Russian Forces Capture Vietnam War-Era US M113 APC During Avdeyevka Liberation

The M113 APC was introduced into service by the US Army in 1961 and was first used in combat in 1962. Since then, has participated in all armed conflicts involving the US and its allies, including the Vietnam War.

During the battle for Avdeyevka, soldiers of Battlegroup Tsentr captured foreign equipment, including an American M113 armored personnel carrier, as well as Turkish and British armored vehicles, a Sputnik correspondent has reported. The trophies were displayed by servicemen of a repair and evacuation regiment.

"One of the most mass-produced armored personnel carriers of the US Army, which was used in the Vietnam War. A fairly large batch was delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This model is notable in that it is generally also a 120-millimeter mortar carrier. In essence, it is a mobile mortar," said the deputy commander of the battalion for armaments, presenting the M113.

The serviceman noted that the armored vehicle was not damaged and was in operational technical condition, meaning that the APC was simply abandoned.

According to him, instead of the standard American 120 mm mortar, a mortar of the same caliber but of Soviet design was installed inside.

In addition, during the demonstration of captured vehicles, fighters of Battlegroup Tsentr took a ride on a Turkish Kirpi armored vehicle used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the platoon commander, Ukrainian soldiers abandoned the vehicle while fleeing, and Russian troops got it in almost perfect condition.

The Kirpi troop carrier, an armored vehicle of the Turkish Army and manufactured by the local company BMC, has a combat weight of 20 tons and can accommodate up to 13 personnel. According to open sources, Ukraine has received at least 200 such vehicles since 2022.

Another trophy demonstrated by the Russian Army was a British Pinzgauer 718 armored vehicle with a 6x6 wheel arrangement.