Btr 80 vehicle weight. Heavy armored personnel carriers from different countries

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 a machine gun 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 there was a ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft gun, 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, but 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 new type armored vehicles will be able to take over all the advantages of the base vehicle, but will be deprived 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. Common features The turret design, without major changes, was 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 created based on experience recent wars and should have significantly increased 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. On the roof of the turret of a promising armored personnel carrier they provided launcher anti-tank missile complex 9K113 "Competition". 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 sighting range for ground targets up to 4 km, 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 development and construction new technology 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 has light machine gun armament. 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 recent years, domestic and foreign defense industry is actively working on the creation of new combat modules suitable for installation on vehicles various models. Domestic enterprises are ready to provide the customer with combat modules of various models equipped with weapons 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 universal combat modules that currently look like the most convenient and effective means of arming armored vehicles for motorized rifle units. Similar systems that combine armor elements, weapons and various radio-electronic equipment, allow you 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 mid-50s were a difficult time for armored personnel carriers of all the armies of the world. Because new tactics conducting combat operations required motorized infantry not only to constantly accompany tank formations, but also often to go in front of them. Wheeled armored personnel carriers of those years could not cope with such a task, so in many countries they were completely abandoned in favor of tracked vehicles. Soviet Union I decided to continue the tradition of producing combat vehicles on wheels.

The history of the BTR-80

At the end of the 50s, a number of Soviet design bureaus were tasked with creating a new armored personnel carrier. This vehicle had to keep up with tracked vehicles, and even surpass them in cross-country ability and speed. After the competition was announced, several interesting specimens were created from different manufacturers:

• ZIL-153, which had only three pairs of wheels, an armored body and a torsion bar suspension. It turned due to the front and rear wheels, which were movable. This vehicle was capable of not only staying afloat, but also moving through the water using an additional jet engine;
• An interesting model was presented by mechanical engineers from Bryansk. Main feature its device had a hydropneumatic suspension that could change the ground clearance up to 300 mm. This combat vehicle was planned to be armed with a 73 mm cannon;
• The most successful option turned out to be an armored personnel carrier created at the GAZ design bureau. The combat vehicle, called “49”, was put into service already in 1959. In 1961, mass production began. The Gorky armored personnel carrier received a new name - BTR-60P.

The BTR-60P armored personnel carrier received an open-top body made of armor plates. To protect from precipitation, the open top was covered with an awning. The weapon used was the SGMB machine gun, which was installed on the machine. The machine gun could be installed in several positions, since special brackets were provided for this:

• When the combat vehicle was moving, the machine gun was attached to the front plate;
• If the armored personnel carrier was in battle, then the machine gun could be mounted either in front or on the side.

In 1963, the BTR-60P was modernized, resulting in a completely enclosed body with 4 hatches for landing troops. In the same year, the BTR-60PB appeared, which received a conical turret with two coaxial machine guns.

After 9 years, a new model of armored personnel carrier was created - the BTR-70. In 1976, it began to be mass produced. The main differences between the BTR-70 and its predecessor were the following changes:

• The BTR-70 was equipped with two new engines from the GAZ-66, which developed 115 hp each. every;
• Now the paratroopers in the back sat facing the sides, and not their backs, which reduced the preparation time for firing;
• Side hatches for paratroopers appeared;
• The gas tanks were placed in isolated compartments, which made it possible not to fear severe damage to the armored vehicle if one of the tanks exploded;
• Installed automatic system fire protection armored personnel carriers;
• An independent and separate brake drive appeared, which made it possible to brake if one of the brake systems was damaged;
• It became possible, if one engine failed, to drive with a second working one, since the power transmission could be turned off from the driver’s seat;
• Now they began to install two generators on the car.

The armament of the BTR-70 was similar to that of the BTR-60PB, only the models recent years release were equipped with a new turret, which made it possible to fire from a larger angle. BTR-70s are still in service in many CIS countries.

Technical characteristics and description of BTR-80

After the fighting in Afghanistan, it was decided to release a new model of an armored personnel carrier, the performance characteristics of which would better correspond to the combat missions assigned to this class of armored vehicles. New model called BTR-80. Since 1984, this model began to be produced instead of the outdated BTR-70.

The appearance and general layout of the BTR-80 is practically no different from its predecessor, the BTR-70. The commander and driver's workplaces are located in the front part of the armored personnel carrier. All surveillance devices and controls are also installed there.

The engine compartment is isolated from the general compartment by a solid partition. All equipment (engine, gearbox, fuel tanks, etc.) is located behind this partition. New engine KAMAZ-7403 was equipped with a turbocharger and developed 260 hp. The diesel engine made it possible to significantly reduce fuel consumption, which doubled the range. At the same time, the volume of fuel tanks remained at the same level. Thanks to the higher torque, the speed of the armored personnel carrier increased significantly.

Since a diesel engine is difficult to start at low temperatures, the designers of the BTR-80 installed a pre-start starter on the engine, which uses an electric torch device. To prevent water from entering the engine when overcoming water barriers, the air intake pipes were installed very high.

Since two engines were previously installed on armored personnel carriers of previous series, the transmission had to be adapted to one engine.

The transfer case transmits power to the winch and the jet engine (which is used to propel the armored personnel carrier on the water). Two parking brakes are installed on the transfer case.

The designers of the BTR-80 tried to make the transfer case so that parts and components from the BTR-70 could be installed on it. In addition, the following components from the previous model are perfectly installed on the BTR-80:

• Drive axles;
• Suspension elements;
• Steering;
• Brake system.

All these parts can be installed on the BTR-80 without modification, which is what the designers wanted, since making a completely new conveyor line from scratch is a very expensive undertaking.

The BTR-80 turned out to be a very maneuverable and mobile vehicle. This is due to the following factors:

• Powerful engine that provides high dynamics and maneuverability;
• All-wheel drive on all 8 wheels;
• Independent torsion bar suspension;
• High ground clearance;
• A tire pressure regulation system, thanks to which the armored personnel carrier can not only follow tanks off-road, but is also significantly ahead of them.

The combat vehicle is capable of driving even if two wheels fail. When hitting a mine, as a rule, only one of the wheels is damaged, after which the armored personnel carrier continues to move.

Armament of the BTR-80

The fighting compartment of the armored personnel carrier is located in the middle of the hull and turret. The armament of the BTR-80 consists of two coaxial machine guns:

• KPVT machine gun (Vladimirov heavy machine gun), 14.5 mm caliber. This machine gun is one of the most powerful machine guns, which have ever been used in the armies of the world. It combines armor-piercing anti-tank rifle and the rate of fire of a conventional machine gun. Capable of penetrating lightly armored targets;
• 7.62-mm PKT machine gun (Kalashnikov tank machine gun), which is coaxial with the main machine gun.

In addition to machine guns, the turret contains:

• Day sight;
• Viewing devices;
• Manual guidance devices.

The gunner himself sits on a special hanging seat, which is located under the turret. The gunner can accurately fire a heavy machine gun at a distance of about 2,000 meters. With a Kalashnikov machine gun, the sighting range is half that and is 1,000 meters. Also, a large-caliber machine gun is capable of firing at low-flying, low-speed targets, such as helicopters. The rate of fire of the Vladimirov heavy machine gun reaches 600 rounds per minute, and the Kalashnikov machine gun fires at a speed of up to 800 rounds per minute. Ammunition in belts is placed in cartridge boxes and amounts to 500 rounds of ammunition for the KPVT and 2,000 rounds of ammunition for the PKT.

Troops placed in an armored personnel carrier can fire without leaving it, since the BTR-80 is equipped with embrasures. In total, the hull has 7 embrasures, 2 of which allow machine gun fire. Hatches located on the roof are adapted for throwing grenades, firing hand-held missile systems and grenade launchers. There are special devices for launching smoke grenades, which allow you to create a dense smoke screen.

The body of the BTR-80 easily withstands 7.62 mm bullets and shell fragments. Frontal armor, traditionally stronger, can withstand bullets from a heavy machine gun.

The air ventilation system provides the crew and troops of the BTR-80 reliable protection from poisonous and radioactive substances. Thanks to 4 hatches and two double doors, the landing force is capable of landing and disembarking in a matter of seconds. When the lower door leaf is opened, a convenient step is created, allowing entry and exit while moving.

TTX BTR-80 has the following characteristics:

• The combat weight of the armored personnel carrier is 13,600 kilograms;
• The crew is 10 people;
• The maximum speed of the BTR-80 on land is 80 kilometers;
• The maximum speed on water is limited to 9 kilometers;
• On full tanks, the armored personnel carrier is capable of driving 600 kilometers or swimming 12.

BTR-80 are capable of solving any combat missions both in the conditions of the far north and in the sands of deserts.

Vehicles based on the BTR-80

Based on the BTR-80, a whole series of combat vehicles for various purposes was developed:

• Armored personnel carrier for command personnel;
• Artillery self-propelled gun 2S23 “Nona SVK”, which was developed in the late 80s and has been supplied to the army since 1990;
• Repair and recovery vehicle BREM-K, which is intended for repair units of motorized rifle troops. Its task includes towing and minor repairs of damaged armored personnel carriers and special vehicles based on the BTR-80. For this BREM-K is equipped with all the necessary equipment;
• RKhM-4 or reconnaissance chemical vehicle.

In 1994, designers developed a modified model of the BTR-80, which received the index BTR-80A. The new combat vehicle received all the advantages of the previous model, in addition, it was significantly improved firepower. Instead of a heavy machine gun on new car an automatic 30-mm cannon was installed. Ammunition is stored in the lower part of the armored personnel carrier's turret and amounts to 300 shells for the cannon and 2,000 for the machine gun. The gun is equipped with high-explosive fragmentation incendiary shells, fragmentation tracer and armor-piercing tracer shells. The first two types of shells can be used to fire at air and ground targets, and armor-piercing shells can hit firing points and armored targets.

To aim the gun at the target, two types of sights are used, day and night vision. During the day, fire from a cannon can be fired at a distance of up to 2,000 meters with armor-piercing shells, and up to 4,000 with high-explosive fragmentation and incendiary shells. The night vision scope is capable of providing an effective range of up to 800 meters at night.

The gunner has all the controls, guidance, reloading, changing types of projectiles and other devices necessary for firing at various targets.

The weight of the new combat vehicle has increased slightly and is 14,500 kilograms. The clearance height of the BTR-80A has been increased to 2,800 mm. The remaining characteristics are no different from the BTR-80.

In 2004, tests of a new model of the BTR-90 armored personnel carrier were completed, serial production of which was to begin in 2011. Unfortunately, in 2011 the Ministry of Defense Russian Federation refused to purchase the BTR-90, so this vehicle was never put into mass production.

The BTR-80, which performed well during the war in Afghanistan, is still the main armored personnel carrier of motorized rifle troops. In addition, they are used in the Internal Troops and Marine Corps.

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.

In the early 1980s, the main armored personnel carrier in Soviet army became the BTR-70, 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 in the Gorkovsky design bureau automobile plant under the leadership of I. S. Mukhin and E. M. Murashkin, a new armored personnel carrier GAZ-5903 was designed 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 BTR-80S was developed - a variant 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 caliber 7.62 mm, and frontal armor- from bullets of 12.7 mm caliber.

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.

Today, one of the most common types of military equipment in all armies of the world are armored personnel carriers. But this was not always the case. Their rapid development began after the end of World War II. The military realized how important it was to increase infantry mobility and increase its security.

In the USSR in 1949, the BTR-40 was put into service, which was almost an exact copy American armored personnel carrier Scout Car M3A1, supplied under Lend-Lease. Then in 1950 the BTR-152 was released, and in 1959 the Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier BTR-60 was adopted. It had two gasoline engines with two transmissions, and this car was not particularly reliable. And its firepower did not suit the military. In 1976, the BTR-70 was created, the armament of which was strengthened. It was equipped with a KPVT machine gun (14.5 mm) and a PKT machine gun. This vehicle differed favorably from its predecessor; it also had two gasoline engines, but much more powerful than those on the BTR-60.

However, then the war in Afghanistan began and all the shortcomings of the BTR-70 immediately made themselves felt. Its main problem was the power plant, which was complex, not very reliable and consumed a large amount of fuel. It can be said that the BTR-70 was generally ill-suited to operations in mountainous area. Even the machine gun mounted on it had a small elevation angle and could do little to help the fighters against the dushmans entrenched in the mountains.

It was very inconvenient to parachute from the vehicle, and its security left much to be desired. On Gorky Automobile Plant development of a new armored personnel carrier begins, which will soon be called the BTR-80.

History of the creation of the BTR-80

The car received the factory designation GAZ-5903. The design of the vehicle is not fundamentally different from the BTR-70. The developers focused on improving power plant cars. What was needed was one reliable diesel engine. The presence of two engines and transmissions in a combat vehicle at once gave certain advantages (if one engine was damaged, the armored personnel carrier could move with the help of the other). But the complexity of routine maintenance and repair of a power plant with such a device reduced positive traits almost none.

The new vehicle was equipped with a diesel engine from the KamAZ production vehicle, which significantly reduced the cost of production and maintenance of the new equipment. Thanks to the installation of a turbocharger, the BTR-80 could reach a speed 20 km/h higher than its predecessor.

New landing hatches were made on the BTR-80, consisting of two doors. The armament remained the same, but the design of the turret was changed. The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier became two tons heavier than its predecessor, but thanks to the installation of a more powerful engine, this did not affect its maneuverability.

In 1986, the vehicle was put into service and mass production began. Today the BTR-80 is the main armored personnel carrier Russian army, as well as many other armies of the world. This vehicle is actively exported; the BTR-80 has taken part in many conflicts.

Dozens of various modifications of the BTR-80 have been created, and vehicles to perform special functions are manufactured on its basis. On latest modifications This vehicle is often equipped with an automatic cannon and anti-tank missile systems.

Description of BTR-80

The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier is designed to transport personnel and support them with fire on the battlefield. Although, the fire support function is more relevant to an infantry fighting vehicle.

The vehicle body is made of rolled armor plates. The body of the machine has a streamlined shape, this is necessary to give it buoyancy and to increase its protection. The thickness of the armor does not exceed 10 millimeters.

The BTR-80 is divided into several sections. In front is the control compartment, which houses the driver-mechanic and the commander of the vehicle. Also installed here are surveillance devices (including night ones), control and measuring instruments, a radio station and an intercom.

Behind the control compartment is the combat compartment. It houses the operator-gunner's seat and space for paratroopers (seven people). One infantryman sits next to the gunner, facing the direction of travel, and the rest are located facing the sides of the vehicle, three people on each side. The department has embrasures for the use of personal weapons. To fire a machine gun, the gunner occupies a special hanging chair.

There is also a large landing hatch in the fighting compartment. It consisted of two wings: top part opened to the side, and the lower one dropped down and served as a convenient step when getting out of the car.

The power compartment is located at the rear of the vehicle. A diesel engine with transmission, radiators, fuel and oil tanks, generators and other equipment are installed there.

The armament of the BTR-80 consists of a KPVT machine gun and a PKT machine gun, which are located in the turret of the vehicle. The KPVT machine gun has a caliber of 14.5 mm and can fight enemy personnel, light armored vehicles and low-flying air targets. The turret also houses a 1P3-2 sight and observation devices.

The BTR-80 has an 8×8 wheel arrangement; the two front pairs of wheels are steerable. The car's suspension is independent, torsion bar. The wheels are tubeless and bulletproof. There is a system that monitors tire pressure. The BTR-80 will continue to move even if two wheels fail.

Characteristics of the BTR-80 performance characteristics

Below are specifications BTR-80.

Video about BTR-80

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The armored vehicles of Russia and the world, photos, videos, watch online, were significantly different from all their predecessors. To provide a large reserve of buoyancy, the height of the hull was noticeably increased, and to improve stability, its cross section was given a trapezoidal shape. The required bullet resistance to the hull was provided by rolled cemented armor with an additionally hardened outer layer of the KO brand (Kulebaki-OGPU). In the manufacture of the hull, armor plates were welded on the inner soft side, and special stocks were used to facilitate assembly. To simplify the installation of units, the upper armor plates of the hull were made removable with a seal on fabric gaskets lubricated with red lead.

Armored vehicles of the Second World War in which the crew of two people was located near the longitudinal axis at the back of each other's heads, but the turret with weapons was shifted 250 mm to the left side. The power unit is shifted to the starboard side so that access for engine repairs is possible from the inside fighting compartment tank after removing the safety partition. At the rear of the tank, along the sides, there were two gas tanks with a capacity of 100 liters each, and directly behind the engine there was a radiator and a heat exchanger, washed by sea water when moving afloat. At the stern, in a special niche, there was a propeller with navigable rudders. The balance of the tank was chosen in such a way that when afloat it had a slight trim to the stern. The propeller was driven by a cardan shaft from a power take-off mounted on the gearbox housing.

Armored vehicles of the USSR in January 1938, at the request of the head of the ABTU D. Pavlov, the tank’s armament was to be strengthened by installing a 45-mm semi-automatic gun or a 37-mm automatic gun, and in the case of installing a semi-automatic gun, the crew was to be increased to three people. The tank's ammunition was supposed to consist of 61 rounds for the 45 mm cannon and 1,300 rounds for the machine gun. The design bureau of plant No. 185 completed two projects on the “Castle” theme, for which the Swedish Landsverk-30 tank was used as a prototype.

The Wehrmacht armored vehicles did not escape troubles with engine boost. To what has been said, we can only add that this crisis was actually overcome only in 1938, for which the tank received not only a forced engine. To strengthen the suspension, thicker leaf springs were used. Rubber tires made of neoprene, a domestic synthetic rubber, were introduced, the production of tracks from Hartfield steel by hot stamping began, and high-frequency-hardened fingers were introduced. But all these changes to the tank were not introduced simultaneously. The tank hull with inclined armor plates could not be manufactured on time. However, the conical turret with improved protection was submitted on time, and the tank with the same hull, reinforced suspension (due to the installation of thicker leaf springs), a forced engine and a new turret entered testing at the NIBT test site.

Modern armored vehicles went under the code T-51. It retained the process of transition from tracks to wheels, like the prototype, by lowering special levers with wheels without a person leaving. However, after adjusting the requirements for the tank, making it a three-seater (it was decided to retain backup control for the loader), and strengthening its armament to the BT level, it was no longer possible to implement the Landsverk-type wheel drive. In addition, the tank's wheel drive transmission was overly complex. Therefore, soon work on the “Castle” theme was carried out on the T-116 tank, in which the “change of shoes” was carried out according to the BT type - by removing the track chains.