1970s ex australian armoured corps here (Cav recon) the M one one three armour was 5083 aluminium alloy it was never meant to be more than small arms resistant . having driven most australian variants including time as gunner on FSV and radio operator on ACV it was never meant as a IFV it was always meant as a battle taxi. we called it a butter box. discomfort had a lot to do with the skill of the driver any assault troopers let you know quickly if you were not up to standard. most driving was done heads up and many drivers had scar under chin from hatch ring. all in all a good vehicle length of service tells you that.

[nco_gets_it]

For a vehicle conceived in the 1950s, to be relevant in 2023 is pretty amazing. Of course, in the US we do not consider this vehicle an APC or IFV. It is great for moving things around the battle space behind the lines, carrying mortars, or for engineers and other supporters who are not actually fighting at the front. In my units, we had one in a company which the XO used for things like moving between the ALOC, UMCP, etc, and for taking things up to the IFVs. I spent a year as his driver and the 113 could go places no wheeled vehicle could.

[kratzikatz]

I was a driver of a M113 in 1991. One without hydraulic stearing. It was a very fine car. Only a better hardhat, but very good to drive. Miss it.😊

[MikaelKKarlsson]

You wouldn't want to drive up to the frontline in this, but sometimes the frontline drives up to you.

[playboyr]

I had an M125A1 mortar carrier in Berlin Germany in the late 80's just before the wall came down. Funny thing is that it had 3 repaired bullet holes in the driver's front corner made by what looked to be made by a 12.7mm. that old girl had been brought back from Vietnam, repaired, and then shipped to Germany. I still hold great affection for my "wounded guppy".

[JimmySailor]

The M113 is a classic, but there are good reasons the Army replaced it. For a 12 ton vehicle it does the best it can. It’s too bad there isn’t time to up-armor all of the vehicles. The Australians had an excellent armor package that gave decent mine protection.

[j.b.macadam]

I served 6 years driving, servicing and living in the M113. After nearly 60 years of service, this is probably one of the best combat vehicles ever devised for the U.S. Military!

[michaelfrank]

Found it unsettling. We always called it the M-One-One-Three. I spent most of my infantry career around them. I was pissing off the top one time during a tactical halt when the driver suddenly took off again. I let myself fall into the "sun roof" and everybody caught me. I could drive the A2 version one handed and held my morning coffee in the other and usually had a cigarette. I have many stories that won't ever be a movie. :))

[yoda]

As a former Cavalryman, I love the M113. It is the "VW Beetle" of APC's. It is reliable, easy to work on and rugged. As with the "Kaefer" or "Bug" it can only do, what it can do. It is a "battle taxi" not an IFV. It floats in water (barely), is relatively fast and excels as a command-and-control vehicle due to its fantastic mobility. Did I mention it sleeps four comfortably in winter and eight in good weather. Like the VW Beetle it is a product of its time and this needs to be considered in its tactical deployment.

Again nice Video. I like that the MT-LB and M113 bring cheap protected mobility to the battle area. Something that apparently is going to be needed much more in the future