BTR-60 - Variants - Former USSR

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 PKB 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 PKB). It was also known under designation GAZ-49.
    • BTR-60P with a modified machine gun mounting point in the front to fit the DShK 1938/46 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 PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine gun). The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, SGMB or PKB).
    • 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-76 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-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 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 PKB 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 PKB) 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 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKB). 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 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun replaced by the conical in shape BPU-1 turret from BRDM-2 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 PKB 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-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-60PZ (zenitnyj) (1972) - Version with improved turret similar to the BTR-70 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-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-66) 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-23-4, 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-70

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