What kind of gun is on the armored personnel carrier? Armament of domestic armored personnel carriers

The military BTR-80 is already slightly outdated, so its worthy replacement will be the newest armored personnel carrier BTR-82AM, the first batch of which has already been delivered to the Samara combined arms army. So far, more than 100 of the latest armored personnel carriers have been delivered since the beginning of 2014, but in the near future there are plans to modernize military equipment in all regions of Russia.

The firepower of the BTR-82A is more than double that of its predecessors. Instead of a machine-gun turret, the new vehicle received a combat module with a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon, coaxial with a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun. The weapon is equipped with electric drives for vertical and horizontal aiming and a digital two-plane weapon stabilizer.

The armored personnel carrier is painted in khaki color, its weight is 16 tons, it is equipped with a KAMAZ turbocharged diesel engine with a power of 300 hp. and has a reinforced transmission, and the presence of an autonomous diesel generator set allows all life support and communication systems to function when the main engine is not running. The ergonomics of the driver's and gunner's positions have been significantly improved. To improve command control, armored vehicles are equipped with 5th generation R-168 digital radios, Trona-1 topographic orientation systems and TKN-AI commander’s combined observation devices. To increase the protection of personnel, the internal surfaces of the hull are equipped with anti-fragmentation protection.

This year, the formations of the Samara association of the Central Military District will completely switch to new sample armored personnel carrier. By the end of the year, it is planned to deliver more than 200 units of BRT-82AM.

Simultaneously with the purchase of new armored personnel carriers, the Ministry of Defense, in accordance with the state defense order, repairs and modernizes the BTR-80 armored personnel carriers in service. In particular, last year the military department was supposed to send 134 BTR-80 units to major renovation bringing it to the form of BTR-82AM. The estimated cost of repairs and modernization is less than 2.66 billion rubles.

Compared to the BTR-80A, the new vehicle has a number of advantages: it is equipped with a 300-horsepower turbodiesel engine from Kamaz, which allows it to develop maximum speed up to 100 km/h, which is 10-20 km/h more than previous version BTR-82. The transmission and suspension received improvements, as a result of which the weight of the new armored personnel carrier increased to 15.4 tons.

The electrically controlled combat module contains a 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon stabilized in two planes and a coaxial PKTM machine gun. The weapons are controlled using the TKN-4GA-02 sight. On both sides of the tower there are 2 blocks of smoke grenade launchers of the “Tucha” system, 3 grenade launchers each.

The structure of the module is also an innovation - thanks to a special arrangement of weapons, powder gases do not enter the fighting compartment of the vehicle. The vertical aiming angle of the main armament ranges from -7 to +70 degrees. Russian army, at the same time, did not refuse to purchase the previous modification of the BTR-82, the armament of which consists of a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun.

The security of the BTR-82A is assessed at the level of its predecessor the BTR-80A, but a number of improvements are included in the design of the protection system: armor linings, protected from shock wave in case of explosion of the crew seat and an improved fire extinguishing system. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a system of protection against nuclear, chemical and biological weapons mass destruction(OMP), as well as an air conditioning system.

In our country over the past few decades it has been created a large number of various armored personnel carriers. Despite the differences in technical appearance and characteristics, all these machines had a common purpose. All domestic and foreign armored personnel carriers are designed to transport personnel with weapons.

In addition, the “duty” of an armored personnel carrier on the battlefield is fire support fighters. Creation domestic armored personnel carriers accompanied by the constant development of their weapons. From the late forties to the present day, the armament of domestic armored personnel carriers has undergone the same big way, like the machines themselves for which it was created.

BTR-40

The first domestic serial armored personnel carrier BTR-40 was created in the late forties, taking into account operating experience American cars M3 Scout Car, which affected the main features of its appearance. This “origin” of the BTR-40 also influenced its armament. The base vehicle of this model carried defensive weapons in the form of one SGMB machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber.

Depending on the situation, the armored personnel carrier shooter could install a machine gun on one of four mounts. There were transverse rods on the front and rear hull plates, and swivel brackets on the sides. Initially, the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier carried devices for mounting machine guns of different designs, but in the mid-fifties, during the next modernization, all brackets were unified. It was intended to install the machine gun on the bracket only in a combat situation. In the stowed position, it was located in the troop compartment, on the left wheel arch.

When installing the SGMB machine gun on the front plate mount, the shooter could fire at targets located within a horizontal sector 160° wide. The permissible reduction of the weapon was limited to 13-15 degrees, the maximum elevation depended on the design of the machine gun and the ease of its use. The machine gun's side mounting points made it possible to control sectors 140° wide, and the rear unit - 180°. Thus, when moving the machine gun from place to place, almost all-round fire was ensured. Naturally, moving weapons in a combat situation was very difficult.

The SGMB machine gun was fed using belts with 250 rounds of ammunition. In the fighting compartment of the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier there was space for five boxes of ammunition, each containing one belt. The total transportable ammunition consisted of 1250 rounds of ammunition. In addition, to defend an armored personnel carrier, the shooter could use 8 fragmentation grenades and 2 anti-tank grenades.

In 1951, an anti-aircraft version of the combat vehicle called the BTR-40A appeared. In the troop compartment of this vehicle was located anti-aircraft gun ZPTU-2, equipped with two KPV machine guns of 14.5 mm caliber. The elevation angles of the machine gun mount from -5° to +90° made it possible to fire at both air and ground targets. The ammunition load of the two machine guns consisted of 1200 rounds. It should be noted that the ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft gun occupied almost the entire volume of the troop compartment, which is why the former armored personnel carrier was completely deprived of its transport capabilities.

In the mid-fifties, a version of the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier with a completely enclosed body was developed. The BTR-40B armored vehicle received a troop compartment roof with two double-leaf hatches. The hatches were located in the front and rear parts of the roof and were intended for the shooter. To fire, it was necessary to open one of the hatches and install the machine gun on the corresponding bracket. The shooter of the BTR-40B armored personnel carrier could use only two brackets, on the front and rear hull sheets.

BTR-152

Simultaneously with the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier, a similar-purpose vehicle, the BTR-152, was created. The design of these two armored vehicles used a noticeable number of common components and assemblies, including weapons. The BTR-152 armored personnel carrier was armed with one SGMB machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. The weapon mounting systems were similar to those used on the BTR-40. The shooter could fire using one of four brackets on the front, rear or side plates of the hull. The aiming angles and ammunition volumes did not differ from the corresponding parameters of the BTR-40.

In the early fifties, an anti-aircraft version of the BTR-152 combat vehicle was created under the name BTR-152A. Like the BTR-40A, this vehicle was equipped with a ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft machine gun mount with 14.5 mm KPV machine guns. In terms of its characteristics, this weapon was similar to that of the BTR-40A. Despite the relatively large volumes of the troop compartment, the BTR-152A still did not retain its transport function.

In the second half of the fifties, the BTR-152, like the BTR-40, acquired an armored roof. There were three hinged hatches in the roof, two of which could be used by the shooter. As in the case of the BTR-40, the modification of the armored personnel carrier with a roof retained only two brackets for mounting the SGMB machine gun.

BTR-50P

The BTR-50P armored personnel carrier, adopted in 1954, had the same weapons as previous vehicles of this class. The crew of the armored vehicle had one 7.62-mm SGMB machine gun. After the modernization of the late sixties, all armored personnel carriers of this family were re-equipped with PKB machine guns. Both types of machine guns could be mounted on one of two brackets: on the front and rear plates of the troop compartment.

Devices for installing the SGMB machine gun were unified with units of armored personnel carriers of previous models. Thanks to this, the BTR-50P gunner could fire at fairly wide sectors in the front and rear hemispheres. The armored personnel carrier's machine gun used 250-round belts. The transportable ammunition included five belts - 1250 rounds.

There are known attempts to install the BTR-50P on an armored personnel carrier heavy machine guns DShKM and KPV. Despite the large firepower, such options for equipping armored vehicles did not become standard. It should be noted that there are photographs showing BTR-50P armored personnel carriers with large-caliber weapons, however, such machine guns were installed only for parades.

Over time, the BTR-50P armored personnel carrier received an armored roof and a new designation - BTR-50PK. After such modernization, the armament of the armored personnel carrier remained the same, and large hatches were provided in the roof for its use.

According to some reports, the BTR-50P, like previous domestic armored personnel carriers, could become the basis for anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. To do this, it was planned to mount a cabinet with a ZPTU-2 machine gun mount in the troop compartment. In addition, the option of using a four-barrel ZPTU-4 installation was considered. This technique did not go into production.

BTR-60

The BTR-60 armored personnel carrier, which is the direct “ancestor” of all subsequent domestic cars for this purpose, in the first modifications it did not have a roof. For this reason, the armament of the armored vehicle was consistent with previous armored personnel carriers. The BTR-60 carried a SGMB machine gun mounted on one of three brackets. The brackets were located on the front plate and on the sides of the hull.

The shooter had five belts with 1250 rounds at his disposal. There are images of BTR-60 armored personnel carriers with a DShKM machine gun on the front mount and two SGMBs on the side, however, such photographs are “indicative” and do not reflect the realities of operation of the armored personnel carrier.

In the mid-sixties, the BTR-60 armored personnel carrier repeated the fate of the previous vehicle and acquired an armored roof. Initially, the armored vehicle had a roof, created taking into account developments from previous projects: a hatch was provided in the roof for using a machine gun. This version of the armored personnel carrier received the designation BTR-60A. Later series of this vehicle received new machine guns; instead of the SGMB, they were equipped with a 7.62 mm PCB.

The BTR-60PB project can be considered a real revolution in the field of armament of domestic armored personnel carriers. For the first time in Soviet practice, an armored personnel carrier received not brackets for attaching weapons, but a full-fledged rotating turret. A relatively small conical turret with a straight frontal plate made it possible to solve several problems that plagued armored personnel carriers of previous models. The armored turret protected the shooter from bullets and shrapnel, allowed weapons to be aimed more accurately, and could also carry more powerful weapon than a rifle caliber machine gun.

The KPV machine gun's ammunition consisted of 10 belts of 50 rounds each (for a total of 500 rounds). The ammunition boxes for the PKT machine gun contained eight belts of 250 rounds each (2000 rounds).

BTR-70

In the early seventies, the new armored personnel carrier BTR-70 entered service with the Soviet army. This vehicle was created on the basis of developments under the BTR-60PB project. It was assumed that the new type of armored vehicle would be able to take over all the advantages of the base vehicle, but would be devoid of its disadvantages. Apparently, the turret with two machine guns was assigned to positive aspects armored personnel carrier BTR-60PB, as a result of which it was transferred to the BTR-70 without any major changes.

The armament and its characteristics remained the same, although the design of the turret underwent some changes related to manufacturing technology. In addition, it was proposed to install an upgraded PP-61AM periscopic sight in the turret of the BTR-70 armored personnel carrier. The dimensions of the ammunition load and firing range remained the same.

After the breakup Soviet Union Some countries that were armed with BTR-70 armored personnel carriers made attempts to modernize them. A number of similar projects involved the use of new weapons, including new combat modules. Thanks to this, the BTR-70 was able to become a carrier of automatic cannons and grenade launchers, as well as anti-tank missiles. In the Russian armed forces, BTR-70 vehicles were operated with basic weapons.

BTR-80

The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier was intended to replace previous vehicles of a similar purpose. As a result, developments from previous projects were widely used in its design. For this reason, in the basic version, the BTR-80 armored vehicle was equipped with almost the same weapons as the BTR-60PB or BTR-70. On the roof of the vehicle they provided a conical turret of a “classic” design for domestic armored personnel carriers.

The turret of the new armored personnel carrier has received updated sighting devices. The BTR-80 shooter must use a 1P3-2 periscope optical sight with variable magnification (1.2x and 4x), providing a field of view with a width of 49 or 14 degrees. The ammunition load of the machine guns remained the same: 10 belts for 500 rounds of 14.5x114 mm cartridges and 8 belts for 2000 rounds of 7.62x54 mm R.

In pursuit of the BTR-80A vehicle, a rotating platform was mounted, on which there were supports and a swinging installation with weapons. The main weapon of the new model armored personnel carrier was the 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon. A 7.62-mm PKT machine gun was mounted on the same structure as the gun, and smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the weapon supports. The turret was equipped with 1PZ-9 (day) and TPNZ-42 (night) sights.

Interesting feature turret with a 2A72 cannon and a PKT machine gun has a relatively high aiming line - 2.8 meters from the ground. This allows the crew of the armored personnel carrier, if necessary, to take cover behind walls or buildings, leaving the opportunity to monitor the situation and fire. When fighting in urban environments, such capabilities turn out to be very useful.

In order to preserve the advantages of the monitor tower and provide the required characteristics, the BTR-80S armored personnel carrier was created. The turret of this combat vehicle is a modified version of the corresponding BTR-80A unit, but instead of a 30-mm automatic cannon it is equipped with a KPVT machine gun. The coaxial machine gun remained the same - PKT 7.62 mm caliber.

BTR-82

In the 2000s, several new modifications of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier were created. The machines are equipped with new engines and a number of new equipment designed to improve their performance. As before, the armament complex of the new armored vehicles was made on the basis of the corresponding units of the previous equipment. The original monitor-mounted turret, created for the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier, has been improved and is installed on new modifications of vehicles.

The BTR-82 armored personnel carrier is armed with a turret with a KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT. Common features The turret design, without major changes, was borrowed from the combat module of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier. KPVT and PKT machine guns have 500 and 2000 rounds of ammunition, respectively. The supply of ammunition to each of the machine guns is carried out using one belt. To improve shooting accuracy, the weapon is equipped with a two-plane stabilizer. Separate day and night sights have been replaced by the TKN-4GA combined device.

The BTR-82A armored personnel carrier carries a 30 mm automatic cannon and a PKT machine gun. The weapon is stabilized in two planes. The ammunition load of the cannon and machine gun remained the same as on the BTR-80A - 300 shells and 2000 rounds. The turret of the BTR-82A vehicle is equipped with a sight similar to that used on an armored personnel carrier with machine gun armament.

BTR-90

In the early nineties, a new domestic one was introduced for the first time. This fighting machine created based on experience recent wars and was supposed to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of motorized rifle units. In 2011, the Ministry of Defense finally abandoned the purchase of BTR-90 in favor of promising technology currently being created. Nevertheless, the armament of an armored personnel carrier that did not go into production is of great interest.

Experienced option

On the roof of the turret of a promising armored personnel carrier they provided launcher anti-tank missile complex 9K113 "Competition". The gunner had at his disposal a combined (day and night) sight BPK-Z-42. At the request of foreign customers workplace The gunner could be equipped with a BPK-M sight with a French-made thermal imager. In addition, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a special 1P3-3 anti-aircraft sight.

BTR-90 with reinforced armor

The weapon system used allowed the BTR-90 armored personnel carrier to hit enemy armored vehicles and fortifications with missiles at ranges of up to 4 km. The 2A42 automatic cannon had sighting range for ground targets up to 4 km, for air targets - 2...2.5 km.

BTR-D

In the mid-seventies, the airborne troops received a new airborne armored personnel carrier BTR-D. To facilitate the development and construction of new equipment, this project was carried out on the basis of the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle with extensive use of its components and assemblies. for the Airborne Forces I received two PKM machine gun installed in the troop compartment.

In the frontal plate of the troop compartment, located behind the driver's workplace, two hatches were provided through which it was supposed to fire from two PK machine guns. The paratroopers inside the combat vehicle must fire these weapons. The shooters have 8 belts of 250 rounds each (1000 rounds per machine gun).

There is information about equipping a certain number armored personnel carriers BTR-D automatic grenade launchers AGS-17. This weapon was mounted on a bracket on the roof of the troop compartment. To fire a grenade launcher, the paratrooper gunner had to use one of the hatches in the roof. Also, some sources mention the existence of armored vehicles with a similar installation of machine guns.

BTR-MD and BTR-MDM

In the near future, the Airborne Forces should receive new equipment of several models. The basis for vehicles for various purposes, as stated, should be the BTR-MDM armored personnel carrier. This armored vehicle was created on the basis of the previous BTR-MD project. It is proposed to build new equipment for the Airborne Forces using existing and newly developed components and assemblies. Some of the components were borrowed from the airborne combat vehicle.

Like the previous armored personnel carrier for airborne troops The BTR-MDM is armed with light machine guns. The armament of the BTR-MDM vehicle consists of a remote-controlled turret with a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun. The machine gun's ammunition is located in the box next to it. To aim the machine gun at the target, a 1P67M periscope sight is used.

If necessary, the crew can fire from an additional frontal machine gun. Course setting for manual RPK machine gun located in the frontal plate of the hull in its right half. In addition, there are four smoke grenade launchers on the front plate.

The future of armored personnel carrier weapons

Armored personnel carriers latest models They have solid machine-gun or cannon-machine-gun armament, many times superior to that used on the first vehicles of this class. Recent developments in the field of armored vehicles for motorized rifle troops allow us to say with confidence that the development of weapons continues and is unlikely to stop.

IN last years The domestic and foreign defense industry is actively working to create new combat modules suitable for installation on equipment various models. Domestic enterprises are ready to provide the customer with combat modules various models, equipped with weapons of different types and classes. Depending on the wishes of the military, armored vehicles can carry machine guns, automatic cannons, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles. In addition, all current combat modules are equipped with modern sighting devices.

It is the universal combat modules that currently look the most convenient and effective means armament of armored vehicles for motorized rifle units. Such systems, which combine armor elements, weapons and various electronic equipment, make it possible to equip equipment with all the necessary systems, and also make it relatively easy to modernize it.

As for the armament of future armored personnel carriers, it will most likely retain its basic features. There is reason to believe that such armored vehicles will continue to carry automatic cannons or heavy machine guns coaxial with rifle-caliber machine guns. In addition, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles can be included in the weapon systems.

However, only time will tell what the armament of future armored personnel carriers will look like. Demonstration of new domestic technology this class should take place in the coming years.

OJSC Arzamas Machine-Building Plant is one of the leaders of the military-industrial complex in Russia and the leading enterprise of the machine-building complex in the Nizhny Novgorod region, part of Military-Industrial Company LLC. The only enterprise in Russia producing wheeled armored vehicles, collaborating with 35 countries.

AMZ began its activities in 1972 as the Arzamas plant of automobile spare parts of the Gorky automobile production association. In 1980, the plant produced the first army armored personnel carrier, and in 1981 it already produced the first batch of special vehicles.
The most famous examples of manufactured products are rightfully the BTR-70 and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, multi-purpose vehicles of the "Tiger" family, BMM medical vehicles, BREM-K wheeled repair and recovery vehicles and unified UNSh chassis. The plant not only sells armored vehicles, but also repairs and maintains them, and trains foreign specialists in operating vehicles and repairing this equipment.
1. Many legendary combat vehicles high level was in the history of Soviet and Russian troops. The very first armored personnel carrier at AMZ was the BTR-70 model, which revolutionized the domestic engineering of wheeled armored vehicles. Now it is no longer produced, but these machines are still actively used around the world. It was replaced by the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, the design of which took into account the identified Afghan war flaws. Now the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant produces the BTR-82 model, which was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces in 2013.
Walk of Fame for plant workers. On the territory of the plant there is an assembly and testing workshop, 2 workshops for the production of components, a warehouse finished products, test site, own boiler room. I have never seen such production areas before.

In the workshops for the production of components, the environment is quite common for an enterprise: tools, machines, lasers, parts, workpieces.

A large number of components for the production of armored personnel carriers or Tiger vehicles are produced at the plant itself.

Currently, the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant employs 4,000 people, including 900 young specialists. IN Soviet years the company boasted a staff of 10,000 employees.
We move on to the assembly and testing shop, where the actual production of armored personnel carriers begins. There are 21 cars on the conveyor at the same time, which gradually go through all key milestones assemblies. Complete assembly of an armored personnel carrier takes 5 working days.

The whole process begins with the installation of the armor of the future armored personnel carrier on the conveyor. Armor weighing 4 or 6 tons, already welded, painted and with part of the wiring, arrives from Vyksa. It is supplied by PJSC "Case Plant". Factory workers call such bare hulls “gondolas.”

At the initial stage, all lines and wires are laid inside the armored car.

Installation of driving axles.

The armored personnel carrier is moving along the conveyor belt. Workspaces like this are organized for maximum worker efficiency.

The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a KAMAZ diesel engine and gearbox. The BTR-80 uses a KAMAZ-740.3 engine with a turbocharger at each engine camber. The BTR-82 is equipped with an 8-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped diesel engine KAMAZ-740.14‑300 with a power of 300 hp. With…

For rolling, temporary wheels are installed on the conveyor.

Final assembly and debugging workshop. Assembly and installation electronic systems and weapons systems. Armament is a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun (BTR-82) or a rapid-fire 30 mm 2A72 cannon (BTR-82A), coaxial with a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun in the BPPU module. The transmission and suspension are adjusted in the pits.

Smoking room.

I took one look at the assembly line for Tiger multi-purpose vehicles.

The Tiger armored car is equipped with a YaMZ-534 turbocharged diesel engine with a power of 215 hp.

After final assembly and debugging, the vehicle begins a full test cycle, which is called a test march and takes 4 days. The test march is 100 kilometers with a factory driver, and then another 50 km with a customer representative.

Multi-purpose vehicles of the "Tiger" family - this popular model has proven itself well in conducting anti-terrorist operations, guarding and escorting convoys, patrolling and performing various special tasks.
I rode one lap around the training ground inside - quite comfortable. The pool is part of the test march. The armored personnel carrier is maneuvered around the pillars and then left on long time submerged in water.

After successfully passing the tests, the machines are sent to the warehouse awaiting delivery to the customer. The customers are different, but first of all it is the Russian army. AMZ has a wide geography of supplies; Russian armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles of the "Tiger" family are highly popular in the armies and law enforcement agencies Algeria, Hungary, China, Congo, Indonesia, Sudan, Djibouti, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, etc.

I won’t say that I dreamed of sitting in an armored personnel carrier, but it was interesting.

Internal space is used as efficiently as possible. I can’t even believe that 10 armed soldiers can fit in a car. Driver's seat. Pay attention to the huge package of documentation on the next chair.

It was a short excursion to the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant - the only enterprise in Russia producing wheeled armored vehicles.

In our country, over the past few decades, a large number of different armored personnel carriers have been created. Despite the differences in technical appearance and characteristics, all these machines had a common purpose. All domestic and foreign armored personnel carriers are designed to transport personnel with weapons. In addition, the “duty” of an armored personnel carrier on the battlefield is to provide fire support for fighters. The creation of domestic armored personnel carriers was accompanied by the constant development of their weapons. From the late forties to the present day, the armament of domestic armored personnel carriers has come as far as the vehicles themselves for which they were created.

BTR-40

The first domestic serial armored personnel carrier, the BTR-40, was created in the late forties, taking into account the operating experience of American M3 Scout Cars, which affected the main features of its appearance. This “origin” of the BTR-40 also influenced its armament. The base vehicle of this model carried defensive weapons in the form of one SGMB machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. Depending on the situation, the armored personnel carrier shooter could install a machine gun on one of four mounts. There were transverse rods on the front and rear hull plates, and swivel brackets on the sides. Initially, the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier carried devices for mounting machine guns of different designs, but in the mid-fifties, during the next modernization, all brackets were unified. It was intended to install the machine gun on the bracket only in a combat situation. In the stowed position, it was located in the troop compartment, on the left wheel arch.

When installing the SGMB machine gun on the front plate mount, the shooter could fire at targets located within a horizontal sector 160° wide. The permissible reduction was limited to 13-15 degrees, the maximum elevation depended on the design of the machine gun and the ease of its use. The machine gun's side mounting points made it possible to control sectors 140° wide, and the rear unit - 180°. Thus, when moving the machine gun from place to place, almost all-round fire was ensured. Naturally, moving weapons in a combat situation was very difficult.

In 1951, an anti-aircraft version of the combat vehicle called the BTR-40A appeared. In the troop compartment of this vehicle there was a ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft gun, equipped with two KPV machine guns of 14.5 mm caliber. The elevation angles of the machine gun mount from -5° to +90° made it possible to fire at both air and ground targets. The ammunition load of the two machine guns consisted of 1200 rounds. It should be noted that the ZPTU-2 anti-aircraft gun occupied almost the entire volume of the troop compartment, which is why the former armored personnel carrier was completely deprived of its transport capabilities.

BTR-152

BTR-50P

There are known attempts to install heavy-caliber DShKM and KPV machine guns on the BTR-50P armored personnel carrier. Despite the great firepower, such options for equipping armored vehicles did not become standard. It should be noted that there are photographs showing BTR-50P armored personnel carriers with large-caliber weapons, but such machine guns were installed only for parades.

According to some reports, the BTR-50P, like previous domestic armored personnel carriers, could become the basis for an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. To do this, it was planned to mount a cabinet with a ZPTU-2 machine gun mount in the troop compartment. In addition, the option of using a four-barrel ZPTU-4 installation was considered. This technique did not go into production.

BTR-60

The BTR-60 armored personnel carrier, which is the direct “ancestor” of all subsequent domestic vehicles for this purpose, did not have a roof in its first modifications. For this reason, the armament of the armored vehicle was consistent with previous armored personnel carriers. The BTR-60 carried a SGMB machine gun mounted on one of three brackets. The brackets were located on the front plate and on the sides of the hull. The shooter had five belts with 1250 rounds at his disposal. There are images of BTR-60 armored personnel carriers with a DShKM machine gun on the front mount and two SGMBs on the side, however, such photographs are “indicative” and do not reflect the realities of operation of the armored personnel carrier.

The turret of the BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier was equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The shooter could fire in any direction by rotating the turret, and also aim the weapon vertically within the range from -5° to +30°. To aim machine guns, it was proposed to use a PP-61 periscope optical sight with a magnification of 2.6x. The sight made it possible to fire from a large-caliber machine gun at distances of up to 2000 meters, from a PKT - up to 1500 m. The ammunition of the KPV machine gun consisted of 10 belts of 50 rounds each (a total of 500 rounds). The ammunition boxes for the PKT machine gun contained eight belts of 250 rounds each (2000 rounds).

BTR-70

In the early seventies, the new armored personnel carrier BTR-70 entered service with the Soviet army. This vehicle was created on the basis of developments under the BTR-60PB project. It was assumed that the new type of armored vehicle would be able to take over all the advantages of the base vehicle, but would be devoid of its disadvantages. Apparently, the turret with two machine guns was considered a positive feature of the BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier, as a result of which it was transferred to the BTR-70 without any major changes.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some countries that were armed with BTR-70 armored personnel carriers made attempts to modernize them. A number of similar projects involved the use of new weapons, including new combat modules. Thanks to this, the BTR-70 was able to become a carrier of automatic cannons and grenade launchers, as well as anti-tank missiles. In the Russian armed forces, BTR-70 vehicles were operated with basic weapons.

BTR-80

The armament of the first modification of the BTR-80 was borrowed from previous armored vehicles. The turret was equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The machine gun mounting systems have undergone some changes. New manually driven mechanisms made it possible to aim machine guns in a vertical plane within the range from -4° to +60°. The turret of the new armored personnel carrier received updated sighting devices. The BTR-80 shooter must use a 1P3-2 periscope optical sight with variable magnification (1.2x and 4x), providing a field of view with a width of 49 or 14 degrees. The ammunition load of the machine guns remained the same: 10 belts for 500 rounds of 14.5x114 mm cartridges and 8 belts for 2000 rounds of 7.62x54 mm R.

Taking into account the experience of the war in Afghanistan, a modification of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier with a new weapon system was created. The BTR-80A armored vehicle received a new combat module with more powerful weapons. The relatively small diameter of the turret ring of the base vehicle forced the authors of the BTR-80A project to use a gun monitor arrangement that was new for domestic armored personnel carriers. In pursuit of the BTR-80A vehicle, a rotating platform was mounted, on which there were supports and a swinging installation with weapons. The main weapon of the new model armored personnel carrier was the 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon. A 7.62-mm PKT machine gun was mounted on the same structure as the gun, and smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the weapon supports. The turret was equipped with 1PZ-9 (day) and TPNZ-42 (night) sights.

The ammunition load of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier turret consists of 300 rounds for an automatic cannon and 2,000 rounds for a machine gun. It should be noted that all turret components, including ammunition boxes, are located outside the hull, which is why a continuous supply of ammunition is used. The design of the tower allows weapons to be aimed in any direction. The elevation angle is limited to 70 degrees. Depending on the ammunition used, the BTR-80A’s weapons can hit targets at a range of up to 4 kilometers. An interesting feature of the turret with a 2A72 cannon and a PKT machine gun is the relatively high aiming line - 2.8 meters from the ground. This allows the crew of the armored personnel carrier, if necessary, to take cover behind walls or buildings, leaving the opportunity to monitor the situation and fire. When fighting in urban environments, such capabilities turn out to be very useful.

The turret of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier has a number of advantages over previous weapon systems, but the power of its weapons may be excessive for some combat missions. In addition, to install a heavy turret with an automatic cannon, it is necessary to modify the body of the base armored personnel carrier. In order to preserve the advantages of the monitor tower and provide the required characteristics, the BTR-80S armored personnel carrier was created. The turret of this combat vehicle is a modified version of the corresponding BTR-80A unit, but instead of a 30-mm automatic cannon it is equipped with a KPVT machine gun. The coaxial machine gun remained the same - PKT 7.62 mm caliber.

BTR-82

In the 2000s, several new modifications of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier were created. BTR-82 vehicles are equipped with new engines and a number of new equipment designed to improve their performance. As before, the armament complex of the new armored vehicles was made on the basis of the corresponding units of the previous equipment. The original monitor-mounted turret, created for the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier, has been improved and is installed on new modifications of vehicles.

The BTR-82 armored personnel carrier is armed with a turret with a KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT. The general features of the turret design, without major changes, were borrowed from the combat module of the BTR-80A armored personnel carrier. KPVT and PKT machine guns have 500 and 2000 rounds of ammunition, respectively. The supply of ammunition to each of the machine guns is carried out using one belt. To improve shooting accuracy, the weapon is equipped with a two-plane stabilizer. Separate day and night sights have been replaced by the TKN-4GA combined device.

BTR-90

In the early nineties, the new domestic armored personnel carrier BTR-90 was presented for the first time. This combat vehicle was created taking into account the experience of recent wars and was supposed to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of motorized rifle units. In 2011, the Ministry of Defense finally abandoned the purchase of BTR-90 in favor of promising equipment currently being created. Nevertheless, the armament of an armored personnel carrier that did not go into production is of great interest.

Experienced option

For the first time in domestic practice, it was proposed to equip an armored personnel carrier with a two-man turret with a developed weapon system. In its design and equipment, the BTR-90 turret was to some extent reminiscent of the turret of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle. The main armament of the BTR-90 was supposed to be a 2A42 automatic cannon of 30 mm caliber. A PKTM machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber was to be installed on the same mechanisms with the gun. The barreled weapon had a two-plane stabilizer. A launcher for the 9K113 Konkurs anti-tank missile system was installed on the roof of the turret of the promising armored personnel carrier. The gunner had at his disposal a combined (day and night) sight BPK-Z-42. At the request of foreign customers, the gunner's workplace could be equipped with a BPK-M sight with a French-made thermal imager. In addition, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a special 1P3-3 anti-aircraft sight.

BTR-90 with reinforced armor

The turret mechanisms made it possible to aim the weapon 360° in the horizontal plane and from -5° to +75° in the vertical plane. The ammunition load of the automatic cannon consisted of 500 rounds, the coaxial machine gun - of 2000 rounds. In addition, in the fighting compartment of the armored personnel carrier there was space to accommodate four transport and launch containers with 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank missiles. The weapon system used allowed the BTR-90 armored personnel carrier to hit enemy armored vehicles and fortifications with missiles at ranges of up to 4 kilometers. The 2A42 automatic cannon had an effective range for ground targets of up to 4 km, and for air targets - 2-2.5 kilometers.

BTR-D

In the mid-seventies, the airborne troops received a new airborne armored personnel carrier BTR-D. To facilitate the development and construction of new equipment, this project was carried out on the basis of the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle with extensive use of its components and assemblies. The armored personnel carrier for the Airborne Forces received two PKM machine guns installed in the troop compartment.

There is information about equipping a number of BTR-D armored personnel carriers with AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers. This weapon was mounted on a bracket on the roof of the troop compartment. To fire a grenade launcher, the paratrooper gunner had to use one of the hatches in the roof. Also, some sources mention the existence of armored vehicles with a similar installation of machine guns.

BTR-MD and BTR-MDM

In the near future, the Airborne Forces should receive new equipment of several models. The basis for vehicles for various purposes, as stated, should be the BTR-MDM armored personnel carrier. This armored vehicle was created on the basis of the previous BTR-MD project. It is proposed to build new equipment for the Airborne Forces using existing and newly developed components and assemblies. Some components were borrowed from the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle and the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle.

Like the previous armored personnel carrier for airborne troops, the BTR-MDM has light machine gun armament. The armament of the BTR-MDM vehicle consists of a remote-controlled turret with a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun. The machine gun's ammunition is located in the box next to it. To aim the machine gun at the target, a 1P67M periscope sight is used. If necessary, the crew can fire from an additional frontal machine gun. Course setting for light machine gun The RPK is located in the frontal plate of the hull in its right half. In addition, there are four smoke grenade launchers on the front plate.

The future of armored personnel carrier weapons

Over the course of half a century, the armament of domestic armored personnel carriers has undergone major changes. The BTR-40 carried only one rifle-caliber machine gun, mounted on one of four brackets. If necessary, the machine gun could be moved to another place or removed and used separately. The latest models of armored personnel carriers have solid machine gun or cannon-machine gun armament, which is many times greater than that used on the first vehicles of this class. Recent developments in the field of armored vehicles for motorized rifle troops allow us to say with confidence that the development of weapons continues and is unlikely to stop.

In recent years, the domestic and foreign defense industry has been actively working on the creation of new combat modules suitable for installation on various models of equipment. Domestic enterprises are ready to provide the customer with combat modules of various models, equipped with weapons of different types and classes. Depending on the wishes of the military, armored vehicles can carry machine guns, automatic cannons, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles. In addition, all current combat modules are equipped with modern sighting devices.

It is universal combat modules that currently look like the most convenient and effective means of arming armored vehicles for motorized rifle units. Such systems, which combine armor elements, weapons and various electronic equipment, make it possible to equip equipment with all the necessary systems, and also make it relatively easy to modernize it. As for the armament of future armored personnel carriers, it will most likely retain its basic features. There is reason to believe that such armored vehicles will continue to carry automatic cannons or heavy machine guns coaxial with rifle-caliber machine guns. In addition, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles can be included in the weapon systems.

However, only time will tell what the armament of future armored personnel carriers will look like. Demonstration of new domestic equipment of this class should take place in the coming years.

Based on materials from sites:
http://otvaga2004.ru/
http://army-guide.com/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://all-tanks.ru/
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://btvt.narod.ru/
http://army.lv/
http://alternathistory.org.ua/

Continuing the theme of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier and vehicles based on it, today we will look at models of this armored personnel carrier in 1:72 scale.

Some time ago, the BTR-80 model from the Chinese company Trumpeter went on sale. But after a detailed study of it by specialists, it turned out that it is quite inaccurate in terms of geometry. Now I don’t remember what exactly is wrong there, and there’s no point in it, but the conclusion was that the product of the Chinese comrades has many serious and irremovable inaccuracies. It is also worth noting the resin model in 1:72 scale from AriaModels, I have not seen it, but according to reviews from colleagues, it is made very well, but like any resin it is not cheap and has its own characteristics in the assembly.

And just recently, it appeared on the market new model in 72nd scale from the Ukrainian company ACE. This new development, BTR-80 early production series, has catalog number ACE 72171.3D technologies were used in its design, which ultimately had a positive effect on the quality of the product. The model is packaged in a small soft cardboard box with a removable top.

It is made, like all other ACE products, using LND technology and consists of four sprues, eight tires made of rubber-like material, a small photo-etch board, instructions and decals.On two sprues there are parts of the armored hull, the division of which is the same as that of the BTR-70 armored personnel carrier model. The side parts of the body are given as separate parts, rather than cast into a single whole. This point will complicate the assembly somewhat, but I think it will not create any special problems. I can assume that the above is a cost of casting technology or design. It is quite possible that such division will allow other modifications of the armored personnel carrier to be made on one base.

Upon closer inspection, it is noticeable that the surface of the model has a roughness, which is more reminiscent of the texture of armor.

Sprue 1

Sprue 2

The other two sprues contain parts for the chassis, armament, parts of the exterior and various small items.

Sprue 3

Sprue 4

It is worth noting once again that the quality of ACE products, compared to previous developments, has increased significantly. There is practically no flash or strong soapiness on the castings, although there are small sink marks; even some parts with a round cross-section are quite suitable for use. But it is better to replace the handrails and brackets with wire ones.

The tires are made of rubber-like material, there are no complaints about their quality, except that a small amount of flash on the side that fits onto the disc. The tires have a well-designed side pattern and tread.

As with other models with tires made of the same rubber-like material, the question remains whether the plastic will corrode? Therefore, before installing these parts in place, it is better to prime and paint the plastic wheel rims well.

The instructions for assembling the model are quite clear, all stages of assembly are shown in detail, and the quality of printing is quite acceptable.

Unlike the BTR-70, this model is equipped with a small photo-etched board, which contains loophole covers, rear bumpers, smoke grenade brackets, and headlight guards. This will ultimately improve the quality significantly assembled model BTR-80.

The set comes with decals for four options:

1) BTR-80 Soviet army in Afghanistan. 40th Army Jalalabad, May 1988

2) BTR-80 of the Soviet Army in Afghanistan. 40th Army Kabul, May 1988

3) BTR-80 Russian contingent of SFOR. Pristina Airport 1999

4) BTR-80 Peacekeeping forces V former Yugoslavia. Rusbat-2. Sarajevo. April 1994

In conclusion, it is worth saying that the Ukrainian company ACE in Once again pleased us with a good new product. Judging by the reviews of colleagues, there are no special problems with the assembly of this model; even the body of a rather complex division fits together quite normally. When working on this model, my walkaround photos of the BTR-80 can help you. But what is very upsetting, after what was said earlier, is the price of the BTR-80 model from ACE; at the current dollar exchange rate it amounts to 800-1400 rubles in different stores. In my opinion, for a 1:72 scale LND, even of decent quality, it is very expensive.