Ukraine receives M113 APCs to aid battlefield evacuations
Ukraine has received M113 armored personnel carriers (Photo: mil.gov.ua)
The defense forces have received M113 armored personnel carriers equipped for evacuating the wounded from the battlefield. The transfer of these vehicles to Ukraine was previously announced by the Spanish government, according to the Ministry of Defense.
"Dozens of these evacuation armored vehicles have already arrived in Ukraine. Several hundred more are expected in the near future. Grateful to our partners for their support in the war," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
He noted that tracked vehicles have significantly higher cross-country ability, so they are more effective in evacuating the wounded in off-road conditions.
"We are already transferring the armored vehicles for evacuating the wounded to combat units. This work is coordinated by my deputy Natalia Kalmykova. Grateful to our partners for their support in the war," the minister stated.
Ukraine has received M113 armored personnel carriers (Photo: mil.gov.ua)
Ukraine has received M113 armored personnel carriers (Photo: mil.gov.ua)
Ukraine has received M113 armored personnel carriers (Photo: mil.gov.ua)
What is known about the M113
The M113 is a versatile armored personnel carrier that was in serial production from 1960 to 2007. It remained the main armored personnel carrier of the United States for a long time and was also supplied in significant quantities to other countries.
The total number of M113 armored personnel carriers produced, including vehicles based on it, exceeds 88 thousand units. As of 2022, they are used in more than 44 countries worldwide, including the United States.
The armored personnel carrier is designed to transport 13 people, and its armor can withstand hits from mine fragments and bullets up to 14.5 mm caliber.
Supply of M113 armored vehicles to Ukraine
Universal armored personnel carriers have been actively used by the Ukrainian armed forces since the start of full-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine. Several countries have reported their transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For example, on June 20, 2023, Portugal announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine, including howitzers and M113 armored personnel carriers.
It was also recently reported that a Belgian company supplied ten modernized M113 armored vehicles to Ukraine. In June, Lithuania announced the transfer of ten M113 armored personnel carriers and ammunition to Ukraine.
