XM723 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle
In 1972 the U.S. Army issued proposals of a new Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The FMC Corporation answered with this vehicle, the XM723. After rejecting the XM765 AIFV, the Army gave FMC a contract to develop a better armored and more mobile version. FMC came up with the XM723, which owed some design heritage to the US Marine Corps Amtrac series of vehicles, rather than the M113.
Prototype to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the XM723 operated with a crew of 3 and carried 9 Infantrymen. The turret was armed with a 20mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The design had a novel laminated steel / aluminium armor which was relatively light but gave improved protection against small arms fire up to 14.5mm. The XM723 derivative was designated the XM2 for the IFV requirement and the XM3 for the Cavalry Fighting Vehicle requirement. Based on recommended changes to the XM723, the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles was manufactured and fielded in the early 1980's.
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