Vehicle I-D: Canada’s British Empire M113, not your Uncle Sam’s M113

Canada began using the original M113A1 (Diesel powered version) in the late 1960s, it is not to be confused with the earlier M113 Command & Recon Lynx, which was a shortened, lightweight version of the gasoline powered M113.

A derelict M113C&R Lynx is used for vehicle recovery training, in Valcartier, Québec, 20OCT2021. Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Hugo Montpetit.

The original M113 was developed by the United States based FMC, then continued under United Defense, then taken over by the British empire’s BAE Systems. The BAE upgraded M113s are known as Mobile Tactical Vehicle Light (MTVL), or also as Tracked Light Armoured Vehicle (TLAV). And to confuse you even more, each ‘fit-out’ (version) of the MTVL/TLAV has its own special acronym.

An MTVL during NATO wargame Trident Juncture, in Portugal, 02NOV2015. Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Jordan Legree.

Very quick Canadian Forces video of MTVL ‘Medic Track’ off-load from cargo ship in Setubal, Portugal, for NATO wargame, 07OCT2015:

MTVL on Garrison Wainwright, Alberta, 30APR2015. Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Nédia Coutinho.

MTVL in Wainwright, Alberta, 03JUN2016. Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Jonathan Barrette.

A major visual difference between a new NATO-Canadian M113 and the old NATO-U.S. M113 can be seen in the types of tracks and drive sprockets used, and the fact that they have six roadwheels as opposed to the U.S. M113s with five roadwheels!

Mobile Tactical Vehicle Fitter (MTVF):

Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, 06JUN2007. Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

This M113 MTV-Fitter helped move a World War Two Flakpanzer on Canadian Forces Base Borden, 24OCT2016. Canadian Forces photo by Ordinary Seaman Justin Spinello.

Photo via International Movies Services Limited.

Mobile Tactical Vehicle Engineer (MTVE):

Photo via International Movies Services Limited.

NATO-Denmark uses Canadian/BAE style drive sprockets and Band-Tracks on their five road-wheeled M113s:

BAE ‘Band-Tracks’ on a Danish M113 during a NATO wargame on Hohenfels, Germany, 03NOV2014. U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Shardesia Washington.

A Danish M113 crewman shows-off the Canadian style track system to a U.S. recovery vehicle crewman, 27MAY2015. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Carol A. Lehman.