Does anyone know the dimensions of the sliding panels that are fitted to the interior of the A3 version :


OK, I know I could have guestimated this, but I know that there are some M113 experts around here.... ( Rob )

TIA
Frenchy

I do not know the dimensions of the panels, but I could measure them with little difficulty. I am not an expert and any measurement I give you will be disputed by the true experts.

No problemo Rob. I will take every info you could give me for granted (as usual...) And I will probably never have any opportunity to check myself (modern US vehicles are not thick on the ground in my neighbourood )

PS Are these panels systematically fitted or are they sometimes removed by crews ?

TIA
Frenchy

I took the measurements, but my digital camera batteries discharged and I was not able to take photos. I may take some tomorrow, weather permitting.

There are four panels per side, eight total. All panels are 2cm thick and 61cm tall. Five of the panels are identical, three of these panels are on the left side and the other two are on the right side. The panels overlap by varying amounts.

Starting with the left side panels, the first three are 75cm wide. The last panel (rear most) is 62cm wide at the top and 49cm wide at the bottom with a cut out along the back edge.

The forward most right side panel is 73cm wide at the top and 68 cm wide at the bottom. It has a pair of cut outs along the forward edge. The next two panels are identical and are 75cm wide. They are the exact same ones as the left side forward three panels.

The right side rear most panel is exactly the same as the left rear panel. Same part number and fittings.

I have never crewed an M113A3 so I do not know if the panels were ever removed by the crews. The mounting rails are bolted on with some heavy duty hardware and removal looks to be quite a chore. I will let you draw your own conclusion since no matter what I state, some sharpshooter will go out of his way to prove me wrong.

I have three M113A3s and they all have the same spall panels. I am not an M113A3 expert nor do I pretend to be so this all I care to know about this subject.

The Maintance M113A3 in the unit I was in had the Spall liners removed and the Medic M113A3's had them removed also so they could fit the litters in them.

Rob, I don't know what your idea of expertise is but your answer does exactly correspond to my own conception of this word ("sharpshooters" can go to the devil !). I already have downloaded several M113-related TMs but nothing can replace exchanges between people like those on this forum.... So,
Thanks a lot !
Scott, thanks for your answer as well !

Frenchy

Got some photos posted for you Frenchy: Spall Panels. I took shots of the canted panels and the left side of the vehicle while the panels are fully stowed. Didn't do the right side because, well frankly because I didn't feel like it.

WOW ! I really appreciate this, Rob ! No more excuse left for me now to move the building of my OIF engineer A3 back once more... ( I'll manage all right with the right panels )

Thanks again for your help !

Frenchy