DELIVERED: 51 carriages of the American-made M113 are now in place in Ukraine. Photo: Trygve Hongset / Hærstaben / Haeren
Norway has sent 51 military M113 vehicles to Ukraine. This is among the largest donations Norway has contributed to the country.
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Norway has sent 51 tracked vehicles, of the type NM199, to Ukraine. The vehicles are a Norwegian version of the M113 wagons, and are carried with 12.7 millimeter machine guns and spare parts. The vehicles will mainly be used to transport material and ammunition to the front line. Ukraine has previously received M-113 tanks. The experts believe it is an advantage that they have received many deliveries of the same type of vehicle, as this simplifies operation and maintenance.
The summary is made by the AI tool ChatGPT and quality assured by VG’s journalists.
Sea view
Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram confirms to VG that 51 vehicles of the type NM199NM199NM stand for “Norwegian model”. This means that the vehicles of the M113 type have been modernized by the Norwegian armed forces. has been sent to Ukraine. These are a Norwegian version of the M113 armored vehicles.
– We contribute extensively with support to Ukraine, and militarily. We have been doing that since the war broke out. We intend to stand by Ukraine as long as necessary, says Gram to VG.
Ukraine has asked to receive these wagons, and Norway has therefore complied with this request. They will also be supplied with 12.7 millimeter machine guns, which can be placed on the roof of the carriage. 14 containers of spare parts have also been sent to Ukraine.
The wagons were transported from Narvik, and arrived in Ukraine last week. The plan has been kept secret from the public, and just over 100 people have been involved in transporting the equipment.
Also read: Donation transported in secret: These are the Norwegian contributions
Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram confirms to VG that the Government has donated 51 wagons to Ukraine. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG
In June, the Swedish Armed Forces were commissioned to prepare for delivery of the wagons, which will mainly be used to transport material and ammunition to the front line. Anders Jernberg, head of the national logistics operations center in the Norwegian Armed Forces, tells VG.
The wagons can, among other things, be used to transport artillery, food, mines and ammunition. This also gives the Ukrainians the advantage that artillery can be transported very close to the front line. Accessibility is significantly more difficult by using cars.
Brigade commander in Brigade Nord, Terje Bruøygard says that it makes the situation considerably more flexible for the Ukrainians to be able to use such vehicles.
– Ukraine is large, with a lot of plains and open areas. Where wheeled vehicles often get stuck, tracked vehicles are often much more passable, says Bruøygard.
Ready immediately
A number of countries have donated M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine during the war. Denmark, in cooperation with Germany, has donated 54, Albania has donated 56, Lithuania has donated 72, and the United Kingdom with 46. Other countries have also donated, and several are notifying that they are in the process of preparing delivery.
Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen believes it is of great importance that Ukraine has already received M113 carriages from previous deliveries.
This means that not much time will be wasted on training.
– These are quite easy to learn and use. They have received many equivalents already, so I think they will go straight to the front and into battle almost immediately.
Jernberg also confirms that the wagons are immediately ready for use in Ukraine.
Gram says that the wagons that are donated are no longer used by the Norwegian armed forces, and that they have been put in storage. The plan is for Norway to receive new deliveries of such vehicles in the coming years.
– It will not significantly affect Norwegian operational needs, says Gram.
CLEAR: Ukraine has previously received deliveries of M-113 tanks. The new carts are ready for use immediately. The photo shows an M-113 in action near Zaporizhia earlier in September. Photo: LIBKOS / AP / NTBTRENDER MORE: Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen says that Ukraine is dependent on the West continuing to support them. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
Hågen Karlsen points out that Ukraine needs more support from the West with both equipment and ammunition.
– They will lose quite quickly if the West does not support them. We are in an industrial war where there is a battle to obtain as much equipment as possible, either to produce new or to repair old. The West provides what we have in stock and what we are able to produce. While the Russians are militarizing society and not least their industry, and are gradually getting considerable support from countries such as Iran and North Korea, says Hågen Karlsen.
Gram also points out the importance of Norway and other countries continuing to support Ukraine.
– It is also about Norwegian and European security. Our assurance that Russia does not gain by violence and force at the expense of the international legal order, which not least a small country like Norway depends on – that great powers and large countries will not take measures at the expense of their neighbours, says Gram, and adds:
– It is also incredibly important to us, and that is why we support Ukraine.
Published:
Published: 19.09.23 at 09:06
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2023-09-19 07:06:31
#M113 #Norway #large #donation #Ukraine
