Portugal approves delivery to Ukraine of 15 M113 APCs and 5 M114 155mm howitzers.

According to information published by the "SOL" Portuguese newspaper website on May 7, 2022, the government of Portugal has approved the sending of combat vehicles and weapons to Ukraine including 15 M113 tracked armored APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), as well as five M114 155mm, towed howitzers.
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A Portuguese Mechanized Infantry M113 waits in position at Tancos, Portugal on October 29, 2015, during Trident Juncture 15. (Picture source Wikimedia)

During a call conference that was held on April 21, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested the Government of Portugal to provide more aid to Ukraine including weapons and military equipment.

On May 3, 2021, Army Recognition reported that The U.S. Department of Defense is urging the Portuguese government to send to Ukraine a batch of its M113 APCs to Ukraine.

According to the Military Balance 2021, the armed forces of Portugal have a total of 237 tracked APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) vehicles including 176 M113A1, 14 M113A2 and 49 M577A2, a command post vehicle based on the M113 tracked chassis. In terms of artillery weapons Army of Portugal has a total of 62 towed howitzers including 17 105mm L119 Light Gun, 21 105mm M101A1, and 24 155mm M114A1.

Citing information from the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), in 1993 Portugal acquired 114 second-hand M113A2 tracked armored APCs from the Netherlands as well as 28 YP-408 8x8 armored personnel carrier vehicles. At the same time, Germany has delivered 50 M113A1 to Portugal.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Portugal has delivered military equipment consisting of combat vests, helmets, night vision goggles, grenades, and ammunition of different calibers, complete portable radios, analog repeaters, and G3 assault rifles.

The M113 is a tracked Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) that was developed and produced by the American company FMC Corporation that entered into service with the U.S. Army in 1960. The M113 has undergone many modernizations and is still in service in many countries around the world. In APC configuration, the M113 has a crew of three including a driver, commander, and can accommodate up to 11 infantrymen.

The M113A1 is an improved version of the M113 fitted with a new 6V-53 Detroit Diesel engine, to take advantage of the better fuel economy and the reduced fire hazard of the diesel engine. The M113A2 was launched in 1979 and features new cooling system for the engine and the use of higher-strength torsion bars to increase ground clearance, and shock absorbers to reduce the effects of ground strikes.

M114 155mm towed howitzer (Picture source Wikimedia)

The M114 is a 155 mm towed howitzer developed and used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It can fire all the NATO 155 mm/39 caliber STANAG ammunition. It has a maximum firing range of 32,900 m using ERFB-BB projectiles.