Many are interested in the question of how to translate the BTR spelling. Confusion often arises from the fact that three capital letters indicate only two words. The abbreviation BTR looks like an “armored transporter”. A little more logical would be the small letter "p". It does not mean a single word in the abbreviation BTR. The decryption, by analogy with the BMP, would also look more understandable. BMP - infantry fighting vehicle. A BTP could mean an armored infantry transporter, which better reflects the essence of the machine, which carries motorized rifle rather than cargo. However, such an abbreviation has historically developed.
First experiences
The first armored personnel carriers in the usual sense of the word appeared during the First World War, when the British began to produce tanks with the possibility of transporting infantry. However, the level of mechanization of the army was then low, and the equipment of tanks was much more important.
Indeed, massively armored personnel carriers began to be used during the Second World War. The Germans used special ingenuity in their production, having created many modifications of wheeled-tracked conveyors.
It is characteristic that many APCs of those years, like the first Soviet post-war vehicles, did not have an armored roof. This does not quite correspond to the decoding of the BTR. This led to a high risk of destroying the entire landing with one grenade. On the other hand, it is easy to land from cars with an open roof, and the flame-covered box of a modern armored personnel carrier usually becomes a mass grave for the crew. Be that as it may, all modern armored personnel carriers are of a closed type.
The moment that posed a hot question in the development strategy of the armored personnel carriers was the Arab-Israeli wars and the widespread use of anti-tank grenade launchers, in front of which the armored personnel carrier was defenseless.
Soviet and American ways
In matters of development strategy, armored personnel carriers of the USSR and the USA diverged even more than in tank building. The USSR quickly switched to light eight-wheeled vehicles, which were possible for transportation by plane. The United States relied on the APC. Their choice fell on the caterpillar mover, as, for example, the incredibly popular M113. In addition, the Americans also produce light four-wheeled command and reconnaissance armored personnel carriers. European companies used both Soviet and American formulas, depending on the destination and the buyer of the car.
Special attention must be paid to Israel. The Israelis were the first to make really heavy transporters, paying particular attention to the word "armored" in the decoding of the armored personnel carrier.
Prospects
This issue remains debatable. Many analysts see the future in heavy armored personnel carriers comparable in armor protection to tanks. But this leads to the actual merging of the BTR and BMP classes, to a decrease in the mobility and patency of the conveyors, as well as to a serious increase in their price. However, in conditions of a military conflict with a comparable enemy, betting on expensive, high-quality, but small equipment does not always work out. In most cases, it is better to combine light and heavy weapons.
Still, in the decoding of the BTR, the main word is "transporter". What he should remain.