Brief History of the M113 APC 

Having served in both the gasser and the M113A1 diesel, we appreciated the A1 version as the fuel was much less likely to catch fire if/when the armor was penetrated.

I think the poor armor protection isn’t a big consideration at the time, what they want is a troop transport that can keep up with tanks and to go where halftracks and trucks aren’t able to. When neither the truck nor the halftrack had good protection against RPG you can see why the requirements for protection is so low. It wasn’t meant to fight in the frontline either like an IFV, they’d drop troops before an engagement and provide light fire support from the .50 cals for the infantry which would advance forwards with legs with the tanks during combat, then mounts up and move after the fight is concluded. Everything about it made sense from a theoretical perspective but theory often doesn’t translate well into practice because commanders tend to have a habit of not using them the way they are intended to.

..this was MY track in Gernany 50 years ago..but in the M577 guise..I was the battalion S2 clerk..can't understand why this ubiquitous track never got a cool nickname

The M113 was a victim of flawed tactical use. Should be a tracked utility vehicle (imagine WW2 Jeep only tracked and enclosed) instead of APC.

They are completely lacking decent armor protection. Even if light turret is mounted for the gunner that somehow stops .50 cal , it is more than likely that it would be done for with an RPG. Extra sheets of metal, armor packs, wood and sand bags have been used to bolster the armor. Which all makes it better than an uparmored HUMVEE but that would be it.

11 passengers is a stretch if you have gear . Maybe Velcro a few to the outside . I would say more like 8 and a 2 man crew . And that is still tight with full rucksack

Original concept was enough armor to protect against shrapnel. It was never meant to stop bullets.

tx100 only has 3 forward gears not 4. it has 4 gear range selections being 1, 1-2, 1-3 and 2-3

Jones Joseph Brown Amy White Thomas

yes, and now it died in Ukraine

The Ukrainian coffee