|
M113
Fire Support Vehicle |
One more image in text and three more at the bottom of the page
Australia's armoured presence in Vietnam comprised of the Centurion tank and the M113A1
Armoured Personnel Carrier. In addition to its intended role as a personnel carrier, the
versatile M113 was employed by the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) as a fitters
vehicle, for light reconnaissance, mortar carrier, command vehicle and ambulance.
The RAAC in Vietnam also employed the M113 for another unique role - Fire Support. In this guise the M113 was equipped with a 76mm main gun, a coaxial .50 calibre machine gun and .30 calibre machine guns. The dramatic transformation was achieved by adding the turret of a Saladin armoured car to the M113.
 These vehicles were allocated to RAAC cavalry troops in
Vietnam. However, their effectiveness was difficult to evaluate as these troops were
organised into personnel carrier squadrons and did not fulfill a true "armoured
cavalry" role. A brief test in a more appropriate role was conducted under
operational conditions during 1971. The test proved the potential for this type of
vehicle, but showed that the hybrid design with the Saladin turret was top-heavy and
overloaded. |
The rare M113 Fire Support Vehicle is a curious subject for Tamiya to choose, but
Australian modellers didn't argue with their decision.
Australian modeller Dale Smith built the 1/35 scale, Vietnam-era FSV out-of-the-box.
Early Australian M113s were finished in Khaki Brown. This colour is portrayed by Gunze Olive Drab 2 (H78). Mud is a mix of "Tuft Scenics" groundwork material, water and white glue applied liberally with a 1/2" brush. When this mix had dried, Dale lightly oversprayed the entire model with Tamiya XF64 Red Brown.
Black pastel chalk was added to represent exhaust stains.
This was Dale's very first armour model - he usually builds aircraft. Pretty
good first effort!
"M113 in Action" - Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrolton, Texas
Maj-Gen. R.N.L. Hopkins, CBE "Australian Armour - a History of the Royal
Australian Armoured Corps 1927 - 1972" Published by The Australian War Memorial and
Australian Government Publishing Service, 1978.
ISBN 0 642 99407 2
A fascinating story of the often shortsighted decisions, but courageous execution, of Australian armour policies.
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Model by Dale Smith
Photographs and Description Copyright ©1998 by Brett
T. Green
Page Created 18 July 1998
Last updated 05 June 2001
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