The M113 is a lightly armored, full tracked, air transportable vehicle designed to carry personnel and cargo.The vehicle is built from high strength aluminum and can operate both on and off road and in water. The M113 was designed to carry infantry into the battlefield where they would dismount for combat. The M113 was developed and produced by Food Machinery Corporation. The aluminum hull made the vehicle light enough to air transport and moderately amphibious, yet provided protection for the crew against small arms fire.