Captain, Papa Tango reports “yellow” in the north sector...
The M113 A1 ACAV.
American troop transport vehicle with high mobility (70 km/h) and powerful firepower. Delivered to the South Vietnamese army in April 1963. Well suited for escort duties.
Rectangular aluminum body (amphibious), weighing 11 tons and equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun (tank commander) and two 7.62 mm M60 machine guns on the sides. Its weakness lay in its poor protection against rocket fire and heavy weapons, particularly mines. This led to the floor being reinforced with sandbags and other materials. The 12-man crew remained mainly on the roof. In some cases, even the driver managed to drive using rods above his hatch!
The ACAV's special feature is its reinforced protection for the tank commander and shields for all machine guns, and often an armor plate on the front glacis.
In 1965, the A1 landed with American forces in Vietnam.
Designed in 1954, its mass production began in 1960. The A1—with a diesel engine—was introduced in 1964. More than 150 derivatives were built. Today, the M113 is still in service around the world.
