In order to transport soldiers and the command of the motorized rifle, infantry, motorized infantry and landing units, as well as all the necessary materiel, to carry out combat missions, special armored vehicles are needed. In the army, such vehicles are known as armored personnel carriers. Mostly they are called abbreviated as BTR. Judging by the reviews, many are interested in how many APCs in Russia and which ones? The creation of armored personnel carriers began in Soviet times. Compared to modern Russian armored personnel carriers, their characteristics are much worse. Nevertheless, some armored personnel carriers are used in the Russian army to this day. You will learn about the history and technical characteristics of the BTR of the USSR and Russia from this article.
Object 141
According to military experts, by the end of World War II, the Soviet army was armed with the most advanced heavy and medium tanks in the world. Infantrymen were required to support the armored units. And for their delivery to the battlefield needed armored light vehicles with increased cross-country ability. Already in the post-war period, namely in 1947, the Gorky Automobile Experimental Design Bureau began to design a light wheeled armored personnel carrier "Object No. 141". At the same time in Moscow, engineers of the Design Bureau, headed by A. Kravtsov created a tracked armored personnel carrier. The work took two years. For the manufacture of the chassis, Soviet designers used the T-70 tank chassis. 140 hp two-stroke, liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine taken from the YAZ-204B. The transmission was also borrowed from this machine. With fuel tanks designed for 220 liters, the power reserve indicator was 170 km. In the management department there was a combat crew, which was presented by a driver and a radio operator gunner.
The latter fired from the 7.62-mm machine gun SG-43. In the ammunition there were 1 thousand rounds in four tapes and F-1 grenades (12 pcs.). Also at his disposal was a radio station 10 RT-12. There were 16 fighters in the landing squad. The BTR had a steel case made of stitched 13-mm armor plates. The thickness of the sheet in the bottom was 3 mm. The armored personnel carrier could also be used to transport goods weighing up to 2 tons. After successfully passed tests in April 1949, an armored personnel carrier was adopted by the USSR army as the BTR-40.
It was made by the workers of the GAZ plant named after Molotov. Serial production lasted until 1960. This model was not in service with Russia. BTR served as the basis for several subsequent modifications. A total of 8500 pieces of equipment were collected.
About modifications
Based on the armored personnel carrier, the following modifications were designed:
- BTR-40A. Unlike its counterpart, this armored personnel carrier was equipped with two coaxial 14.5-mm heavy machine guns of Vladimirov. Ammunition in the amount of 1200 pieces contained in 24 tapes. The combat crew is supplemented by two loaders. He entered service in 1951.
- BTR-40V. The model was created in 1956. Unlike the previous versions, in this APC special tubes were brought to the wheels through which air was pumped. The armored personnel carrier had a ventilation system, so the crew was not affected by chemical and bacteriological weapons.
- BTR-40B. This is an open top armored personnel carrier. In the event of a car defeat, his crew could quickly be evacuated. However, he was not protected from attacks from above. The technique was used in 1956 to suppress the rebellion in Hungary.
Subsequently, Soviet gunsmiths continued work on the creation of armored personnel carriers. Many are interested in what kind of armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles are in Russia. More on this later.
BTR-80
According to experts, the Russian army has 1,500 armored personnel carriers of this model. The BTR-80 has been mass-produced since 1984. The management crew consists of 3 people, the combat crew consists of 7. These Russian armored personnel carriers are moving at a speed of 80 km / h. Cruising range - 600 km. Equipment with steel rolled armor. It is equipped with a heavy machine gun of Vladimirov caliber of 14.5 mm and a coaxial 7.62-mm PKT. An engine from KamAZ 7403 with a capacity of 260 hp was built into the car. These armored personnel carriers in Russia since 1991 are the main ones. The latest modifications are characterized by enhanced armament, in connection with which military experts classify these vehicles as infantry fighting vehicles. The following options were created by Russian designers on the basis of the Soviet-style BTR-80:
- BTR-80A. In the Russian army armored personnel carriers since 1994. Tower with a monitors. The Vladimirov machine gun was replaced by a 30mm 2A72 automatic gun.
- BTR-80S. This model is designed for the National Guard. It fires from a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun.
- BTR-80M. Unlike previous models, it has an increased body length and bullet resistance. An engine from YaMZ-238 with a capacity of 240 horsepower was installed on an armored personnel carrier.
Armored personnel carrier No. 82
These Russian armored personnel carriers have been in service with the country since 2013. According to experts, the Soviet BTR-80 served as the basis for their creation. Design work on modernization has been carried out since 2009 by employees of the Arzamas Engineering Plant (AMZ).
In 2010, state tests were held. The car was equipped with an 8-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped diesel engine from KamAZ-740. Powertrain power - 300 hp The armored personnel carrier can use a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun or a 2A72 30 mm quick-fire gun. The second option is mainly used in one of the modifications, namely in the BTR-82A.
The main gun - paired with PKTM 7.62 mm. In addition to the BTR-82A, several more modifications were created:
- BTR-82A1 or BTR-88. The armored personnel carrier has a remotely controlled combat module developed at the Central Research Institute "Petrel". The target is hit by a 30 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
- BTR-87. A machine with a completely new armored hull. The equipment is produced for export.
BTR-90 "Rostock"
This model is a wheeled floating armored vehicle. Designed machinery at the Gorky Automobile Plant. Collect armored personnel carrier at the Arzamas Engineering Plant. The general public could see this APC in 1994.
State tests were completed in 2004. The Rostock is equipped with an automatic 30 mm 2A42 cannon, from which 500 rounds can be fired. There is also an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher (ammunition is represented by 400 rounds), a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun (2 thousand munitions) and the Konkurs-M ATGM. From the last crew can release 4 anti-tank guided missiles. BTR works well at night due to the presence of a combined sight: night BPKZ-42 and day 1P-13. Russian designers created two modifications:
- BTR-90 "Berezhok". Unlike the analogue, in this version, the AGS-17 and Competition-M are replaced by the automatic grenade launcher AGS-30 and the Kornet anti-tank system with a thermal imager and fire control system. For this armored vehicle, the Berezhok combat compartment is provided.
- BTR-90M. An armored personnel carrier with a Bahcha-U fighting compartment, which is equipped with a 100mm 2A70 cannon, a 30mm 2A72 cannon, a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun and 9M117M1 Arkan anti-tank system. Instead, it can also stand "Agon" 9K117.
According to military experts, armored personnel carriers are prototypes. The manufactured batch is limited to 14 cars.
BMP-1
It is a Soviet caterpillar infantry fighting vehicle. Developed by engineers of the main special design bureau No. 2 (GKSB-2) in the city of Chelyabinsk at the Tractor Plant named after Lenin. In service since 1966. Serial production lasted until 1983. The crew consists of 3 and 8 people. BMP with bulletproof booking, equipped with a 73-mm 2A28 smoothbore gun, 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and 9M14M Malyuta launcher. From the cannon, you can make 40 shots, from the machine gun - 2 thousand, and 4 - from the PU. With a multi-fuel, 6-cylinder, V-shaped liquid-cooled diesel engine, the BMP has a speed of 65 km / h on the highway.
Based on the BMP-1, several modifications have been created, which are listed in the arsenal of Russia:
- BP-1M. It is produced by the Russian engineering company Muromteplovoz. The infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a 2A42 30 mm caliber gun, PKTM and ATGM “Competition”.
- BMP-1AM "Basurmanin". Technique 2018 release. The designers equipped it with remotely controlled combat models used in the BTR-82A.
- BMP-1P. The machine has a powerful launcher "Bassoon" 9K111.
- BMP-1PG. An additional automatic Flame launcher AGS-17 is provided.
The total number of all modifications in service with Russia is approximately 500 units.
BMP-2
The caterpillar infantry fighting vehicle was created as Object 675. It differs from BMP-1 in that it has a larger turret and other weapons complex. In the management department are the commander and gunner-operator. Shooting is carried out from a 30A 2A42 gun, which is made at the engineering plant in Tula. There is also one FCT 7.62 mm caliber and ATGM 9K113 or 9K111. BMP transports up to 7 fighters. Equipment with steel rolled homogeneous (bulletproof and bulletproof) armor. Powertrain power 300 hp It develops a speed of 65 km / h. The ammunition of a rifled small-caliber automatic gun consists of armor-piercing and high-explosive fragmentation shells (500 pcs.). Russian designers based on BMP-2 designed the following more advanced options:
- BPM-2 "Flame". Shooting is carried out from an automatic grenade launcher AG-17 "Flame", in the ammunition of which 250 charges.
- BMP-2K. The machine is equipped with an additional short-wave radio station.
- BMP-2D. Equipment with enhanced armor. In this regard, she became not adapted to overcome water barriers.
- BMP-2 "Bahcha-U". Model 2000 release. The car drops to 5 soldiers. For it, the “Bahcha-U” combat module developed by Russian designers is provided. Used as a combat reconnaissance vehicle (BMR).
- BMP-2M. It differs from the previous analogue by the presence of the Berezhok combat module, an additional panoramic sight and a changed location of the AGS-17. Shooting is carried out from four launchers ATGM "Cornet".
The Russian Armed Forces are armed with 3 thousand such vehicles.
BMP-3
Appears as Object 688M. Created by engineers of the Kurgan Special Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. Issued at OJSC Kurganmashzavod. In service since 1987. In the management department there are three people, the landing party is supplemented by two places. Thus, BMP-3 transports 9 fighters. The crew is protected by aluminum rolled spaced armor with steel screens. Vehicle speed increased to 70 km / h. Based on the infantry fighting vehicle, the following modifications were developed:
- BMP-3K. The command vehicle has navigation equipment, two radio stations, a receiver and an autonomous generator. The purpose is to keep in touch with various units and military units.
- BMP-3F. It is a combat vehicle of the marines. It has high buoyancy.
"Boomerang". About the history of creation
Despite the fact that today armored personnel carrier No. 82 is used as the main one in Russia (a photo of an armored personnel carrier is presented in the article), experts say that it is already quite outdated. In this regard, the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation need a modern armored personnel carrier. It should be a completely new machine, and not just another modernization of the Soviet armored personnel carrier. The public saw the new BTR of Russia "Boomerang" in 2018 at the Victory Parade. Russian developers plan to use this model as a unified platform, which will subsequently become the basis for the creation of new models of armored vehicles.
Russian armored personnel carrier "Boomerang" in the technical documentation was initially listed as a "sleeve". During the design work, the designers took advantage of the developments of the BTR-90 Rostock. Both cars were rejected by the Russian military. In view of the fact that they wanted to equip the middle part in the "Sleeves" body with a power plant, a weapon module and a dynamic protection system, as in armored personnel carrier No. 82, it became very crowded in the new armored vehicles. In addition, further modernization was ruled out. Therefore, these innovations had to be abandoned. Soon, all the developments on these projects were introduced into the new Russian armored personnel carrier Boomerang.
Description
The main drawback of the BTR-80 was the weak level of protection, especially from land mines and mines. Therefore, the fighters had to ride not in the cabin, but on the roof. It was with the goal of creating a more secure armored personnel carrier and began to design a new Russian armored personnel carrier. It was not possible to improve Soviet-made equipment, since it already had a completely exhausted modernization resource.
In the Boomerang, the hull has a new shape, layout and armor, for the manufacture of which modern materials are used. Due to the reinforced armor, the vehicle weighs 20 tons. The designers suggest that further modifications will have a mass of at least 25 tons. The nose of the car has become the place for the power compartment. Feed is the most protected part of the APC. A machine with multilayer armor, which includes ceramics. Unlike hemogenous, this type of armor is better. It is mainly used in tanks.
Judging by expert reviews, the Boomerang can withstand the impact of cumulative ammunition. The anti-tank grenade, small-caliber artillery and large-caliber machine gun will not be able to penetrate an armored personnel carrier. This sample uses an 8x8 wheel arrangement. The back of the hull is equipped with water-jet engines, thanks to which the APC will overcome water obstacles. Shooting will be conducted from a 30A 2A42 automatic cannon, a PKT machine gun and the Kornet anti-tank missile corps. This weapon is concentrated in one combat module with remote control. In the ammunition of the main gun up to 500 ammunition. Shooting can be carried out both by the commander and the operator-gunner.
Future plans
Russian designers are planning to use the Bumerang BTR base when creating a mobile anti-tank complex, an infantry fighting vehicle, a wheeled tank and other types of special vehicles. Each of them will have its own weapons.