M113 Armored Personnel Carriers donated by Australia are on the way to Ukraine.

According to pictures released by the Australian Ministry of Defense, the first Australian Army M113 tracked armored vehicles donated to Ukraine are on their way for delivery. On June 9, 2022, the M113AS4 APCs (Armored Personnel Carrier) from the Australian army were loaded onto an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.
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Australian M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carriers bound for Ukraine, wait to be loaded onto an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Australia. (Picture source Australia DoD)

At the request of the Government of Ukraine, Australia has agreed to provide the further defensive capability to protect Ukrainian soldiers and support Ukraine’s response to Russia’s invasion.

At the request of the Government of Ukraine, is gifting 14 M113AS4 Armored Personnel Carriers and 20 more Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. Coming from current ADF stocks, the M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier is a longstanding in-service ADF armored fighting vehicle, and along with the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, provides Ukrainian forces with a proven and effective capability to transport infantry soldiers on the battlefield.

The gifted vehicles also join 60 pallets of medical supplies donated by Australian citizens and radiation monitoring equipment and personal protective equipment and personal protective equipment. Australia’s current support to the Government of Ukraine has included the gifting of six M777 155mm lightweight towed howitzers plus ammunition, 20 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, including 14 Protected Weapons Systems; anti-armor weapons and ammunition, body armor and cold weather clothing, combat rations, medical supplies and financial contributions to NATO’s trust fund for Ukraine.

The M113AS4 is an Australian-made upgrade of the old M113AS1 and M113AS3 which are based on the American M113A1 tracked armored personnel carrier (APC), one of the most popular light tracked APCs in the world. The standard APC version of M113AS4 is fitted with a one-man turret from Tenix Defence Systems armed with FN HERSTAL 12.7 mm M2 machine gun.

The hull of the M113AS4 is all-welded aluminum armor that provides protection against the firing of small arms and shell splinters. The vehicle has a crew of two including a driver and commander and the rear part of the can accommodate up to 10 infantrymen.

The M113AS4 can run at a maximum road speed of 65 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.