BTR-T

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BTR-T

Russian BTR-T
Type Heavy infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin Russia
Specifications
Weight 38.5 tonnes
Length 6.45 m
Width 3.27 m
Height 2.4 m
Crew 3 (+5 passengers)

Armor 600mm max with ERA
Primary
armament
9M113 Konkurs ATGMs
Secondary
armament
30mm autocannon 2A42 or AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher
Engine diesel
520hp
Power/weight 14hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar
Operational
range
500 km
Speed 50 km/h off-road: 25 km/h

The BTR-T (Russian: Bronetransporter-Tyazhelyy, ‘Armoured Transporter–Heavy’) is a Russian heavy infantry combat vehicle, designed by the Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building (Omsk Transmash) state-run production association.

Contents

[edit] Description

Russian BTR-T
Russian BTR-T

It is based on the hull of the T-55 tank and answers the need for a heavy, well protected and well armed vehicle adapted to urban combat. The need for a heavy IFV appeared after the First Chechen War during which APCs such as the BTR-80 and BMP-2 suffered heavy losses in urban areas at the hands of Chechen rebels using RPG shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons. As a result, the design incorporates thicker armour, with built-in reactive armour. It also has heavier armament with sufficient elevation to engage targets in multi-story buildings.

[edit] Design

The choice of the T-55 hull rather than that of a more modern tank was decided as a cost-cutting measure and also probably in order to validate a conversion solution for the many T-55s in use around the world. However, no export contracts have been signed so far.

The turret can accommodate several weapon configurations:

  • Twin 2A38 30mm autocannons.
  • 12.7x107mm NSV heavy machine gun.
    • 30mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Soviet and post-Soviet armoured fighting vehicles after World War II
List of armoured fighting vehicles by country
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