Govt. Interest In M-113

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31131, 6 August 1966, Page 22

Govt. Interest In M-113

(N.Z. Preit Aitociation) WELLINGTON, August 5.

Brigadier H. A. Purcell will leave shortly for the United States to evaluate the M-113 armoured amphibious troop-carrier.

But the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said that if the Government decided to purchase the vehicles they would not be for specific use in South Vietnam. “However, I would not rule out the possibility.” The M-113 is used by the 161st Battery in South Vietnam to transport the gunners and their guns. They are tracked vehicles capable of 40 m.p.h, they can transport 13 soldiers or a Howitzer and can be dropped by parachute. The battery at present is using Australian M-113’s in Vietnam.

“There is no particular significance in the fact that we are sending somebody to evaluate them,” said Mr Holyoake. “It is just another instance of the Government acquiring modem equipment for our armed forces.”

They would replace outmoded equipment. Mr Holyoake said that when the Cabinet discussed the M-113 last week, “the word ‘Vietnam’ was not mentioned.” He denied an N.Z.B.C. report that Brigadier Purcell had also been asked to evaluate the American Sheridan tank. “I know nothing about this.”

“We are definitely not con-

sidering sending more troops to Vietnam. We have not discussed the question,” he said. Asked how many M-113’s the Government might buy if the evaluation was satisfactory, Mr Holyoake said he did not know if a figure had been discussed, but the Cabinet had been told how much money was available.