The_Soviet_Army_troops_organization_and_equi

FM 100-2-3

Light armored vehicle (wheeled) armament characteristics

	MAINARMAMENT		BRDM-2	BTR-60PB	BTR-70	BTR-80
	CHARACTERISTICS
	CALIBER (mm)		1 45	14 5	14 5	14 5
	NUMBER		I	1	1	1
	TYPE		turret mounted	turret mounted	turret mounted	turret mounted
			machine gun	machine gun	machlne gun	machlne gun
	MODEL		KPVT"	KPVT*	KPVT*	KPVT*
	TRANSVERSE	(c)	360	360	360	360
	ELEVATION	(c)	-5 to + 3 0	-5 to +30	-5 to +30* *	-5 to +60
	STABILIZATION		no	no	no	no
	FIRE CONTROL		telescopicsight	telescopicsight	telescopicsight	telescopicsight
	BASIC LOAD (rd)		500	500	500	500
	SECONDARY ARMAMENT		BRDM-2	BTR-60PB	BTR-70	BTR-80
	CHARACTERISTICS
	CALIBER (mm)		7 62	7 62	7 62	7 62
	NUMBER		1	1	1	1
	TYPE		coaxial m a c h i n egun	coaxial machinegun	gun	coaxial machine gun
					coaxial machine
	MODEL		PKT'	PKT*	PKT*	PKT*
	BASIC LOAD (rd)		2,000	2 000	2,000	2,000

FOOTNOTES.* S e e Characteristics of	DShK 38/46. KPVT, and PKT on page 5-12
" Elevation is -5 to	+60 on variants with high-angle-of-fireturret.

5 -22

Amphibious Scout Car BRDM-2

BRDM-2

DESCRIPTION:

Like the earlier BRDM, the BRDM-2 is a fully armored, four-wheel-drive, amphibious reconnaissance vehicle. It has two pairs of belly wheels and a centralized tire pressure regulation system for

increased cross-country capability. It also has a single waterjet for propulsion through water.

Externally, it differs from the BRDM due to its larger, box-like hull. I t retains the boat-like bow of the BRDM. However, the crew compartment is now farther forward and the engine is in the rear. I n t h e b a s i c model, a small conical turret is mounted on the hull in a central position above the belly wheels. There are two front cupolas. Both

sides have centrally placed vision blocks. The engine is larger than the BRDM's (it is a 140-hp

V-8 instead of a 90-hp 6-cylinder). The BRDM-2 has a n IR spotlight and IR driving lights, as well a s an NBC filter system.

CAPABILITIES:

Like the BRDM, the BRDM-2 exists in several versions. The first four of these have the same roles a s their BRDM counterparts.

The basic BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicle is

distinguished by its turret, which is the same as that mounted on the BTR-60PB.The conical turret,

which mounts two machine guns (14.5-mm and 7.62-mm), is unusual in that it has no top hatch opening. This model carries a crew of four: the commander, the gunner, the driver, and the codriver. It also has a land navigation system that gives coordinate readings.

The BRDM-2rkh radiological-chemical reconnaissance vehicle h a s dispensers for emplacing warning flags around contaminated areas. Its primary armament is the 7.62-mm PKT instead of t h e 14.5-mm KPVT. The regimental chemical defense platoon and the division-level chemical defense company use it, a s does the divisional

reconnaissance battalion. The Soviet open press has designated it the BRDM-2rkhb; this stands for

radiological-chemical-biological reconnaissance.

The BRDM-2U command vehicle has no turret; however, it carries a generator and extra radios.

Amphibious ScoutCar BRDM-2 (continued)

BRDM-2rkh

The increased number of antennas marks this version a s a C2 vehicle. Battalion and regimental headquarters of maneuver a n d reconnaissance u n i t s employ i t ; a r t i l l e r y u n i t s a l s o use i t extensively.

The ATGM launcher vehicle (BRDM-2) can mount the AT-2/SWATTER, AT-3/SAGGER, or AT-5/SPANDREL. The AT-5 launcher can also f i r e t h e A T - 4 / S P I G O T missile . T h e ATGM launcher replaces the turret. This model is found in regimental and divisional antitank units of MRDs, the antitank regiments of combined arms armies (CAA), and in the antitank regiment or brigade in the artillery division of a front.

The SA-9/GASKIN TEL uses a variant of the BRDM-2 chassis. The SAM launching system with quadruple canisters replaces t h e machine gun turret on top of the vehicle; it is capable of 360 degrees t r a v e r s e a n d limited elevation. T h i s version probably has four crewmen.

LIMITATIONS:

Artillery fragments and a .M-caliber machine gun fire c a n penetrate BRDM-2 series vehicles with maximum armor of 1 4 millimeters. The BRDM-2-series tires are not protected by armor. They are particularly vulnerable to puncture from fire of all kinds.

REMARKS:

T h e o r i g i n a l BRDM ( a l s o known a s t h e BTR-40P) first appeared in 1959. The BRDM-2 (also known a s the BTR-40PB) was first seen in 1966. I t has generally replaced the BRDM in the Soviet a n d Warsaw Pact armies. The BRDM-2

i s sometimes confused w i t h t h e	H u n e a r i a n
F U G (OT-65) amphibious scout	c a r a n d t h e

FUG-70 APC, which have rear engines but also have twin waterjets. The BTR-60PB is replacing t h e BRDM -2 i n d i v i s i o n a l r e c o n n a i s s a n c e hattalions.

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier BTR-60PB

BTR-60PB

DESCRIPTION:

The BTR-GOPB is an eight-wheel-drive vehicle with evenly spaced wheels, except for a slightly larger space between the second and third wheels. It has a long, boat-like hull with well-sloped armor on the sides and overhead armor cover. Its small conical turret is identical to that of the BRDM-2. The turret sits over the second set of wheels and

mounts coaxial 14.5-mm and 7.62-mm machine guns. The BTR-60PB has a three-man crew: the

commander, the driver, and the gunner. There are two semicircular hatches for the crew in front of the turret. The vehicle also has two rectangular hatches behind the turret for mount and dismount of up to eight passengers. There are three firing ports in each side of the troop compartment. The

rear-mounted power plant employs two 6-cylinder, 90-hp engines . A single waterjet propels the

vehicle through water. The tires are partially filled with a foam-rubber-like substance. They have the centralized pressure regulation system common to Soviet wheeled APCs.

The BTR-60PUarmored command vehicle has n o turret; however, i t does have additional communication equipment. It is easily recognizable

by the bent, dipole antenna that runs nearly all around the top of the vehicle. The BTR-60PU nor-

mally does not have integral armament. There are numerous other command variants, with and without turrets. They differ according to role and command level.

CAPABILITIES:

The BTR-60PB is the standard APC in some motorized rifle units. It is widely used by Soviet naval infantry. It has begun to replace BRDM-2s in some divisional reconnaissance battalions. The

vehicle	performs well		cross-country in		conditions
t h a t favor		wheels. I n	the	water, the	vehicle is
steered	by	a rudder in the		waterjet port and by

the two front sets of wheels, which also have power steering. The boat-shaped hull with sloped

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier BTR-60PB(continued)

sides provides good swimming capability a n d helps deflect hostile fire. The BTR-60PB has a

searchlight a n d IR equipment. These give it a night fighting capability; however, the gunner's periscope is a day sight only.

LIMITATIONS:

The BTR-60PB's armor is thicker than that of

older model APCs. However, it is still vulnerable to Frag-HE as well a s to small arms fire. Its tires

are extremely vulnerable to puncture. Soft ancillary equipment (antennas and integral fuel tanks) a r e vulnerable to destruction by field artillery weapons . Troops m u s t mount a n d dismount through the top hatches; this exposes them to fire.

REMARKS:

The	BTR-60PB first appeared in 1965 a s the
t h i r d	modification i n t h e BTR-60P series of

APCs. It was preceded in 1961 by the open-topped BTR-60P a n d i n 1964 by the BTR-60PA (also

known a s BTR-60PK).The latter added overhead a r m o r c o v e r b u t l a c k e d t h e t u r r e t of t h e

BTR-60PB.The BTR-60PUcommand vehicle, with additional radios, is a later modification. The

Forward Air Control Vehicle, another modified BTR-60PB, has a large window replacing the co-

axial machine g u n s i n the turret a n d a large portable generator mounted on the rear deck. All

versions in the series are still in service, although the BTR-60P and -60PK models seldom appear

today in first-line units. The Soviets have exported the vehicle to many countries, including North Korea and most of the Warsaw Pact. There are also Polish, Romanian, and Czech versions of this

vehicle. Since 1978, the BTR-70 h a s begun to replace the BTR-60PB.

The artillery command a n d reconnaissance vehicle (ACRV) M1979(2) i s a n o t h e r BTR-60

variant. It serves a s a command observation post (COP) vehicle i n towed artillery batteries and

battalions. The same organizations have two other types of ACRV: the M1979(1),mounted on a GAZ-66 box-body van (BBV),serves as a battery fire direction center (FDC);the M1979(3),mounted

on a ZIL-131 BBV, serves a s a battalion FDC.

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier BTR-70

DESCRIPTION:

The BTR-70 is a successor vehicle to the BTR­ 60PB. Both vehicles have the same turret arma-

ment. The BTR-70 is slightly longer in the hull.

It also has a recognizable gap between its front set of road wheels and the rear set. Triangular-

shaped access doors are in this lower hull space on both sides of the vehicle. They provide side entrance and exit for troops. (The BTR-GOPB has

only top hatches.) Also, the wave deflector attaches differently on the BTR-70 than on the BTR-60PB

The BTR-70has two upgraded, &cylinder, 120-hp gasoline engines.

FM 100-2-3

Like the BTR-60PB,the BTR-70 has good crosscountry capability, high road speed, and large troop-carrying capacity. The redesigned seating arrangement allows the troops to sit back-to-back, facing outward. The vehicle's versatility and amphibious capability are also advantages. Its primary disadvantage is its relatively light armor protection, although the bow section reportedly may incorporate special layered armor.

FM 100-2-3

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier BTR-70 (continued)

Modified BTR-70 M1986/1

REMARKS:

The BTR-70 was first seen in 1978; thus, i t

received the preliminary designation BTR M1987. A BTR-70 variant (M1986/1) appeared in the

October 1986 Moscow parade . This vehicle mounted the following equipment: the modified high-angle-of-fire turret used on the BTR-80; a

modified wave deflector, rear bumpers, and headlight brush guards; rooftop firing ports (this included two on each side, mounted in chamfered

edges of the hull roofj; and brackets which the Soviets may possibly use to attach additional armor to the sides of the vehicle.

Amphibious Armored P e r s o n n e l C a r r i e r BTR-80

DESCRIPTION:

The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC. It has a 260-hp, V-8, turbocharged, watercooled, diesel engine. The reconfigured rear portion of the hull accommodates a new, single engine. The Soviets removed the roof chamfers of the modified BTR-70,raised the rear, and squared off the rearward-sloping engine compartment.

CAPABILITIES:

The Soviets modified the truncated cone turret used on the BTR-70for the BTR-80 by redesigning the mantlet. This allows the 14.5-mm and coaxial 7.62-mm machine guns to be elevated to a maximum of 60 degrees. This high angle of fire is useful in engaging targets on steep mountainsides, such a s those in Afghanistan. It may also give the BTR-80 increased air defense capability. The Soviets have also modified the design and positioning of the firing ports; the ports are now round, rather than tear-shaped, and have ball mounts similar to those used on the BMP. The forward firing ports now sit i n angled recesses which allow the individual weapons to fire to the front of the vehicle.

The redesigned side doors are split horizontally. The upper portion opens forward; this gives dismounting troops some protection against small arms fire from the front of the vehicle. The lower portion opens down, forming a step. Six smoke grenade projectors are mounted on the rear of the

turret. Armor protection, particularly in the frontal 60-degreearc, has probably increased.

LIMITATIONS:

The side firing ports are angled forward. This design prevents mounted infantrymen from engaging targets directly to the sides and rear of the vehicle with small arms fire.

REMARKS:

I n 1984, the Soviets began production of a dieselued variant of the BTR-70,which they called the BTR-80. The Soviets have retrofitted some BTR-70s with several of the improvements incorporated into the BTR-80, including the high-angle- of-fire turret.

L i g h tArmored V e h i c l e s		( T r a c k e d )
Light armored vehicle (tracked)characteristics					Light armored vehicle (tracked)armament characteristics
						BTR-50	BMP-1	B M P - 2	BMD-1	M T - L B	ACRV 1 V 1
	M A I N ARMAMENT				CALIBER (mm)	127 (145)	7 3	30	13	7 62	12 7 (1V13A
	CHARACTERISTICS										1V16)
					NUMBER	I	I	1	I	I	I
					TYP E	open-mounted	smoothbore	automatic g u n	smoothbore	corret-mounted	curret-mounte
						heavy MG DShK	2A28	2A42	2A28	MG PKT	AAMG DShk
						(KPV)				360	INA
					TRAVERSE ( c )	90	360	360	360
					ELEVATION( c )	-10 to +80	-4 t o +33	-5 t o +74	-4 to +33	up to +3 0	INA
					RATE OF FIRE ( r d / m i n ) 540-600/80-100		8 / 2 3	550/200-300	8/23	650/250	5406001801
					Maximum/Sustained	(600/150)		(high/low cyclic)
					STABILIZATION	no	no	dual plane	n o	no	n o
					FIRE CONTRO L	reflex sight	image intensityimageintensity		intensity	optical s i g h	t
						(opticalsight)	ing. 1PN22M1	i n g BPK, -1-42	i n g ,1PN22M1	tracer,	API,API-T
					A M M U N I T I O(Type)N	T	HEAT FS,	Frag-T	HEAT FS,
						(AP). API-T,I l l	Frag-HE(FS)		Frag-HE(FS)
					MUZZLEVELOCITY
					(m/sec)
					API	840 (1,000)	NA	900	NA	855	840
				I	HEATFS	NA	700	NA	7 0 0	NA	N A
					. .	NA	700	900	700	NA	NA
					FRAGHEIFS
					MAZIMUMRANGE (in)*			INA	8001,000		7.000
					EFFECTIVE RANGE			3.000 AA/		1,000	1,000 AA /
					50% Ph (m)			2,000-4,000			1.500 ground
					ARMOR PENETRATION			ground**	300 (HEAT-FS	8 (5OO m )	201132
					(mm@ obliquity
										2,000
	CHARACTERISTICS				CALIBER (mm)				162
									MG,		NA
									2/bow MG
									2,0003,000	NA	N A
	A U	X I ALR MI AAM ER N YTTYPE					AT3/SAGGERor
	CHARACTERISTICS				YODEL
							AT-4/SPIGOTo r
							AT 5/SPANDREL****
					LAUNCH RAILS/TUBES
					BASIC LOAD (rd)	1
	FOOTNOTES		'Gun at4 5
			**1,000	meters directare at 2-m hightarget.
			***See MT-LB main armament and page			5 - 1 2

Amphibious Armored P e r s o n n e l C a r r i e r BTR-SOP

BTR-50PK

BTR-50PU command vehicle

DESCRIPTION:

The Soviets developed their first amphibious APC, the BTR-SOP, using the basic PT-76 light tank chassis and hull and then adding a n armored superstructure in place, of a turret. Since its intro-

duction, t h e BTR-SOP h a s spawned a series of variants. The BTR-50PA added a 14.5-mm KPV

heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the commander's cupola. The BTR-50PK added over-

head armor and limited radiological protection.

The BTR-50PU command uariant has the fol­ lowing features: a n armored roof; two projecting

bays normally on the front of the vehicle; a gen­ erator mounted on the rear deck (not on all models);

and extra antennas. It normally does not have

integral armament. The vehicle characteristics are essentially the same as those of the BTR-50P.

The MTK mineclearing vehicle is a modified BTR-50PK with the UR-67 explosive line charge. Another variant, designated MTP, serves as a n

amphibious armored maintenance support vehicle. (see p. 5-208.)

REMARKS:

The BTR-50P was introduced in 1954. I t is no longer in production. Newer BTRs and BMPs have largely replaced it in the Soviet Army.