Machineguns go on scrap heap as Army upgrades

What do you do with nearly 200 unwanted machineguns?

It is a question the Army had to ask when it withdrew its fleet of M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) late last year, after more than 35 years in service.

The APCs are fitted with .50-calibre machineguns and smaller 7.62mm machineguns but both weapons are old technology and would probably be scrapped, said Colonel Peter Cunningham, the Army's assistant chief of general staff.

The fleet of 77 Vietnam-vintage APCs were withdrawn late last year when the Army took delivery of new, Canadian-built light armoured vehicles, the LAV IIIs.

The APCs were being prepared to go on the international market this year. Colonel Cunningham said they were very old but another military service might want the hulls to refurbish.

They would not be sold with their machineguns and the Army was deciding what to do with the weapons, although they would probably be scrapped, he said.

"They are pretty much at the end of their economic life."

He said the .50-calibre guns were turret-mounted and could not be used in the LAVs or as standalone machineguns without major modifications, which would not be economical.

The 7.62mm guns had been rebuilt at least once during their life and it was probably uneconomic to salvage them.

The APCs have been stored at the Trentham Military Camp and four of the fleet of 77 would be kept for display. Only one would be kept operational.

- NZPA