M901 ITV (Improved TOW Vehicle)

History of the M901 ITV (Improved Tractor)

The M901 ITV ("Improved Trailer") is a dedicated variant of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) used in an Anti-Tank (AT) role. As such, it is a tracked weapons carrier - retaining all the key qualities of the M113 family - for the dual-launcher M220 TOW Anti-Tank Missile (ATGM) to counter the threat posed by today's modern main battle tanks (MBTs).

Three main variants of the vehicle were produced and adopted by about ten countries including the United States (Army).

The M901 ITV is a 13 ton vehicle requiring a crew of four - driver, commander, gunner and loader. It measures 16 feet long, 8 feet wide, 10 inches wide and 11 feet high. Due to its compact size, it can be carried in the cargo hold of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules-class aircraft and dropped if needed, giving war planners some tactical flexibility.

The TOW missile launcher is mounted in an expandable/foldable bracket on top of the fuselage, which when folded lowers the vehicle's profile to 9 feet 8 inches. Vehicle sports gear that allows occupants to track, target and engage enemy forces at night and during the day, while the turret can be positioned at any angle along the front, sides and rear of the vehicle with an accessible barrel roof design (raised/ drop ) can attack limited to +34 and -30 degrees).

The turret can also be detached from the vehicle and used in traditional ground-based fashion, allowing the crew to ambush approaching tanks in good time. A major disadvantage of the M901 design is that it cannot fire while moving. In addition to the two already in the launch system, ten TOW rocket reloads were carried for a total of twelve shots. When reloading, the loader is largely protected by the vehicle.

The M901 is also equipped with smoke grenade launchers that can be used to cover its advance and retreat, and the accompanying 7.62mm machine gun adds anti-infantry measures. Rectangular doors at the rear of the hull allow crew to quickly board and disembark when needed.

The M901 is fully amphibious and can participate in amphibious operations.

Variants of the M901 include the original M901 branded vehicle with the M220A1 TOW missile system. The M901A1 then uses the upgraded M220A2 TOW-2 missile system.

The latest version is the M901A3, which retains the M220A2 TOW-2 missile system but includes improvements seen in the equivalent M113A3 APC brand.

M901 exports to Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, Thailand and Tunisia. Today's U.S. Army relies heavily on TOW-equipped Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to perform mobile AT roles.

The M981 FISTV ("Fire Support Team Vehicle") is similar in form to the M901, but it is used for laser target designation and does not engage directly.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

12 x TOW-1/TOW-2 anti-tank missiles (10 reloads)

1,000 x 7.62mm ammo

8 x Smoke Grenade

Changes