Division of machines by purpose and annual standards for their operation.
Armored vehicles, depending on their purpose, are divided into armored weapons and armored vehicles
BTV: tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles
BTT: MTO, tractors, BREM
The group of combat vehicles includes tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, bases of these vehicles used for the installation (installation) of other types of military equipment. This group includes all command and control vehicles. It contains only new and overhauled machines, technically sound, equipped with the required equipment and spare parts, with an established minimum service life until the next repair.
The battle group's vehicles are contained most time in storage, periodically, usually no more than twice a year, in accordance with combat training plans, they are removed from storage and used in tactical exercises.
The group of combat training vehicles includes vehicles allocated from the combat group in accordance with the regulations “On the procedure for operating armored vehicles in peacetime for the daily training of troops.”
The number of vehicles in a combat training group is determined based on the calculation of the needs for vehicles necessary to ensure the implementation of the combat training program for troops.
The group of combat training vehicles includes combat vehicles with the most operating time, those of earlier production, and also those with the worst technical condition. Vehicles of this group are used for training crews and conducting tactical exercises for units. The use of combat training vehicles is organized to ensure constant combat readiness.
At least 60% of vehicles in a combat training group must have a service life
at least 1,000 km before the next repair.
The group of construction vehicles includes mobile vehicles Maintenance and repair of armored vehicles, tank tractors, ARVs, MTO. It contains new and overhauled, technically sound, with an established irreducible service life until the next repair. Are in storage. Used to support tactical exercises of units and formations, training in overcoming water barriers, as well as to ensure fire prevention measures.
The group of combat training vehicles includes vehicles of the same type, used in repair units and units for training specialists and ensuring the operation of armored vehicles.
Groups of combat and combat vehicles contain only new and overhauled, technically sound vehicles, equipped with the required equipment and spare parts, with an established minimum service life:
Tanks; BMP; ARV – 3,500 km;
armored personnel carrier; – 10,000 km.
Installation procedure for the T-72 drive wheel.
1. Wipe dry the journal of the final drive shaft, the inner cone and install it on the final drive shaft.
2. Liberally lubricate the unpainted surfaces of the labyrinth, the splines of the drive wheel and the final drive shaft with Litol 24 lubricant.
3. Mount the drive wheel and install it on the shaft
4. Wipe the outer cone dry, install it on the final drive shaft and tap it until it fits tightly. Fill the holes in the outer cone with ZZK-3u putty, and the final drive shaft with Lithod 24 lubricant.
5. Place the rubber ring on the drive wheel mounting plug. Lubricate the thread and end of the plug with lubricant. Install the toothed washer on the pins of a special key to the drive wheel plug
6. Screw the plug into the final drive shaft and tighten it with a special wrench, making sure that the holes for the bolts in the toothed washer coincide with the holes in the drive wheel hub.
7. Install the toothed washer and secure it with bolts and spring washers
8. Place the gasket on the lubrication hole plug and screw it in until it stops. Seal the plug with wire
Ticket 26 1. Combat and technical characteristics of the BMP-2.
| Options | BMP-2 |
| Total information | |
| Weight in combat gear, t | 14+2% |
| Crew, people | 3 (7) |
| Overall height, mm | |
| Ground clearance, mm. | |
| Weapons: | |
| A gun: | 2A42 |
| Caliber, mm. | |
| Rate of fire, h/min. | 200-300 |
| Direct shot range, m BOD/KUM. | |
| Maximum sighting range, m | |
| Machine guns: | PCT |
| Coaxial PKT gun, mm. | 7,62 |
| Flare gun, mm. | |
| Ammunition: | |
| - cannon shots, total (AZ), pcs. | |
| - cartridges for PKT, pcs. | |
| - cartridges for on-board PC, pcs. | |
| - grenades for RPG-7, pcs. | |
| - hand grenades F-1, pcs. | |
| - cartridges for a signal pistol | |
| Mobility and permeability: | |
| Travel speed, km/h: | |
| - average on a dirt road | 40-50 |
| - maximum on the highway | |
| - afloat | |
| Power reserve: | |
| - on main fuel tanks, km. | Up to 600 |
| - capacity of fuel tanks, l. | |
| Obstacles to be overcome: | |
| - max elevation angle, degrees. | |
| - ditch width, m. | 2,5 |
| - wall height, m. | 0,7 |
| - ford depth | float |
| - water preg. With OPVT width/depth, (m) | float |
| Power point: | |
| - engine brand | UTD-20S1 |
| - engine's type | diz |
| - engine power, kW/hp. | |
| Special equipment: | |
| - protection system against weapons of mass destruction | GROOVE |
| - fire-fighting equipment | PPO |
| -camouflage means | TDA |
| - equipment for underwater driving | float |
General design of the BTR-80 chassis.
Chassis The BTR-80 has an 8x8 wheel arrangement with two pairs of front steerable wheels. The vehicle's suspension is independent, wishbone, torsion bar, with double-acting telescopic shock absorbers. Wheels with split rim. KI-80N tires are tubeless, thick-walled, bulletproof, with adjustable pressure. Allows short-term movement without excessive pressure. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a centralized tire pressure control system. Working pressure - 50-300 kPa. The BTR-80 can continue to move even if one or two wheels fail completely. Braking systems: service (acts on all 8 wheels), parking (acts on the transmission), anti-roll device (locks the transmission).
Movement on water is ensured by the operation of a single-stage, single-shaft water-jet propulsion unit with a four-blade propeller. When moving on land, the outlet window of the water cannon is closed by an armored flap: when moving on water, closing the flap leads to the direction of water into the reverse channels and the creation of reverse thrust or braking force on the water. To control an armored personnel carrier on water, the vehicle's front steered wheels and water rudders are used, located in the box of the vehicle's afloat control unit.
In our country, over the past few decades, a large number of different armored personnel carriers have been created. Despite the differences in technical appearance and characteristics, all these machines had a common purpose. All domestic and foreign armored personnel carriers are designed to transport personnel with weapons. In addition, the “duty” of an armored personnel carrier on the battlefield is to provide fire support for fighters. Creation domestic armored personnel carriers accompanied by the constant development of their weapons. From the late forties to the present day, the armament of domestic armored personnel carriers has come as far as the vehicles themselves for which they were created.
BTR-40
The first domestic serial armored personnel carrier, the BTR-40, was created in the late forties, taking into account the operating experience of American M3 Scout Cars, which affected the main features of its appearance. This “origin” of the BTR-40 also influenced its armament. The base vehicle of this model carried defensive weapons in the form of one SGMB machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. Depending on the situation, the armored personnel carrier shooter could install a machine gun on one of four mounts. There were transverse rods on the front and rear hull plates, and swivel brackets on the sides. Initially, the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier carried devices for mounting machine guns of different designs, but in the mid-fifties, during the next modernization, all brackets were unified. It was intended to install the machine gun on the bracket only in a combat situation. In the stowed position, it was located in the troop compartment, on the left wheel arch.
When installing the SGMB machine gun on the front plate mount, the shooter could fire at targets located within a horizontal sector 160° wide. The permissible reduction was limited to 13-15 degrees, the maximum elevation depended on the design of the machine gun and the ease of its use. The machine gun's side mounting points made it possible to control sectors 140° wide, and the rear unit - 180°. Thus, when moving the machine gun from place to place, almost all-round fire was ensured. Naturally, moving weapons in a combat situation was very difficult.
The SGMB machine gun was fed using belts with 250 rounds of ammunition. In the fighting compartment of the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier there was space for five boxes of ammunition, each containing one belt. The total transportable ammunition consisted of 1250 rounds of ammunition. In addition, to defend an armored personnel carrier, the shooter could use 8 fragmentation grenades and 2 anti-tank grenades.
In 1951, an anti-aircraft version of the combat vehicle called the BTR-40A appeared. In the troop compartment of this vehicle was located anti-aircraft gun ZPTU-2, equipped with two KPV machine guns of 14.5 mm caliber. The elevation angles of the machine gun mount from -5° to +90° made it possible to fire at both air and ground targets. The ammunition load of the two machine guns consisted of 1200 rounds. It should be noted that the ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft gun occupied almost the entire volume of the troop compartment, which is why the former armored personnel carrier was completely deprived of its transport capabilities.
In the mid-fifties, a version of the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier with a completely enclosed body was developed. The BTR-40B armored vehicle received a troop compartment roof with two double-leaf hatches. The hatches were located in the front and rear parts of the roof and were intended for the shooter. To fire, it was necessary to open one of the hatches and install the machine gun on the corresponding bracket. The shooter of the BTR-40B armored personnel carrier could use only two brackets, on the front and rear hull sheets.
BTR-152
Simultaneously with the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier, a similar purpose vehicle, the BTR-152, was created. The design of these two armored vehicles used a noticeable number of common components and assemblies, including weapons. The BTR-152 armored personnel carrier was armed with one SGMB machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. The weapon mounting systems were similar to those used on the BTR-40. The shooter could fire using one of four brackets on the front, rear or side plates of the hull. The aiming angles and ammunition volumes did not differ from the corresponding parameters of the BTR-40.
In the early fifties, an anti-aircraft version of the BTR-152 combat vehicle was created under the name BTR-152A. Like the BTR-40A, this vehicle was equipped with a ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft machine gun mount with 14.5 mm KPV machine guns. In terms of its characteristics, this weapon was similar to that of the BTR-40A. Despite the relatively large volumes of the troop compartment, the BTR-152A still did not retain its transport function.
In the second half of the fifties, the BTR-152, like the BTR-40, acquired an armored roof. There were three hinged hatches in the roof, two of which could be used by the shooter. As in the case of the BTR-40, the modification of the armored personnel carrier with a roof retained only two brackets for mounting the SGMB machine gun.
BTR-50P
The BTR-50P armored personnel carrier, adopted in 1954, had the same weapons as previous vehicles of this class. The crew of the armored vehicle had one 7.62-mm SGMB machine gun. After the modernization of the late sixties, all armored personnel carriers of this family were re-equipped with PKB machine guns. Both types of machine guns could be mounted on one of two brackets: on the front and rear plates of the troop compartment.
Devices for installing the SGMB machine gun were unified with units of armored personnel carriers of previous models. Thanks to this, the BTR-50P gunner could fire at fairly wide sectors in the front and rear hemispheres. The armored personnel carrier's machine gun used 250-round belts. The transportable ammunition included five belts - 1250 rounds.
There are known attempts to install heavy-caliber DShKM and KPV machine guns on the BTR-50P armored personnel carrier. Despite the great firepower, such options for equipping armored vehicles did not become standard. It should be noted that there are photographs showing BTR-50P armored personnel carriers with large-caliber weapons, however, such machine guns were installed only for parades.
Over time, the BTR-50P armored personnel carrier received an armored roof and a new designation - BTR-50PK. After such modernization, the armament of the armored personnel carrier remained the same, and large hatches were provided in the roof for its use.
According to some reports, the BTR-50P, like previous domestic armored personnel carriers, could become the basis for anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. To do this, it was planned to mount a cabinet with a ZPTU-2 machine gun mount in the troop compartment. In addition, the option of using a four-barrel ZPTU-4 installation was considered. This technique did not go into production.
BTR-60
The BTR-60 armored personnel carrier, which is the direct “ancestor” of all subsequent domestic vehicles for this purpose, did not have a roof in its first modifications. For this reason, the armament of the armored vehicle was consistent with previous armored personnel carriers. The BTR-60 carried a SGMB machine gun mounted on one of three brackets. The brackets were located on the front plate and on the sides of the hull. The shooter had five belts with 1250 rounds at his disposal. There are images of BTR-60 armored personnel carriers with DShKM machine gun on the front bracket and two SGMB on the side, however, such photographs are “indicative” and do not reflect the realities of operation of the armored personnel carrier.
In the mid-sixties, the BTR-60 armored personnel carrier repeated the fate of the previous vehicle and acquired an armored roof. Initially, the armored vehicle had a roof, created taking into account developments from previous projects: a hatch was provided in the roof for using a machine gun. This version of the armored personnel carrier received the designation BTR-60A. Later series of this vehicle received new machine guns; instead of the SGMB, they were equipped with a 7.62 mm PCB.
The BTR-60PB project can be considered a real revolution in the field of armament of domestic armored personnel carriers. For the first time in Soviet practice, an armored personnel carrier received not brackets for attaching weapons, but a full-fledged rotating turret. A relatively small conical turret with a straight frontal plate made it possible to solve several problems that plagued armored personnel carriers of previous models. The armored turret protected the shooter from bullets and shrapnel, allowed weapons to be aimed more accurately, and could also carry more powerful weapon than a rifle caliber machine gun.
The turret of the BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier was equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The shooter could fire in any direction by rotating the turret, and also aim the weapon vertically within the range from -5° to +30°. To aim machine guns, it was proposed to use a PP-61 periscope optical sight with a magnification of 2.6x. The sight made it possible to fire from a large-caliber machine gun at distances of up to 2000 meters, from a PKT - up to 1500 m. The ammunition of the KPV machine gun consisted of 10 belts of 50 rounds each (a total of 500 rounds). The ammunition boxes for the PKT machine gun contained eight belts of 250 rounds each (2000 rounds).
BTR-70
In the early seventies, it entered service with the Soviet army. new armored personnel carrier BTR-70. This vehicle was created on the basis of developments under the BTR-60PB project. It was assumed that the new type of armored vehicle would be able to take over all the advantages of the base vehicle, but would be devoid of its disadvantages. Apparently, the turret with two machine guns was assigned to positive aspects armored personnel carrier BTR-60PB, as a result of which it was transferred to the BTR-70 without any major changes.
The armament and its characteristics remained the same, although the design of the turret underwent some changes related to manufacturing technology. In addition, it was proposed to install an upgraded PP-61AM periscope sight in the turret of the BTR-70 armored personnel carrier. The dimensions of the ammunition load and firing range remained the same.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some countries that were armed with BTR-70 armored personnel carriers made attempts to modernize them. A number of similar projects involved the use of new weapons, including new combat modules. Thanks to this, the BTR-70 was able to become a carrier of automatic cannons and grenade launchers, as well as anti-tank missiles. In the Russian armed forces, BTR-70 vehicles were operated with basic weapons.
BTR-80
The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier was intended to replace previous vehicles of a similar purpose. As a result, developments from previous projects were widely used in its design. For this reason, in the basic version, the BTR-80 armored vehicle was equipped with almost the same weapons as the BTR-60PB or BTR-70. On the roof of the vehicle they provided a conical turret of a “classic” design for domestic armored personnel carriers.
The armament of the first modification of the BTR-80 was borrowed from previous armored vehicles. The turret was equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The machine gun mounting systems have undergone some changes. New manually driven mechanisms made it possible to aim machine guns in a vertical plane within the range from -4° to +60°. The turret of the new armored personnel carrier received updated sighting devices. The BTR-80 shooter must use a 1P3-2 periscope optical sight with variable magnification (1.2x and 4x), providing a field of view with a width of 49 or 14 degrees. The ammunition load of the machine guns remained the same: 10 belts for 500 rounds of 14.5x114 mm cartridges and 8 belts for 2000 rounds of 7.62x54 mm R.
Taking into account the experience of the war in Afghanistan, a modification of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier with a new weapon system was created. The BTR-80A armored vehicle received a new combat module with more powerful weapons. The relatively small diameter of the turret ring of the base vehicle forced the authors of the BTR-80A project to use a gun monitor arrangement that was new for domestic armored personnel carriers. In pursuit of the BTR-80A vehicle, a rotating platform was mounted, on which there were supports and a swinging installation with weapons. The main weapon of the new model armored personnel carrier was the 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon. A 7.62-mm PKT machine gun was mounted on the same structure as the gun, and smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the weapon supports. The turret was equipped with 1PZ-9 (day) and TPNZ-42 (night) sights.
The ammunition load of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier turret consists of 300 rounds for an automatic cannon and 2,000 rounds for a machine gun. It should be noted that all turret components, including ammunition boxes, are located outside the hull, which is why a continuous supply of ammunition is used. The design of the tower allows weapons to be aimed in any direction. The elevation angle is limited to 70 degrees. Depending on the ammunition used, the BTR-80A’s weapons can hit targets at a range of up to 4 kilometers. Interesting feature turret with a 2A72 cannon and a PKT machine gun has a relatively high aiming line - 2.8 meters from the ground. This allows the crew of the armored personnel carrier, if necessary, to take cover behind walls or buildings, leaving the opportunity to monitor the situation and fire. When fighting in urban environments, such capabilities turn out to be very useful.
The turret of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier has a number of advantages over previous weapon systems, but the power of its weapons may be excessive for some combat missions. In addition, to install a heavy turret with an automatic cannon, it is necessary to modify the body of the base armored personnel carrier. In order to preserve the advantages of the monitor tower and provide the required characteristics, the BTR-80S armored personnel carrier was created. The turret of this combat vehicle is a modified version of the corresponding BTR-80A unit, but instead of a 30-mm automatic cannon it is equipped with a KPVT machine gun. The coaxial machine gun remained the same - PKT 7.62 mm caliber.
BTR-82
In the 2000s, several new modifications of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier were created. BTR-82 vehicles are equipped with new engines and a number of new equipment designed to improve their performance. As before, the armament complex of the new armored vehicles was made on the basis of the corresponding units of the previous equipment. The original monitor-mounted turret, created for the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier, has been improved and is installed on new modifications of vehicles.
The BTR-82 armored personnel carrier is armed with a turret with a KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT. The general features of the turret design, without major changes, were borrowed from the combat module of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier. KPVT and PKT machine guns have 500 and 2000 rounds of ammunition, respectively. The supply of ammunition to each of the machine guns is carried out using one belt. To improve shooting accuracy, the weapon is equipped with a two-plane stabilizer. Separate day and night sights have been replaced by the TKN-4GA combined device.
The BTR-82A armored personnel carrier carries a 30 mm automatic cannon and a PKT machine gun. The weapon is stabilized in two planes. The cannon and machine gun's ammunition remained the same as on the BTR-80A - 300 shells and 2,000 rounds. The turret of the BTR-82A vehicle is equipped with a sight similar to that used on an armored personnel carrier with machine gun armament.
BTR-90
In the early nineties, the new domestic armored personnel carrier BTR-90 was presented for the first time. This fighting machine was created taking into account the experience of recent wars and was supposed to significantly increase combat effectiveness motorized rifle units. In 2011, the Ministry of Defense finally abandoned the purchase of BTR-90 in favor of promising equipment currently being created. Nevertheless, the armament of an armored personnel carrier that did not go into production is of great interest.
Experienced option
For the first time in domestic practice, it was proposed to equip an armored personnel carrier with a two-man turret with a developed weapon system. In its design and equipment, the BTR-90 turret was to some extent reminiscent of the turret of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle. The main armament of the BTR-90 was supposed to be a 2A42 automatic cannon of 30 mm caliber. A PKTM machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber was to be installed on the same mechanisms with the gun. The barreled weapon had a two-plane stabilizer. A launcher for the 9K113 Konkurs anti-tank missile system was installed on the roof of the turret of the promising armored personnel carrier. The gunner had at his disposal a combined (day and night) sight BPK-Z-42. At the request of foreign customers workplace The gunner could be equipped with a BPK-M sight with a French-made thermal imager. In addition, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a special 1P3-3 anti-aircraft sight.
BTR-90 with reinforced armor
The turret mechanisms made it possible to aim the weapon 360° in the horizontal plane and from -5° to +75° in the vertical plane. The ammunition load of the automatic cannon consisted of 500 rounds, the coaxial machine gun - of 2000 rounds. In addition, in the fighting compartment of the armored personnel carrier there was space to accommodate four transport and launch containers with 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank missiles. The weapon system used allowed the BTR-90 armored personnel carrier to hit enemy armored vehicles and fortifications with missiles at ranges of up to 4 kilometers. The 2A42 automatic cannon had an effective range for ground targets of up to 4 km, and for air targets - 2-2.5 kilometers.
BTR-D
In the mid-seventies, the airborne troops received a new airborne armored personnel carrier BTR-D. To facilitate the development and construction of new equipment, this project was carried out on the basis of the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle with extensive use of its components and assemblies. An armored personnel carrier for the Airborne Forces received two PKM machine gun installed in the troop compartment.
In the frontal plate of the troop compartment, located behind the driver's workplace, two hatches were provided through which it was supposed to fire from two PK machine guns. The paratroopers inside the combat vehicle must fire these weapons. The shooters have at their disposal 8 belts of 250 rounds each (1000 rounds per machine gun).
There is information about equipping a certain number armored personnel carriers BTR-D automatic grenade launchers AGS-17. This weapon was mounted on a bracket on the roof of the troop compartment. To fire a grenade launcher, the paratrooper gunner had to use one of the hatches in the roof. Also, some sources mention the existence of armored vehicles with a similar installation of machine guns.
BTR-MD and BTR-MDM
In the near future, the Airborne Forces should receive new equipment of several models. The basis for vehicles for various purposes, as stated, should be the BTR-MDM armored personnel carrier. This armored vehicle was created on the basis of the previous BTR-MD project. It is proposed to build new equipment for the Airborne Forces using existing and newly developed components and assemblies. Some components were borrowed from the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle and the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle.
Like the previous armored personnel carrier for airborne troops The BTR-MDM is armed with light machine guns. The armament of the BTR-MDM vehicle consists of a remote-controlled turret with a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun. The machine gun's ammunition is located in the box next to it. To aim the machine gun at the target, a 1P67M periscope sight is used. If necessary, the crew can fire from an additional frontal machine gun. Course setting for light machine gun The RPK is located in the frontal plate of the hull in its right half. In addition, there are four smoke grenade launchers on the front plate.
The future of armored personnel carrier weapons
Over the course of half a century, the armament of domestic armored personnel carriers has undergone major changes. The BTR-40 carried only one rifle-caliber machine gun, mounted on one of four brackets. If necessary, the machine gun could be moved to another place or removed and used separately. The latest models of armored personnel carriers have solid machine gun or cannon-machine gun armament, which is many times greater than that used on the first vehicles of this class. Recent developments in the field of armored vehicles for motorized rifle troops allow us to say with confidence that the development of weapons continues and is unlikely to stop.
IN last years The domestic and foreign defense industry is actively working to create new combat modules suitable for installation on equipment various models. Domestic enterprises are ready to provide the customer with combat modules various models, equipped with weapons of different types and classes. Depending on the wishes of the military, armored vehicles can carry machine guns, automatic cannons, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles. In addition, all current combat modules are equipped with modern sighting devices.
It is the universal combat modules that currently look the most convenient and effective means armament of armored vehicles for motorized rifle units. Such systems, which combine armor elements, weapons and various electronic equipment, make it possible to equip equipment with all the necessary systems, and also make it relatively easy to modernize it. As for the armament of future armored personnel carriers, it will most likely retain its basic features. There is reason to believe that such armored vehicles will continue to carry automatic cannons or heavy machine guns coaxial with rifle-caliber machine guns. In addition, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles can be included in the weapon systems.
However, only time will tell what the armament of future armored personnel carriers will look like. Demonstration of new domestic technology this class should take place in the coming years.
Based on materials from sites:
http://otvaga2004.ru/
http://army-guide.com/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://all-tanks.ru/
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://btvt.narod.ru/
http://army.lv/
http://alternathistory.org.ua/
The BTR-80 is the most widespread and most popular wheeled armored personnel carrier in the Russian army. He began his military service on the fiery roads of Afghanistan.
At the beginning of the 1980s, the BTR-70 became the main armored personnel carrier in the Soviet army, launched into mass production in 1976. However, experience in operating these vehicles soon showed that, despite considerable improvements compared to the earlier BTR-60PB, most of the shortcomings of the predecessor remained almost unchanged.
CREATION
To eliminate these shortcomings, a new armored personnel carrier GAZ-5903 was designed in the design bureau of the Gorky Automobile Plant under the leadership of I. S. Mukhin and E. M. Murashkin in the early 1980s. While maintaining the overall layout of the BTR-70, the new vehicle featured a number of changes. Instead of two carburetor engines, one diesel engine of higher power was installed, and large double hatches were installed in the sides of the hull for boarding and disembarking the crew. The body itself has become 115 mm taller and longer and 100 mm wider, although the overall height of the car has increased only by 30 mm.
The desire to provide the crew with the ability to fire from under the protection of armor was further developed, for which the usual embrasures, closed by flaps, in the sides of the hull were replaced by ball installations turned forward. This decision, coupled with the so-called active deployment of troops, provided the vehicle with an unprecedented concentration of firepower in the front
hemisphere.
The armored personnel carrier's armor was slightly strengthened, but despite this, the weight of the GAZ-5903 increased by 18% compared to the BTR-70, from 11.5 to 13.6 tons. Thanks to the installation of a more powerful engine, the vehicle's mobility remained unchanged and its range remained unchanged. increased. After successful state tests GAZ-5903 was adopted by the Soviet army under the designation BTR-80.
PRODUCTION AND MODERNIZATION
The manufacturer of the new vehicle was identified as AMZ - the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant (until September 1983 - the Arzamas Automotive Parts Plant PO GAZ), where the BTR-70 armored personnel carrier had been mass-produced since 1981. The first production BTR-80 left the factory floor on February 24, 1984.
10 years later - in 1994 - the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier (GAZ-59029) was put into service. Work on the creation of this machine was carried out by GAZ JSC under the leadership of A. G. Masyagin. Its main difference from the BTR-80 is its turret-mounted cannon and machine gun mount, designed to combat ground and low-flying air targets. The turret mount houses a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon and a coaxial PKT machine gun. Vertical pointing angles from -5° to +70°. Ammunition capacity: 300 shells and 2000 rounds. All weapons are placed on a carriage located outside the habitable compartment, which reduces gas contamination when firing. The BTR-80A is equipped with a 1PZ-9 day sight and a TPN-3-42 “Crystal” tank night sight, which allows it to hit targets at a range of up to 900 m at night. The combat weight of the vehicle has increased to 14.5 tons. Simultaneously with the BTR-80A The BTR-80S was developed - a version of the BTR-80A for internal troops. Instead of a 30-mm cannon, it is equipped with a KPVT heavy machine gun. However, due to the complete lack of photographs of this combat vehicle, it is difficult to say whether it was mass-produced.
The BTR-80 is designed according to the same layout as its predecessors BTR-60 and BTR-70: in the front part of the hull there is a control compartment, behind it there is a troop compartment and in the rear part of the hull there is a motor-transmission compartment.
The sealed, completely enclosed body of the armored personnel carrier is welded from rolled steel armor plates located at large angles of inclination to the vertical. It protects the crew and paratroopers from manual bullets small arms 7.62 mm caliber, and the frontal armor is from 12.7 mm caliber bullets.
CASE LAYOUT
The control compartment has seats for the driver and commander of the vehicle. They have periscope surveillance devices at their disposal. The right side of the front plate is equipped with a ball support for firing from a machine gun. Access to the control compartment is through two hatches in the roof of the hull. Behind the driver's and commander's seats there are single seats for one of the landing infantrymen and the gunner of the turret machine gun mount.
The main part of the landing force - six fully equipped infantrymen - is located facing the sides on two seats mounted in the troop compartment along the longitudinal axis of the hull. For firing by paratroopers, there are seven embrasures on the sides of the hull, made with a turn along the course, and two of them are intended for firing from machine guns.
The embrasures are equipped with ball bearings, allowing them to fire without depressurizing the troop compartment in contaminated terrain.
There is also one embrasure for upward firing in both armored roof hatches of the troop compartment. In addition to two hatches in the roof of the hull, double doors are used on both sides of the armored personnel carrier for landing and dismounting troops. One door leaf folds up, and the other goes down and forms a step, so that, if necessary, landing and dismounting of troops can be done while the vehicle is moving.
WEAPONS
The main armament of the BTR-80 consists of a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun.
The machine guns are installed in a conical turret with guidance angles of 360° horizontally and from -4° to +60° vertically. To illuminate targets when firing at night, an IR illuminator is mounted on the console of the machine gun mount.
Smoke grenade launchers of the 902B “Tucha” system are installed on the rear wall of the turret, and in the roof there is a TNPT-1 device, designed for the turret gunner to monitor the road and terrain located in the rear viewing sector.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
The power plant of the BTR-80 consists of one diesel eight-cylinder V-shaped four-stroke liquid-cooled KamAZ-7403 engine with a turbocharged supercharger with a capacity of 260 hp. With. at 2600 rpm, working volume 10850 m³. The placement of one engine instead of two also entailed changes in the design of transmission units. It includes a dry double-disc clutch, a five-speed gearbox with synchronizers in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th gears, and a cardan transmission. Instead of two transfer cases, one interaxle two-stage transfer case is installed with differential torque distribution into two flows (on the 1st - 3rd and on the 2nd - 4th axles) and forced differential locking. Locking devices ensure that downshifts are engaged and the center differential is locked only when the front axles are engaged. In order to prevent breakdowns when overloading transmission elements (with a locked differential), the transfer case has a friction clutch - a limiting torque clutch. The transfer case is equipped with a power take-off box for the water-jet propulsion unit and winch.
The main gears of the drive axles are with cam limited-slip differentials. Wheel gearboxes are single-stage, with helical spur gears.
Wheels with split rims and tubeless bulletproof pneumatic tires KI-80 or KI-126 size 13.00-18. The air pressure in the tires is adjustable from 0.5 to 3 kg/m2, independent torsion bar suspension, hydraulic, telescopic, double-acting shock absorbers, two each for the wheels of the 1st and 4th axles and one each for the wheels of the 2nd and 4th axles. 3rd axles, wheels of the 1st and 2nd axles are steerable. Centralized system regulating the air pressure in the tires allows the driver, depending on the driving conditions, to set the appropriate tire pressure, which ensures low specific ground pressure and thereby high off-road capability, comparable to tracked vehicles.
Work on a new armored personnel carrier began in the first half of the 1980s at the design bureau of the Gorky Automobile Plant. The new car received the factory designation GAZ-5903.
Armored personnel carrier BTR-80 early releases
In 1986, after successful factory and state tests, the GAZ-5903 armored personnel carrier was adopted under the designation BTR-80 for service with the Soviet Army. The manufacturing company was determined to be AMZ - Arzamas Machine-Building Plant.
The BTR-80 (GAZ-5903) is a modernized version of the BTR-70. The layout of the vehicle is the same as that of its predecessors: in the front part of the hull there is a control compartment, behind it is the troop compartment and in the aft part is the engine and transmission compartment. The sealed, completely enclosed body was welded from rolled steel armor plates located at large angles of inclination. It protected the crew and paratroopers from small arms bullets of 7.62 mm caliber and shell fragments, and the frontal armor also protected from bullets of 12.7 mm caliber.
The control compartment has seats for the driver and commander of the vehicle. The area is monitored through inspection hatches covered with armored covers and periscope observation devices. An instrument panel, controls, a radio station and an intercom are also installed. On the right side of the front plate there is an embrasure with a ball support for firing from a machine gun. Access to the control compartment is through two hatches in the roof of the hull.
Late production armored personnel carrier BTR-80
In the middle part of the hull and turret of the armored personnel carrier there is fighting compartment. Here, immediately behind the commander’s and driver’s seats, there are two single seats for one of the landing infantrymen and the gunner of the turret machine gun mount. All production BTR-80 armored personnel carriers are equipped with an autonomous turret machine gun mount BPU-1, which contains a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The longest sighting range when firing from a KPVT machine gun at ground targets is 2000 m, from a PKT - 1500 m, at air targets from a KPVT - 1000 m. The KPVT's ammunition consists of 500 rounds, and the PKT's - from 2,000 rounds. Aiming machine guns vertically is possible in the range from -4° to +60°, horizontally - 360°. Guidance mechanisms are manual. For shooting, a 1PZ-2 sight is used, which ensures the destruction of both ground and air targets. To fire, the gunner sits on a suspended seat installed in the turret. On later production armored personnel carriers, an OU-3GA2M illuminator was installed on the console of the machine gun mount to illuminate targets when firing at night. On the rear wall of the turret there are 6 3D6 launchers of the 902V "Tucha" system for launching 81-mm smoke grenades. In addition, inside the BTR-80, 2 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 2 portable 9K34M Strela-2 air defense systems, an RPG-7 grenade launcher and 5 rounds for it are transported in packs.
Armored personnel carrier BTR-80A
The main part of the landing force - 6 fully equipped infantrymen - is located facing the side on two seats mounted in the troop compartment along the longitudinal axis of the hull. For firing by paratroopers, there are 7 embrasures in the sides of the hull and another in the front plate, which are equipped with ball bearings and observation devices. In addition, there is one embrasure for firing at high-lying targets in the armored roof hatches of the troop compartment. In addition to two hatches in the roof of the hull, double doors are used on both sides of the armored personnel carrier for landing and dismounting troops. One door leaf swings up, while the other swings down to form a step.
The power compartment is located in the rear part of the body; the engine, its servicing systems and transmission units are located. Unlike the BTR-70, the power plant on this vehicle consists of one diesel 8-cylinder V-shaped four-stroke liquid-cooled KamAZ-7403 engine with a turbocharger rated at 260 hp. at 2600 rpm. To make it easier to start the engine in cold weather, it is equipped with an electric torch device, which allows starting the engine at temperatures down to -20°C, and a pre-heater. The placement of one engine also entailed changes in the design of transmission units. It includes a dry double-disc clutch, a five-speed gearbox, and a cardan drive. Instead of two transfer cases, one interaxle two-stage one is installed with differential torque distribution into two flows (on the 1st - 3rd and on the 2nd - 4th axles) and forced differential locking. The transfer case is equipped with a power take-off box for the water-jet propulsion unit and winch.
120 mm self-propelled artillery piece 2S23 "Nona-SVK"
The chassis of the BTR-80 has an 8x8 wheel arrangement. Wheels with split rims and tubeless bulletproof pneumatic tires KI-80 or KI-126 sizes 13.00-18. The car can continue to move even if one or even two wheels completely fail. Independent torsion bar suspension, hydraulic shock absorbers, telescopic, double acting. The wheels of the 1st and 2nd axles are steerable.
The power plant allows a combat vehicle weighing 13.6 tons to reach a maximum speed on the highway of at least 80 km/h. Cruising range on the highway is 600 km.
Movement through water is provided by a single-stage water-jet propulsion unit with an impeller with a diameter of 425 mm. Maximum speed afloat - at least 9 km/h. The cruising range afloat at average operating conditions of the engine (1800 - 2200 rpm) is 12 hours. To remove sea water that has entered the hull when moving through water, the vehicle is equipped with an ejection drainage system and one centrifugal pump with an electric drive.
In April 1993, the installation of a YaMZ-238M2 diesel engine with a power of 240 hp was developed for an armored personnel carrier.
Command armored personnel carrier BTR-80K
(GAZ-59031)
The vehicles were equipped with radio stations R-123M and TPU R-124 (on vehicles of later releases - R-163-50U and R-174), means of protection against weapons of mass destruction (including FVU, radio reconnaissance device DP-3B, chemical reconnaissance VPKhR), automatic fire extinguishing system and winch for self-extraction.
During production, some changes were made to the design of the BTR-80. Thus, early BTR-80s had short landing rails on the sides, but later they were significantly lengthened. Around the driver's hatch, at first there were only three observation devices, then another one was added to the left. The configurations of the front and rear bumpers changed. On early BTR-80s, the front dampers had a round shape, but on later ones they became rectangular. The rear bumpers initially had large oval-shaped holes, later all the holes became round, etc.
In 1994, the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier (GAZ-59029) was put into service. Work on the creation of this machine was carried out by GAZ JSC. The main difference between the new modification and the BTR-80 is the turret cannon and machine gun mount.
Armored medical vehicle BMM-80
(GAZ-59039) "Symphony"
The installation houses a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon and a coaxial PKT machine gun. Vertical pointing angles from -5° to +70°. Ammunition - 300 shells and 2000 cartridges. All weapons are placed on a carriage located outside the habitable compartment. The BTR-80A is equipped with a 1PZ-9 day sight and a TPN-3-42 "Crystal" tank night sight, which allows it to hit targets at a range of up to 900 m at night. The combat weight of the vehicle has increased to 14.5 tons. The height has increased to 2800 mm . The removal of weapons from the manned compartments of the armored personnel carrier made it possible to increase the volume of the turret space, increase the convenience of the gunner and solve the problem of noise and gas pollution in the manned compartments during firing.
Simultaneously with the BTR-80A, the BTR-80S was developed - an option for internal troops. Instead of a 30 mm cannon, it is equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun. The KPVT ammunition load consists of 500 rounds, the PKT machine gun - 2000 rounds. Pointing angles in the horizontal plane are 360°, in the vertical plane from -5° to +70°.
Command and staff vehicle BTR-80KSh (GAZ-59032)
Since 1990, the troops have been receiving the 2S23 Nona-SVK self-propelled artillery gun (SAO). The BTR-80 chassis was used as the basis for its creation. The 120-mm 2A60 rifled gun is mounted in a conical welded turret made of aluminum alloy. The horizontal guidance angle is 70° (35° per side). Vertical guidance is possible within the range from -4° to +80°. Maximum rate of fire - 10 rounds/min. Firing from the self-propelled gun can only be carried out from a place, both from closed firing positions, and direct fire with 120-mm rounds with high-explosive fragmentation shells and 120-mm rounds with high-explosive fragmentation, illumination, smoke and incendiary mines. Maximum firing range high-explosive fragmentation projectile 3VOF54 - 8700 m, high-explosive fragmentation mine - 7100 m. The tower is equipped with a commander's cupola, on the roof of which a PKT machine gun is installed, intended for self-defense. The machine gun is connected by a rod to the TKN-3A device, which allows targeted shooting by controlling fire from the turret. The vehicle is equipped with a 902B “Cloud” smoke screen system.
Armored repair and recovery vehicle BREM-K (GAZ-59033)
Various combat vehicles were created on the basis of the BTR-80.
Command armored personnel carrier BTR-80K (GAZ-59031) is designed for the commander motorized rifle battalion. The combat crew consists of 6 people: crew 3 people. and 3 officers. Three workplaces are equipped for officers to work. The vehicle is equipped with two R-163-50U radio stations, an 11-m telescopic mast, TNA-4-6 navigation equipment with an indicator tablet, and two R-159 remote VHF radio stations.
Armored medical vehicle BMM-80 (GAZ-59039) "Symphony". In addition to the crew, it can transport 7 wounded in the medical department and 2 on the roof on stretchers. Depending on the composition of the medical and sanitary equipment, the BMM can be used for the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield (BMM-1), as a battalion first aid station (BMM-2) and a mobile dressing room with a medical team and an automatic dressing station AP-2 (BMM-3 ).
The BTR-80KSh command and staff vehicle (GAZ-59032), the armored repair and recovery vehicle BREM-K (GAZ-59033), the radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicle RKhM-4 (RKhM-4-01), the unified K1Sh1 chassis, short-wave radio station of the operational-tactical control level R-165B, mobile control points PU-12M6 and PU-12M7 of the air defense missile system battery, mobile command and observation post PKNP "Kushetka-B", satellite communication station and sound broadcasting station, artillery control vehicle 1V118 .
Radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicle
Command and staff vehicles based on the BTR-80 do not have weapons in the turret. They are equipped with special equipment in the form of automated workstations for command, operational personnel and communications specialists. The machines are equipped with personal computers. Communication means are capable of functioning both autonomously and as part of communication nodes. The main means of communication consist of HF and VHF radio stations, small-sized satellite communication and navigation stations, etc.
The BRDM-3 reconnaissance and patrol vehicle was created on the basis of the BTR-80A. The combat crew of the vehicle is 6 people. The armament is identical to the BTR-80A. For reconnaissance, the vehicle is equipped with a radiological ground reconnaissance station, night binoculars, a mine detector, TNA-4-6 navigation equipment, additional funds communications.
Civil modifications were developed on the basis of the BTR-80 at the turn of the eighties and nineties.
Armored unified chassis
The floating all-terrain vehicle of universal use GAZ-59037, which had an onboard platform for 5 tons of cargo. On the chassis of this vehicle, a vehicle is produced with the installation of a GAZ-5903V Vertluga mobile fire extinguishing system, which is capable of extinguishing fires at a distance of 50 to 300 m at explosive and industrial sites in quick response mode. The vehicle delivers a crew (2 people), fire extinguishing agents (22 charges in barrels and 22 in canisters) and firefighting equipment to the fire site.
Another special vehicle GAZ-59038 is a floating vehicle with a hydraulic lift, which is designed for servicing power lines and performing various high-altitude works in difficult terrain. The lift provides work at a height of up to 18 m, has a load capacity of 250 kg and a cradle for 2 people.
An interesting car is the GAZ-5903Zh combined drive, which is capable of moving on a regular road, off-road, and along railway tracks, and is intended for repairing electrified contact networks railway tracks. It is equipped with a hydraulic tower with a lifting capacity of 500 kg and a lifting height of 8 m. The interior of the vehicle is designed for a crew of 8 people. The car can travel on the railway at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
In Romania, a copy of the BTR-80 was produced under the name Zimbru, which had minor differences from its Soviet prototype.
BTR-80s are in service in almost all CIS countries, as well as in Estonia, Hungary, Turkey, Indonesia (12 BTR-80A), Bangladesh and Sierra Leone.
The problem of transporting infantry and supporting it in battle has become acute Soviet army already during the Great Patriotic War. To solve these problems, armored personnel carriers were developed. However, initially their designs had many “childhood diseases”, which were quite difficult to cope with.
New solutions, as often happens, were prompted by the war. After the uprising in Budapest, they abandoned the open top of the armored personnel carrier, a legacy of the Great Patriotic War. The operation of the BTR-60 and its modifications led to, and the battles in Afghanistan revealed problems already with the “seventieth”. After modernizing this vehicle, the army received a new BTR-80.
History of creation
Fighting in the democratic republic of Afghanistan, many shortcomings of the BTR-70 were revealed. One of the main ones was the unreliable power system, two carburetor engines, paired and located in the rear of the armored personnel carrier.
In addition to the traditional disadvantages of gasoline engines in the army, gluttony was added even by army standards. Combat operations in the highlands also showed problems with power loss. The hatches on the body of the armored personnel carrier caused problems; it was difficult for the crew and motorized riflemen inside; it was difficult to quickly leave the vehicle.
Fire support on the battlefield was also scant. Combat experience has shown that the elevation angle of armored personnel carrier weapons is insufficient for firing in the mountains. The armor protection of the “seventy” was also insufficient. The water-jet system did not operate effectively; when crossing water bodies, it became clogged with silt, peat and algae.
The design group of the Gorky Automobile Plant, under the command of I. Mukhin and E. Murashkin, was tasked with modernizing the car in accordance with the requirements of the military.
The modernization turned out to be so deep that we can talk about a fundamentally new armored personnel carrier of domestic design.
The twin engine was replaced with one powerful one, KamAZ-740.3, a diesel engine with a turbocharger. The body was increased in comparison with the BTR-70 by 115 mm in height and length, by 100 mm in width. However, due to the reduction in ground clearance, the overall height of the car increased by only 30 mm.
The hull armor was strengthened; all changes led to an increase in the weight of the vehicle by 18%. If the BTR-70 weighed 11.5 tons, then the “eighty” recovered to 13.6 tons. After testing at testing grounds, in 1986 the new armored personnel carrier was officially put into service.
Design of the BTR-80
The layout of the machine consists of three parts. At the head there is a control compartment with a crew of a driver and commander. They are positioned like this: on the left is the Mech-Water, on the right is the commander. The middle part is occupied by the gunner-operator and seven landing personnel.
By the way, ten to twelve people can fit “on the armor.”
The landing force inside the vehicle is located on seating areas along the central axis, facing the sides for the most effective observation and shooting from personal weapons.
The landing force fires through embrasures with ball mounts. They are designed for firing angles from ±15 to ±25° from the central axis of the vehicle. The turret is controlled by a gunner operator, whose combat position is located in the suspended seat of the turret with circular rotation.
The commander of a motorized rifle squad sits in a separate seat immediately behind the driver and commander, and fires from an embrasure in the direction of the vehicle’s movement. Dead zones for landing - rear hemisphere and front left side, behind the driver.
The engine in this armored personnel carrier is located in the tail section. The designers placed several small access hatches on the hull to allow quick access to the components and mechanisms of the power plant and transmission.
The vehicle's armor is bulletproof and poorly differentiated. The body is assembled from rolled steel sheets, joined by welding, the armor thickness is 5-9 mm. The body is streamlined for better passage of water obstacles, the sheets are installed at different angles of inclination to increase protection during shelling.
The middle frontal sheet is covered with a special shield-wave reflector.
In the raised position, it protects the driver's sight glass from being overwhelmed by waves when moving afloat.
New, wide two-piece doors to the troop compartment were installed. The upper half folds to the side and is fixed with a spring delay; the lower half, in the open position, forms a step, a kind of ramp, and facilitates landing from a moving vehicle.
The vehicle's armament is paired: a large-caliber (14.5 mm) KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT. The weapon is placed in a small armored turret for all-round firing, the installation is trunnion-mounted, the elevation angle ranges from −4 to +60°.
The weapon unit is aimed and the turret is rotated manually. Aiming is provided by the 1PZ-2 periscope sight. Monocular optics allows you to cover a KPVT target at a distance of up to 2000 m, PKT up to 1500 m. The ammunition stowage includes 500 cartridges in boxes for KPVT and 2000 for PKT.
Surveillance is carried out through periscopes. The driver has three TNPO-115 periscopes. For operations at night, the use of infrared headlights and optical device.
Visibility through observation devices at night, depending on conditions, varies from 60 to 120 meters.
The commander's visibility is provided by a combined type TKN-3 viewing device; for use at night, an OU-3GA2M searchlight with an infrared filter is installed on the vehicle body, which ensures operation in active mode and a visibility range of up to 400 meters.
The operator-gunner is provided with all-round surveillance: front and rear viewing periscopes of the TNP type and a sight. Six additional technical equipment are additionally installed in the troop compartment to provide paratroopers with visibility.
Communication is provided by R-123 radio stations on early episodes machines, later they were replaced by more advanced R-173. In addition, during the modernization, simplex radio stations R-163 were installed on some of the vehicles. Internal communication is provided by R-124, designed for three subscribers.
Modernization and comparison with foreign analogues
Over its many years of service, the BTR-80 has been modernized several times. The following types of vehicles are found in the Russian army:
- command post vehicle, additionally equipped with radio communications and terrain positioning equipment; in addition, part of the BTR-80K was released as mobile control posts missile launches;
- BTR-80A, a modernized version with an uninhabited combat module with a 30 mm 2A72 cannon. Instead of a turret with a pair of machine guns;
- BTR-80M, with a reinforced YaMZ-238 engine, as well as tires with increased bullet resistance and longer housings;
- BTR-80AM, YaMZ-238 engine and uninhabited combat module.
In addition to Russia, these transporters are in service in 26 countries around the world. Not only Russians like to improve, so there are options that are adjusted even to NATO standards. Hungarian developers have achieved the greatest success in this field:
- BTR-80 SKJ – specialized medical vehicle;
- BTR-80 VSF - for RCBZ troops;
- BTR-80 MVJ – a tow truck for equipment damaged on the battlefield with the possibility of simple repairs on site;
- BTR-80 MPAEJ – device for repair and maintenance;
- BTR-80 MPFJ – engineering and technical modification.
In addition to Hungary, a lot of work was done on the “eighty” in Poland and Ukraine. The attention with which engineers treat this vehicle speaks of its enormous potential for modernization and importance in military affairs.
The use of the BTR-80 in Afghanistan and other conflicts did not greatly interest the American military, accustomed to tracked transporters. The situation was changed by the famous Throw on Pristina, which showed the advantage of wheeled vehicles over tracked vehicles in such operations.
As a result, the US Army received the M1126 Stryker, which is based on the Swiss “Piranha” armored personnel carrier and our “eighty”. Comparative tests, meanwhile, showed that Americans have serious problems. Due to the heavy weight of the vehicle and the features of the transmission, the Stryker is more likely to get stuck in the mud.
If a mine tears off a couple of wheels on a domestic armored personnel carrier, it is quite capable of getting to its own.
The American, despite having the same 8 wheels, gets up after losing at least one of them.
Combat use of the BTR-80
From the moment the first vehicles entered service with the troops, they immediately occupied their rightful niche. Not a single military clash that has occurred since 1986 on the territory under the jurisdiction of the USSR, Russia and allied countries has occurred without at least the indirect participation of the BTR-80.
The armored personnel carrier, the workhorse of any conflict, ensured the fast and relatively safe delivery of manpower to the scene of a collision. She also supported the infantry with the fire of her machine guns, and, if necessary, evacuated wounded soldiers.
An indicative case of the competent use of the qualities of the BTR-80 can be seen in the events of August 1996.
In Grozny, units of internal troops were blocked on Minutka Square. There was no possibility of evacuating seriously wounded soldiers. One of the officers, Major Larin, decided to make his way with the wounded on an armored personnel carrier.
Having accelerated, Larin and his crew make their way through the first ring of encirclement, but it was necessary to drive through the entire city. The commander orders false smoke to be lit on the turret of the armored personnel carrier before the next barrier of militants. At the same time, the vehicle is attacked from several sides by grenade launchers.
One of the grenades, having torn off the boxes attached to reinforce the armor on board, explodes near the hull without damaging the engine. The commander orders the driver to slow down without turning off the engine and slowly stop the car. At the same time, the lights flare up, and the complete impression of the machine being defeated is created.
According to Larin’s recollections, the militants rose in full height, expecting stunned and burned soldiers to climb through the hatches. Instead, the crew turns the KPVT towards the attackers. A burst from a machine gun is accompanied by an order to pick up speed again. This trick made it possible to escape from the encirclement and deliver the wounded to the hospital.
In other wars skillful hands and a clear head made it possible to use the maneuverability and power of armored personnel carriers with all efficiency.
Trace in culture
The BTR-80, one of the most popular vehicles of recent decades, has made a huge contribution to cinema and video. Everything that is, in one way or another, related to combat operations will definitely be shown by the BTR-80 sooner or later. Thanks to its characteristic silhouette, it is impossible to confuse this car.
It’s interesting that you can see the device not only in movies, but also in numerous videos of music performers.
With a high degree of probability, if they want to depict “something military” in their creations, then the hard worker BTR-80 will appear there. These machines are often used in small towns on Victory Day.
If you really want to, you can not only fly into space, but also build an BTR-80 yourself and put it on a shelf at home. The Russian company “Zvezda”, as well as the Chinese “Trumpeter” and the Italian “ITALERY” and many others are producing prefabricated models of the BTR-80.
Products enjoy in great demand in China. Eastern neighbors, passionate about the reconstruction of Soviet and Russian armies in Afghanistan and Chechen war, are no less interested in this technology than Russians.
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