| Accession Number | P07256.026 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Maker |
Wood, Brian |
| Place made | Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province |
| Date made | September 1971 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
An M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian ...
Description
An M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, (RAAC), with the call sign one one Alpha (11A). Crewed by 219002 Ike Ihaia Robin (vehicle commander) and 5717522 Trooper Kevin Raymond Brakewell (driver), this vehicle was leading a column of APCs through a lane in a rubber plantation in the north of the province on 27 September 1971 when it struck a mine. The blast tore away the drive sprocket, the first set of roadwheels on both sides and a large section of track on the starboard side. The differential was shattered and the engine and transmission mountings were broken. The blast also caused a large section of the hull to be pushed in by nine inches. Fortunately, the interior was not penetrated and the crewmen suffered a bruised back with torn ligaments and a broken nose respectively. This particular vehicle (134357) had been previously fitted with a T50 steel turret and was up armoured with belly and sponson armour, improvements which undoutedly saved the crew from death or more serious injury. The vehicle was returned to Australia where it was stripped of fittings, written off and sold for scrap.