IDF M113 Armored Personnel Carrier 1973

Plastic model kit of an M113 armored personnel carrier used by the Israel Defense Forces

• 1:35 scale
• Based on former Dragon molds
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The M113 armored personnel carrier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) played a pivotal role as an APC and support vehicle during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Procured from the USA in the late 1960s, the M113A1 models had largely replaced older half-track vehicles; they were deployed on both the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula for transporting infantry, supplies, and the wounded, as well as serving as command and observation vehicles. Powered by a 212 hp Detroit Diesel engine, they achieved a top speed of approximately 64 km/h and could reliably keep pace with Israeli tank formations, even over difficult terrain.

In 1973, the vehicles largely conformed to the standard American configuration and did not yet feature the add-on armor that would become typical later on. Their armament generally consisted of a 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun, though many vehicles in frontline service were additionally equipped with improvised mounts for 7.62 mm machine guns. Externally mounted water jerrycans, spare track links, personal gear, and extra stowage boxes were also characteristic features.

However, combat operations during the Yom Kippur War clearly exposed the limitations of the M113. While its aluminum hull offered reliable protection against small arms fire and shrapnel, it proved inadequate against modern anti-tank weapons such as the RPG-7 and the AT-3 Sagger. The experience gained in the process led to extensive modernization efforts in the following years—involving additional armor and improved equipment—which ultimately resulted in the Israeli variant known as the "Zelda." The 1973-era M113 thus marks the transition from a vehicle that was essentially the standard US model to a variant specifically adapted to the requirements of the IDF.