BTR-60
Encyclopedia
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier
s. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152
and was seen first time in public in 1961. BTR
stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armoured transporter").
and BTR-40
, the first two Soviet mass produced APCs
, developed after the Second World War given the Soviet Army
useful experience with wheeled armoured personnel carriers. However even as they were designed they weren't suited for the needs of the Soviet Army as they lacked a roof (which was added in later versions designated BTR-152K and BTR-40B respectively). The low combat value of BTR-152
and BTR-40
was exposed during the Suez Crisis
when the Egyptian Army
used them. This was one of the reasons for which the new APC was developed.
Between 1956 and 1957 a decision was made to convert all rifle and mechanized divisions into new motor rifle divisions and a requirement for a new vehicle was drawn up.
, for use in tank divisions and a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle divisions, that would eventually become the BTR-60. Two design bureaus were given the requirements, GAZ led by V. A. Dedkov, and ZiL led by Rodionov and Orlov. The requirements stated the vehicle should have all wheel drive, at least two turnable axles, independent suspension as well as mobility and fording capabilities allowing it to operate alongside tanks. The vehicle was also supposed to be amphibious.
GAZ design team started to work on the new APC during winter 1956. Despite the fact that the army wanted a fully roofed vehicle with NBC protection system, the GAZ design did not have those features. It was argued that firing from the cramped interior would be difficult and the limitation of losses wasn't a priority. The prototype was built between 1957 and 1958. ZiL developed a 6x6 design, the ZiL-153, similar in hull shape to the GAZ design. There were also three other 8x8 prototypes: Ob'yekt 560 (also known as MMZ-560), Ob'yekt 1015 (developed by KAZ), Ob'yekt 1015B (developed by KAZ, it had with a turret-mounted armament and stream propellers, also known as BTR-1015B) and Ob'yekt 1020B (developed by KAZ). All prototypes were submitted to state trials in 1959 and even though all passed the trials and even though the Ob'yekt 1015B performed the best, the GAZ design was selected and given the designation BTR-60P. Officially the committee which made the decision did so because of the GAZ plant's production capabilities and experience. The main reason was that the GAZ design was the simplest and cheapest one and introduced the lowest amount of technological advancements which made it easier to put into mass production.
BTR-60P had an open roofed crew and troop compartments which was deemed to be a serious disadvantage because of that a new version, designated BTR-60PA, entered production in 1963. It had an armoured roof, though the capacity was reduced from 16 soldiers to 14 soldiers.
The appearance of the German HS.30 APC, armed with a 20 mm cannon prompted the addition of the conical in shape BPU-1 turret, originally developed for BRDM-2
amphibious armoured scout car, armed with the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and PKT 7.62 mm tank machine gun. The new vehicle was designated the BTR-60PAI and entered production in 1965. It was however quickly replaced by BTR-60PB which had better sighting system for the machine guns.
. It has the crew compartment in the front, the troop compartment in the middle and the engine compartment in the rear. This meant the BTR-60 didn't have some other APC's weaknesses while it also had several disadvantages of its own.
Because of the engine placement (in the rear of the vehicle), transported infantry must mount and dismount through the sides in BTR-60P or through the roof hatches in the roofed BTR-60PA, BTR-60PB, and BTR-60PZ variants. To help the infantry to mount and dismount the vehicle BTR-60P had two steps on each side of the hull, one between first and second pair of road wheels and second between third and fourth pair of wheels. It also had two vertical hand rails on each side of troop compartment as well as an angled horizontal one on the left-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. BTR-60PA introduced yet another step on each side of the hull between the second and third pair of wheels as well as six horizontal hand rails on each side of the vehicle, three on the lower side and three on the upper side. The vertical ones were removed while yet another angled horizontal one was added on the right-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. In BTR-60PB the number of hand rails on the hull sides decreased from six to five on each side of the vehicle. On the right hand side the rear upper hand rail was removed. On the left hand side center upper one was removed. BTR-60P has two doors on each side of the troop compartment (one in the front part of the troop compartment and on in the rear part) but infantry still had to dismount trough the sides. The side doors were removed in BTR-60PA. They were used mostly as emergency exits and as auxiliary firing ports. In BTR-60PB a side door was added in the left hand side of the front part of the troop compartment.
fire and shrapnel. Frontal armour can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from any range. The rest of armour protection can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from a range of 100 m.
The BTR-60P did not have a roof over the troop compartment, which made a weakness that could easily be exploited. As the vehicle lacked a roof even the simplest of explosives could take out a BTR-60P. The new BTR design with roof was called the BTR-60PA.
Armour thickness is as follows:
and an exhaust. Each axle has its own differential. Each axle is hung on transversal torsion bars. The first two axles have two hydraulic absorbers, the third and fourth have one hydraulic absorber. The first and second pair of wheels can be turned. The gaps between the first and the second axles and between the third and the fourth axles are even. The gap between the second and third axles is slightly larger than the other ones.
The two-engines setup has an advantage in the fact that each engine could work without the other. This means that if one engine is disabled it doesn't affect the other one and the vehicle can still move with limited speed. This setup however caused several problems which did not exist in vehicles with a single engine or they weren't as serious: the design itself was complicated and the amount of work which had to be done during exploitation and repair was higher than in vehicles with a single engine. The engines themselves were originally intended for truck use which meant that they were working in extreme conditions not originally envisioned for them. Because of this engine breakdowns were frequent. The vehicle also used large amounts of fuel and caught fire easily. Despite all this the two-engines setup was used in all BTR-60 production models and most variants as well as BTR-70
. The single-engine setup was introduced in BTR-80.
, propelled in the water by a jet centrally mounted at the rear of the hull. It was however prone to breakdowns. When not in use it is protected by the sideways opening lids. Before entering the water the trim vane at the front of the hull should be erected to prevent water from flooding over the bow. While in its traveling position it serves as additional lower frontal armor.
. According to the Western estimate around 25,000 BTR-60s were produced by GAZ. During the BTR-80 production and therefore after the BTR-60 production ended there was a special production run of 100 BTR-60PBs, some of which have been exported to Iraq.
and later the Soviet naval infantry. BTR-60 entered service with Soviet military at the time when USSR was arming on a mass scale. In early 1960s it replaced the BTR-152 in the role of the basic APC. BTR-60P was first seen by the West in 1961. BTR-60PA entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 while BTR-60PA-1 and BTR-60PAI did in 1965, BTR-60PB did in 1966, BTR-60PZ did in 1972 and BTR-60PBK did in 1975. As the newer models of BTR-60 appeared the older ones were gradually withdrawn from front-line service. A number of old BTR-60Ps were converted into repair vehicles.
The first use of the Soviet BTR-60s during a conflict happened during the Warsaw Pact 1968 Invasion of Czechoslovakia. However the actual combat was scarce.
In the 1980s most of the BTR-60s were was replaced in the Soviet army by the BTR-70 and BTR-80, however a large number was still operated by the second-line and border troops. According to the data provided by the USSR during the signing of the CFE Treaty in 1990, there 4,191 BTR-60s in service with the units stationed in the European part of the Soviet Union.
on Zhenbao Island
(Damansky Island at the time) in March 1969. The frontier units operating on the island were equipped with BTR-60PBs while the 57th border detachment group was equipped with BTR-50Ps and BTR-50PKs. BTR-60 proved to be a good vehicle although it sustained high losses because of Chinese using a large amount of RPGs and mistakes made by the commanders of the APCs which originated from low amount of experience in combat use of the new vehicles.
The high losses due to RPG hits weren't unexpected as the armour of BTR-60 was designed to protect the vehicle from small arms fire and shrapnel and not specialized anti-tank weapons. The most effective tactic found for BTR-60PBs to be used in was covering the dismounted infantry. This is a job more suited for infantry fighting vehicles than armoured personnel carriers the main role of which was to transport the infantry to the battlefield and provide them with armour protection during that time (it must however be noted that BMP-1
, the world's first infantry fighting vehicle started production in 1966 and therefore Soviet Army had very small numbers of those vehicles available at the time of Sino-Soviet border conflict). During the fights in March the Chinese managed to capture four BTR-60PBs and one T-62 MBT.
BTR-60PBs were used again during the fights near Lake Zhalanashkol in Kazahstan (Kazakh SSR
at the time) in August 1969. During those fights the armour of BTR-60PB proved to inadequate.
. This was because the units that were originally used for this operation weren't the top priority of the Soviet military which prioritized the units stationed in East Germany. The same flaws of the design were present during this conflict and the vehicle became even more vulnerable due to the kind of fighting that took place in Afghanistan. The GAZ-40P gasoline engines experienced frequent losses of power and overheating due to the tropical highland climate not well suited for them. BTR-60PB's turret also could not elevate its armament high enough to fire at the Mujahideen attacking from high ground. Like during the Sino-Soviet border conflict many BTR-60PBs fell victim to RPGs. Because of those drawbacks the BTR-60PBs were replaced by BTR-70s as soon as possible to a point were only the BTR-60 command variants were used.
in 1989 and stopping the fighting on the border between Uzbek SSR
and Kirghiz SSR. They were also used in Nagorno-Karabakh
and South Ossetia
. In 1990 they were used in Vilnius
to suppress the Lithuanian independence movements.
As of 2007 several hundred BTR-60s remain in service with USSR successor states and are in a process of being replaced by more modern vehicles.
Russia used BTR-60s during the First Chechen War
, but since the mid-1990s BTR-60s have only been in use with the border troops.
In Russian service, many BTR-60 variants have been replaced by variants of the BTR-80/K1Sh1 or have been upgraded with the engines from the BTR-80
.
Moldova inherited 27 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union. They were used during the War of Transnistria
against the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Moldova also ordered 161 ex-Romanian TAB-71Ms in 1992 which were delivered between 1992 and 1995. Moldova also inherited 20 BTR-70s from the Soviet Union and received 250 TAB Zimbrus and MLI-84s from Romania. In the end of March 1992 Moldavian army was trying to sever the connection between Tiraspol
and Rîbniţa
. 5 out of 6 BTRs used during that operation were lost. On 1 April 2 BTRs were used during the assault on Bender
. In June dozen APCs were used during another assault on the city.
In 1992 the separatist state of Abkhazia
has declared Independence from Georgia and the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
began. Georgia sent its troops to Abkhazia to stabilize the region. The troops were poorly equipped with military vehicles. The entire force sent to Abkhazia consisted of 3,000 men, 5 T-55 main battle tanks, a few BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 BTR-60 and BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers and a small number of BM-21 Grad MRLs. As the war continued the Georgian forces in Abkhazia were strengthened. The rebels almost did not have AFVs but have captured some heavy equipment from the Georgians.
A BTR-60PB of the Armenian police was used on 1 March 2008 during the Armenian presidential election protests in Yerevan
. It was sent to counter the protest at the Shahumyan Square near the French Embassy arrived where it arrived on 1:30 PM. Eventually the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators surrounded the APC, mounted it, and forced its crew to leave the square.
, Algeria
, Angola
, Bhutan
, Botswana
, Bulgaria
, Cambodia
, Congo
, Cuba
, Djibouti
, East Germany, Ethiopia
, Finland
, Grenada
, Guinea
, Guinea-Bissau
, Hungary
, India
, Iran
, Iraq
, Laos
, Libya
, Mali
, Mongolia
, Mexico
, Morocco
, Mozambique
, Nicaragua
, North Korea
, Romania
, Soviet Union
, Syria
, Uganda
, Vietnam
, Yugoslavia
, Yemen
, and Zambia
, as well as many of the successor states of the Soviet Union. The most widely spread model is the BTR-60PB.
Although BTR-60 still remains in service with many of the world's armies it is almost never used as an APC anymore. They are still being used though as mobile command posts, artillery forward observation posts, airplane guidance posts, communication posts and many other specialized vehicles.
The BTR-60 has seen action in the Yom Kippur War
, 1971 War between India and Pakistan where it was used very effectively to punch a hole through to Jessore and subsequently Khulna
, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan where it was used by both the Soviet and Afghan government troops and the Chechen and Yugoslav wars. It was also used by Warsaw Pact forces during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
.
drowned when their BTR-60 sank during an amphibious exercise because the vehicle was loaded incorrectly (top-heavy) and roof hatches opened.
Milicja Obywatelska
(MO) operated several BTR-60PAs. They were used by ZOMO
riot control units. Polish Army also received a dozen BTR-60PU-12s which were used within the Soviet supplied 9K33 Osa
SAM regiment delivered between 1980 and 1985. On 7 December 1981 the delegation of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs went to the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs asking for equipment and supplies necessary to equip around 60,000 MO operatives and reservists enlisted because of the intensified activities against the Communist government. In response on 17 December the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to transfer 25 BTR-60PBs along with 10250,000 "Czeromucha" incapacitating chemical devices and 2,000 tonnes of gas over to its Polish counterpart. These vehicles have previously been used in Afghanistan. They were later modified by adding an additional radio set. They were used by ZOMO. Some were modified by the MSW automobile plant in Łódź for use during the martial law in Poland
which consisted of fitting the vehicles with breakers mounted on the front of the vehicle which were used for clearing obstacles (See Poland section in the Variants section for details). When the Milicja Obywatelska was transformed back into Policja
in 1990 all BTR-60PBs had their armament removed. This was because Policja unlike MO didn't have a need for weaponry with such high muzzle velocity which made those weapons dangerous to use in urban areas. MO needed such weaponry because it was also supposed to carry out anti-partisan operations. Policja used unarmed BTR-60PBs for security during European Economy Summit 2004 in Warsaw
as well as clearing blockades set up by the Samoobrona political party. A few Police BTR-60PBs are kept in storage for anti-riot duty as barricade breakers.
on Zhenbao Island
in March 1969. The program was completed in the late 1970s. However, the vehicle did not enter service in large numbers because the PRC's primitive road system and rugged terrain meant that the wheeled APC wasn't well suited for the Chinese conditions as it lacked the cross country capability of tracked APCs in Chinese inventory. It should be noted though that before the Sino-Soviet split
PRC did import 100 BTR-40s and 100 BTR-152s from the USSR and manufactured copies of those vehicles which served with the PLA until the mid-1990s. The experience gained through reverse-engineering BTR-60 did help PRC in developing other more advanced wheeled APCs later in the 1980s.
Finland bought later a BTR-80
for the tests and ended up to national XA-180 series of vehicles, known later as Patria Pasi.
- 5 BTR-60s and BTR-70s. - 600 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1978 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1986 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). A number of BTR-60s bought from Russia in 2002. 300 BTR-60s are currently in service. - 400 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1978 and 1981 (the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet service). 10 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 10 9K31 SAM batteries in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1980. At peak there were 530 BTR-60s in service. Currently 400 BTR-60s and OT-64 SKOT
s are in service. - 74 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1975 and 1976. 175 BTR-60PBs and BTR-60PB-based command vehicles were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1985 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service, some could be BTR-50P). 250 BTR-60PBs and BTR-60PB-based command vehicles were ordered in 1987 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1987 and 1988 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 90 BTR-60s in service as of 2000. 100 BTR-60s are currently in service. - 25 in service with the armed forces as of 1994, 19 as of 1995, 1996, 14 as of 1997 and 1998, 11 as of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 3 in service with the ministry of internal affairs as of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 5 in service with the ministry of national safety as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Some in service with the police. - 15 in service with the armed forces as of 1992, 11 as of 1993, 8 as of 1994, 25 as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and 23 as of 2006. 21 in service with the internal forces as of 1992 and 1993, 2 as of 1994, 3 as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 12 in service with the boundary forces as of 1992 and 1993, 13 as of 1994, 19 as of 1995 and 1996, 14 as of 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. - 221 in service as of 1995 and 188 as of 2000, 2003 and 2005. - - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1981 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). 30 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. Currently 30 BTR-60s are in service. - 900 BTR-60Ps and BTR-60PAUs were ordered in 1962 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1964 and 1972 (some of the delivered vehicles were most probably BTR-60PB). Currently 781 BTR-60s are in service including 150 BTR-60PBs modernized to the BTR-60PB-MD1 standard. - 40 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1989 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1990 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). At peak there were 210 BTR-60s. Currently 160 BTR-60s are in service. - Captured 4 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union during the Sino-Soviet border conflict
in March 1969. Produced and operated a small number of copies designed through reverse engineering. - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 2000 from Ukraine and delivered in 2000 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service). 6 more BTR-60s were bought from Ukraine on the same year. - 28 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1984 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 30 BTR-60s are in service. - 16 TAB-71s captured from JNA
and later scrapped. As of 1998 there were 17 MT-LB
s, BOV
s and LOV variants in service with the Croatian army and BTR-60s in service with the police. - 150 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1961 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1962 and 1964. Cuba also bought a number of BTR-60PBs. 10 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 40 9K31 SAM systems in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1985 and 1986. Currently 400 BTR-60s are in service. - 12 BTR-60PBs ordered in 1979 from Iraq and received as aid in 1980 (the vehicles were previously in Iraqi service). 1 was later fitted with a turret from the French AML-90
light armoured car. (See Djibouti section for details). - A few hundred BTR-60s and BTR-152s acquired before June 1967. 650 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1969 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1970 and 1973. Currently 200 BTR-60PBs are in service. - Currently 65 are in service. - 2 - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1977 and 1978 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 200 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1980 and 1981 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 250 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1985 and 1986 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). Currently 80 BTR-60PBs are in service. - 120 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. Being withdrawn from service as of 2006. - Currently 6 are in service. - 3 BTR-60s and BTR-70s used in War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
. 1 BTR-60 in service as of 2005 and 2008. - 6 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 2 are in service. - 8 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1983 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1983 (the vehicles were second hand). Currently 20 are in service. - 15 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1979 (the vehicles were probably second hand). Currently 35 are in service. - 150 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1961 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1963. 7 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 7 9K35 SAM batteries in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1983. - 56 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1977. 50 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 200 9K31 SAM systems in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1984. At peak there were 817 BTR-60s in service. 50 BTR-60PBs were in service as of 1990, none in service as of 1995. BTR-60PU-12s are probably still in service. - 300 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1966 from the Soviet Union along with 270 BTR-50
s as a 110$ deal and delivered between 1967 and 1968. 200 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1986 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1986 and 1987 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 150 are in service. - Captured a number from Egypt or Syria. Some of them have been converted into mortar carriers (See Israel section for details). - There were 300 BTR-60s and BTR-50
s in service as of 2000, 2002 and 2005. - Currently 3 are in service. - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1973 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1974 and 1975. There were 1,010 Korshuns, VTT-323
s, Type 63
s (YW-531), BTR-40
s, BTR-50
s, BTR-60s and BTR-152
s in service as of 1985, 2,200 VTT-323s, Type 63s (YW-531), BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60s and BTR-152s in service as of 1990 and 1995 and 2,500 VTT-323s, Type 63s (YW-531), BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60s and BTR-152s in service as of 2000, 2002 and 2005. Currently 1,000 BTR-60s are in service. - There were 96 in service as of 1995 and 53 as of 2000 and 2005. - 35 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 70 are in service. - 8 TAB-71s ordered in 1986 from Romania and delivered in 1987 (the vehicles were previously in Romanian service, part of a deal worth $4 million). - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1974 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1975. 60 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. At peak there were 750 BTR-60s in service. 700 BTR-50
s and BTR-60s were in service as of 1986. Currently 540 BTR-50
s and BTR-60s are in service.
- 15 BTR-60PBs (in some sources - BTR-60PA) were ordered in 1992 from Russia and delivered in 1992 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Russian service, some lacked their armament). 14 BTR-60PBs were bought in 1995 from Russia. There were 27 BTR-60PBs in service as of 2006 and 2007. Currently 20 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently 35 are in service. - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1982 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1982 (the vehicles were probably second hand). - Bought 30 BTR-60-based firefighting variants from Irtish company and converted them into APC-70s. All in service with the marine units. - 27 BTR-60PBs inherited from the Soviet Union in 1991. 161 TAB-71Ms ordered in 1992 from Romania and delivered between 1992 and 1995 (the vehicles were previously in Romanian service). Currently 12 BTR-60PBs and 121 TAB-71Ms are in service. - 50 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1975 and 1976. Currently 300 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently more than 45 are in service. - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1977 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 60 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1986 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). More than 150 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. Currently 150 BTR-60s are in service. - 10 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. - 84 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1988 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 64 BTR-60PBs are in service. - Currently 6 are in service. - Currently 12 are in service. - Milicja Obywatelska
used several BTR-60PAs. They were used by ZOMO
riot control units. Polish Army received a dozen BTR-60PU-12s along with the Soviet supplied 9K33 Osa
SAM regiment delivered between 1980 and 1985. Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs received 25 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union as aid in the early 1980s. They were used by ZOMO. They were also used later by the Polish Police
. A few Police BTR-60PBs are kept in storage for anti-riot duty as barricade
breakers. - Produced 1,872 TAB-71s, TAB-71Ms, TERA-71s, TERA-71Ls, TAB-71A R-1450s, TAB-71A R-1451s, TAB-71A R-1452s and 491 TAB-71ARs between 1970 and 1990 for the Romanian army. More were produced for export. Currently 965 TAB-71s, TERA-71s, TERA-71Ls, TAB-71A R-1450s, TAB-71A R-1451s, TAB-71A R-1452s and 491 TAB-71ARs are in service. - There were 4,900 BTR-60s, BTR-70
s and BTR-80
s in service as of 2002 and 2003 including 750 in service with the Naval infantry and 280 in service the coastal defense forces. 6,000 BTR-50
s, BTR-60s, BTR-70s, BTR-80s and BTR-152
s in service as of 2000, 2005 and 2008. Currently 17 are in active service and some are kept in storage. - - - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. 5 are currently in service. - - 150 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1970 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1970 and 1971. 500 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1973 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1973 and 1975. Around 1,500 BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60PBs, BTR-152
s and OT-64s in service as of 1990, 1995 and 2000 and around 1,600 as of 2001, 2003 and 2005. 600 BTR-60PBs are currently in service. - 7 were inherited from Soviet Union. 1 in service as of 2000 and 2005. - 300 SPW-60PBs were ordered in 1990 from Germany with 195 being delivered between 1990 and 1991 and 105 being delivered in 1992 (the vehicles were previously in East German service, part of the CFE Cascade programme). 23 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1993 from Russia and delivered in 1993 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Russian service, part of a $75M deal, used by the police). - There were 543 BTR-60s, BTR-70
s and BTR-80
s in service as of 1995 and 829 as of 2000 and 2005. - 20 BTR-60s in service as of 1999. - 500 were inherited from the Soviet Union. 220 in service as of 1995, 202 as of 2000 and 176 as of 2005. - There were 24 in service as of 2000 and 2005. Currently 24 are in service. - 500 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1978 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1978 and 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 400 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently 500 are in service. - 13 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service, part of the deal worth between $72 million and $100 million). Currently 13 are in service.
s, BTR-60s, BTR-152
s, EE-11 Urutu
s, Panhard M3
s, M113A1s, M113A2s, OT-62 TOPAS
ess, OT-64 SKOT
s and Walids in service as of 1990, around 2,000 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LB
s, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 1995, around 2,400 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LBs, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 2000 and around 2,400 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LBs, M113A1s, M113A2s, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 2002. - 18 BTR-60PBs delivered by Iraq to the Lebanese Forces
in 1988. Unknown number of vehicles delivered by Syria to the Druze
Progressive Socialist Party
militia in 1983. - Produced around 25,000 BTR-60s. 35,500 BTR-50
s, BTR-60s, BTR-70s, BTR-80s and BTR-152
s in service as of 1985. 4,191 BTR-60s in service with units station in the European part of Soviet Union as of 1990. Passed on to successor states. - 150 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 40 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1986 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1986 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). - 80 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1965 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1966. 40 TAB-71s were ordered in 1978 from Romania and delivered between 1980 and 1981 (used by the police). - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1980 from an unknown supplier and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably second-hand). Passed on to the successor state.
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
s. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
and was seen first time in public in 1961. BTR
Bronetransporter
A Bronyetransportyor or BTR , literally "armoured transporter" is any of a series of Soviet or post-Soviet military armoured personnel carriers, made for transporting Bronies....
stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armoured transporter").
Origins
The BTR-152BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
and BTR-40
BTR-40
The BTR-40 is a Soviet non-amphibious, wheeled armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It is often referred to as the Sorokovka in Soviet service. It is also the first mass-produced Soviet APC...
, the first two Soviet mass produced APCs
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
, developed after the Second World War given the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
useful experience with wheeled armoured personnel carriers. However even as they were designed they weren't suited for the needs of the Soviet Army as they lacked a roof (which was added in later versions designated BTR-152K and BTR-40B respectively). The low combat value of BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
and BTR-40
BTR-40
The BTR-40 is a Soviet non-amphibious, wheeled armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It is often referred to as the Sorokovka in Soviet service. It is also the first mass-produced Soviet APC...
was exposed during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
when the Egyptian Army
Egyptian Army
The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the...
used them. This was one of the reasons for which the new APC was developed.
Between 1956 and 1957 a decision was made to convert all rifle and mechanized divisions into new motor rifle divisions and a requirement for a new vehicle was drawn up.
BTR-60
Development proceeded along two paths, a more expensive vehicle, that would eventually become the BMP-1BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...
, for use in tank divisions and a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle divisions, that would eventually become the BTR-60. Two design bureaus were given the requirements, GAZ led by V. A. Dedkov, and ZiL led by Rodionov and Orlov. The requirements stated the vehicle should have all wheel drive, at least two turnable axles, independent suspension as well as mobility and fording capabilities allowing it to operate alongside tanks. The vehicle was also supposed to be amphibious.
GAZ design team started to work on the new APC during winter 1956. Despite the fact that the army wanted a fully roofed vehicle with NBC protection system, the GAZ design did not have those features. It was argued that firing from the cramped interior would be difficult and the limitation of losses wasn't a priority. The prototype was built between 1957 and 1958. ZiL developed a 6x6 design, the ZiL-153, similar in hull shape to the GAZ design. There were also three other 8x8 prototypes: Ob'yekt 560 (also known as MMZ-560), Ob'yekt 1015 (developed by KAZ), Ob'yekt 1015B (developed by KAZ, it had with a turret-mounted armament and stream propellers, also known as BTR-1015B) and Ob'yekt 1020B (developed by KAZ). All prototypes were submitted to state trials in 1959 and even though all passed the trials and even though the Ob'yekt 1015B performed the best, the GAZ design was selected and given the designation BTR-60P. Officially the committee which made the decision did so because of the GAZ plant's production capabilities and experience. The main reason was that the GAZ design was the simplest and cheapest one and introduced the lowest amount of technological advancements which made it easier to put into mass production.
BTR-60P had an open roofed crew and troop compartments which was deemed to be a serious disadvantage because of that a new version, designated BTR-60PA, entered production in 1963. It had an armoured roof, though the capacity was reduced from 16 soldiers to 14 soldiers.
The appearance of the German HS.30 APC, armed with a 20 mm cannon prompted the addition of the conical in shape BPU-1 turret, originally developed for BRDM-2
BRDM-2
The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
amphibious armoured scout car, armed with the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and PKT 7.62 mm tank machine gun. The new vehicle was designated the BTR-60PAI and entered production in 1965. It was however quickly replaced by BTR-60PB which had better sighting system for the machine guns.
Description
BTR-60 was a revolutionary design for its time. It had a non-standard layout for an APCArmoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
. It has the crew compartment in the front, the troop compartment in the middle and the engine compartment in the rear. This meant the BTR-60 didn't have some other APC's weaknesses while it also had several disadvantages of its own.
Crew
In BTR-60 the crew compartment is located in the front of the vehicle. It did have a roof unlike the troop compartment which received one in BTR-60PA. In the BTR-60P and BTR-60PA, the crew consists of a driver and a commander. The driver's seat is on the left and commander's seat is on the right. In the BTR-60PAI, BTR-60PB and BTR-60PZ the crew consists of a driver, a commander and a gunner. The driver's and commander's stations are in the same place as in the previous models. The gunner operates the BPU-1 turret, using the PP-61A optical sight. In BTR-60P both driver and commander manned their positions by entering the vehicle through the sides. BTR-60PA introduced two hatches over their stations and both crew members had to climb onto the top of the front of the vehicle to use them. The entering method did not change in later production models. In BTR-60PB a side door for the gunner was added on the right hand side. BTR-60PB also introduced firing ports for both driver and commander as well as the gunner on both side of the hull (for more information on BTR-60's firing port see troop compartment section). Both the driver and the commander have forward views through bulletproof windshields, which can be further protected with steel covers. In BTR-60P and BTR-60PA the covers had with vision slots through which both crew members could see what's in front of the vehicle. These were removed in BTR-60PB. BTR-60P and BTR-60PA also had the same kind of vision slots on both sides of the crew compartment. In BTR-60PB those slots were removed in favor of two periscopes on each side. In BTR-60P and BTR-60PA only the driver had a forward positioned periscope over his station while the commander had the removable OU-3 infrared searchlight over his station (it remained in later models). In BTR-60PB both the driver and the commander have three periscopes in the front (the commander's center periscope can be hard to see as it's just below the OU-3 infrared light). The vehicle was equipped with the R-113 radio set (R-123 was used instead in some models). The initial BTR-60P production model did not have night-vision devices and only four headlights (two infrared, two white, one of each kind per side, these remained in all BTR-60 models). Late BTR-60P model was fitted with night-vision devices, the TKN-1 connected with the OU-3 infrared searchlight for the commander and the TWN-2 for the driver. They remained unchanged in later models. Final BTR-60P model received the TPKU-2B periscope for the commander.Troop compartment
The troop compartment is behind the crew compartment and before the engine compartment. In BTR-60P it can transport up to sixteen fully equipped soldiers. This number changed to fourteen in BTR-60PB. The BTR-60P didn't have a roof and because of that it was covered with tarpaulin when traveling in bad weather conditions. It was also covered with bows and canvas. Also all BTR-60 models had three firing ports on each upper side of the hull through which the infantry being transported can fire at the enemy with their personal weapons. The difference between models was in position of those three firing ports. The BTR-60P and BTR-60PA had those firing ports positioned in a row between the middle and the front part of the troop compartment. In BTR-60PB the firing ports were moved and therefore there is one next to the driver and commander, one next to the gunner and one in the side of the troop compartment.Because of the engine placement (in the rear of the vehicle), transported infantry must mount and dismount through the sides in BTR-60P or through the roof hatches in the roofed BTR-60PA, BTR-60PB, and BTR-60PZ variants. To help the infantry to mount and dismount the vehicle BTR-60P had two steps on each side of the hull, one between first and second pair of road wheels and second between third and fourth pair of wheels. It also had two vertical hand rails on each side of troop compartment as well as an angled horizontal one on the left-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. BTR-60PA introduced yet another step on each side of the hull between the second and third pair of wheels as well as six horizontal hand rails on each side of the vehicle, three on the lower side and three on the upper side. The vertical ones were removed while yet another angled horizontal one was added on the right-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. In BTR-60PB the number of hand rails on the hull sides decreased from six to five on each side of the vehicle. On the right hand side the rear upper hand rail was removed. On the left hand side center upper one was removed. BTR-60P has two doors on each side of the troop compartment (one in the front part of the troop compartment and on in the rear part) but infantry still had to dismount trough the sides. The side doors were removed in BTR-60PA. They were used mostly as emergency exits and as auxiliary firing ports. In BTR-60PB a side door was added in the left hand side of the front part of the troop compartment.
Protection
The armour on the hull is made out of welded steel and it provides protection against small armsSmall arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
fire and shrapnel. Frontal armour can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from any range. The rest of armour protection can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from a range of 100 m.
The BTR-60P did not have a roof over the troop compartment, which made a weakness that could easily be exploited. As the vehicle lacked a roof even the simplest of explosives could take out a BTR-60P. The new BTR design with roof was called the BTR-60PA.
Armour thickness is as follows:
Hull:
|
Turret (since BTR-60PAI):
|
Maneuverability
BTR-60 has a 8x8 suspension and is propelled by two six-cylinder gasoline GAZ-40P engines which develop 90 hp (67 kW) each located side by side in the rear of the vehicle. The combined power of both engines is 180 hp (134 kW). Each engine is propelling two of the vehicles axles. The engine on the right hand side propels the second and the fourth axles, while the engine on the left hand side propels the first and the third axles. Each engine has its own four-speed gear box with a single-shielded hydraulically controlled clutchClutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and an exhaust. Each axle has its own differential. Each axle is hung on transversal torsion bars. The first two axles have two hydraulic absorbers, the third and fourth have one hydraulic absorber. The first and second pair of wheels can be turned. The gaps between the first and the second axles and between the third and the fourth axles are even. The gap between the second and third axles is slightly larger than the other ones.
The two-engines setup has an advantage in the fact that each engine could work without the other. This means that if one engine is disabled it doesn't affect the other one and the vehicle can still move with limited speed. This setup however caused several problems which did not exist in vehicles with a single engine or they weren't as serious: the design itself was complicated and the amount of work which had to be done during exploitation and repair was higher than in vehicles with a single engine. The engines themselves were originally intended for truck use which meant that they were working in extreme conditions not originally envisioned for them. Because of this engine breakdowns were frequent. The vehicle also used large amounts of fuel and caught fire easily. Despite all this the two-engines setup was used in all BTR-60 production models and most variants as well as BTR-70
BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
. The single-engine setup was introduced in BTR-80.
Amphibious capability
The BTR-60 is fully amphibiousAmphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
, propelled in the water by a jet centrally mounted at the rear of the hull. It was however prone to breakdowns. When not in use it is protected by the sideways opening lids. Before entering the water the trim vane at the front of the hull should be erected to prevent water from flooding over the bow. While in its traveling position it serves as additional lower frontal armor.
Production Models
| BTR-60P | early BTR-60PA | BTR-60PA | BTR-60PA-1 | BTR-60PAI | BTR-60PB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (tonnes) |
9.8 | 10.2 | 10.3 | ? | 10.3 | |
| Height (metres) |
2.06 m | 2.31 m | ||||
| Crew | 2 + 16 | 3 + 14 | ||||
| Primary armament | 7.62 mm PKT, SGMB or PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine gun (2,000 rounds) | 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (500 rounds) | 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds) |
|||
| Secondary armament | 2 x 7.62 mm PKT, SGMB or PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns (3,000 rounds) mounted on the sides of the troop compartment (optional) | 7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun (3,000 rounds) | ||||
| Power-to-weight ratio hp/tonne (kW/tonne) |
18.4 (13.7) |
17.6 (13.1) |
17.5 (13.0) |
? | 17.5 (13.0) |
|
Production history
BTR-60s were produced by Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ). BTR-60P was produced between 1960 and 1963. BTR-60PA entered production in 1963. BTR-60PA-1 entered production 1965. Both BTR-60PA and BTR-60PA-1 were produced until 1966. BTR-60PAI also entered production in 1965, but was quickly replaced in 1966 by the BTR-60PB, which had a better sighting system for the machine guns. The BTR-60PB remained in production until 1976, when it was superseded by the BTR-70BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
. According to the Western estimate around 25,000 BTR-60s were produced by GAZ. During the BTR-80 production and therefore after the BTR-60 production ended there was a special production run of 100 BTR-60PBs, some of which have been exported to Iraq.
Soviet Union
An order to enter the BTR-60P into Soviet Army service was issued on 13 December 1959. However production started in 1960. First BTR-60Ps were delivered in 1960. It first entered service with the Soviet ArmySoviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
and later the Soviet naval infantry. BTR-60 entered service with Soviet military at the time when USSR was arming on a mass scale. In early 1960s it replaced the BTR-152 in the role of the basic APC. BTR-60P was first seen by the West in 1961. BTR-60PA entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 while BTR-60PA-1 and BTR-60PAI did in 1965, BTR-60PB did in 1966, BTR-60PZ did in 1972 and BTR-60PBK did in 1975. As the newer models of BTR-60 appeared the older ones were gradually withdrawn from front-line service. A number of old BTR-60Ps were converted into repair vehicles.
The first use of the Soviet BTR-60s during a conflict happened during the Warsaw Pact 1968 Invasion of Czechoslovakia. However the actual combat was scarce.
In the 1980s most of the BTR-60s were was replaced in the Soviet army by the BTR-70 and BTR-80, however a large number was still operated by the second-line and border troops. According to the data provided by the USSR during the signing of the CFE Treaty in 1990, there 4,191 BTR-60s in service with the units stationed in the European part of the Soviet Union.
Sino-Soviet border conflict
The first real combat use of BTR-60 took place during the Sino-Soviet border conflictSino-Soviet border conflict
The Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
on Zhenbao Island
Zhenbao Island
Zhenbao Island or Damansky Island is a small island measuring . It is located on the Ussuri River on the border between Russia and the People's Republic of China ....
(Damansky Island at the time) in March 1969. The frontier units operating on the island were equipped with BTR-60PBs while the 57th border detachment group was equipped with BTR-50Ps and BTR-50PKs. BTR-60 proved to be a good vehicle although it sustained high losses because of Chinese using a large amount of RPGs and mistakes made by the commanders of the APCs which originated from low amount of experience in combat use of the new vehicles.
The high losses due to RPG hits weren't unexpected as the armour of BTR-60 was designed to protect the vehicle from small arms fire and shrapnel and not specialized anti-tank weapons. The most effective tactic found for BTR-60PBs to be used in was covering the dismounted infantry. This is a job more suited for infantry fighting vehicles than armoured personnel carriers the main role of which was to transport the infantry to the battlefield and provide them with armour protection during that time (it must however be noted that BMP-1
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...
, the world's first infantry fighting vehicle started production in 1966 and therefore Soviet Army had very small numbers of those vehicles available at the time of Sino-Soviet border conflict). During the fights in March the Chinese managed to capture four BTR-60PBs and one T-62 MBT.
BTR-60PBs were used again during the fights near Lake Zhalanashkol in Kazahstan (Kazakh SSR
Kazakh SSR
The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Kazakh SSR for short, was one of republics that made up the Soviet Union.At in area, it was the second largest constituent republic in the USSR, after the Russian SFSR. Its capital was Alma-Ata . Today it is the independent state of...
at the time) in August 1969. During those fights the armour of BTR-60PB proved to inadequate.
Soviet War in Afghanistan
BTR-60PB was used in large numbers during the initial part of the Soviet War in AfghanistanSoviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
. This was because the units that were originally used for this operation weren't the top priority of the Soviet military which prioritized the units stationed in East Germany. The same flaws of the design were present during this conflict and the vehicle became even more vulnerable due to the kind of fighting that took place in Afghanistan. The GAZ-40P gasoline engines experienced frequent losses of power and overheating due to the tropical highland climate not well suited for them. BTR-60PB's turret also could not elevate its armament high enough to fire at the Mujahideen attacking from high ground. Like during the Sino-Soviet border conflict many BTR-60PBs fell victim to RPGs. Because of those drawbacks the BTR-60PBs were replaced by BTR-70s as soon as possible to a point were only the BTR-60 command variants were used.
Other operational use
Soviet BTR-60s, BTR-70s and BTR-80s were used for dispersing the demonstrations in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
in 1989 and stopping the fighting on the border between Uzbek SSR
Uzbek SSR
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
and Kirghiz SSR. They were also used in Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
and South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
. In 1990 they were used in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
to suppress the Lithuanian independence movements.
Soviet Union successor states
In 1991 the BTR-60s of the Soviet Army was passed onto the armies of the successor states and thus used in many regional conflicts. 27 BTR-60PBs that were inherited by Moldavia were used by its army during the War of Transnistria. A number of BTR-60s were used by the Georgian army during the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia.As of 2007 several hundred BTR-60s remain in service with USSR successor states and are in a process of being replaced by more modern vehicles.
Russia
Russia used BTR-60s during the First Chechen War
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
, but since the mid-1990s BTR-60s have only been in use with the border troops.
In Russian service, many BTR-60 variants have been replaced by variants of the BTR-80/K1Sh1 or have been upgraded with the engines from the BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
.
Moldova
Moldova inherited 27 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union. They were used during the War of Transnistria
War of Transnistria
The War of Transnistria was a limited conflict that broke out in November 1990 at Dubăsari between pro-Transnistria forces, including the Transnistrian Republican Guard, militia and Cossack units, and supported by elements of the Russian 14th army, and pro-Moldovan forces, including Moldovan...
against the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Moldova also ordered 161 ex-Romanian TAB-71Ms in 1992 which were delivered between 1992 and 1995. Moldova also inherited 20 BTR-70s from the Soviet Union and received 250 TAB Zimbrus and MLI-84s from Romania. In the end of March 1992 Moldavian army was trying to sever the connection between Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
and Rîbniţa
Rîbnita
Rîbnița, also spelled Râbnița is a city in Moldova. The city is under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistria. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria, it has a population of 53,648. Rîbniţa is situated in the northern half of Transnistria, on the left bank of the...
. 5 out of 6 BTRs used during that operation were lost. On 1 April 2 BTRs were used during the assault on Bender
Bender
- Places:* Bender, Moldova, also known as Bendery or Tighina* Bender, California, a former settlement in Fresno County, California* Bender Bayla District, a district of Bari, Somalia- Fiction :...
. In June dozen APCs were used during another assault on the city.
Georgia
In 1992 the separatist state of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
has declared Independence from Georgia and the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
The War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
began. Georgia sent its troops to Abkhazia to stabilize the region. The troops were poorly equipped with military vehicles. The entire force sent to Abkhazia consisted of 3,000 men, 5 T-55 main battle tanks, a few BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 BTR-60 and BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers and a small number of BM-21 Grad MRLs. As the war continued the Georgian forces in Abkhazia were strengthened. The rebels almost did not have AFVs but have captured some heavy equipment from the Georgians.
Armenia
A BTR-60PB of the Armenian police was used on 1 March 2008 during the Armenian presidential election protests in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
. It was sent to counter the protest at the Shahumyan Square near the French Embassy arrived where it arrived on 1:30 PM. Eventually the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators surrounded the APC, mounted it, and forced its crew to leave the square.
Foreign service
BTR-60 APCs were employed widely both by the Soviet Army and by more than thirty export customers. Operators of the BTR-60 have included AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, East Germany, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, as well as many of the successor states of the Soviet Union. The most widely spread model is the BTR-60PB.
Although BTR-60 still remains in service with many of the world's armies it is almost never used as an APC anymore. They are still being used though as mobile command posts, artillery forward observation posts, airplane guidance posts, communication posts and many other specialized vehicles.
The BTR-60 has seen action in the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
, 1971 War between India and Pakistan where it was used very effectively to punch a hole through to Jessore and subsequently Khulna
Khulna
Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna...
, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan where it was used by both the Soviet and Afghan government troops and the Chechen and Yugoslav wars. It was also used by Warsaw Pact forces during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, the Soviet Union and her main satellite states in the Warsaw Pact – Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic , Hungary and Poland – invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in order to halt Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring political liberalization...
.
Finland
Finland's Jäger battalions operated the Soviet-built BTR-60R-145BM "Chaika" vehicles. They were upgraded to BTR-60PUM standard between 1996 and 1997. In 1991, seven conscripts of Karelia BrigadeKarelia Brigade
Karelia Brigade is one of the three Finnish Army readiness brigades. It is located in the Eastern Command at Valkeala. With some three thousand soldiers it is the second largest brigade in Finland...
drowned when their BTR-60 sank during an amphibious exercise because the vehicle was loaded incorrectly (top-heavy) and roof hatches opened.
Poland
Milicja Obywatelska
Milicja Obywatelska was a state police institution in the People's Republic of Poland. It was created in 1944 by Soviet-sponsored PKWN, effectively replacing the pre-war police force. In 1990 it was transformed back into Policja....
(MO) operated several BTR-60PAs. They were used by ZOMO
ZOMO
Zmotoryzowane Odwody Milicji Obywatelskiej , were paramilitary-police formations during the Communist Era, in the People's Republic of Poland...
riot control units. Polish Army also received a dozen BTR-60PU-12s which were used within the Soviet supplied 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
SAM regiment delivered between 1980 and 1985. On 7 December 1981 the delegation of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs went to the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs asking for equipment and supplies necessary to equip around 60,000 MO operatives and reservists enlisted because of the intensified activities against the Communist government. In response on 17 December the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to transfer 25 BTR-60PBs along with 10250,000 "Czeromucha" incapacitating chemical devices and 2,000 tonnes of gas over to its Polish counterpart. These vehicles have previously been used in Afghanistan. They were later modified by adding an additional radio set. They were used by ZOMO. Some were modified by the MSW automobile plant in Łódź for use during the martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland refers to the period of time from December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, when the authoritarian government of the People's Republic of Poland drastically restricted normal life by introducing martial law in an attempt to crush political opposition to it. Thousands of opposition...
which consisted of fitting the vehicles with breakers mounted on the front of the vehicle which were used for clearing obstacles (See Poland section in the Variants section for details). When the Milicja Obywatelska was transformed back into Policja
Policja
Policja is the generic name for the police in Poland. The Polish police force was known as policja throughout the Second Polish Republic , and in modern post-communist Republic of Poland since 1990. Its current size is 103.309 officers and ca. 12.000 civilian employees...
in 1990 all BTR-60PBs had their armament removed. This was because Policja unlike MO didn't have a need for weaponry with such high muzzle velocity which made those weapons dangerous to use in urban areas. MO needed such weaponry because it was also supposed to carry out anti-partisan operations. Policja used unarmed BTR-60PBs for security during European Economy Summit 2004 in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
as well as clearing blockades set up by the Samoobrona political party. A few Police BTR-60PBs are kept in storage for anti-riot duty as barricade breakers.
People's Republic of China
PRC reversed engineered BTR-60PB after capturing four examples during the Sino-Soviet border conflictSino-Soviet border conflict
The Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
on Zhenbao Island
Zhenbao Island
Zhenbao Island or Damansky Island is a small island measuring . It is located on the Ussuri River on the border between Russia and the People's Republic of China ....
in March 1969. The program was completed in the late 1970s. However, the vehicle did not enter service in large numbers because the PRC's primitive road system and rugged terrain meant that the wheeled APC wasn't well suited for the Chinese conditions as it lacked the cross country capability of tracked APCs in Chinese inventory. It should be noted though that before the Sino-Soviet split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
PRC did import 100 BTR-40s and 100 BTR-152s from the USSR and manufactured copies of those vehicles which served with the PLA until the mid-1990s. The experience gained through reverse-engineering BTR-60 did help PRC in developing other more advanced wheeled APCs later in the 1980s.
List of Conflicts
- 1967 - Six Day War
- 1969 - Sino-Soviet border conflictSino-Soviet border conflictThe Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
- 1971 - Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
- 1973 - Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur WarThe Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
- 1975 - 1990 - Lebanese Civil WarLebanese Civil WarThe Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
- 1975 - 1991 - Western Sahara WarWestern Sahara WarThe Western Sahara War was an armed conflict primarily between the Polisario Front and Morocco, the conflict erupted after the withdrawal of Spain from the Spanish Sahara in accordance with the Madrid Accords by which it gave administrative control of the territory to Morocco and Mauritania...
- 1975 - 2002 - Angolan Civil WarAngolan Civil WarThe Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
- 1978–1987 - Chadian-Libyan Conflict
- 1979 - 1988 - Soviet War in AfghanistanSoviet war in AfghanistanThe Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
- 1980 - 1988 - Iran–Iraq War
- 1983 - Invasion of GrenadaInvasion of GrenadaThe Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was a 1983 United States-led invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 100,000 located north of Venezuela. Triggered by a military coup which had ousted a four-year revolutionary government, the invasion...
- 1988 - 1993 - Georgian Civil WarGeorgian Civil WarThe Georgian Civil War consisted of inter-ethnic and intranational conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , as well as the violent military coup d'etat of December 21, 1991 - January 6, 1992 against the first democratically elected President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia and his...
- 1992 - 1993 - War in Abkhazia
- 1988 - 1994 - Nagorno-Karabakh WarNagorno-Karabakh WarThe Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
- 1989 - Romanian Revolution
- 1990 - 1991 - First Persian Gulf War
- 1992 - 1997 - Civil War in Tajikistan
- 1993 - present - Turkey-Pkk ConflictTurkey-PKK conflictThe Turkey – Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict, also referred to as the Kurdish Conflict in Turkey, the Kurdish Conflict, the Kurdish insurgency, the Kurdish rebellion or PKK-terrorism and has also been described as the latest Kurdish uprising or as a civil war, is an armed conflict between the...
- 1994 - Civil War in Yemen1994 civil war in YemenThe May–July 1994 civil war in Yemen was waged between the armed forces of the former Northern and Southern Yemeni states and their supporters...
- 1994 - 1996 - First Chechen WarFirst Chechen WarThe First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
- 1999 - 2009 - Second Chechen WarSecond Chechen WarThe Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
- 2001 - ? - United States War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
- 2003 - ? - Second Persian Gulf War
- 2003 - Invasion of Iraq2003 invasion of IraqThe 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
- 2003 - Invasion of Iraq
Former USSR
- BTR-60P (1959) (P stands for plavajushhijj - "swimming") - Initial version with troop compartment completely exposed and often covered with bows and canvas. The vehicle has three mounting points for three 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns can be mounted), one on the front and one on each side between the two small doors, but only one mount which is usually fitted to the front mounting point. The vehicle carries 2,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
). It was also known under designation GAZ-49.- BTR-60P with a modified machine gun mounting point in the front to fit the DShK 1938/46DShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7 mm heavy machine gun like in BTR-60PA instead of the 7.62 mm machine gun (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
tank/medium/general-purpose machine gun). The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the DShK 1938/46DShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, SGMB or PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
). - BTR-60P converted into a command vehicle equipped with a rail-type antennae running around 3 sides of hull top.
- BTR-60P M1961/1 - BTR-60P converted into a fire support vehicle. It is fitted with the turret from the PT-76PT-76The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, North Korea and North Vietnam. Overall,...
amphibious light tank. Most probably prototype only.- BTR-60P M1961/1 fitted with a smaller version of the PT-76 turret. Most probably prototype only.
- BTR-60P M1961/2 - BTR-60P converted into a fire support vehicle. It is fitted with a small open-topped turret armed with a 37 mm gun with clean barrel with conical flash-hider. Most probably prototype only.
- BTR-60P converted into a mortar carrier. It can carry up to two mortars long with their crews and ammunition.
- MTR-2 - BTR-60P converted into a repair vehicle with a raised tarpaulin cover over the troop compartment running almost to the rear.
- BTR-60P with a modified machine gun mounting point in the front to fit the DShK 1938/46
-
- BTR-60PA (1963) - This version has an armoured roof over the troop compartment. It is fitted with improved 'closed-down' vision devices for the crew. Behind the commander's and driver's hatches is a single rear-opening rectangular hatch in front of which is a single mount for the DShK 1938/46DShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7 mm heavy machine gun between the two circular crew hatches at front of personnel compartment and two optional mounts on for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns can be mounted) on each side of the roof of the personnel compartment. Early production BTR-60PA had only a single mount for the 7.62 mm machine gun (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
) between the two circular crew hatches at front of personnel compartment. The small doors on each side of the hull that were present in BTR-60P were removed. BTR-60PA introduced collective NBC protection system to the series. It has six handrails on the each side in rows of three. The personnel compartment has two rectangular hatches. The fact that the roof has been added makes passengers more vulnerable to enemy fire while they're exiting the vehicle through top hatches. Also gunner must be at least shoulder high out of the vehicle to operate the weapons. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the DShK 1938/46DShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
). The weight of the vehicle increased from 9.8 tonnes to 10.2 tonnes. It was also known under designation BTR-60PK where K stands for krisha - "roof" and GAZ-49A.- BTR-60PA-1 (1965) - Upgraded BTR-60PA with improved power plant and transmission and the R-123 radio instead of the R-113. The weight of the vehicle increased from 10.2 tonnes to 10.3 tonnes. It entered service in very small numbers.
- BTR-60PA converted into a command vehicle equipped with two side-mounted angled telescopic masts.
- MTP-2 (MTP stands for mashina tekhnicheskoj pomoshchi) - BTR-60PA converted into a technical support vehicle based on BTR-60PA. It is equipped with a crane mounted on the front of the hull. While in transport the crane is carried on the left-hand side of the vehicle. It's also fitted with several stowage boxes, two on the roof behind the front hatches, one smaller on the front of the right-hand side of the hull and two over the engine decks. It is also missing two or three hand rails.
- BTR-60PAI (1965) - Initial version with the DShK 1938/46DShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7 mm heavy machine gun replaced by the conical in shape BPU-1 turret from BRDM-2BRDM-2The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
armed with the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and the PKT 7.62 mm coaxial tank machine gun on the top of the vehicle. The turret is placed over the second axle. Two remaining mountings for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKBPKBPKB is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Państwowy Korpus Bezpieczeństwa, a Polish underground police force during World War II* The National Awakening Party of Indonesia, from the abbreviation for its name in Indonesian...
tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns) on the upper hull sides were removed. Since the turret has been added the crew had gone up from 2 to 3 (commander, driver, and gunner). There are two semicircular hatches for the crew in front of the turret. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for the PKT 7.62 mm coaxial tank machine gun.
- BTR-60PA (1963) - This version has an armoured roof over the troop compartment. It is fitted with improved 'closed-down' vision devices for the crew. Behind the commander's and driver's hatches is a single rear-opening rectangular hatch in front of which is a single mount for the DShK 1938/46
-
-
-
- BTR-60PB (1966) - Improved sighting system for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and improved GAZ-49B engine. The turret has modified to include new telescopic sight, the 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and the 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun were moved to the right while the telescopic sight was mounted coaxially to the left. The armour protection has also been improved. The frontal armour of BTR-60PB can withstand fire with use of 7.62 mm bullets from any range while the rest of its armour protection can withstand fire with use of 7.62 mm bullets from range of 100 m. It has a filtration and over pressurization system for NBC protection. It also has self-sealing tires, a central tire inflation system and antennae mount on the right hand side of the rear of the roof. It has a side door in the left hand side of the front part of the troop compartment. Some BTR-60PB also lack one of the firing ports on the left hand side of the hull. Late production BTR-60PB have the same sighting improvement as the BTR-70, which consists of a small additional episcope sight which is facing to the rear on the turret roof. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun. It was also known under designation GAZ-49B.
- BTR-60PB produced during the BTR-80 production run. It has a side door in the right hand side of the front part of the troop compartment.
- BTR-60PB converted into an agitation and propaganda vehicle. It is fitted with the same turret as BTR-70ZS.
- BTR-60PB converted into a command vehicle equipped with two side-mounted angled telescopic masts.
- GAZ-4907 - BTR-60PB converted into a specialized chassis used by a few command variants.
- BTR-60PBK (K stands for komandnyj - "command") (1975) - Company commander version, based on the specialized chassis GAZ-4907. This version is equipped with three radio sets: two R-123 and one R-148 as well as three whip antennas and an antenna mast on the left upper hull. Late-production models have a modified turret and additional Pin Stick antenna.
- BTR-60R-145BM "Chaika" - Turret-less command vehicle, based on the GAZ-4907 chassis and fitted with a collapsible AZI frame antenna, the AMU 10 m high telescopic mast, the AB-1-P/30 generator, five radio sets: one R-123MT, one R-130, two R-111 and one R-012M as well as the TA-57 field telephone. It is also known under the designation BTR-60PU.
- BTR-60R-145BM-1 - Modernized model.
- BTR-60R-149BM - Command vehicle based on BTR-60R-145BM-1.
- BTR-60R-145BM-1 - Modernized model.
- BTR-60PZ (zenitnyj) (1972) - Version with improved turret similar to the BTR-70BTR-70The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
one which can be used to fire at flying targets. It's equipped with the 1PZ-2 roof-mounted periscope mounted on the turret. The armament has a high angle of elevation. It entered service in very small numbers. - BTR-70BTR-70The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
- BTR-60 1V18 "Klyon-1" - BTR-60PB converted into an artillery command and forward observer vehicle, used by battery commanders of units, equipped with towed artillery and MRL systems. The original turret has been replaced by an unarmed one ("Darth Vader") with the NNP-21 and DV observation devices and a rangefinder. Other specialized equipment comprises the UD-15G internal generator, four radio sets: three R-123M and one R-107M as well as the 1V510 computer, the PUO-9M fire control set and the PAB-2A aiming circle. Crew consisted of five soldiers. Each 1V17 "Mashina-B" set consists of three 1V18s, one 1V19 (qv), three 1V110s (based on GAZ-66GAZ-66The GAZ-66 is a Russian 4x4 all-road military truck produced by GAZ. It was the main transport vehicle for motorized infantry of the Soviet Army and is still employed in former Soviet Union countries...
) and one 1V111 (based on ZiL-131).- BTR-60 1V18-1 - Modernized model.
- BTR-60 1V19 "Klyon-2" - BTR-60PB converted into an artillery fire direction center externally identical to the BTR-60 1V18 but provided with the R-130M radio set and an additional stowage box on each upper side of the hull. Used by battalion commanders.
- BTR-60 1V19-1 - Modernized model.
- BTR-60 R-145BM - BTR-60PB converted into a turret-less communications vehicle and equipped with five radio sets: two R-111 or R-171, one R-123 or R-173, one R-130M, and one R-012M.
- BTR-60PU-12 (9S482) (punkt upravleniya) (1972) - BTR-60PB converted into an air defense command vehicle used by units equipped with ZSU-23-4ZSU-23-4The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system . ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It...
, SA-9 or SA-13 units. Turret was removed and the vehicle was fitted with the AMU telescope mast on the right-hand side of the front hull roof and the AB1-P/30 1 kW generator on top of the blanking plate. The vehicle is equipped with the 1G13 gyroscope, the KP-4 navigation apparatus and the ASPD-12 computer. Often the PU-12 is connected to a radar and the radar image is directly visible on the vehicle's IT-45 monitor. BTR-60PU-12M can process up to 12 targets.- BTR-60PU-12M (9S482M) - Modernized model developed in the 1980s for units equipped with more modern SAM systems. This model is equipped with the more modern ASPD-U computer instead of the ASPD-12 and with the S 23-1 data processing unit connected to the MP-21, MP-22, Strela-10M, Osa-AK etc. BTR-60PU-12M can process up to 99 targets instead of only 12.
- BTR-60R-975 - Vehicle used by Tactical Air Control Parties, equipped with four radio sets: R-123, R-134, R-853 and R-864, as well as the SMI-2KM beakon system (protected by a conical cover during transport) and the G-290B generator. It has two blade antennas on the rear of the deck.
- BTR-60R-975M1 - Modernized version. It doesn't have the conical cover for the beakon system.
- BTR-60R-137B - BTR-60PB converted into a USW signals vehicle similar to the BTR-60R-140BM. It is equipped with two radio sets: R-123 and R-405. It also has a frame antennae around top of hull and telescopic mast in the right-hand-side of the front of personnel compartment's roof.
- BTR-60R-140BM - BTR-60PB converted into a SW signals vehicle similar to the BTR-60R-137B. It is equipped with three radio sets: R-140, R-405, R-123.
- BTR-60R-156BTR - BTR-60PB converted into a HF signals vehicle used on the operational level. It is equipped with the R-156 HF radio and two other radio sets: R-405 and R-123.
- BTR-60R-409BM - BTR-60PB converted into a radio relay station similar to the BTR-60R-419BR equipped with the R-409 radio set.
- BTR-60R-419BR - BTR-60PB converted into a low-frequency radio relay station similar to the BTR-60R-409BM.
- BTR-60E-351BR - BTR-60PB converted into a battery charger vehicle used by signals units. It is equipped with a 20 kW generator. The vehicle has an extra seat and carries fuel inside for the generator.
- BTR-60P-238BT - BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-239BT - BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-240BT - BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telefonnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-241BT - BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60MS - BTR-60PB converted into a communications Vehicle fitted with a "High Ball" antennae mount.
- BTR-60MBP (MBP stands for mashina boyevogo posta) - BTR-60PB converted into a base security vehicle for Strategic Rocket units. The original turret has been replaced by a new type armed with NSVT 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and equipped with improved 1PN22M1 sight, loudspeakers, OU-3GA-2 IR search lights and additional TNPO-170 periscopes. The vehicle is also equipped with a stowage box on the right hand side of the hull. Behind the right-hand side troop compartment roof hatch there's a small bolted on plate.
- BTR-60PB (1966) - Improved sighting system for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and improved GAZ-49B engine. The turret has modified to include new telescopic sight, the 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and the 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun were moved to the right while the telescopic sight was mounted coaxially to the left. The armour protection has also been improved. The frontal armour of BTR-60PB can withstand fire with use of 7.62 mm bullets from any range while the rest of its armour protection can withstand fire with use of 7.62 mm bullets from range of 100 m. It has a filtration and over pressurization system for NBC protection. It also has self-sealing tires, a central tire inflation system and antennae mount on the right hand side of the rear of the roof. It has a side door in the left hand side of the front part of the troop compartment. Some BTR-60PB also lack one of the firing ports on the left hand side of the hull. Late production BTR-60PB have the same sighting improvement as the BTR-70, which consists of a small additional episcope sight which is facing to the rear on the turret roof. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun. It was also known under designation GAZ-49B.
-
-
Russia
- BTR-60PBM - BTR-60PB modernization fitted with a new engine in a new, bigger engine compartment similar to the one in BTR-80BTR-80BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
. The exhaust pipes are also similar if not identical to the ones in BTR-80. The right-hand side of the hull has been altered: a side door with a small hand rail for the troop compartment was added, four out of five handrails were removed (the exception being the lower front one), the firing ports were removed replaced with one located next to the gunner's station, a stowage box was added next to the engine compartment. The modernization is done by the Arzamas Engineering Plant. - MWS - Another upgrade of the BTR-60 was developed by Muromteplovoz JSC. This one is powered by the YaMZ-236A 195 hp diesel engine in a much bigger engine compartment, with a service hatch on the rear side and only one exhaust pipe, on the left side. The first prototype - sometimes called BTR-60BD - was in fact an upgraded R-145BM command vehicle. The vehicle that was shown during IDELF-2006 in Moscow was a modified BTR-60PB with the original machine gun turret replaced by the MB2 modular turret with a 2A42 30mm gun.
- MWS-M - MWS with altered sides of the hull. On the left-hand side two handrails were removed (the center lower and the rear lower) and a stowage box was added in the center. On the right-hand side two handrails were removed (the center upper and lower), a new handrail was added to upper rear. The firing ports were removed on both sides.
- The latest upgrade was shown for the first time during MAKS-2011MAKS AirshowMAKS is an International Air Show held near Moscow, Russia on Zhukovskiy LII air field. The first show, Mosaeroshow-92, was held in 1992. Since 1993, it was renamed to its current name and is held on odd years .MAKS is an important event in Russian business...
. This version also has a new diesel engine, the YaMZ-236D (as found on the BTR-70D upgrade), but here the engine compartment has been relocated to the center of the hull. The troop compartment with 8 seats is now at the very end of the hull, has a raised roof line and two exit doors. There are no persicopes for the infantry squad and only two firing ports, in the rear doors. On top of the troop compartment is a new MA7-02 turret. This turret is fitted with a 1PZ-7A sight and armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun "Kord", an automatic grenade launcher AG-17, a coaxial machine gun PKTM 7.62 mm and 81mm smoke grenade launchers 902V. - 9K35M3-K "Kolchan" - During MAKS-2007MAKS AirshowMAKS is an International Air Show held near Moscow, Russia on Zhukovskiy LII air field. The first show, Mosaeroshow-92, was held in 1992. Since 1993, it was renamed to its current name and is held on odd years .MAKS is an important event in Russian business...
, Muromteplovoz showed a SAM launch vehicle, based on an upgraded BTR-60 and armed with the Strela-10 launcher fitted to the hull roof.
- Irtish - BTR-60PB converted into civilian repair vehicle. It has a crane mounted in the front of the hull and a crate on top of the hull. The turret was removed. It is also missing two hand rails, one in the center of the upper side of the hull and one in the center of the lower side of the hull. The firing ports are blocked. The steel covers for the windshields are removed. The periscopes were removed. A window was added on the front part of each side of the hull.
- BTR-60PB converted into civilian armoured firefighting vehicle. The turret and center hand rails were removed as well as all firing ports were blocked. The steel covers for the windshields are removed. The periscopes were removed. A window was added on the front part of each side of the hull. It was fitted with a crate on top of the hull.
- BTR-60PPM - BTR-60PB converted into civilian armoured firefighting vehicle. The turret and center hand rails were removed as well as all firing ports were blocked. The steel covers for the windshields are removed. The periscopes were blocked. Three windows were added on each side of the hull. It was fitted with a crate on top of the hull. It also carries an A-crane on the right-hand side of the hull.
Bulgaria
- BTR-60PAU - BTR-60PA converted into an artillery command vehicle equipped with 4 whip antennas.
- BTR-60PB experimentally fitted with the Polish WAT turret from SKOT-2AP. Only a prototype was made.
- BTR-60PB-MD (bronyetransport’or moderniziran ) - BTR-60PB modernization fitted with the VAMO DT3900 or Rover TD-200 diesel engine, four MB smoke grenade launchers on the turret (two on each side), "Melopa" night sight, new day sight, new NBC protection system, modern radios. It also has a rear view mirror on the left hand side of the hull and side hatches. Only a prototype was made.
- BTR-60PB-MD1 - BTR-60PB-MD variant developed for the Bulgarian army, fitted with the Cummins ISB 25.30 turbocharged diesel engine developing 250 hp (186 kW), additional protection for its headlights and eight smoke grenade launchers on the turret (four on each side). 150 in service.
- BTR-60PB-MD3 - Export BTR-60PB-MD variant fitted with the KamAZ diesel engine, different sights, eight smoke grenade launchers in right-hand corner of the front of the hull and six on the turret (three on each side). It is also known under the designation BTR-60PB-MD2. The prototype, shown in 2004, was based on the BTR-60PA.
Cuba
- BTR-60PB fitted with a turret from the BMP-1. It also lacks the hand rails on the upper side of the hull.
- BTR-60PB armed with 100 mm gun in a heavily modified turret from the T-54. The hull is modified as well since the two hand rails on the side of the hull are gone and the other two are moved to the center of the hull between the upper and lower parts of the side of the hull. The lights in the front received armoured protection. The vehicle has two rear-view mirrors in the front corners of the hull (one on each side) The chassis has also been modified as the vehicle has a BTR-80BTR-80BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
style straight chassis with no slope near the engine compartment. Because of the size of the new turret the vehicle is most probably no longer an APC but an armoured car. - BTR-60 armed with twin 23 mm anti-aircraft guns (probably ZU-23-2ZU-23-2The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka - anti-aircraft mount.-Development history:...
). It is designed to be used for anti-aircraft purposes. - BTR-60 armed with twin 37 mm anti-aircraft guns. It is designed to be used for anti-aircraft purposes.
Djibouti
- BTR-60PB with its turret replaced by the one used in French AML-90Panhard AML-Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...
light armoured car. Only one BTR-60PB was converted and it was done so to make use of a spare turret after the original AML-90 hull was destroyed in a road accident.
Finland
- BTR-60PA
- BTR-60PB fitted with stowage racks over the engine decks.
- BTR-60PBK - BTR-60PB ugrade with second radio transceiver telescope radio antenna and outside the vehicle on the deck an aggregate, cable wheel and equipment box
- BTR-60PUM - BTR-60R-145BM "Chaika" upgrade with new communication equipment and armed with the NSV 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
Finland bought later a BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
for the tests and ended up to national XA-180 series of vehicles, known later as Patria Pasi.
Former East Germany
- SPW-60P (SPW stands for Schützenpanzerwagen) - NVA designator for BTR-60P.
- SPW-60PA (SPW stands for Schützenpanzerwagen) - NVA designator for BTR-60PA.
- SPW-60PA(S) - SPW-60PA converted into a staff vehicle.
- SPW-60PB (SPW stands for Schützenpanzerwagen) - NVA designator for the BTR-60PB.
- SPW-60PB(ABS) (ABS stands for Artillerie-Beobachtungsstelle - "Artillery-Monitoring Center") - SPW-60PB converted into an artillery forward observer vehicle with 4 whip antennas (2 on the rear of the engine deck's roof), two small brackets on the top of the upper left-hand side of the hull with striped poles stowed, commander's and driver's hatches that fold forward horizontally and a modified commanders position with retractable observation device.
- SPW-60PB(BBS) (BBS stands for Batterie-Beobachtungsstelle - "Battery-Monitoring Center") - SPW-60PB converted into a command vehicle for air-defense artillery batteries. Similar to the SPW-60PB but it has two whip antennas on the rear hull.
- SPW-60PB(S) - SPW-60PB converted into a command vehicle.
- NZ(B) MSR/PR (NZ stands for Nachrichtenzentrale) - SPW-60PB converted into a signals vehicle for motorized rifle and tank regiments. It is equipped with the R-123M, R-123MT and R-405 radio sets, the AB-2-0 generator mounted behind the turret and the F-1301 electronic telegraph. Turret has been blanked-off.
- LBGS(B) (LBGS stands for Leitungsbaugerätesatz) - SPW-60PB converted into telephone cable layer. It is also known under the designation LBT.
- R-137B - SPW-60PB converted into a signals vehicle. Differs externally from Soviet type and has some components from local production including the FF63M field telephone set.
- R-140BM - SPW-60PB converted into a signals vehicle equipped with R-140M SW radio set, two movable whip antennas in the rear, a 10 m high telescopic mast and the AB-4-T/230-M1 generator. It differs externally from its Soviet counterpart and incorporates some components produced locally including the EKD 315 SW receiver.
- R-409BM - SPW-60PB converted into a radio-relay station equipped with 2 R-409MA semi-sets, free receivers: the R-326, the R-123MT, the P-303-OB and the AB-2-0/230-M1 generator.
- R-145BM/AKL1 - SPW-60PB converted into a signals vehicle. It is a R-145BM equipped with an additional R-870M set.
- R-145BM/AKL2 - Signals vehicle. As R-145BM but with additional R-809M2 set.
- R-145BM/L1 - Signals vehicle.
- R-145BM/L2I - Signals vehicle with radiosets R-111, R-123MT, R-130M, R-809M2, R-859D and R-863 of -802
- P-238BT - Switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi) SAS- and Chiffrier Services
- P-239BT - Switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi) SAS- and Chiffrier Services
- P-240BT - Switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telefonnoj svyazi) SAS- and Chiffrier Services
- P-241BT - Switchboard vehicle (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi) SAS- and Chiffrier Services
Israel
- BTR-60PB fitted with the CARDOM 120/81 mm mortar system in its troop compartment. The turret and the roof over the troop compartment have been removed. The roof over the crew compartment along with both hatches remains. A ladder was added to at least one side of the hull to allow easier mounting and dismounting. It was designed by Soltam.
- BTR-60 upgrade designed by Nimda fitting it with new power unit and automatic transmission which improves both mobility and reliability.
- BTR-60 modernization designed by Saymar. Following operations are carried out as a part of this modernization: Removing of all of the vehicle's systems and parts. Adding a bolted on superstructure with two hatches in its front, going all the way from the front hatches to the engine compartment which is necessary to adapt the vehicle to the new systems and parts (The engine compartment now externally resembles the one Russian MWS however it doesn't have a service hatch in the back and is angled near the top, also it too has rear lights mounted on both sides of the engine compartment although the lights themselves are different.). Sand blasting and repainting the hull. Resembling the vehicle with new and improved systems and parts as well as installing a new split transfer box that includes a limited split differential and a monitoring system allowing driving in rough terrain and improving the cross-country capabilities. Replacing the two GAZ-40P petrol engines with a single Caterpillar diesel engine developing 300 hp. Fitting a number of new parts for the new engine including a clutch system, split gear case, axillary engine systems, cooling systems, air inlet system, exhaust system. Converting and adapting a new fuel system for the diesel engine and integrating new and bigger fuel tanks to increase the maximum operational range. Installing a new and advanced electrical system including an advance control panel as well as replacement of all internal and external lighting. Increasing the driver's field of view by installing a rear view camera with an LCD screen. Improving the man-machine interface. The vehicle is armed with a pintle-mounted M2M2 Machine GunThe M2 Machine Gun, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. It is very similar in design to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge...
heavy machine gun in the front and a second machine gun of a smaller caliber mounted on a "ring" in the rear. The rear machine gun is controlled from the inside, uses the "ring" to move and can rotate a full 360°. The vehicle als has two whip antennas in the front part of the superstructure. The modernization can also be applied to the BTR-70BTR-70The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
.
Mexico
- APC-70 - Turret-less APC used by the Mexican marinesMexican Naval InfantryThe Naval Infantry are the marine corps and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the Infantería de Marina is to guarantee the maritime security of the country's ports and external and internal defense of the country, to accomplish these responsibilities the corps is...
, based on a civilian variant of the BTR-60 without firing ports, periscopes and with additional bulletproof windows. Armament consists of a single machine gun (either the Heckler & Koch HK21 or FN MAG-58FN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
7.62) or a Mk 19 grenade launcherMk 19 grenade launcherThe Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...
. It is also known under the designation BTR-60PB-MX.- APC-70 fitted with an A-frame crane.
Poland
- BTR-60PB fitted with an additional radio set.
- BTR-60PB modified by the MSW automobile plant for use during the martial law in Poland by ZOMO fitted with a two-sided breaker, weighting 1.5 tonnes, mounted to the front of the vehicle and a counter weight mounted to the rear of the vehicle. The breaker itself is made out of rail tracks and a dozen mm thick plate. It also has an additional protection on the OU-3 infrared searchlight as well as aerial seatbelts for the driver and commannder.
Romania
- TAB-71 (TAB stands for transportor amfibiu blindat - "amphibious armored carrier") - Romanian license -produced variant of BTR-60PB fitted with two more powerful SR-225 gasoline engines developing 140 hp (104 kW) each instead of the old GAZ-40Ps. It is equipped with additional periscopes, a protected sight on the left side of the turret and a front-mounted winch with a capacity of 5.5 tonnes.
- TAB-71M - Modernized TAB-71 fitted with two Saviem 797-05 diesel engines developing 130 hp (97 kW) each from the TAB-77 APC in a larger engine compartment and "suicide hatches" between the 2nd and 3rd wheels. It also has horizontal engine decks and exhausts. It is also known as TAB-72.
- TAB-71A R-1450 - Command version of the TAB-71 with additional whip antennas.
- TAB-71A R-1451 - Signals vehicle with unarmed turret which has a small crane mounted on the front used to remove the heavy batteries. It also has a 1 kW generator on the hull roof. Radio equipment consists of the R-1451 and the R-401M.
- TAB-71A R-1452 - Externally identical to the former but with R-1452 set.
- TAB-71AR (AR stands for aruncător de bombe) - Self-propelled mortar platform armed with M-37M 82 mm mortar (100 rounds). The Soviet mortar might be replaced with a more modern Romanian design like the Model 77. The turret has been removed and the vehicle has a flat roof on the personnel compartment with circular two-piece hatch opening to sides. There's a mount for a machine gun on the rear of the mortar position.
- TERA-71L (tractor de evacuare şi reparat auto) - ARV equipped with a crane and a dozer blade.
Operators
OT-64 SKOT
The OT-64 SKOT is an amphibious armored personnel carrier , developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia well into the 1960s.-History:OT-64 was intended to replace the halftrack OT-810, which was nearly...
s are in service. - 74 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1975 and 1976. 175 BTR-60PBs and BTR-60PB-based command vehicles were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1985 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service, some could be BTR-50P). 250 BTR-60PBs and BTR-60PB-based command vehicles were ordered in 1987 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1987 and 1988 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 90 BTR-60s in service as of 2000. 100 BTR-60s are currently in service. - 25 in service with the armed forces as of 1994, 19 as of 1995, 1996, 14 as of 1997 and 1998, 11 as of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 3 in service with the ministry of internal affairs as of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 5 in service with the ministry of national safety as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Some in service with the police. - 15 in service with the armed forces as of 1992, 11 as of 1993, 8 as of 1994, 25 as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and 23 as of 2006. 21 in service with the internal forces as of 1992 and 1993, 2 as of 1994, 3 as of 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. 12 in service with the boundary forces as of 1992 and 1993, 13 as of 1994, 19 as of 1995 and 1996, 14 as of 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. - 221 in service as of 1995 and 188 as of 2000, 2003 and 2005. - - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1981 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). 30 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. Currently 30 BTR-60s are in service. - 900 BTR-60Ps and BTR-60PAUs were ordered in 1962 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1964 and 1972 (some of the delivered vehicles were most probably BTR-60PB). Currently 781 BTR-60s are in service including 150 BTR-60PBs modernized to the BTR-60PB-MD1 standard. - 40 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1989 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1990 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). At peak there were 210 BTR-60s. Currently 160 BTR-60s are in service. - Captured 4 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union during the Sino-Soviet border conflict
Sino-Soviet border conflict
The Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
in March 1969. Produced and operated a small number of copies designed through reverse engineering. - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 2000 from Ukraine and delivered in 2000 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service). 6 more BTR-60s were bought from Ukraine on the same year. - 28 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1984 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 30 BTR-60s are in service. - 16 TAB-71s captured from JNA
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
and later scrapped. As of 1998 there were 17 MT-LB
MT-LB
The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s...
s, BOV
BOV (APC)
The BOV , literally "Combat Armored Vehicle", is an all-wheel drive armoured vehicle manufactured in the former Yugoslavia.-Description:The BOV has a capactiy of 10, including a driver, gunner and eight infantrymen...
s and LOV variants in service with the Croatian army and BTR-60s in service with the police. - 150 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1961 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1962 and 1964. Cuba also bought a number of BTR-60PBs. 10 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 40 9K31 SAM systems in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1985 and 1986. Currently 400 BTR-60s are in service. - 12 BTR-60PBs ordered in 1979 from Iraq and received as aid in 1980 (the vehicles were previously in Iraqi service). 1 was later fitted with a turret from the French AML-90
Panhard AML
-Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...
light armoured car. (See Djibouti section for details). - A few hundred BTR-60s and BTR-152s acquired before June 1967. 650 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1969 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1970 and 1973. Currently 200 BTR-60PBs are in service. - Currently 65 are in service. - 2 - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1977 and 1978 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 200 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1980 and 1981 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 250 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1985 and 1986 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). Currently 80 BTR-60PBs are in service. - 120 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. Being withdrawn from service as of 2006. - Currently 6 are in service. - 3 BTR-60s and BTR-70s used in War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
The War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
. 1 BTR-60 in service as of 2005 and 2008. - 6 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 2 are in service. - 8 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1983 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1983 (the vehicles were second hand). Currently 20 are in service. - 15 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1979 (the vehicles were probably second hand). Currently 35 are in service. - 150 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1961 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1963. 7 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 7 9K35 SAM batteries in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1983. - 56 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1977. 50 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 200 9K31 SAM systems in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1984. At peak there were 817 BTR-60s in service. 50 BTR-60PBs were in service as of 1990, none in service as of 1995. BTR-60PU-12s are probably still in service. - 300 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1966 from the Soviet Union along with 270 BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s as a 110$ deal and delivered between 1967 and 1968. 200 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1986 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1986 and 1987 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 150 are in service. - Captured a number from Egypt or Syria. Some of them have been converted into mortar carriers (See Israel section for details). - There were 300 BTR-60s and BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s in service as of 2000, 2002 and 2005. - Currently 3 are in service. - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1973 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1974 and 1975. There were 1,010 Korshuns, VTT-323
VTT-323
The North Korean produced M1973 Sinhung VTT-323 is a licensed copy of the Chinese YW 531 Armored Personnel Carrier. The vehicle features a box-like welded steel hull, with a small turret positioned just to the rear of the hull centerline. The VTT-323 has five road wheels and a turret mounting...
s, Type 63
Type 63 (armoured personnel carrier)
The Type 63 is a Chinese armoured personnel carrier that entered service in the late 1960s. It was the first armoured vehicle designed in China without Soviet assistance. The design is simple and is comparable to other APCs of its time such as the M113.Approximately 3,000 were produced by Norinco,...
s (YW-531), BTR-40
BTR-40
The BTR-40 is a Soviet non-amphibious, wheeled armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It is often referred to as the Sorokovka in Soviet service. It is also the first mass-produced Soviet APC...
s, BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s, BTR-60s and BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
s in service as of 1985, 2,200 VTT-323s, Type 63s (YW-531), BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60s and BTR-152s in service as of 1990 and 1995 and 2,500 VTT-323s, Type 63s (YW-531), BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60s and BTR-152s in service as of 2000, 2002 and 2005. Currently 1,000 BTR-60s are in service. - There were 96 in service as of 1995 and 53 as of 2000 and 2005. - 35 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1980 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 70 are in service. - 8 TAB-71s ordered in 1986 from Romania and delivered in 1987 (the vehicles were previously in Romanian service, part of a deal worth $4 million). - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1974 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1975. 60 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. At peak there were 750 BTR-60s in service. 700 BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s and BTR-60s were in service as of 1986. Currently 540 BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s and BTR-60s are in service.
- 15 BTR-60PBs (in some sources - BTR-60PA) were ordered in 1992 from Russia and delivered in 1992 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Russian service, some lacked their armament). 14 BTR-60PBs were bought in 1995 from Russia. There were 27 BTR-60PBs in service as of 2006 and 2007. Currently 20 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently 35 are in service. - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1982 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1982 (the vehicles were probably second hand). - Bought 30 BTR-60-based firefighting variants from Irtish company and converted them into APC-70s. All in service with the marine units. - 27 BTR-60PBs inherited from the Soviet Union in 1991. 161 TAB-71Ms ordered in 1992 from Romania and delivered between 1992 and 1995 (the vehicles were previously in Romanian service). Currently 12 BTR-60PBs and 121 TAB-71Ms are in service. - 50 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1975 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1975 and 1976. Currently 300 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently more than 45 are in service. - 30 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1977 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1977 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 60 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1986 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). More than 150 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. Currently 150 BTR-60s are in service. - 10 BTR-60s in service as of 2001. - 84 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1988 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 64 BTR-60PBs are in service. - Currently 6 are in service. - Currently 12 are in service. - Milicja Obywatelska
Milicja Obywatelska
Milicja Obywatelska was a state police institution in the People's Republic of Poland. It was created in 1944 by Soviet-sponsored PKWN, effectively replacing the pre-war police force. In 1990 it was transformed back into Policja....
used several BTR-60PAs. They were used by ZOMO
ZOMO
Zmotoryzowane Odwody Milicji Obywatelskiej , were paramilitary-police formations during the Communist Era, in the People's Republic of Poland...
riot control units. Polish Army received a dozen BTR-60PU-12s along with the Soviet supplied 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
SAM regiment delivered between 1980 and 1985. Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs received 25 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union as aid in the early 1980s. They were used by ZOMO. They were also used later by the Polish Police
Policja
Policja is the generic name for the police in Poland. The Polish police force was known as policja throughout the Second Polish Republic , and in modern post-communist Republic of Poland since 1990. Its current size is 103.309 officers and ca. 12.000 civilian employees...
. A few Police BTR-60PBs are kept in storage for anti-riot duty as barricade
Barricade
Barricade, from the French barrique , is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction...
breakers. - Produced 1,872 TAB-71s, TAB-71Ms, TERA-71s, TERA-71Ls, TAB-71A R-1450s, TAB-71A R-1451s, TAB-71A R-1452s and 491 TAB-71ARs between 1970 and 1990 for the Romanian army. More were produced for export. Currently 965 TAB-71s, TERA-71s, TERA-71Ls, TAB-71A R-1450s, TAB-71A R-1451s, TAB-71A R-1452s and 491 TAB-71ARs are in service. - There were 4,900 BTR-60s, BTR-70
BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
s and BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
s in service as of 2002 and 2003 including 750 in service with the Naval infantry and 280 in service the coastal defense forces. 6,000 BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s, BTR-60s, BTR-70s, BTR-80s and BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
s in service as of 2000, 2005 and 2008. Currently 17 are in active service and some are kept in storage. - - - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1976 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1976. 5 are currently in service. - - 150 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1970 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1970 and 1971. 500 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1973 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1973 and 1975. Around 1,500 BTR-40s, BTR-50s, BTR-60PBs, BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
s and OT-64s in service as of 1990, 1995 and 2000 and around 1,600 as of 2001, 2003 and 2005. 600 BTR-60PBs are currently in service. - 7 were inherited from Soviet Union. 1 in service as of 2000 and 2005. - 300 SPW-60PBs were ordered in 1990 from Germany with 195 being delivered between 1990 and 1991 and 105 being delivered in 1992 (the vehicles were previously in East German service, part of the CFE Cascade programme). 23 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1993 from Russia and delivered in 1993 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Russian service, part of a $75M deal, used by the police). - There were 543 BTR-60s, BTR-70
BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
s and BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
s in service as of 1995 and 829 as of 2000 and 2005. - 20 BTR-60s in service as of 1999. - 500 were inherited from the Soviet Union. 220 in service as of 1995, 202 as of 2000 and 176 as of 2005. - There were 24 in service as of 2000 and 2005. Currently 24 are in service. - 500 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1978 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1978 and 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). Currently 400 BTR-60s are in service. - Currently 500 are in service. - 13 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service, part of the deal worth between $72 million and $100 million). Currently 13 are in service.
Former operators
- 28 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 28 9K31 SAM batteries in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1980 and 1989. 5 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered in 1982 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1982 and 1984 (used in 5 9K33M Osa-M SAM batteries). 25 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1984 and 1990 (used in 25 9K35 Strela-10 SAM batteries). - 1,500 SPW-60Ps, SPW-60PAs and SPW-60PBs were ordered in 1963 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1965 and 1970. 24 BTR-60PU-12s were ordered along with 24 9K31 SAM batteries in 1978 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1979 and 1984. 260 SPW-60PAs and 2,000 SPW-60PBs (including variants) were passed on to the unified German state. - 260 SPW-60PA and 2,000 SPW-60PB (including variants), taken from GDR's army; all scrapped or sold to other countries. - 250 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1970 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1971 and 1975. At peak there were 500 BTR-60s in service. There were 3,500 BTR-50BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s, BTR-60s, BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
s, EE-11 Urutu
EE-11 Urutu
The EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear...
s, Panhard M3
Panhard M3
The Panhard M3 VTT , armoured personnel carrier was designed as a private venture with the first prototype completed in 1969. The prototype had a single door in each side of the hull and twin doors in the hull rear...
s, M113A1s, M113A2s, OT-62 TOPAS
OT-62 TOPAS
The OT-62 TOPAS is a series of amphibious tracked armoured personnel carriers developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia . OT-62 stands for Obrněný Transportér vzor 62 – "armoured personnel carrier model 62"...
ess, OT-64 SKOT
OT-64 SKOT
The OT-64 SKOT is an amphibious armored personnel carrier , developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia well into the 1960s.-History:OT-64 was intended to replace the halftrack OT-810, which was nearly...
s and Walids in service as of 1990, around 2,000 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LB
MT-LB
The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s...
s, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 1995, around 2,400 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LBs, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 2000 and around 2,400 BTR-50s, BTR-60s, BTR-152s, EE-11 Urutus, Panhard M3s, MT-LBs, M113A1s, M113A2s, OT-62 TOPASes, OT-64 SKOTs, Walids and YW-701s as of 2002. - 18 BTR-60PBs delivered by Iraq to the Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
in 1988. Unknown number of vehicles delivered by Syria to the Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
Progressive Socialist Party
Progressive Socialist Party
The Progressive Socialist Party or PSP , also known as Parti Socialiste Progressiste in French, is a political party in Lebanon. Its current leader is Walid Jumblatt...
militia in 1983. - Produced around 25,000 BTR-60s. 35,500 BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
s, BTR-60s, BTR-70s, BTR-80s and BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
s in service as of 1985. 4,191 BTR-60s in service with units station in the European part of Soviet Union as of 1990. Passed on to successor states. - 150 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). - 100 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1981 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1981 and 1982 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). 40 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1986 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1986 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet service). - 80 BTR-60Ps were ordered in 1965 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1966. 40 TAB-71s were ordered in 1978 from Romania and delivered between 1980 and 1981 (used by the police). - 10 BTR-60PBs were ordered in 1980 from an unknown supplier and delivered in 1980 (the vehicles were probably second-hand). Passed on to the successor state.
See also
- OT-64 SKOTOT-64 SKOTThe OT-64 SKOT is an amphibious armored personnel carrier , developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia well into the 1960s.-History:OT-64 was intended to replace the halftrack OT-810, which was nearly...
- Polish/Czechoslovak answer to Soviet BTR-60. - BTR-70BTR-70The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
- Successor to the BTR-60 - BTR-80BTR-80BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
- BTR-90BTR-90BTR-90 is an 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret...