The M113A1 is part of the M113 family of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC). These type of vehicles changed the way military operations mobilized their forces.  Made and developed by Ford, Kaiser Aluminium  and Chemical Co. in the late 1950's. The A1 is the first major upgrade in the M113 APC family of variants (FOV). Introduced in 1964, this particular model was nicknamed "The Gavin". It was made to be fully transportable by air. Able to carry eleven troops or cargo along with a driver, it is used in a variety of combat roles. This is a light armored tracked vehicle giving troops protection and the capability to traverse over and through many different types of hostile environments. The armor offers some protection, but its main armament also helps. Its armament consisted of .50 Caliber bullets fired from a heavy barrel machine gun. Its secondary armament is a .30 Caliber machine gun. Because the engine and other parts were made from Aluminum, the A1 had the advantage of being powerful and light weight.  The main difference in this model upgrade is the change over from a gasoline engine to a diesel one. The new power train allowed the A1 more power, giving it 212 horsepower.Being light weight, it can even "swim" in bodies of water.