The reverse side of the armor: Legionnaire “Paradox” about M113

It is the armored vehicle that often remains the only chance to deliver vital cargo, ammunition, water, or, when one of the soldiers pays with his blood, to evacuate a wounded comrade from the battlefield.

And what to do if the track is damaged by a mine, 152-millimeter shells of enemy artillery are landing not far away, and ahead, in the line of fire, lies a seriously wounded comrade?

In civilian life before the war, I worked for a year at an Internet provider company, and in general, I traveled around Europe. I joined the Armed Forces in 2017, initially for conscription, but after four months I signed a contract. In 2021, my contract ended. I had time to rest for 11 months. A full-scale war has begun, and on February 28, 2022, I returned back to the Armed Forces, says the legionnaire.

The Second International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine began to form at the training ground where “Paradox” served. The man was interested in the unit, and in 2023 he was able to transfer to the Second Legion. Here the serviceman performs the duties of a medical instructor and, at the same time, the commander of the M113. The primary task of the armored vehicle is to evacuate the wounded.

We can also help our comrades to carry out a rotation, deliver some parcels or pull out stuck equipment, because armored vehicles have such a possibility and it was created for that purpose. Driving M113 is not difficult at all. We were given two weeks to study. The training ended even earlier, because the combat order came and we had to leave.

In general, you can learn to drive it in just 3-4 hours. There is nothing difficult, since it is an American vehicle with an automatic transmission. It does almost everything for you. It can be compared to a car with an automatic transmission, says “Paradox”.

The legionnaire emphasizes that if you do everything without panic, this vehicle is just perfect.

If the person is seriously wounded, we have no choice, we have to take him away, because we understand: every minute is very important. It is unrealistic to shoot a car with a machine gun. A direct hit from a mine, if it is 80 millimeters, will not disable the car. If the frontal hit is more serious, it is difficult to say anything. A collision with an anti-tank mine Bradley withstands as well. The vehicle breaks down, it has damages, but the crew mostly remains alive.

We had a situation: another armored vehicle hit an anti-tank mine. Everyone survived. Only the commander of the vehicle was injured, because his face was cut by fragments.

“Paradox” tells the nuances of movement in the combat zone on such equipment. He thinks, driving with an open hatch is dangerous, on the one hand. But on the other hand, triplexes (observation means in protected motion mode) may not provide enough information on the modern battlefield. Then there is no other way out and you have to open the hatch to see more.

Photo: Oleksandr Zakletskyi

M113 evacuated Ukrainian soldiers after 13 Russian FPV drones hit their target. 

– We worked with the previous brigade in Chasiv Yar, and their M113 left the battlefield after 13 FPVs flew into it, which is shocking. The armored vehicle left on its own! In general, on a good road it can move 60-70, and even 80 kilometers per hour. In such conditions as now, on black soil – slower. But it moves confidently. We always know that we will reach our destination,  says the medical instructor about the vehicle. 

“Paradox” always travels with a partner in the crew. In the landing section, where the wounded are transported, there must be another doctor who will look after the patient, monitor his condition and vital signs. After approaching the position, things can be different: the lightly wounded enter through the door by themselves, for the seriously wounded, the ramp is lowered. And they may also need various kinds of help from their comrades at this moment.

During one of these evacuations, “Paradox” hit explosive devices. Most likely, it was a remote mine. The track was damaged, but the crew, realizing this, continued moving towards the line of combat contact.

Because the boys were going to evacuate a seriously wounded comrade and risked their lives deliberately. The damaged vehicle moved forward and refused to break down completely. The crew loaded the wounded soldier and moved to the stabilization point. The enemy was covering the battlefield with 152-millimeter artillery shells. At least four of them, according to the crew, fell about fifty meters from the vehicle, which is close enough for such a caliber. Miracles and luck cannot last forever, and finally the damaged track, which worked on contrary to all the laws of technology and physics, could not withstand the loads and broke. Now the life of the wounded and his companions depended on the courage, endurance and composure of the Ukrainian military and, of course, on what some call luck, and others – the protection of higher powers. Despite the fact that complex decisions and multi-step actions were made and implemented instantly, “Paradox” tells about the situation absolutely calmly.

He gave the command for everyone to get out of the M113 and find shelter in the nearest landing, but the crew commander himself did not leave the car immediately. He turned off the vehicle, closed the armored personnel carrier, and only after that moved towards the shelter. At the same time, the crew managed to call for help, because the chances of saving the wounded depended on the time of his delivery to the stabilization point.

Photo: Oleksandr Zakletskyi

– When the M113’s track falls, the vehicle stands on rollers that allow it to be towed. First of all, we monitored the condition of the wounded and in 15 minutes handed him over to another team that arrived on call. I know that the soldier was taken to the stabilization point, later — to the hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment.

But the crew, under the threat of enemy fire and drone cameras, was not only thinking about rescuing the wounded. The same evening the soldiers tried to save the armored vehicle by towing it with another vehicle. Due to weather conditions and to the peculiarities of the area, it was possible to pull M113 only 1,800 meters. But even this turned out to be enough for the enemy to think that the vehicle was evacuated and it was already beyond the reach of the means of destruction. Two units of armored vehicles and people in the middle of the field – a desirable target. So, when all the towing possibilities were used and the machine came to a standstill, the comrades had to leave the wrecked car for the night. The next day they returned and continued the evacuation. Under the lens of enemy drones and enemy artillery fire, the Ukrainian military managed to prepare the vehicle for evacuation. A tank and crew were found in a neighboring unit, that agreed to help. However, warming, melting snow, and the sinking of heavy armor caused the cables to crack, and we managed to pull “Bradley” only a few hundred meters.

It would seem that it is time to stop, tell yourself that everything possible has been done and admit defeat, but this is not about the Ukrainian military at all and by no means about the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine. The crew found special tank cables and returned again with the tankers.

Russian artillerymen did not hit, thank God, it was lucky. A tank with special cables pulled the car to the settlement, but could not tow it further on the asphalt. Again, the retreat, again the search, this time for another towing vehicle, and only after that the long-suffering armored rescuer was able to be delivered to a relatively safe repair site in the near rear.

Russian artillerymen didn’t hit the target. The tank with special cables pulled the car to the settlement, but could not tow it further on the asphalt. Again we moved away, again the search, this time for another towing vehicle, and only after that were we able to deliver the long-suffering armored rescuer to a relatively safe repair site in the near rear. 

Photo: Oleksandr Zakletskyi

– Honestly, we were lucky that M113 was standing between two hills. It was standing in a lowland and simply, perhaps, the enemy drones flying in that direction did not see it so often. There were no problems with one track. We were lucky that the rinks were intact. The rubber did not crack. It was wonderful. The second track did not want to get into place, but thanks to the guys, everything was done successfully. The vehicle is now агтсешщтштп. There are just a few nuances left, and that’s it: the armored vehicle is in full combat readiness”, says the legionnaire.

M113s have proven themselves well in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They not only help stop the Russian invaders, destroy their personnel, but also save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. The attitude of the representatives of the Ukrainian army, in particular the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine, towards these armored vehicles is appropriate. The attitude is not just as a means of transportation or a tracked all-terrain vehicle. Not just as a means of transportation or a tracked all-terrain vehicle. Such equipment is psychologically perceived almost as a member of a large military family – a team of brothers and sisters whose friendship and support are tested by daily mortal danger. Each evacuation mission was accompanied by a risk to the lives of the team, by flights of enemy drones and enemy artillery fire. Numerous failures did not contribute to either faith in success or the desire to continue the dangerous mission. 

But determination, dedication, incredible irrational courage and simply an unstoppable desire to save the armored vehicle, which saves its comrades every day, increases their chances of survival and victory, allowed the servicemen of the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine, together with the comrades from other units, to win a small but very important victory. One of those that will someday become the basis of the great Victory of the civilized world over the barbarity of the Russian occupiers in the cruelest war of the 21st century. 

Source: Volodymyr Patola. 

Reference:

The International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine operates in the form of military units within the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The personnel of the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine are military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, perform the same duties and have the same rights, including financial and social security, as other military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

Citizens of other countries serve alongside Ukrainians in the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine.

At the same time, foreigners can conclude the first contract for military service in the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine for a period of 6 months.

You can contact representatives of the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine on matters of service at the following link: https://ildu.legion.army/ 

The official mailbox where you can send your applications, – – [email protected]