1. M-113
After World War II had shown the need for an armored personnel carrier for infantry, it became obvious that a fully tracked vehicle would offer the best combination of speed and all-terrain mobility. The M-113 went into production in the early 1960s.
With the ability to carry 10 troops plus crew, an all-terrain speed of 40 mph and a range of 300 miles, it was an immediate winner. Since then over 80,000 have been built, and the M-113 has been exported to nearly 50 countries. Amphibious and air portable, the M-113 has been used in combat in Vietnam, the Middle East and Iraq.
Besides fulfilling its basic personnel carrier role, the vehicle has served as a mortar carrier, command, anti-aircraft and flamethrower vehicle. The M-113 is still going strong and will probably be one of the most widely used armored vehicles ever built.
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