The Russian BTR-60PB 8×8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

Background

Though the Germans had discovered the use and importance, shortly followed by America & the UK, of the APC in the Second World War, Russia was quick to see its value and continued in its development, with the designation for their wheeled APC’s “bronyetransportyor” or БТР AKA BTR which means armoured transporter. The first of these vehicles was the BTR-40, an opened top 4×4 vehicle that could carry 8 infantrymen and was run by two crew and entered service in 1948.


The Russian BTR-60PB 8×8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

The BTR-60

The Russian BTR-60PB 8×8 Armoured Personnel Carrier Operators

Operator number Operator number Operator number Operator number
Abkhazia
?
Ghana
6
Mexico
100
Somaliland
25
Afghanistan
300
Grenada
2
Moldova
12
Syria
600
Angola
100
Guinea
20
Mongolia
300
Tajikistan
1
Azerbaijan
25
Guinea-Bissau
35
Morocco
45
Turkey
302
Belarus
188
India
187
Mozambique
150
Turkmenistan
829
Botswana
30
Iran
300
Nicaragua
64
Ukraine
176
Bulgaria
737
Iraq
500
Nigeria
6
Uzbekistan
24
Cambodia
210
Israel
?
North Korea
1000
Vietnam
400
Cuba
400
Kenya
3
Peoples Republic of China
400
Yemen
500
Djibouti
12
Laos
70
Peru
12
Zambia
13
Egypt
250
Libya
750
Republic of the Congo
30
Former operators
Eritrea
65
Lithuania
74
Russia
2000
East Germany
2260
Ethiopia
80
Republic of Macedonia
31
Serbia
6
Croatia
16
Finland
120
Mali
10
Somalia
25
Yugoslavia
60

The lay out of the vehicle is the commander (right) & driver (left) sit in the front. Behind them is the turret which is operated by a gunner. Behind that is the infantry troop compartment and the final section was the engine. The biggest problem with the BTR-60 (and went on to haunt its replacement) was the way the infantry disembarked. They did this through the small hatch’s, one on each side on the hull located above the 2nd and 3rd wheel and hatches in the roof. The vehicle had to be stationary other wise the trooper would be crushed under the wheels. They were also easy targets whilst exiting through the roof. The BTR-60PB production was eventually replaced in 1976 with the production of the BTR-70.

Gunners Station in the turret

Russian/Former Soviet Union variants

Variant:
Characteristics:
BTR-60PBK
Command version of BTR-60PB.
BTR-60 1V18
Artillery observation post vehicle.
BTR-60 1V19
Fire direction centre vehicle.
BTR-60AVS
Command post vehicle.
BTR-60PAU
Artillery communications vehicle.
BTR-60PU-12M
Air-defence command post vehicle.
BTR-60WS
Command post vehicle.
BTR-60PU
Command vehicle.
BTR-60PU-12
Command post vehicle is BTR-60PA with large stowage box on right side of the hull, generator and telescopic mast.
BTR-60 ACRV
Artillery command and reconnaissance vehicle.
BTR-60-R-409BM
One of a number of communications vehicles.

drivers Station

Variants of former East-Germany

Variant:
Characteristics:
SPW 60PA
NVA designation for the BTR-60PA.
SPW 60PA(S)
Staff vehicle (senior officers).
SPW-60PB
NVA designation for the BTR-60PB.
SPW-60PB(ABS)
Artillery observation post vehicle.
SPW-60PB(BBS)
Command vehicle for air-defence.
SPW-60PB(S)
Command vehicle.
NZ(B) MSR/PR
One of a number of communications vehicles.

Romanian variants

Variant:
Characteristics:
TAB-71
Designation of standard production APC equipped with the more powerful SR-225 gasoline engine generating 140hp and additional periscopes.
TAB-71 M
Saviem 797-05 130hp diesel engine from the TAB-77.
TAB-71A R-1450
Command vehicle.
TAB-71A R-1451
Signals vehicle with unarmed turret.
TAB-71A R-1452
Signals vehicle with unarmed turret and additional R-1452 radio set.
TAB-71AR
Equipped with a M-37M 82 mm mortar and 100 rounds
TERA-77L
ARV with 5t crane and dozer blade.

Rear of vehicle, centre is the water jet for swimming

Combat history of the BTR-60

Conflict
Date
The Yom Kippur War
1973
The Soviet war in Afghanistan
1979 – 1988
The Bosnian War
1992 – 1995
The First Chechen War
1994 – 1996
The Kosovo War
1996 – 1999
The Second Chechen War
1999 – 2000