Hello
Can somebody help me and write some informations about this M113 from OIF?
Is it M113a2 or a3?
What kind of add-on armor is on this M113?
Thank You
Chris

It looks to be an M113A3 since it has the additional armor plate under the front light clusters. Can't see the back to see if it has the external fuel tanks though. Most active units have all A3s by now as well. The armor is ERA block similar to what is on the Bradleys. Can't really tell any more from the pic. The markings are covered w/mud and the rest of the bucket can't be seen.

It is an M113A3, you can tell by the armor plating that is affixed along the top edge of the front of the hull, where the headlight assemblies are mounted as well as above the engine access hatch. An M113A2 does not have this feature.
An M113A3 headlight showing the additional armor plating:


And the armor plate above the engine hatch:


And a photograph of the same area on an M113A2. Note that the headlight assemblies are mounted directly to the hull and not mounted on an armor plate (photo from Prime Portal):



The side armor looks nothing like the ERA used on a Bradley. It almost looks like armor plates with spaces between it and the hull.

Looks like it could it be the armor kit shown on this TM-9-2350-277-20-5 drawing (minus the 2 front parts) ...


Frenchy

That looks like it. What type does it list it as, i.e.; ERA, spaced armor, etc.?

Hi Gino
I've done some search on tpub.com for more info about this and here's what I've found :
there are 2 kits listed : armor kit 57K0567 (spaced armor) and armor kit 57K0429 (solid armor) they are removed and installed the same way, except locknuts are not used on the solid armor. Screws securing parts to solid armor are threaded directly into the armor plates.

According to the drawing caption, here's the 57K0429 kit :



..and the drawing for 57K0467 kit is exactly the same. The main difference I see is the different part numbers in the listings.....

Frenchy

Whatever you do, do not call it a Gavin....he gets rather upset about it.

Thansks for the info Frenchy. Does anyone know if this armor is being fielded to all of the 113's or was it a one-off test? By the looks of the picture, it was shot a few years ago.