БТР-50: История создания и боевое применение

Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Six Day War
Vietnam War
War of Attrition
Yom Kippur War
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Angolan Civil War
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2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh The BTR 50 was developed in 1952 and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1954. It ceased production in the USSR in 1970, but production continued in Czechoslovakia until 1972 and there is suggestion that it still produced by some foreign companies. It has the ability to transport up to 20 fully equipped infantrymen, and can be armed with nothing, a 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun, or a 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun. It saw notable service in the Six Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and most recently in the Russo Ukrainian War. The BTR 50 shares similarities with two other APCs developed independently, the OT 62 TOPAS and the Type 77. While the OT 62 is an improved copy of the BTR 50 developed jointly by Czechoslovakia and Poland, the Type 77 is based on the Type 63 amphibious light tank developed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), which was developed from the PT 76.

Like the PT 76, the BTR 50 has a flat, boat shaped hull. Unlike the PT 76, it has a new superstructure added to the front of the vehicle. The hull of the BTR 50 is made of all welded steel with the crew compartment in the front, the troop compartment in the center and the engine compartment at the rear. It has the ability to transport up to 20 fully equipped infantrymen, who sit on benches that run across the full width of the troop compartment. They embark and disembark the APC by climbing over the sides of the hull. The torsion bar suspension consists of six evenly spaced large rubber tired road wheels with a drive sprocket at the rear and an idler at the front. The road wheels are hollow to assist its amphibious capabilities. These wheels increase the APC's buoyancy by 30%. There are no track return rollers. The first and last road wheels have a hydraulic shock absorber, the steel tracks have a single pin and 96 links each when new. There is a small, thin, horizontal skirt over each track. The BTR 50 is powered by a V 6 6 cylinder 4 stroke in line water cooled diesel 240 hp (179 kW) engine at 1800 rpm. This has a road speed of 44 km/h with a cruising range of 400 km. The vehicle can negotiate 30° side slopes, ascend 60° gradients, cross 1.1 m high vertical obstacles and 2.8 m wide trenches. The engine has a cooling system and a pre heater, intended for ignition when the air temperature is −20 °C or below. The APC has a five gear manual shaft type transmission system similar to that in the T 34/85 medium tank. The gearbox has four forward and one reverse gear. The vehicle has a side clutch that enables it to make turns, mechanical transmission and a bandbrake. The vehicle has three fuel tanks, two on the right, at the front of the engine compartment and one at the rear. The total fuel capacity is 400 liters. The vehicle has four mounts for external fuel tanks located on the rear of the hull. The two on the hull corners are for a flat external tanks, whereas the two in the center are for a drum type of tank. The BTR 50 is amphibious thanks to its flat, boat shaped hull, which is hermetically sealed and ensures minimal resistance when the APC is afloat. It can swim after switching on the two electric bilge pumps. Erecting the trim vane improves the stability and displacement of the vehicle in the water, and prevents water from flooding over the bow of the APC. Swapping the driver's periscope for a swimming periscope enables the driver to see over the trim vane. There is a manual bilge pump for emergency use. In the water, it is propelled by two hydrojets, one on each side of the hull. The inlets are under the hull, the outlets are at the rear. There are additional assistant water jet inlets on both sides of the hull over the last road wheels. The rear outlets have lids that can be fully or partially closed, redirecting the water stream to the forward directed outlets at the sides of the hull, thus enabling the vehicle to turn. This system was designed by N. Konowalow. It is the same system as the one used in the PT 76. The vehicle's low freeboard of 15 to 20 cm and lack of a snorkel means that it can only swim in the calmest waters. Its armor is composed of homogeneous, cold rolled, welded steel—it is very thin by modern standards, 13 mm at the front, 10 mm on the sides and top and 7 mm at the rear. While its maximum armor could protect it against small arms fire and small artillery shell fragments, it cannot protect it against .50 caliber machine gun bullets and larger shell fragments. Although its front armor might protect it against 7.62 mm small arms fire, that same fire can sometimes penetrate the sides. The vehicle is equipped with an IR driving light and an IR searchlight. It lags behind other Soviet armored fighting vehicles as it has no fire protection systems and, with the exception of the BTR 50PK variant, it has no nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC) protection systems, which significantly reduces its effectiveness.

The BTR 50 was developed in 1952 and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1954. It was first shown in public in November 1957. It served in the motorized rifle regiments of tank divisions and mechanized brigades in the Soviet and East German armies. A typical mechanized brigade consisted of three battalions, each of which had 30 APCs and a command vehicle. They were replaced in front line service by the BMP 1 IFV. Command vehicle variants were employed by many Warsaw Pact armies. BTR 50s were used by Egypt and Syria during the Six Day War (1967), a number of which were captured by Israel. Some vehicles were then re used by the Israeli Army. Both sides used BTR 50s during the War of Attrition (1968–70). During Operation "Raviv" (September 8–9, 1969), an amphibious raid across the Suez Canal, three T 54 tanks and six BTR 50s were used to wreak havoc behind Egyptian lines. BTR 50s were again employed by Egypt, Syria and Israel during the Yom Kippur War (1973). During this conflict, BTR 50s, along with T 54s and T 55s, were used by the IDF during the fighting in and around the city of Suez. Israel captured additional BTR 50s from the Egyptians and Syrians. In October 2023, the first example of a Russian BTR 50 being deployed in frontline combat in Ukraine appeared, with at least one BTR 50 being visually confirmed as destroyed by Ukrainian anti tank mines northeast of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast during a large scale Russian offensive against the city. As of April 2024, Russia is visually confirmed to have suffered 5 BTR 50 losses (two BTR 50s and three BTR 50s with BPU 1 turret).

BTR 50P (Ob'yekt 750) (1952) – The first production version with an open troop compartment. The vehicle had no integral armament, but it did have a pintle mount for a 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun. Early production BTR 50P models had folding ramps at the rear of the hull to enable either a 57 mm ZiS 2, a 76.2 mm ZiS 3 or an 85 mm D 44 anti tank gun to be loaded and fired on the engine decks. The weapon could also be fired when the vehicle was afloat, but only when the water jets were in operation. This system had one great flaw, the muzzle of the gun was usually over the open personnel compartment and as such submitted any occupants to a considerable amount of concussion and fumes. These ramps were absent in later production models. BTR 50P – Converted into an artillery portee vehicle. This version carried its gun in the crew compartment, thus placing the muzzle of the gun outside the vehicle. While seen mostly carrying the 57 mm ZIS 2 anti tank gun, there were also two other variants of this vehicle that carried anti aircraft (AA) weapons. ZTPU 2 (zenitnaya samokhodnaya ustanovka) – BTR 50P converted into a self propelled anti aircraft gun (SPAAG), armed with twin ZPU 2 14.5 mm heavy machine guns (1,280 rounds). Prototype. ZTPU 4 (zenitnaya samokhodnaya ustanovka) – A BTR 50P converted into a SPAAG armed with quadruple ZPU 4 14.5 mm heavy machine guns (2,560 rounds). Prototype. BTR 50P – Converted into a Forward Air Control vehicle with a second superstructure on top of the first. BTR 50P – Converted into an NBC reconnaissance vehicle with a second superstructure on top of the first. BTR 50P – Has a longer nose section. BTR 50PA (Ob'yekt 750M) (1954) – BTR 50P armed with a 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun on a pintle mount at the front of the troop compartment. BTR 50PA with its heavy machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola. BTR 50PK (Ob'yekt 750K) (K stands for krisha – "roof") (1958) – A BTR 50P fitted with an armored roof, the troops embarking and disembarking the vehicle via two rectangular roof hatches that open to either side. There is also another rectangular roof hatch at the front of the roof. It was armed with a pintle mounted 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun. This variant has an NBC protection system. The vehicle had two ventilators, one at the front of the troop compartment on the right and one at the rear, also on the right. It is likely that these vehicles were mostly upgraded from BTR 50Ps. Another production run of the BTR 50PK had a single firing port on each side of the superstructure. They were rarely seen in use as APCs as the majority consisted of specialized variants, such as command vehicles, before being replaced by another batch with two firing ports on each side of the superstructure. BTR 50PK – Fitted with a locater light in the center of the engine deck. This variant was issued to Soviet marine and assault river crossing units. BTR 50PK – Converted into a training vehicle with four cupolas on top of the roof. BTR 50PK – Has a longer nose section. Used by marine units. UR 67 (ustanovka razminirovaniya) – Mine clearing vehicle equipped with a UR 67 rocket launcher system which has three launchers firing UZP 67 or UZR 3 tubes filled with explosives. The UZP 67 or UZR 3 are carried in a fabric tube container carried inside the hull. The mine clearing procedure is composed of driving the vehicle to the edge of the minefield and aligning it before the rockets are fired from its elevated launcher at the rear of the vehicle. The rocket tows the line charge, which is secured to the launcher vehicle, across the minefield. The line charge is then positioned by the vehicle crew and detonated to clear any mines in its vicinity. The cleared lane is usually 60 m to 150 m long and 2 m to 5 m wide. The vehicle has a crew of three. Some of the vehicles were based on the BTR 50PK, others were based on the PT 76. They were known in the west as the MTK and MTK 1. Only a small number remain in service, most have been replaced by the UR 77. BTR 50PN (1958) – Early command vehicle with three radios (including an R 113) and three whip antennas. Only a small number were built. BTR 50PU (mashina upravleniya) (1959) – Unarmed command vehicle. It carries a crew of 10 and has an armored roof with oval hatches and four whip antennas. Most of the BTR 50PUs have two projecting bays on the front of the vehicle (the respective NATO codes are: BTR 50PU(1) and BTR 50PU(2)). The two bays are the same shape, unlike in the OT 62 TOPAS, which is otherwise very similar in appearance. The vehicle has ten seats, of which four are for the commander and his staff, four are for the radio operators and two are for the vehicle's commander and driver. The staff compartment has a collapsible table, a second small table for the commander, two hammocks and three ladders. An emergency escape hatch is provided in the floor of the vehicle and the vehicle has thermal insulation. Specialized equipment consists of KN 2 and KP 2 navigation devices; an AB 1 P/30 1 kW generator (located on the rear engine deck); R 105, R 105U and R 113 VHF radios; a R 112 HF transceiver, a R 311 HF receiver; a collapsible 11 m mast antenna for the R 105U; a light 10 m telescopic mast for the R 112; a R 403BM relay set; R 120 intercom and a P 193A 10 line field telephone switchboard with six TAI 43 field telephones and four cable reels, each with 600 m of two wire cable. The navigation system includes a gyro course indicator and course plotter (the former indicates the vehicle's course, the latter plots it on a rectangular co ordinate system). Some vehicles have different numbers of stowage boxes in different arrangements on the rear engine decks. Some vehicles have a second generator. BTR 50PU with a longer nose section. BTR 50PU 2 – An improved version with more modern radio equipment, most probably the R 123 and the R 130M. It is externally similar to the BTR 50PU, but has a portable generator located immediately behind the troop compartment. BTR 50PUM – A modernised variant, it is equipped with a large AMU telescopic antenna mast and R 123 (3×), R 130, R 326, R 405D and T 218 radios. This model has a square antenna stowage box on the right front side of the hull. BTR 50PUM 1 (1972) – latest model with a crew of up to 8 and fitted with the same radios as mounted in the R 145BM (BTR 60): R 111 (2×), R 123MT, R 124 and R 130M. MTP 1 (mashina tekhnicheskoj pomoshchi) – A technical support vehicle with a raised troop compartment and a light crane. Polyesye – A civilian version of the MTP 1.

BTR 50PK – Fitted with a glassed cabin on top of the standard superstructure.

BTR 50YVI (yhtymän viestijärjestelmä) – BTR 50PK converted into a command and staff vehicle. It is fitted with the YVI 2 digital communication system, a telescopic mast, the NSVT 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and additional armor. Fielded in 1994. BTR 50PUM – Upgraded BTR 50PU fitted with the equipment of the R 145BM (BTR 60 variant) and smoke grenade launchers, one NSVT 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and additional armor. BTR 50PUM1 – Modernized PUM with western radio sets.

BTR 50PM (Palawa Modification) – Indonesian Marine Corps BTR 50's modernized with BTR 2000 upgrade package from Nimda, Israel in 1990s. Fitted with AN/VRC 64 and PRC 33 radios instead of the 10 RT, new brake system, FN MAG machine gun instead of the PKT and a Detroit Diesel 6V92T engine instead of the original V 6V. BTR 50P(M) – Indonesian Marine Corps BTR 50's overhauled, reconditioned, and fitted with new fire extinguisher system by PT Lumindo Artha Sejati in 2019–2021. PAL AFV (Armoured Floating Vehicle) – Upgraded version, developed by the PT PAL Indonesia in cooperation with Pindad. This vehicle has a new nose section, a raised rear hull section and powered by a 300 hp engine. Combat weight is 14,700 kg, with transport capacity is 3 + 14 troops. Photo

BTR 50P – Converted into a self propelled anti aircraft gun (SPAAG) and armed with a Soviet 23 mm ZU 23 2 anti aircraft autocanon. Fitted with additional armor around the engine decks to maintain its amphibious ability. BTR 50PK converted into a SPAAG armed with Czechoslovak twin 30 mm M 53/59 autocannons in an open tub mount.

BTR 50PK fitted with a pintle mounted 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun in front of the commander's cupola. BTR 50PK armed with three pintle mounted US M1919A4 .30 cal medium machine guns (one on the front of the superstructure and one on each side), another was pintle mounted in front of the commander's cupola.

OT 62 TOPAS (OT 62 stands for Obrněný Transportér vzor 62 – "Armored Personnel Carrier model 62") ("TOPAS" stands for Transportér Obrněný PÁSový – "Tracked Armored Personnel Carrier") – A series of BTR 50 variants developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia. They are similar to the BTR 50PK but have hatches in the hull sides, a more powerful PV 6 engine giving 300 hp (224 kW) and two projecting bays in front of the superstructure instead of one like similar looking BTR 50PU (however the bays are different from one another in terms of shape).

BTR 50S (2005) – An upgrade package for the BTR 50PK offered by the Serbian defense firm Yugoimport SPDR. The package adds a turret (from the Yugoslav M 80 APC). It is armed with one 30 mm cannon, one 7.62 mm Zastava M86 machine gun, two ATGM launchers capable of firing 9M14 Malyutka anti tank guided missiles (ATGM)s and four smoke grenade launchers.

BTR 50PK – Converted into an improvised medevac vehicle with a cut down front and a hatch in the front.

– 700 ordered in 1979 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1980 and 1983. they were then replaced by Patria AMV. – 200 SPW 50Ps and SPW 50PKs were ordered in 1958 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1959 and 1962 (including command vehicles). BTR 50PU, BTR 50PK retired. – Passed on to successor states. – 400 were received as aid from the Soviet Union between 1969 and 1973 (some of the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet service). Passed on to the unified Vietnam state. – 100 were ordered in 1972 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1973 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service). – 217 (131 BTR 50PU and 86 PK) were ordered from 1964 to 1967 from the Soviet Union, and delivered from 1965 to 1976. Passed on to successor states.