History of the M113 in IDF service

The first M113s in the IDF were likely some that may have been captured from the Jordanians in the 1967 Six Day War. With the French stopping sales to Israel following the war, the US became Israel's main arms partner. While the M3/5 series halftrack was still mechanically reliable, it's lack of overhead protection and light armour required teh IDF to look at a more modern alternative. The M113 fit the bill, It was light, had reasonable armour against small arms and shrapnal and most of all easily adaptable for a number of roles.

Even with the best intentions the money still needs to be there. The IDF was, however, also embarked on major upgrades program for its MBT fleet following the 1967 war. It also was fighting an "undeclared" War of attrition until 1970 with both Egypt and Syria. By the Yom Kippur war of 1973 M113s were bought as were some M577 command variants,although these were used primarily by the Artillery corps. These vehicles were used pretty much stock with the Addition of side racks and rods for storage plus 2 .30 cals added for crew weapons on pintle mounts at the rear crew hatch.

Following the Yom Kippur war more M113s were ordered as well as specialty variants. some of the included variants were the TOW version, HAWK missle launcher, M548 cargo, M579 w/crane as well as mortar variants and the Chapparal AA missle system. by the early 80s The IDF employed close to 4000 M113s second only to the US in numbers. HAlftracks are still being used by some units but their days are definitely numbered.

By the Mid 80s the IDF is receiving the M113a2 as well.By the mid 1980s as well the IDF is looking for ways to give the M113 better protection from small arms and the ever present RPG. The result is the Toga armour array which is an array of armour placed away from the vehicle on brackets. While not perfect this "spaced" armour does help and extends the life of the vehicle into the twenty first century.

Between the fighting in Lebanon and the terrorist uprisings in Israel starting in 2000 new ways are needed to protect crews in the new century's type of warfare; The low intensity conflict. For this the IDF has developed a continueing series of sheilds and boxes surrounding the commanders and fighting compartment hatches. The common name given the shield version is "Kasman" while the boxes receive the name "Nagaman". There was an earlier type called "classical" that was short lived which had incoporated reactive armour as on Magach MBTs. This was removed from sevice best I've heard after an incident when some soldiers were killed by exploding reactive armour although Ican't find anything to verify this.

Israel today is in search for a replacement for its now aging fleet of M113s. A testbed on a modified Bradley chassis seems to have been a failure. the APC or rather AFV type centurions are really only a stop gap measure. the Achzarit while heavily armoured and containing a rear door is still not a long term solution. The IDF would like very much to have APCs based on the Merkava chassis. but Until funding can be gotten this is a pipe dream. The IDF today needs nearly 5000 APCs to replace its M113s. At least for the present urban combat vehicles are whats needed.and these, if reports are to be believed, will be in the form of armoured wheeled vehicles. Some M113s may be replaced sooner than others with the merkava based Namer ARV vehicles reaching active units.

What ever may replace them, the M113 has like so many vehicles used by the IDF been taken to its limit by modifications and attachments. New modifications for the vehicle are still being seen at this past Euroatory was any indication. Like many AFV types that seem to last the M113s adaptability will keep it soldiering on for quite some time especially with no affordable replacement is on the horizen.

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