The M113 is an American armored personnel carrier. The first designs were created in 1956, and serial production at FMC started in 1960. It lasted until 1987 and resulted in the production of 73,000 copies of this vehicle for the US Army's own needs as well as for export. The M113 entered service in as many as 45 countries, including Israel, Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany. The M113 is the most popular transport in the world and forms the basis for the world's largest family of armored vehicles.