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The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in late 1950s as a replacement for BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961. BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armoured transporter"). *.
The boat-shaped hull is welded steel giving protection against small arms fire and shrapnel.
The vehicle is powered by two gasoline engines located in the rear of the hull, each powering two axles. It is fully amphibious and moves in water propelled by a single water-jet.
Development
The truck based BTR-152, developed after the Second World War had given the Russians useful experience of wheeled armoured personnel carriers. Between 1956 and 1957 a decision was made to convert all rifle and mechanized divisions into new motor rifle divisions, a requirement for a new vehicle was drawn up.
Development proceeded along two paths, a more expensive vehicle, that would eventually become the BMP-1 for tank divisions and a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle divisions. Two design bureaus were given the requirements, GAZ led by Dedkov, and ZiL led by Rodionov and Orlov. GAZ had already developed an 8 wheeled vehicle, the izdeliye 62B, this was used as the basis for the new izdeliye 49. The GAZ-49 petrol engine that had been used on the BRDM-1 vehicle was selected. ZiL developed a 6 x 6 design, the ZiL-153, similar in hull shape to the GAZ design. Both were submitted to state trials in 1960, and the GAZ design was selected and given the designation BTR-60P.
The BTR-60P was produced from 1960 to 1963, and had an open roofed crew compartment. The next version, the BTR-60PA, entered production in 1963 and had an armoured roof, though the capacity was reduced from 14 troops to 12 troops. The appearance of the German HS.30 APC, armed with a 20 mm cannon prompted the addition of a small turret fitted with a KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun. The new vehicle was designated the BTR-60PAI and entered service in 1965, but was quickly superseced by the BTR-60PB, which had a better sighting system for the gun. The turret design was later reused for the BRDM-2
The BTR-60PB remained in production from 1966 through to 1976 when it was superseded by the BTR-70.
Variants
- BTR-60P - Initial version with open troop compartment.
- BTR-60PA (1963) - This version has full armour cover for troops.
- BTR-60 1V18, BTR-60 1V19 - Artillery command and reconnaissance vehicles based on the BTR-60PA.
- BTR-60PAI (1965) - Initial version with conical turret on the top of the vehicle mounting a 14.5 mm machine gun.
- BTR-60PB (1966) - Improved sighting system for 14.5 mm machine gun.
- BTR-60 R-145 "Chayka", BTR-60 R-145BM - Command vehicles.
- MTP-2 (1975) - Armored recovery vehicle
- MTR-2
- BTR-60 AA - Some Cuban vehicles have been fitted with twin 30 mm cannons to act as light AAA.
Combat history
The BTR-60 has seen action in the Yom Kippur War and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
See also
External links
References
- Soviet/Russian Armor adn Artillery Design Practices: 1945 to Present, A. Hull, D. Markov, S. Zaloga
Russian and Soviet armored personnel carriers | Cold War armored personnel carriers | Cold War Soviet armored fighting vehicles | Command vehicles
"BTR-60"