MT-LB
Encyclopedia
The MT-LB is a Soviet
multi-purpose fully amphibious
auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s. Initially the vehicle was known as the M 1970 in the west.
airborne self-propelled gun) with a new generation of vehicles. The MT-L was developed to meet this requirement based on the PT-76
amphibious light tank chassis. The MT-LB is the armoured variant of the MT-L. Entering production in the early 1970s, it was cheap to build, being based on many existing components like the engine which was originally developed as a truck engine. It was built at the Kharkov tractor plant and under license in Poland
and Bulgaria
.
A small turret at the front of the vehicle fits a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 360 degree manual traverse and an elevation of -5 to +30 degrees. The vehicle is lightly armoured against small arms and shell splinters with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm of steel. The infantry compartment has two hatches over the top, which open forwards. There are 4 firing ports - two in the both sides of the hull, the other two in the rear twin doors of the infantry compartment.
The driver is provided with a TVN-2 infra-red periscope, which in combination with the OU-3GK infra-red/white light search light provides a range of about 40 m. All vehicles include an NBC system.
(Huta Stalowa Wola S.A.) has a license to produce MT-LB.
, Kurdish Peshmerga) - 200 - 10 (Were transferred from Poland
in 2000) - 10 - 62 (MT-LB, SNAR-10, MT-LBu & Shturm-S) - 67 - 352 - 8 (SNAR-10) - 4,800 - 460 (Called Pbv 401, former East German, bought 1993; Will be reduced by 147 before the end of 2011, sold to Finland ) - 2,090 - used by military in OPFOR missions http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/TransporterMN-01.jpg
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....
multi-purpose fully amphibious
Amphibious 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....
auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s. Initially the vehicle was known as the M 1970 in the west.
Development
In the 1970s the Soviet Central Auto and Tractor Directorate began a development program to replace the AT-P series of artillery tractors (which were based on the ASU-57ASU-57
The ASU-57 was a small, lightly constructed Soviet assault gun specifically designed for use by Soviet airborne divisions. From 1960 it was replaced by the ASU-85.-Development history:...
airborne self-propelled gun) with a new generation of vehicles. The MT-L was developed to meet this requirement based on the PT-76
PT-76
The 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 chassis. The MT-LB is the armoured variant of the MT-L. Entering production in the early 1970s, it was cheap to build, being based on many existing components like the engine which was originally developed as a truck engine. It was built at the Kharkov tractor plant and under license in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and 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...
.
Description
The crew, a driver and a commander/gunner sit in a compartment at the front of the vehicle, with the engine behind them. A compartment at the rear enables up to 11 infantry to be carried or a cargo of up to 2,000 kg. A load of 6,500 kg can be towed. The vehicle is fully amphibious, being propelled by its tracks in the water.A small turret at the front of the vehicle fits a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 360 degree manual traverse and an elevation of -5 to +30 degrees. The vehicle is lightly armoured against small arms and shell splinters with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm of steel. The infantry compartment has two hatches over the top, which open forwards. There are 4 firing ports - two in the both sides of the hull, the other two in the rear twin doors of the infantry compartment.
The driver is provided with a TVN-2 infra-red periscope, which in combination with the OU-3GK infra-red/white light search light provides a range of about 40 m. All vehicles include an NBC system.
Former USSR
- MT-L
- MT-LB (izdeliye 6) - basic model, often used as simple APC but also as artillery tractor or ambulance. In the West the term MT-LB Blade or MT-LB M1980 is used for vehicles that are fitted with a hydraulic dozer blade.
- MT-LBV (vezdekhodnyj) - low pressure track version, with 565 mm tracks giving a ground pressure of 0.27 kgfKilogram-forceA kilogram-force , or kilopond , is a gravitational metric unit of force. It is equal to the magnitude of the force exerted by one kilogram of mass in a gravitational field...
/cm² (26 kPa). Used in Arctic regions instead of BMP or BTR wheeled vehicles.- MT-LBVM - with NSVT 12.7 mm instead of the original 7.62 mm machine gun turret.
- MT-LBV-N
- MT-LBV-NS
- MTP-LB - technical support version with no turret, an A frame and stowage on the roof.
- SNAR-10 "Jaguar" (stantsiya nazemnoy artilleriskoy razvedki) - with 1RL-127 ("BIG FRED") artillery/mortar locating radarCounter-battery radarA counter-battery radar detects artillery projectiles fired by one or more guns, howitzers, mortars and rocket launchers and from their trajectories locates the position on the ground of the gun, etc., that fired it. Alternatively, or in addition, it may determine where the projectile will land...
in a big rotating turret. Range: 16 km. Old NATO designators are MT-LB M1975 and MT-LB SON.- SNAR-10M "Pantera" - upgraded, automated system with a range of 40 km.
- 9A34 - launch vehicle of the 9K35 "Strela-10" (SA-13 GopherSA-13 GopherThe 9K35 Strela-10 is a highly mobile, visually aimed, optical/infra-red guided, low-altitude, short-range surface to air missile system. "9K35" is its GRAU designation; its NATO reporting name is SA-13 "Gopher".-Development:...
) system. - 9A35 - as per 9A34 but additionally with passive detection system.
- 9P149 "Shturm-S" - anti-tank version with retractable launcher for AT-6 Spiral ATGM. The vehicles carries 12 missiles on board and entered service in 1979. It has a crew of 2.
- RKhM "Kashalot" (razvedivatel’naya khimicheskaya mashina) - chemical reconnaissance vehicle with detection, marking and alarm devices. This model has the hull shape and single rear door of the 2S12S1The 2S1 Gvozdika, ; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially a version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika...
. Former Western designator: ATV M1979/4.- RKhM-K - command version with additional signal equipment but without sensors or markers.
- RPM (radiatsionno-poiskovaya mashina) - radiological reconnaissance vehicle with a single KZO-2 flag dispenser and equipped with radiation detection devices NGP-81 (gamma), KDN-2 (neutrons), KRB-1 (beta), KRA-1 (alpha).
- K-611 - radiological reconnaissance vehicle.
- K-612 - radiological reconnaissance vehicle.
- AZM "Vostorg-1" (aviatransportabel’naya zemlerojnaya mashina) - engineer vehicle, equipped with an hydraulic dozer blade and an extendable hydraulic arm with a bucket.
- MT-LBV (vezdekhodnyj) - low pressure track version, with 565 mm tracks giving a ground pressure of 0.27 kgf
- MT-LBuMT-LBuThe MT-LBu is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious armoured carrier which was developed under the factory index Ob'yekt 10 in the late 1960s, based on the MT-LB...
- variant with bigger hull and longer chassis. Many so-called "MT-LB variants" are in fact based on the MT-LBu. - UR-77 "Meteorit" - mineclearing system with rocket-launched explosive hose.
- 2S12S1The 2S1 Gvozdika, ; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially a version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika...
122 mm self-propelled howitzerHowitzerA howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
.
- MT-LB (izdeliye 6) - basic model, often used as simple APC but also as artillery tractor or ambulance. In the West the term MT-LB Blade or MT-LB M1980 is used for vehicles that are fitted with a hydraulic dozer blade.
Russia
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6M) - MT-LB modernization developed by Muromteplovoz in the 1990s. It can be fitted with several different turrets.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA) - MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA1) - MA armed with additional AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA4) - MA1 armed with KPVB 23 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 heavy machine gun.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA2) - MA armed with KPVB 23 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 heavy machine gun.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA1) - MA armed with additional AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA3) - MT-LBM armed with four 9M133 Kornet ATGM launchers, 7.62 mm PKTM tank machine gun and AG-30.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MB) - MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80A.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MB2) - MB armed with AG-17.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MB3) - MT-LBM armed with GSh-23V 23 mm, AG-30 and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MB4) - MT-LBM armed with GSh-30K 30 mm, AG-30 and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MB5) - MT-LBM armed with twin gun 23 or 30 mm, "Igla" SAM and equipped with improved sights.
- MT-LBM1 (izdeliye 6M1) - MT-LBM fitted with 300-310 hp engine.
- MT-LBM2 - MT-LBM upgrade package developed by Kurganmashzavod with new engine and transmission, improved suspension, BMP style side skirts etc. Prototype.
- MT-LBM (izdeliye 6MA) - MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80.
- 2S24 - mortar carrier with 2B24 (or 2B14 "Podnos") 82mm mortar and 83 rounds. The system designator for the carrier vehicle, mortar and ammunition is 2K32 "Deva". The 2S24 was designed by TsNII "Burevestnik" and has a crew of five.
Bulgaria
- MT-LB AT-I - tractor for mine-laying systems. Fitted with racks for anti-tank mines.
- MT-LB RHR or MR HR (mashina za radiatsionno i khimichesko razuznavane) - NBC reconnaissance vehicle with detection, alarming, sampling and markings devices.
- MT-LB SE - ambulance.
- SMM B1.10 "Tundzha" (samokhodna minokhv’rgachka) - mortar platform with M-38/43 120 mm mortar and 58 rounds.
- SMM 74 B1.10 "Tundzha-Sani" - improved version with 2B112S12 SaniThe 2S12 "Sani" is a 120 mm heavy mortar system used by the Russian Army and other former Soviet states. First fielded in 1981, the 2S12 is a continued development on the towed mortars first used in World War II.-Design:...
120mm mortar.
- SMM 74 B1.10 "Tundzha-Sani" - improved version with 2B11
- KShM-R-81 "Delfin" - command and staff vehicle with R-123M, R-130M and R-31M radios, an AZI frame antenna, a generator and an additional cupola on the hull roof.
- MT-LB TMX - mortar carrier with 82 mm mortar M-37M.
- BRM “Sova” (bronirana razuznavatelna mashina) - reconnaissance version with NBC detection system ASP-3 and VPHR, radiosets R-123M and R-31M, PAB-2 aiming circle and NSPU night vision device. Comes in three versions with additional specialised equipment:
- "Sova-1" - with R-130M radioset, an AZI frame antenna and a telescopic mast.
- "Sova-2" - with R-143 "Lira" radioset.
- "Sova-3" - with PSNR-5K (1RL-133) battlefield surveillance radar.
- R-80 - artillery forward observer vehicle with observation devices.
- BMP-23 (bojna mashina na pekhotata) - infantry fighting vehicle with 23 mm gun 2A14 and ATGM 9K11 "Malyutka" in a 2-man turret. The chassis is based on the one from the MT-LB but with components of the 2S12S1The 2S1 Gvozdika, ; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially a version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika...
and fitted with a 315 hp engine.- BMP-23D - improved version with 9K111 "Fagot" and smoke grenade launchers.
- BRM-23 - reconnaissance version. Prototype.
- BMP-30 - similar chassis as the BMP-23 but with the complete turret of the Soviet-made BMP-2BMP-2The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following the BMP-1 of the 1960s....
. Only 10 built.
East-Germany
- MT-LB (Pi) - combat engineer vehicle.
- MT-LB (Pzj) - version for anti tank units.
- MT-LB (Pzj Fü) - command vehicle for anti tank units.
- MT-LB (BO) SFL - battery command vehicle in self propelled artillery units.
- SaN MT-LB - ambulance
- MTP-LB - technical support vehicle.
Poland
Polish HSW S.A.Huta Stalowa Wola
Huta Stalowa Wola is a steel mill and manufacturing company in Stalowa Wola, Poland.It was established in 1938-1939 in Second Polish Republic. It was a major part of a series of investments made by the Polish government in the years 1936–1939 to create the Central Industrial Region...
(Huta Stalowa Wola S.A.) has a license to produce MT-LB.
- MT-LB fitted with an additional cupola with DShK-M.
- WEM "Lotos" - medical evacuation vehicle with 4 stretchers.
- R-137T (radiostacja ruchoma UKF) - signals vehicle with VHF radioset R-137. Entered service in 1987 and has a range of 70 to 150 km.
- ZWD-1 "Irys" (zautomatyzowany wóz dowodzenia) - command vehicle, belongs to the automated command set "Irys".
- MT-LB-23M “Krak” or "Promet" - air defence variant with 23 mm guns. Prototype.
- "Przebiśnieg" - electronic warfare system, consists of three different vehicles:
- SZ or MT-LB Z (stacja zakłóceń) - EW/Jamming vehicle;
- SR or MT-LB R (stacja rozpoznania) - Comint/Sigint vehicle;
- WD krel - command post vehicle (wóz dowodzenia kompanii radioelektronicznej).
- "Opal-I" and "Opal-II" - much modified version of the MT-LB with reworked nose section, hydrojets, a new turret with NSWT-12.7 "Utios" and a 245 hp (180 kW) turbocharched diesel engine SW680/167/1. "Opal-II" with a 300 hp (220 kW) engine SW680T (YaMZ-238N) and a longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side, like the 2S12S1The 2S1 Gvozdika, ; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially a version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika...
and MT-LBuMT-LBuThe MT-LBu is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious armoured carrier which was developed under the factory index Ob'yekt 10 in the late 1960s, based on the MT-LB...
.
- BWO-40 - infantry fighting vehicle with 40 mm gun. A similar turret was mounted on the BWP-40 (BMP-1BMP-1The 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...
upgrade). Prototype.
Sweden
- Pbv 401 (pansarbandvagn) - modified former East-German vehicle with 7.62 mm machine guns Ksp 95 and Ksp 58.
- Stripbv 4011 (stridsledningbandvagn) - battalion command post.
- Bgbv 4012 (bärgningsbandvagn) - Swedish designator for the MTP-LB.
- Rlpbv 4014/T (radiolänkbandvagn) - signals vehicle.
- Stripbv 4015 (stridsledningbandvagn) - company level command post.
- Lvrbpbv 4016 (luftvärnsrobotbandvagn) - unconfirmed designator for vehicles, equipped with RBS 70RBS 70RBS 70 is a man-portable air-defense system designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
. - Pvrbbv 452 (pansarvärnrobotbandvagn) - with RBS 56 BILL 1 Anti-tank guided weaponBILL 1 Anti-tank guided weaponThe RBS 56 BILL is a Swedish manportable SACLOS anti-tank missile developed by AB Bofors. Development began in 1979 and entered production in 1985. BILL stands for . By 1996 15,000 missiles had been produced and supplied to the Swedish and Austrian armies. Between 1996 and 1997 Brazil received a...
.
Users
- 145 - 393 - 80+ (Captured during Op. Desert Storm & are ex-Iraqi and after that many were bought)) - 66 - 812 - Only Strela-10 - 367 MT-LBV (including 147 Pbv 401s that have been bought from Sweden in 2011 ) - 80 - 61 (The new Iraqi ArmyIraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
, Kurdish Peshmerga) - 200 - 10 (Were transferred from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 2000) - 10 - 62 (MT-LB, SNAR-10, MT-LBu & Shturm-S) - 67 - 352 - 8 (SNAR-10) - 4,800 - 460 (Called Pbv 401, former East German, bought 1993; Will be reduced by 147 before the end of 2011, sold to Finland ) - 2,090 - used by military in OPFOR missions http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/TransporterMN-01.jpg
Former Operators
- 721 Bulgarian-made MT-LB's, 32 SNAR-10 and 36 Strela-10M. Unified with West Germany. - taken from GDR's army, all scrapped or sold to other countries. - Passed on to successor states.See also
- BTR-50BTR-50The 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...
- a similar vehicle based on 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,...
light tank - BMP-1BMP-1The 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...
- BMP-2BMP-2The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following the BMP-1 of the 1960s....
- BMP-3BMP-3The BMP-3 is a Russian amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty .- Production history :...
- List of AFVs
External links
- Huta Stalowa Wola - producer of MT-LB
- Russia upgrades firepower for MT-LB Jane's, 26 September 2006
- http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/mt-lb.htm
- http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/inf/MT-LB.html