During World War II, General Omar Bradley became famous as a military leader who tried to avoid unnecessary casualties among his soldiers. After the end of the war, Omar Bradley actively helped veterans settle into civilian life. That is why it was decided to name the first American infantry fighting vehicle, the M2 Bradley BMP, after him.
In America, the production of infantry fighting vehicles began quite late, only in the 70s, when, for example, the BMP-1 had already been tested in combat. But this helped to use not only the American experience of using armored personnel carriers in the creation of equipment, but also to analyze the results of the combat debut of Soviet infantry fighting vehicles.
History of creation
In 1959, the US Army adopted the M113 armored personnel carrier, a simple and cheap vehicle. He had a full-scale baptism by fire in Vietnam, and it showed that even if nuclear weapons were not used, the idea of a fighting vehicle that allowed infantry to fight without leaving it made sense. Soldiers who tried to dismount from an armored personnel carrier were immediately covered with fire.
The machine gun turret of the armored personnel carrier was open - the shooter was also easily hit. In field conditions, the problem was solved by installing additional machine guns on the roof of the vehicle behind armored shields, but this was a temporary solution.
As part of the work on an improved combat vehicle, FMC proposed the XM734 - M113 with side embrasures and a protected turret with coaxial machine guns. They managed to test it in the field, but by this time it became clear that such modifications were also half measures.
The M113 could not fight on its own, and it was difficult for the landing party to stay in this vehicle for a long time.
The next step taken by FMC was the XM765 - a converted M113, armed with a 20mm cannon and protected by spaced composite armor. It was not accepted into service in the United States, but a number of vehicles were sold for export.
Meanwhile, in the late 60s, the first infantry fighting vehicles were implemented. In addition, the USSR adopted the new BTR-60PB with 14.5mm machine guns, capable of easily destroying the M113. Fearing that they would fall hopelessly behind, the Americans began a new stage of research work. FMC was asked to create a vehicle similar to the XM765, but with better cross-country ability and mobility (so that the infantry fighting vehicle could effectively interact with future tanks), as well as better protection.
As a result, an experimental XM723 infantry fighting vehicle was built on the chassis of the LVT-7 heavy marine armored personnel carrier. She will become the future Bradley. However, the development of the vehicle was delayed due to the desire to replace the 20mm M139 cannon with a gun with an external automatic drive, as well as due to the cancellation of the program to develop a promising BRM.
Now a modification of the infantry fighting vehicle was supposed to be used as a reconnaissance vehicle, and a new two-seat turret began to be designed for the XM723.
The last obstacle was an attempt to assess the feasibility of producing infantry fighting vehicles, based on the experience of using Soviet vehicles, and to find cheaper alternatives.
The German Marders and the French AMX-10P were considered unsuitable, and converting the hulls of obsolete M48 tanks into heavy infantry fighting vehicles turned out to be not cheaper, but twice as expensive as the production of new equipment. Finally, the issue of armor was resolved as follows: it can either reliably protect against small-arms fire, up to large-caliber weapons, or against anti-tank missiles, and all the options “in the middle” are impractical.
In 1977, the BMP project received the index XM2, and the BRM - XM3. They were officially approved in early 1980 and went into production in 1981. It was then that the BMP was named in honor of the recently deceased general.
Armored Halftrack M2\M3
M2\M3
Half-track armored personnel carriers
The US Army became interested in half-track vehicles in 1925, when ATC purchased two Citroen-Kegresse vehicles from France. Another one was purchased in 1931. American commercial firms began developing half-track vehicles for the ATS, and the first successful TI “Half-Track” design was built in 1932 by Cunningham in Rochester (New York). In 1939-40. built the T14 half-track armored personnel carrier, which became the prototype for all subsequent vehicles of this type used by the United States during World War II. In September 1940, the T14 was put into service under the designation half-track armored personnel carrier M2, and after modifications for transporting personnel it was adopted as the half-track armored personnel carrier M3. M2 and M3 had most of the main components and assemblies interchangeable. The chassis, transmission and controls used mainly components from commercial vehicles. The 6.35 mm thick armor included armored shutters in front of the engine radiator, and the front and side observation windows of the control compartment had folding armor shields 12.7 mm thick. Either a drum was attached in front of the car's bumper to overcome obstacles (although sometimes it was removed) or a winch. Vehicles of later batches also had stowage for spare parts along the sides. The M2 was primarily used as an artillery armored personnel carrier that also carried ammunition, while the M3 was used to transport personnel with a slightly longer body and seats. In September 1940, White and Autocar (M2) and Diamond T (M3) received contracts for the production of these cars. White produced the M2A1 reconnaissance vehicle, one of which was put on a half-track during the development of the T14 prototype. Thus, the wheeled reconnaissance and half-track armored personnel carriers had the same body. Large orders for half-track vehicles issued by the US Army in the fall of 1940 required standardization of components and assemblies for all contractors. White, Autocar and Diamond T agreed to this under the general supervision of ATS. The first production M2s were delivered in May 1941. Of the 11,415 cars, 2,992 were produced by Autocar and 8,423 by White. The total production of the M3 armored personnel carrier was 12,499. For air defense on the M2, a rail was attached on top along the inner perimeter of the hull, along which movable pivot installations with 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine guns moved, while on the M3 a pedestal installation was installed. As a result, in 1943 they settled on a cylindrical turret with a turret behind the control compartment. In addition, three more pivot installations were provided for the ZP. Such vehicles were designated M2A1 and M3A1. In October 1943, they replaced the previous modifications in production, and 2862 M3A1 and 1643 M2A1 were produced before production ceased in March 1944. All cars used the White engine. Self-propelled mortars were built on the basis of the M2A1. In addition, in 1942, as orders for half-track vehicles increased, IHC joined the manufacturing group and produced vehicles with minor differences and an IHC engine instead of the White one. Its cars, designated M9 and M5, corresponded to M2 and M3. In connection with further improvements, the M9AI and M5AI variants appeared, corresponding to the M2A1 and MZA1 and produced by the White, Autocar and Diamond T factories. In April 1943, work began with the goal of obtaining a universal half-track vehicle with a body that could be adapted for an artillery armored personnel carrier or self-propelled mortar. This led to the appearance of modifications M3A2 and M5A2 - respectively from the White/Autocar/Diamond T group and from IHC. In October 1943, the vehicles were accepted for service, but were not produced. By this time, the US Army's interest in half-track vehicles was beginning to fade, and their production ended in mid-1944; they were used by troops until the end of the war. High-speed tracked vehicles or wheeled trucks began to be used in increasing quantities as artillery armored personnel carriers. The total production of half-track vehicles in the United States amounted to 41,169 vehicles. Although half-track vehicles were initially considered as reconnaissance vehicles with minimal protection from small arms fire and good terrain maneuverability, they were used mainly in infantry and artillery; in other branches of the military they were widely used as auxiliary vehicles. In this respect, they were the equivalent of the British "Universal Carrier" armored personnel carriers, but the larger dimensions of the latter also provided more opportunities for the installation of various weapons. For armored forces, ATS developed a number of experimental self-propelled guns on the chassis of half-tracked vehicles, which turned out to be a completely practical option for “temporary vehicles” until they received tracked self-propelled guns that more fully met the requirements. British BTC also used a considerable number of these half-track self-propelled guns, supplied under Lend-Lease. There were a lot of special vehicles made on the half-track bay, but they were not used by the BTC. Therefore, in this article, only models and modifications that were used or specially developed for the BTC are discussed and shown in photographs.
BASIC MODELS
M2 half-track vehicle
. This basic tractor-transporter was primarily used for towing a 105 mm howitzer on a field carriage in artillery battalions and transporting a crew of 10 people. The M2 crew consisted of a driver, his assistant and commander. The stern door was missing, and the hull was shorter than that of the M3. Directly behind the control compartment, ammunition boxes were located along the sides; auxiliary hatches for them could be opened from outside the vehicle, but access to them was possible only with the use of a fork. For ZP, along the perimeter of the open-top hull at the upper edge of the sides there was a circular rail along which pivot mounts with 7.62 and 12.7 mm Colt-Browning machine guns moved. A drum for overcoming obstacles or a winch was attached to the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle was equipped with a radio station.
M2A1 half-track vehicle
. This vehicle replaced the M2 in production and was distinguished by an M49 turret mount for a 12.7 mm machine gun in a round turret above the assistant driver's seat. The circular rail was removed. There were two pivot installations at the sides and one in the stern for 7.62 mm machine guns. The prototype was designated M2E6 and, after modification, became the basis for subsequent serial modifications of the basic half-track vehicle.
Half-track armored personnel carrier M3
. It was produced in parallel with the M2 and became the basic half-track armored personnel carrier for transportation (infantry compartment) in the rear and three in the control compartment, as on the M2. The hull was longer than on the M2, and there was a door at the stern for boarding and disembarking. Because of this, a circular rail was not installed, and for the 7.62 mm machine gun, a removable M25 pedestal mount was mounted in the rear part of the roof of the control compartment. The vehicles were produced with a drum or a winch in front of the hull.
Half-track armored personnel carrier MZA1
. Modification of the M3 with a turret and turret mount M49 like the M2A1 for the ZP. M3 and M3A1 were widely used by BTC as ambulance, command, transport and communications vehicles. In British service, several vehicles were converted into ARVs by installing a crane boom in the bow. Half-track vehicle M3A2 (T29). The machine, made on the basis of the MZ, was intended to replace both the M2 and M2A1, and the M3 and M3A1. International Harvester Company (IHC) converted the M3 into a prototype for use as an artillery tractor or armored personnel carrier. The prototype, designated T29, was assembled in July 1943, and in October it was put into service under the designation M3A2. It was planned to launch its production, but it never began due to the general reduction in the half-track vehicle program. Externally, this vehicle corresponded to the M3A1, but with an armored shield on the anti-aircraft turret and movable spare parts at the rear of the hull, the position of which was determined by the purpose of the vehicle. Seats could be installed to accommodate 5-12 people.
Half-track armored personnel carrier M5
. This machine, produced by 1 NS, corresponded to the M3, but differed in the components and assemblies of the International Harvester, including the replacement of the White engine (installed on the M2 and MZ) with a 6-cylinder IHC. The body was made of armor plates with a thickness of 6.7 mm, in contrast to the M2 and MZ with reinforced armor of the frontal part. The most noticeable external difference was the rounded corners of the rear part of the hull. In addition, the M5 wheel fenders were flat rather than convex. Other characteristics are similar to M3. Due to their “non-standard” features, many M5 half-tracks were transferred under Lend-Lease, and mainly to the British army.
Half-track armored personnel carrier M5A1
. It was an M5 with an M49 machine gun mount, similar to the MZA1. Half-track vehicle M5A2 (T31). Project of a “universal” machine corresponding to MZA2. IHC modified one M5 under the designation T31, which was accepted into service and ordered into production in October 1943 for Lend-Lease deliveries. However, due to a reduction in orders for half-track vehicles, their production was stopped at the beginning of 1944.
M9A1 half-track vehicle
. A tractor-transporter produced by IHC and similar to the M2A1. Unlike the M2A1, it had a rear door and the same hull length as the M5. The M9 vehicle actually did not exist, since it received the designation M9A1 (with appropriate changes) even before the start of mass production. A total of 3433 cars were produced.
81-mm self-propelled mortars M4 and M4A1
. A modification of the M2 half-track vehicle, specially built as a mortar carrier, was equipped to accommodate the crew, mortar and ammunition. The seats in the aft section were left for three people; the freed space was used to accommodate ammunition stowage and install a mortar. The M4 was not designed for firing from a vehicle, but in special situations this was allowed. A total of 572 M4s were produced by the beginning of 1942, when it was replaced in production by an improved design - the M4A1 with a reinforced bottom and an installation that made it possible to fire from the vehicle. In 1943, White produced 600 M4A1 self-propelled mortars. Externally, this vehicle can be distinguished from its predecessor M4 by the additional ammunition boxes at the rear.
81-mm self-propelled mortar M21 (T19)
.
The limited capabilities of the M4 and M4A1 self-propelled mortars, including a rear-facing barrel and a limited guidance sector, led to the development of a significantly improved design on the chassis of the M3 half-track armored personnel carrier. The main changes were to increase the firing sector and strengthen the installation with the barrel turned forward for firing from the vehicle. The horizontal aiming angles were 30° in each direction, and the vertical aiming angles were 40-80°. The body was longer and more spacious than on previous models based on the M2. A pedestal installation for a 12.7 mm machine gun was strengthened in the rear of the hull. The vehicle carried an 81-mm M1 mortar, which could be removed for firing from the ground. The prototype of the vehicle, designated T19
, entered service in June 1943, and 110 vehicles were produced.
107-mm self-propelled mortars T21 and T21E1
. The development of this vehicle, with a layout similar to the M4 and M4A1 self-propelled mortars, began in December 1942 using the chassis of the M3 half-track armored personnel carrier. The mortar, like on the M4A1, was installed to fire backwards. However, a modification of the design was required, similar to the M21 self-propelled mortar. A vehicle modified in this way with a mortar firing forward and supported by a horizontal arc guide was designated T21E1. However, all the military's attention then switched to the tracked chassis, and the T21E1 project was stopped.
SELF-PROPELLED GUNS and HOWITERS ON HALF-TRACK CHASSIS
Although a number of self-propelled guns were developed on the chassis of half-track vehicles, only a few models were adopted and used, most remained at the prototype level, since there were already self-propelled guns on a tracked chassis. A notable exception was the half-track SPAAG, which remained in service until the end of the war. Due to the colossal shortage of tracked chassis during the rearmament period of 1941, ATS developed several self-propelled guns on the MZ chassis, and they are described first.
75-mm self-propelled guns M3 (T12) and M3A1
. The urgent need for a self-propelled tank destroyer that could be quickly introduced into service led to the adaptation in June 1941 of the M3 half-track armored personnel carrier chassis to accept a modified 75-mm M1897A gun on a forward-firing pedestal mount. The M1897A was an American version of the famous French 75mm field gun from World War I, and the supply of such guns was unexpectedly large. The vehicle, designated SAU T12, had a limited horizontal gun aiming angle and was equipped with an armored shield. Despite its tall silhouette, it successfully passed the tests and was put into service in October 1941 under the designation SAU M3. The first manufactured vehicles were immediately sent to the Philippines at the end of 1941, just in time for the battles with Japanese troops. In addition to widespread use in the Pacific theater of operations, MZ self-propelled guns were also used during the campaign in Tunisia, and after being replaced by tracked tank destroyers, these vehicles were handed over to British troops, who used them in Italy until the end of the war. In British service, the M3 self-propelled guns, known under the designation 75-mm Autocar self-propelled guns (Autocar built them), were assigned to commanders of armored car or tank companies for fire support. Due to the shortcomings of the original cannon installations, the latest series of vehicles were produced with modified installations and were designated 75-mm self-propelled guns M3A1. Externally they were similar to the M3 self-propelled guns.
75 mm self-propelled howitzer T30
. Impressed by the success of the M3 self-propelled gun, ATS initiated the conversion of the M3 half-track armored personnel carrier to a 75-mm howitzer. Having approved two prototypes in January 1942, after successful tests, 500 vehicles were ordered. The 75-mm M1A1 howitzer mounted on the T-30 had a maximum elevation angle of 25°, horizontal aiming angles of 21° to the left and 23° to the right. Although the T30 self-propelled guns were not accepted into service, they were used by headquarters companies of medium tank battalions until they were replaced by 75 mm M8 self-propelled howitzers in 1943. The vehicles were considered only as a temporary replacement.
105 mm self-propelled howitzer T19
. Another modification, developed after the success of the MZ, became a self-propelled unit of the largest caliber on a half-track chassis. It was similar in layout to the T12 and T30 and carried a 105 mm M2 howitzer. A total of 324 self-propelled guns were produced, some with armored shields. They were used in North Africa (Tunisia) before being replaced by the M7 self-propelled howitzer. The vehicle was not officially accepted for service.
105 mm self-propelled howitzer T38
. Project for installing a short-barreled 105-mm howitzer based on the T19 model on a half-track armored personnel carrier MZ.
75 mm T73 self-propelled gun
. Modification of the M3 self-propelled gun with a 75-mm MZ gun instead of the M1897A.
57 mm T48 self-propelled gun
. Development of this vehicle began in April 1942 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground to meet British and American requirements for a self-propelled anti-tank gun. It was a half-tracked MZ armored personnel carrier, modified according to the model of the vehicles described above, with a 57-mm M1 cannon - an American modification of the British 6-pound gun. The gun was equipped with a box-shaped shield with a cover on top. In October 1942, the American order for the T48 self-propelled gun was canceled, but development continued under the British order. Of the 962 vehicles, 680 were delivered to the UK under Lend-Lease. The rest remained in the United States and were converted into M3A1 armored personnel carriers. White produced the T48 in 1942-43. It seems that most of the vehicles delivered to the UK were converted into armored personnel carriers by removing the gun mount. T48 was equipped with British radio station No. 19. Twin ZSU T1E1. This was the first project to install a power-driven Bendix turret with coaxial .50″ (12.7 mm) machine guns on an M2 half-track chassis in a series of pilot installations completed in 1941 for military air defense.
Twin ZSU T1E2
. Similar to the Tl E1, but with a Maxson turret and twin .50″ (12.7 mm) machine guns instead of a Bendix turret. Tested in comparison with Tl E1. Twin ZSU T1EZ. Next to the T1E1 and T1E2 is an experimental vehicle within the same project, with the exception of the Electro Dynamic machine gun turret with electric guidance, modeled on an aviation one. Of the three installation options, Tl E2 was preferred.
Twin ZSU T1E4 (M13)
. For the serial ZSU with the Maxson turret, the MZ half-track armored personnel carrier was used as the chassis. In general, the T1E4 modification, similar to TIE2, was distinguished by an increased transportable ammunition load due to the elongated body of the vehicle. The Maxson turret provided a horizontal aiming angle of 360°, a maximum elevation angle of +90°, and a maximum descent angle of -11.5°. The rotation speed of the turret with a power drive was 74° per second. The ZSU was adopted under the designation multi-barrel self-propelled gun M13. In 1942, White produced 535 pieces.
Twin ZSU M14
. To speed up the production of the ZSU, the Maxson turret (designated M33) was installed on the chassis of the half-tracked M5 armored personnel carrier - this vehicle was designated the M14 multi-barrel self-propelled unit. In general, it was similar to the M13, excluding the mechanical differences and driving features of the basic M5 half-track. In total, International Harvester produced 1905 ZSUs in 1943. Many M14s were delivered to the UK under Lend-Lease, but they were mainly converted into armored personnel carriers, removing the anti-aircraft gun. Multi-barrel self-propelled gun T28 and Ml5, M15A1 (T28E1). To increase the fire capabilities, we developed the T28 ZSU on the chassis of the M2 half-track tractor-transporter with the swinging part of the 37-mm M3E1 anti-aircraft gun, combined with two .50″ (12.7 mm) machine guns on a single installation with an armored shield. The project was abandoned in favor of the same installation on the MZ chassis, designated T28E1. With minor changes made based on the test results, this vehicle was put into service under the designation M15 multi-barrel self-propelled gun, and in 1942 Autocar produced 680 vehicles. They were first used with great success by American troops during the campaign in North Africa (in Tunisia). A later modification of the M15A1, produced since August 1943.
Multi-barrel self-propelled guns M16 and M17 (T58)
.
In April 1942, development began on a new Maxson turret with four 12.7 mm machine guns to mount the M33 on the M13/M14. The new turret was tested on the M2 half-track chassis, and later on the M3 chassis under the designation T58 multi-barrel self-propelled gun. The new ZSU was adopted under the designation M45, and the T58 vehicle with it received the designation M16. White company in 1942-43. produced only 724 cars of this brand. The same installation on the chassis of the half-track armored personnel carrier M5 was designated M17
and looked similar in appearance. International Harvester produced 1,000 of these SPAAGs in 1943 and early 1944, when production of half-track vehicles ceased.
Multi-barrel self-propelled guns T37 and T37E1
.
Two ZSU projects with quad mounts of .50″ (12.7 mm) machine guns. The T37 was a chassis of a half-track MZ armored personnel carrier with a T60 mount, on which four .50″ caliber machine guns were mounted in a square pattern (2×2), and the T37E1 on the same vehicle was mounted with a T60E1 mount with four machine guns arranged in a line. There was all-round armor protection (armor thickness 12.7 mm). There were no orders for production. 40-mm ZSU T54 and T54E1. The development of half-track self-propelled guns with 40-mm anti-aircraft guns began in June 1942, when the half-track MZ armored personnel carrier was adapted for the 40-mm M1 (Bofors) automatic cannon. The experimental vehicle, designated T54
, needed modifications to improve stability when firing, which were introduced into the second experimental ZSU T54E1. It was finally decided that to create a satisfactory shooting platform, folding supports and jacks were necessary. The project was abandoned in favor of an improved modification.
ZSU (multi-barrel self-propelled units) T60 and T60E1
. Conversions of the T54 and T59 ZSU into vehicles for a complex installation (T65), on which a 40-mm Ml automatic cannon and two 12.7 mm machine guns were mounted in the same way as on the M15 ZSU. With a modified armor shield and ammunition rack, the vehicle was designated T60E1. No production orders were issued. 40mm ZSU T68. An experimental vehicle on the chassis of a half-track armored personnel carrier MZ with vertically twin 40-mm cannons with an overhead balancing mechanism. Although an experimental machine was built, no further work was carried out on it.
ZSU T61
.
Experimental installation of quad 12.7 mm machine guns on the chassis of the M2 half-track tractor-transporter. There was no continuation. ZSU T10 and 20-mm ZSU T10E1. In July 1941, when half-track self-propelled guns with machine gun armament were being developed, experiments began to determine the possibility of deploying heavier weapons. 20-mm Oerlikon and Hispano-Suiza cannons, or AN-M1 or AN-M2 automatic cannons were considered. They were to be installed in a turret with a power drive manufactured by Maxson. A vehicle with such an installation on a modified M3 half-track chassis received the designation T10
. The modified unit, later mounted on a modified ZSU M16 chassis, was designated T10E1. No production orders were issued.
Sources : British and American tanks of the Second World War. P. Chamberlain and K. Alice. Moscow.AST\Astrel 2003-04-03 Half-Track Car M2 – American Fighting Vehicle Database
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL DATA OF THE M2 ARMORED TRANSPORTER
| COMBAT WEIGHT | 9000 ru |
| CREW, people | 2 + 7 |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Length, mm | 5960 |
| Width, mm | 2200 |
| Height, mm | 2260 |
| WEAPONS | one 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2NV machine gun or 7.62 mm M1914A4 machine gun |
| AMMUNITION | 700 rounds \ 7750 rounds |
| AIMING DEVICES | mechanical sight |
| RESERVATION | Frontal armor plate - 12.5 mm Side and rear - 6 mm |
| ENGINE | White 160AX, carburetor, liquid cooled, 147 hp. |
| TRANSMISSION | mechanical, Spicer 3461 type, 4-speed (3+1) |
| CHASSIS | |
| SPEED | 72 km/h |
| HIGHWAY RANGE | 320 km |
| OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME | |
| Wall height, mm | 0,30 |
| Ditch width, mm | ? |
| Fording depth, mm | 0,81 |
| MEANS OF COMMUNICATION | ? |
Design
The body of the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is welded from aluminum alloys. This decision pursued two goals - firstly, weight reduction. Secondly, the aluminum armor plate that provides the required protection will be thicker than steel - but still lighter, and the thickness will ensure the overall strength of the structure.
The aluminum armor on top is covered with steel screens, the gap between the body and the screen is filled with polyurethane. The exact thickness of the Bradley's armor was not announced, but according to the technical specifications it was supposed to provide protection from 14.5mm bullets, which means the equivalent thickness is approximately 50-60mm.
The Bradley's layout is classic for infantry fighting vehicles: the engine is in the nose, shifted to the right; behind it is the fighting compartment with a turret, and the landing compartment in the stern.
In this case, the landing compartment will be separated by a bulkhead. The engine of the car is an eight-cylinder Cummins VTA 903 turbodiesel with a volume of 14.8 liters, developing a power of 500 hp. The HMTP-500 gearbox is hydromechanical, three-stage.
Since the Bradley turret is shifted to the starboard side, behind the driver's seat there is a “tunnel” between the left side and the fighting compartment bulkhead. Two paratroopers are sitting in it, facing the side. The main part of the Bradley troop compartment is behind the turret, housing four more soldiers - two facing the starboard side, and two facing the aft door. The fighters sit on shock-absorbing, adjustable seats and have viewing periscopes and embrasures.
To exit the vehicle, either a hydraulically driven stern ramp or a door provided in the ramp is used. There is also a hatch in the roof of the BMP. The vehicle (squad) commander and gunner sit in the turret. The Bradley has limited buoyancy and requires the installation of a special casing to overcome water obstacles.
BTR-3 armored personnel carriers in the civil war
Ukrainian armored personnel carriers BTR-3U with Ukrainian Armed Forces insignia and white circles.
Ucraniana transporte blindado de personal BTR-3U Guardian. BTR3 carro de combate Ucrania foto. Ukrainischer BTR.3 achtradriger allradgetriebener amphibischer Schutzenpanzer. Destroyed Ukrainian APC BTR-3E1 digitaly camouflaged. September 2014 photo. An armored personnel carrier-3E1 of the 1st operational brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine with digital camouflage, previously intended for Thailand, destroyed near Telmanovo. On May 22, 2014, 32 BTR-3Es destined for Thailand were requisitioned and transferred to the National Guard of Ukraine. BTR-3e is a combat wheeled amphibious vehicle weighing 16 tons. The crew consists of 9 people: a squad (vehicle) commander, a gunner, a driver and six paratroopers. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a remote-controlled uninhabited combat module “Sturm” weighing 1.3 tons. For fire control, a sighting and observation system and the Track control system are used, as well as a panoramic surveillance video camera. If necessary, it extends on a special rod above the combat module and provides the crew with all-round visibility around the vehicle in the near zone. Ukrainian BTR-3 destroyed near Shirokino in February 2015. Destroyed Ukrainian BTR-3 at Shirokino in February 2015. In addition to the BTR3 requisitioned for the needs of NG 32 from the Thai contract, serial production is underway at the Kiev Tank Repair Plant. The first armored personnel carriers 3 (not requisitioned) were transferred to NG in December 2014. In 2015, the production rate was no more than 1 piece per week. In total, from 2013 to 2015, Thailand received seven BTR-3M2 self-propelled mortars (based on the BTR-3E) produced by the Kiev Armored Plant State Enterprise. In 2015, 5 Oplot BM tanks, 8 BTR-3E1 armored personnel carriers with the Shturm-M combat module, two 81-mm BTR-3M1 self-propelled mortars, one 120-mm BTR-3M2 self-propelled mortar, and six BTR anti-tank missile systems were sold to Thailand. -3RK with Barrier ATGM, two armored repair and recovery (engineering) vehicles BTR-3BR and one ambulance BTR-3S. Combat use of BTR-3 in Ukraine. According to gazeta.zn.ua, as of June 2015, only 18 BTR-4 and BTR-3 units remained on the move, mainly due to breakdowns. In 2016, the Kyiv Armored Plant State Enterprise transferred 51 BTR-3E1D armored personnel carriers with a Deutz engine: 45 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 6 for the National Guard. For the entire 2015, only 10 such machines were produced. The use of imported components can cause difficulties during repairs. As of 2016, it is also in service with the following countries: Thailand - 176 BTR-3E1, 6 BTR-3RK and 5 BTR-3BR UAE - 90 BTR-3U Guardian Nigeria - 51 BTR-3U1 (with a conventional turret of Soviet armored personnel carriers /BRDM) Myanmar - more than 10 BTR-3U (in 2003-2006, 92 BTR-3E assembly kits) Sudan - 10 BTR-3 (deliveries 2010-2011, later the customer abandoned the BTR-3 due to the failure of the Kiev Repair Plant mechanical plant" shipping times and low quality) Kazakhstan - 2 BTR-3E USA - 1 BTR-3 (purchased for tests)
BTR-3 is a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier developed by the Kharkov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau named after A. A. Morozov (KMDB). Designed for transportation and fire support in combat for motorized rifle units. This is a joint project of KMDB, ADCOM (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) and the State Scientific and Technical Center for Artillery and Small Arms (SSTC ASV, Ukraine). The first demonstration of the BTR-3U Guardian took place at the IDEX exhibition in March 2001 in Abu Dhabi. It was a further modernization of the Soviet BTR-80, carried out taking into account new customer requirements. The basis for the “third” hull was the hull of the BTR-94 (that is, the modernized Soviet BTR-80). The BTR-3DA is produced by converting the armored hulls of the old BTR-70. This is one of the disadvantages
vehicles: the top hatches from the BTR-70/80 do not meet modern requirements - through them you cannot leave the vehicle in full body kit (body armor, etc.). The height and length of the hull were increased by 15 and 20 cm, respectively, which led to a significant increase in the armor area of the BTR-3, the inclination of the driver's and commander's hatches was changed, and a new turret ring was welded. As a result, the vehicle turned out to be overweight (16 tons), the load on the base chassis of the BTR-80 was sharply increased, which led to a decrease in maneuverability and buoyancy. Visibility on the battlefield has increased due to an increase in the height of the armored hull and a large combat module.
Also a serious disadvantage is poor shooting accuracy, which occurs for the following reasons: The use of low-component DC motors for drives of combat modules. Such engines, due to their high inertia, are unable to either hold the gun in a given sector, redirect it quickly and accurately, or provide target tracking at a high angular velocity. The use of gearboxes (as opposed to direct drive) greatly increases the aiming error. There is no reference to the horizon for optical and television aiming channels (the design does not provide for the installation of a gyroscope), and the slightest roll leads to errors in ballistics. The sighting channel of optical and television instruments is not separated from the barrel line, which makes adjustments for range and type of projectile difficult.
The BTR-3U was designed according to the technical specifications of the ADCOM company. The prototype was called “Hunter”, and therefore it is used along with “Guardian”. The body of the armored vehicle is welded from sheets of rolled armor. Armor protection - bulletproof, anti-fragmentation. “Third” has a layout with the control compartment located in the frontal part, the combined troop and combat compartment in the middle part, and the engine-transmission compartment in the rear part of the vehicle. The regular crew consists of three people: a driver, a commander and a combat module operator. The landing compartment of the armored personnel carrier can accommodate up to six motorized riflemen. The armored personnel carrier is capable of crossing water obstacles by swimming thanks to a water-jet propulsion unit in the rear part of the hull. In the troop compartment of the BTR-3U, double-leaf side doors are mounted on each side of the hull. The lower part of each of them goes down and forms a step, and the upper part opens sideways as the machine moves. There are hatches on the roof. The chassis is practically no different from the BTR-80. The suspension is controlled torsion bar. The wheel formula is 8x8. The steering wheel is equipped with a hydraulic booster. To increase maneuverability, the four front wheels are steering wheels. The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a centralized tire pressure regulation system (from the French company Michelin with developed lugs). The BTR-3U is equipped with automatic fire-fighting equipment in the engine and transmission compartment and an air conditioning system. The inside of the control compartment and fighting compartment are lined with Kevlar. The power compartment of the BTR-3U contains a Deutz BF6M1015 diesel engine with a power of 326 hp. With. with an Allison MD3066 automatic transmission attached to it. Engine-driven fan-type cooling systems ensure operation of the machine at temperatures up to +55°. A distinctive feature of the BTR-3U is the muffler on the starboard side in the stern. The armament of the armored personnel carrier is located in the single-seat unified combat module KBA-105 Shkval. It includes a 30-mm double-fed 2A72 or KBA-2 automatic cannon (ammunition - 350 rounds), a 7.62-mm PKT coaxial machine gun (2,500 rounds), a 30-mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher (29 ready-to-use grenades, more 87 grenades in three magazines are carried in reserve) and ATGM. The design of the module makes it possible to easily replace anti-tank guided missiles of the Konkurs type with ATGMs of the Red Arrow type or other analogues (including those aimed at a target using a laser beam). It is possible to install a portable air defense system "Igla" and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun of the NSV type. On the sides of the turret there are three 81-mm launchers of smoke aerosol grenades for forward firing. Firing accuracy is ensured by the OTP-20 sighting system, which is integrated with the ATGM control system, and the SVU-500 weapon stabilizer. A modification of the BTR-3U “Watchman” was developed for the Jordanian Marine Corps. It is distinguished by the installation of the Buran-N1 BM. Taking into account the requirements of the market and potential customers, KMDB developed the BTR-3E version, which is equipped with a Ukrainian-made UTD-20 engine with an ejector cooling system. All characteristics of armament and protection are identical to the BTR-3U. External distinguishing features are the absence of a muffler on board and a new MTO roof with an ejector exhaust to the stern. This modification was exported to Myanmar. The delivery was accompanied by training of Myanmar army personnel in the use and maintenance of an armored vehicle, design, construction and commissioning of a repair plant, where Myanmar specialists are repairing and upgrading the BTR-3U to the BTR-3E1 variant, which is equipped with the new BM-3M turret module. Storm".
The BTR-3E1 is designed for use in tropical climates; it is equipped with the Trek-M optical-electronic surveillance, aiming and fire control system. It also provides detection of ground targets and helicopters, and remote control of armored personnel carrier weapons. The commander has a separate panoramic observation, target search and target designation device “Panorama-2P” and a remote control to provide duplicate control of the combat module’s weapons through the gunner’s sighting devices. The panoramic camera is capable of rising to a height of up to 0.5 m above the turret and allows for all-round visibility; it is used by the commander for target designation to the gunner. The BM-3M “Sturm” turret module has a system for stabilizing the weapon unit in two planes. The BTR-3E1 can destroy enemy armored vehicles, manpower and helicopters. The module is equipped with a 30-mm cannon of the 2A72 or ZTM-1 type, a 7.62-mm machine gun of the PKT or KT type, a 30-mm automatic grenade launcher of the AG-17 or KBA-117 type and a Barrier guided weapon system with four armor-piercing missiles behind dynamic protection of at least 800 mm. The rifled small-caliber automatic 30-mm dual-fed cannon is equipped with an ammunition load of 350 shells of various types. The ammunition capacity of the 7.62 mm machine gun reaches 2000 rounds. The fire control complex consists of an OTP-20 optical-electronic sighting system integrated with the Barrier ATGM fire control system and the SVU-500 weapon stabilizer in the vertical and horizontal planes, which allows firing on the move. The turret, three on each side, is equipped with 81-mm “Tucha” smoke or aerosol grenades. When concluding a contract with Thailand, the BTR-3E1 was adapted to the requirements of the Thai side. The regular crew of the BTR-3E1 consists of two people: a driver and a combat module operator. The landing compartment of the armored personnel carrier can accommodate up to eight motorized riflemen. Problems in fulfilling the contract with Thailand, which arose due to the refusal of Deutz, were resolved at KMDB by installing a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder diesel engine MTU 6R106TD21 with a power of 325 hp. pp., coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission Allison 3200SP. Distinctive features of the BTR-3E1 are a new uninhabited turret, a muffler located on the left side in the stern, and a MTO roof with a fan cooling system, as well as reinforced brake drums with more protruding protective covers on the wheel rims.
| Performance characteristics of the BTR 3 | |||
| BTR-3U | BTR-3E1 | ||
| Combat weight | 15.4 t | 16.5 t | |
| Crew + troops | 3 + 6 people | 3 + 6 people | |
| Wheel formula | 8 x 8 | 8 x 8 | |
| Dimensions: | |||
| height | 2860 mm | 2860 mm | |
| length | 7650 mm | 7650 mm | |
| width | 2900 mm | 2900 mm | |
| clearance | mm | ||
| Booking | bulletproof, anti-fragmentation | bulletproof, anti-fragmentation | |
| Weapons: | 30-mm automatic cannon 2A72 or KBA-2 7.62-mm PKT machine gun 30-mm automatic grenade launcher AG-17 anti-tank weapon complex of the “Konkurs” type | 30-mm automatic cannon ZTM-1 7.62-mm machine gun KT-7.62 30-mm automatic grenade launcher KBA-17 Barrier-type anti-tank weapon system | |
| Ammunition | 350 shells 2000 rounds 29+87 grenades for the grenade launcher 4 ATGMs | 350 shells 2000 rounds 29+87 grenades for the grenade launcher 4 ATGMs | |
| Engine | Deutz BF6M1015, 6-cylinder, V-shaped diesel engine with liquid cooling turbocharging | MTU 6R106TD21, 6-cylinder in-line diesel liquid cooled | |
| Engine power | 326 hp | 325 hp | |
| Maximum highway speed | 85 km/h | 100 km/h | |
| Maximum speed on water | 8 km/h | 8 km/h | |
| Highway range | up to 600 km | 600 km | |
| Obstacles to be overcome: | |||
| climb | 30° | ||
| bank | 25° | ||
| wall height | 0.5 m | 0.5 m | |
| ditch width | 2.0 m | 2.0 m | |
| Crimea, Crimea, Crimea, Russian flags in Ukraine | Crimea, Crimea, Crimea, Russian flags in Ukraine |
| DPR, DPR, DPR, LPR, DPR | Donetsk, Donetsk, Donetsk, Lugansk, Donetsk |
| Equipment: Bulat, T-72, T-72, T-72, BTR-4, BTR-3, Aviation | Vehicles: T-64BM, T-72, T-72, T-72, BTR-4, BTR-3, Aviation |
| Crimes: Lugansk, Donetsk, Photo 18+ | Warcrimes: Lugansk , Donetsk , Shocking photos |
| June-July 2014: , , , , , | June-July 2014: , , , , , |
| August 2014: , , , , , , , , | August 2014: , , , , , , , , |
| September October: , , , , , , , | September-October: , , , , , , , |
| November-December 2014: , , , , | November-December 2014: , , , , |
| January 2015: , , | January 2015: , , |
| February 2015: , , , , , , , , , | February 2015: , , , , , , , , , |
| 2015-2016: , , | 2015-2016: , , |
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Performance characteristics of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle
Crew: 3 people Troops, people: 6 (M2, M2A1, M2A2); 7 (M2A3) Manufacturer: M2, M2A1 - FMC Corporation; M2A2, M2A3 - United Defense (now BAE Systems Land & Armaments) Years of operation: since 1981 (M2); since 1987 (M2A1); since 2000 (M2A3) Number issued, pcs.: 9,753
Weight of M2 Bradley BMP
22,797 tons (M2); 22.798 (M2, M2A1); 27 (M2A2); 30 (M2A3)/34,250 (M2A3 SSS rev. D)
Dimensions of the M2 Bradley BMP
Case length, mm: 6,452 (M2, M2A1); 6,550 (M2A2, M2A3) Case width, mm: 3,200 (M2, M2A1); 3,280 (M2A2, M2A3) Height, mm: 2,972 Ground clearance, mm: 460/380 M2A2/A3
Armor of the M2 Bradley BMP
M2A1: "multi-layer spaced armor": steel screens + aluminum body armor. Forehead protection against 25 mm APDS with L 300 m; side from 14.5 mm B-32 with D 300 m Dynamic protection: On M2A2/A3
Armament of the M2 Bradley BMP
Gun caliber and brand: 25 mm M242 Gun type: rifled automatic Barrel length, calibers: 2,032 mm Gun ammunition: 75 APFDS-T + 225 HEI-T first stage + 600 in the turret ammo Firing range, km: 2 Sights: daytime / passive night Machine guns: 1 × 7.62 mm M240С (2,200 rounds) Other weapons: 2 × TOW PU
Engine BMP M2 Bradley
VTA-903T500 Engine power, l. s.: 500/600/660
Speed of the M2 Bradley BMP
Highway speed, km/h: 66 (M2, M2A1); 56 (M2A2, M2A3) Cross-country speed, km/h: 7.2 afloat (M2, M2A1); 6.4 (M2A2, M2A3) Highway range, km: 480 (M2, M2A1); 400 (M2A2, M2A3) Specific power, l. s./t: 19.9
Suspension type: individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²: 0.55 (M2, M2A1); 0.65 (M2A2); 0.66 (M2A3)
Climbable grade, degrees: 30° Climbable wall, m: 0.91 (M2, M2A1): 0.76 (M2A2, M2A3) Climbable ditch, m: 2.50 (M2, M2A1): 2.10 (M2A2, M2A3) Fording, m: floats
Combat “chariots” of Russia and the USA: BTR-80 versus M113A3
The BTR-80 and the M113A3 armored personnel carrier went through a difficult battle path at different times and in different hot spots. Powerful, mobile, equally loved not only by their fighters, but also popular in other countries around the world.
The combat path of the native “eighties” begins from “sunny” Afghanistan. In 1986, he simply burst into the ranks of motorized rifle units; for his fighting qualities and unpretentiousness, he was warmly received by the soldiers of the Soviet army.
The M 113 armored personnel carrier in the A3 modification was adopted by the US Army in 1987. At the moment, the M 113 armored personnel carrier has already enjoyed enormous popularity among American military personnel, thanks to earlier modifications.
Both combat “fortresses” are universal. Their uniqueness is that they have the ability to overcome water obstacles by swimming. Moreover, the cruising range: the armored personnel carrier 80 has a range of 12 km, at a speed of 9 km. h., and for the M113A3 - within a kilometer at a speed of 6 km. h. Considering their weight and seemingly complete unsuitability for such conditions, these data are very impressive.
The ability to cross water obstacles and the ability to be transported on landing ships allow both equipment to be used in Marine Corps operations. Eight-wheeled and tracked vehicles easily slide down ramps directly into the water, within a few minutes they reach the shore and carry out an assault on land. It is also possible to drop equipment from aircraft; after landing, the armored personnel carriers immediately enter into battle. Modern parachute systems allow tanks and armored personnel carriers to be dropped simultaneously with their crew, with minimal risk to people.
Armament is:
— the BTR 80 has a coaxial installation of a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun (Vladimirov tank heavy machine gun) and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (Kalashnikov tank machine gun). The installation is placed on axles in the frontal part of the tower. Aiming the cannon and machine gun at the target is carried out using an optical sight with a magnification of up to 4 times, providing fire from the KPVT at a range of up to 2000 m against ground targets and 1000 m against air targets, and from the PKT - up to 1500 m against ground targets goals. The KPVT is designed to combat lightly armored and unarmored enemy vehicles, including low-flying air targets, and has 500 rounds of ammunition in 10 belts. The PKT is designed to destroy enemy personnel and firing points; it has an ammunition load of 2000 rounds of ammunition in 8 belts;
- The M113A3's armament consists of one 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine gun. The machine gun is placed on the commander's turret in a turret, allowing it to fire in a circular manner. The fighter takes aim directly through the aiming bar and the front sight. The machine gun's ammunition consists of 2000 rounds in belts of 100 pieces.
In armament, the Russian model has a clear advantage. Moreover, the American machine gunner is open and vulnerable. Our gunner is hidden from a stray bullet or from a sniper, since he is inside an armored personnel carrier and protected by the armor of the turret.
An interesting point about the armor - the frontal and most powerful armor of the BTR 80 is 10 mm, all other elements of the vehicle body are 7 mm thick. Armor type: rolled steel;
American vehicles have the thinnest armor on the bottom of 28 mm, the frontal armor is 38 mm, and the upper sides of the hull are 44.5 mm, but the type of armor is rolled aluminum.
The strength of the "eighty" armor is noticeably inferior. These are rather the economic aspects of the defense industry. But it cannot be said that American developers are installing armor that can withstand attacks from the KPVT.
Now about the technical data:
The BTR 80 is classified as a wheeled armored personnel carrier. Combat weight - 13.6 tons. Crew - 3 people. Landing party - 7 people. Engine power 260 hp Speed on the highway is 80 km. h. Speed over rough terrain - up to 40 km/h. Cruising range on the highway is 600 km. The ditch to overcome is 2m. The wall to be overcome is 0.5 m.
The M113A3 is classified as a tracked armored personnel carrier. Combat weight: 12.3 tons. Crew - 2 people. Landing party - 11 people. Engine power 275 hp. Speed on the highway is 64 km. h. Speed over rough terrain is up to 10 km/h, range on the highway is 480 km. The ditch to overcome is 1.7 m. The wall to be overcome is 0.6 m.
The Western colleague has some advantages. Tracked vehicles are lighter, but inferior to wheeled vehicles in terms of maneuverability. The landing compartment is more spacious and this is undeniable. The landing hatch of the M113A3 armored personnel carrier is located at the rear of the vehicle, which means that in order to land infantry it is necessary to select a certain landing angle, which is not always possible in combat conditions and is extremely dangerous in the event of an ambush by the enemy. But this does not spoil this car too much. To ensure excellent mobility, the M113A3 is equipped with a power unit consisting of an improved turbocharged diesel engine and an improved transmission.
The BTR 80 has a huge advantage in that for the embarkation and disembarkation of personnel, double-leaf hatches have been developed, located on both sides of the hull, and this makes it possible to parachute in two directions at the same time or in one direction in case of enemy shelling, hiding behind the body of the armored vehicle.
Hatches allow you to parachute from the vehicle while moving. In the airborne compartment it is possible for the infantry to fire from standard weapons from under the protection of the armor, for which ball mounts are designed, deployed towards the front hemisphere. High speed and maneuverability make the BTR-80 an ideal vehicle for paramilitary formations, whose main task is to quickly deliver troops to the battlefield and provide cover. The wheels are tubeless and there is a system that controls the pressure in them. The equipment will continue to move if two wheels fail. In the case of organizing a defense, an armored personnel carrier is dug into the ground, and a tower with a machine gun turns into a pillbox.
Considering all of the above, we can say with confidence that the M113 family of equipment will be in service with NATO countries and the US Army for many years to come.
The BTR 80 already has its continuation, which means that Russia is not going to say goodbye to this equipment. The armored personnel carrier will serve for the benefit of our fatherland and other countries for a long time.
Armament
The Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles are armed with a 25mm Bushmaster stabilized automatic cannon with an automatic chain drive and a dual feed system. Initially, two types of projectiles were developed for it. The high-explosive fragmentation M792 has a mass of 185 grams and is equipped with 34 grams of “Composition B”, its initial speed is 1100 m/s.
The M791 sub-caliber projectile, which is a tungsten core weighing 102 grams with a detachable tray, was intended to defeat light armored vehicles.
It penetrated armor about 60mm thick. Already at the end of the 80s, the M919 feathered armor-piercing projectile with a uranium core entered trial operation - its armor penetration exceeded 100 mm. The M240S machine gun of 7.62mm caliber is coaxial with the cannon.
To combat armored vehicles, TOW guided missiles are used, starting with the A1 - TOW-2 series. The mass of their cumulative warhead is about 6 kg, they can penetrate armor 900 mm thick. A launch container for two missiles is located on the left side of the BMP turret, additional ATGMs are located in the Bradley's fighting compartment.
Originally, the Bradley solved the issue of firing by paratroopers from inside the vehicle. Having reasoned that it would be impossible to conduct targeted fire from the embrasures, they installed weapons adapted for suppressing fire - M231 assault rifles.
They differed from standard M16s in the absence of a stock, a very high rate of fire, and the fire was fired from an open bolt. Only tracer bullets were used for shooting. After the appearance of the Bradley with reinforced armor, the M231, as well as embrasures in general, had to be abandoned. They are sometimes retained as crew self-defense weapons.
Another Lend-Lease. M2A1. Russian roots of the tractor-turned-armored personnel carrier
When you accidentally find yourself at a hippodrome, your eyes involuntarily turn to those horses that will participate in the races. Beautiful, well-groomed, stately. Under beautiful blankets. One might say, ideal representatives of the horse tribe.
And nearby are working horses that bring hay, take out waste... They do ordinary, non-ceremonial work, for which the horses for the most part were intended. They are ordinary. They are without blankets. Often not combed. Harnessed to carts. And we don't look at them. Hard workers are not very interesting to the average person.
It's good that this didn't happen to our series. We continue to talk about those who “participate in the race,” not forgetting the “workhorses” of the war. It seems that this is of no interest to the ordinary person. Seen hundreds of times in the chronicle. I even heard or read something about this.
In short, our today's hero is known to many and unknown to even more readers. This is a representative of the half-track vehicles widely developed in the USA, the M2A1 half-track vehicle. A half-track armored personnel carrier from the large family of American half-tracks.
We have already described one of these light armored personnel carriers in one of the articles. This is the famous M3A1. Our hero was born around the same time as this Scout Car. But in this “about” there is not the devil in the details, but something more.
You will probably be very surprised, but the ancestor of this armored personnel carrier, or rather, the grandfather, must be looked for... in Russia!
In general, the development of such machines began in the USA back in 1932. The design was carried out by James Cunniagham and Sons, Linn, GMC and Marmon-Herrington. However, it cannot be said that the very idea of such armored personnel carriers belongs to the Americans.
Let's look at the photo. Who is this?
This is French. Issue of the 30s of the last century.
And this?
And this is a purebred Russian. "Austin-Putilovets-Kegress".
The brainchild of Adolf Kegress, assembled on the basis of the Austin truck at the Putilov plant. On a patented Kegress suspension, if that.
Adolphe Kegresse, French engineer, mechanic and inventor.
In 1909-1917 he lived and worked in Russia. And he didn’t just turn screws somewhere, but was the personal driver of Emperor Nicholas II and the head of the technical department of the imperial garage with the rank of ensign.
In fact, he invented a pendant named after himself, which was used, among other things, on the Austin-Putilovets-Kegress armored vehicles.
In 1917, not appreciating the revolution that had begun in Russia (like a true Frenchman, he knew how it could all end), Kegresse went back to France. And he entered the service of Andre Citroen, a well-known manufacturer of shrapnel and ball bearings in Paris...
In 1919, the couple opened an automobile business, and in 1931, the American military department purchased several examples of the Citroen-Kegresse chassis from France. It was French ideas that became the impetus for the creation of American half-tracks.
Here's the backstory...
It is impossible to say that the Americans succeeded immediately. The prototypes being created did not suit the military. Only the creation of the Scout Car M3 reconnaissance vehicle in 1938 pushed the designers of the Diamond T Motor Company to speed up work.
In general, the family looks very impressive - M2, M3, M5, M9 and their modifications. In total, a simply huge number of half-track armored personnel carriers were produced - more than 41 thousand units!
Perhaps it was the huge number of vehicles, their versatility and use in the most incredible circumstances that became the reason for not too much interest in these combat vehicles. Meanwhile, as Scout showed, these cars are extremely interesting.
Cars belonging to the half-track family are created according to the same principle. First of all, this is the maximum possible use of automobile units.
The chassis used rubber-coated tracks with metal fittings. The drive wheel was located in the front part, and the caterpillar itself rested on small-diameter rollers.
Even the weight and carrying capacity were approximately the same. The vehicles weighed 8-9 tons, and the carrying capacity was limited to 1.5 tons. In general, the general features of the machines can be listed enough.
You can recall the winch for self-pulling, the presence of an aft landing door, in addition to side doors in the cockpit, and so on. But today we have a specific hero. This means that the general overview of armored personnel carriers is not particularly interesting.
In 1940, two prototypes of future vehicles were created: T14 and T8. The vehicles were standardized in October 1940 and adopted by the US Army. The T14 became the Half-Track Car M2 half-track artillery tractor, and the T8 became the Half-Track Personel Carrier M3 armored personnel carrier.
So, what is the M2 artillery tractor? Let's try to disassemble the car into its components.
Let's start with the body. The layout of the tractor was the same as that of the Scout M3A1. Moreover, the front part of the hull, including the driver’s cabin, was completely borrowed from the M3A1 Scout Car.
The frontal armor plate of the body has two armored flaps mounted on hinges, which can be folded forward to improve visibility for the driver and passenger. In addition, the hatches have inspection slots, which, if necessary, can be closed with valves.
Also interesting are the armored shutters that cover the front of the radiator. They are not static, but made to rotate. During the battle, the vehicle “hid” the radiator behind the armor, and in normal mode the shutters simply protected the radiator from the ingress of any mechanical bodies. That is, they worked similarly to a truck radiator grill.
The hull itself had a simple box-like shape with vertical side and aft walls. Rolled armor plates were attached to a frame made of corners. The fastening and connection of the armor plates itself was carried out with ordinary screws.
Also interesting are the doors of the tractor, which in the absence of a stern door were practically the only way out of the troop compartment, except for jumping over the side. The doors were not monolithic. The upper parts of the doors were hinged. In this case, the driver and passenger received a view similar to that in a car.
Since the M2 is designed to work with artillery systems, the designers significantly increased the dimensions of the hull. The vehicle made it possible to transport not only the artillery crew (6 people), but also part of the gun shots.
For this purpose, there were two special boxes in the back for transporting shots. Especially in order to speed up the start of the calculation, there are special folding doors at the locations of the boxes on board. Thus. the loader has the ability to take shots directly from the transport site.
If you look at the body from above, the picture turns out to be really interesting. In fact, the back can quite comfortably accommodate not 6 crew members, but 7. And if you add a driver and a passenger in the control compartment, then 9.
But it’s difficult to say in which department you get another chair. In short, between the driver and passenger seats, but shifted back to the troop compartment, there is the 10th seat! It is near this seat that the already described boxes for shots are located.
The location of the fuel tanks is interesting. There are two of them and they are located behind the right and left seats. However, the tanks are not armored. Made from ordinary structural steel, but equipped with self-tightening rubber. When bullets hit, the rubber seals the holes and prevents fuel from leaking out.
The main armament of the tractor was also located in the back.
This is a 7.62 mm Browning M1917A1 machine gun with water cooling for early versions of the vehicle or a 7.62 mm Browning M1919A4 machine gun for later versions. The second machine gun was a 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine gun.
Both machine guns were mounted in a rail guide using M22 movable machines, which we have already described in other articles. This mount made it possible to use machine guns as air defense systems.
The White 160AX engine, which was installed on the tractor, is 4-stroke, 6-cylinder, carburetor. Engine power 147 hp at 3000 rpm.
A transfer case was installed in the same housing with the gearbox, which had two gears - direct and slow. In addition, the transfer case was also a range multiplier. It transmits torque to the front and rear drive axles. It also produces power take-off for the winch.
The vehicle's steering and front axle design are almost identical to those of trucks. Transmission 5-speed. Four forward gears, one reverse. The steering wheel layout is similar to that of a truck. Located on the left. Shoe type brake with hydraulic drive.
The front and rear axles are made by Timken. The front axle of the Timken F-35-HX-1 was not only steered, but also driven. By the way, similar German-made tractors and armored personnel carriers did not have a driven front axle.
Rear axle Timken 56410-BX-67 - drive, crawler. It is worth noting here that the differentials were automotive type. What is very important for repairs in the field, they were interchangeable!
It is worth considering the tracked propulsion system of the tractor. The machine had on each side 4 road wheels paired in two balancing bogies. Both balancing units are connected by a transverse pipe to the same units on the other side. Thus, during repairs, the bogies were disconnected from the tractor frame and rolled away (like railway pairs).
The front wheel in the propulsion was the driving wheel. Rear - guide. To prevent the track from sagging, a support roller is located exactly in the middle.
The tracks of M2 tractors, in principle, do not differ from the tracks of vehicles of this family. Rubber-metal, solid, 300 mm wide with engagement ridges, which in parallel serve as track guides.
In the autumn-winter and spring, if necessary, special lugs can be attached to the tracks, which significantly increase the vehicle’s maneuverability. In this case, the front wheels are equipped with special bracelet-type snow chains.
In the front of the car there was a buffer drum with a diameter of 310 mm, traditional for American cars of this family. By the way, the installation of this drum caused a lot of controversy among our readers. Does this make any sense?
There's a meaning. Armored personnel carriers and tractors equipped with such drums overcame ditches and scarps of much larger size than those vehicles equipped with a single-drum winch. The width of the trench for such a machine was 1.8 meters.
The M2 tractor had a combat weight of 7.99 tons. It reached a maximum speed of 69 (72 according to other sources) km/h. It could tow an artillery piece weighing up to 3.5 tons at a speed of up to 36 km/h on the highway. The tractor's cruising range is 290 km.
Two M2 tractors and an Avtokar were produced from the spring of 1941 to the end of 1943. White Motors produced 8,423 cars, and Avtokar 2,992. In total, the total number of M2s is 11,415 units.
And further. The M2 tractor was often used not as a tractor, but as an armored personnel carrier. The American army lacked armored personnel carriers. However, the original purpose played a cruel joke not only on the machine, but also on the entire army.
The capacity of the M2 could not be combined with... the organization of the American army. The infantry squad of the American army simply did not physically fit in the back of the M2. And transporting a squad on two armored personnel carriers threatened to lose leadership of that part of the squad that moved separately from the commander.
The command of the American army took an unprecedented step. It changed the tactics of the American infantry. The M2 began to transport not an infantry squad, but a machine gun squad. And later it generally became a reconnaissance vehicle (before the M8 was adopted into service).
Attentive readers probably noticed how much attention the authors paid to the “father” of the M2A1. What about “son”? What is the M2A1 half-track transporter?
The emergence of a new modification is largely due to the same reasons as the change in tactics of the American army. What is good for an artillery tractor is not always good for an armored personnel carrier.
The operating conditions of the M2 as an armored personnel carrier revealed that the vehicle was completely unsuitable for infantry fire support. The guide rails were not just inconvenient in battle. They deprived the machine gunners of the ability to quickly change direction of work.
The first experience of changing the situation with machine guns was the installation of the M32 ring turret. The same one that was installed on trucks. On the M2, such a turret was installed in the control compartment above the passenger seat (prototype M2E6). But in this case the second machine gun was lost.
In the course of further development, an improved M49 turret was created. It was a ring turret that allowed both machine guns to be used simultaneously. The armored personnel carrier's armament problem has been solved!
It was this vehicle that received the designation M2A1. The armored personnel carrier series was launched at the end of 1943. Production stopped only at the end of 1944.
Actually, there weren’t that many armored personnel carriers produced. Both and Avtokar) produced 1,643 cars in a year.
The reason for such low productivity lies not in the low production capacity of the companies, but in the task set by them to upgrade the existing M2 to A1. Here we must give credit to American workers. During the same period (until the end of 1944), they upgraded more than 5,000 M2 tractors to M2A1 armored personnel carriers!
Well, the traditional technical characteristics of the hero:
Years of production: 1943-44 Combat weight: 7.99 tons Crew: 2 + 6 (8) Engine power: 147 hp Maximum speed: 69 (72) km/h Cruising range% 290 km Armor hull: 6.3 mm frontal armor and doors: 12.5 mm Armament 7.62 mm Browning М1919А4 machine gun 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine gun
Under the Lend-Lease program, 342 M2 units came to the USSR. The tractors were mainly used to tow anti-tank guns. A fast tractor that has no off-road problems and an anti-tank gun with crew and ammunition - what could be more unpleasant for tanks?
The M2A1 armored personnel carrier arrived in the Soviet Union somewhat less, only 118 units. But they were equipped in a very original way: each armored personnel carrier contained: a 9-mm Thompson submachine gun and 4 disks with cartridges for it, 10 hand grenades and 14 anti-tank mines. So to speak, a gift for the driver. Shovels for laying mines, as can be seen in the photo, were also included.
In general, the grandchildren of “Austin-Putilovets” showed themselves to be very, very worthy descendants, carrying guns, scouts, mortar men, supporting soldiers with machine guns.
Good granddaughters came out, fighting ones.
Combat use
Bradley infantry fighting vehicles were actively used during both American campaigns in Iraq. The machine showed high reliability and efficiency. Most of the Iraqi tanks in the first campaign were knocked out with the help of the Bradley. The 25-mm automatic cannon has proven to be a very effective and versatile weapon. It perfectly destroyed lightly armored vehicles and enemy personnel. There are several known cases when this gun disabled Iraqi tanks.
During the second campaign in Iraq, the Americans had to use Bradleys in urban battles, which led to significant losses from hand-held anti-tank weapons. Also a big problem were the land mines that the rebels planted.
The Saudi Arabian Army used the Bradley during the invasion of Yemen. During the fighting, 17 vehicles were lost.
BMP M2 "Bradley" TTX, Video, Photo, Speed, Armor
The Americans began creating infantry fighting vehicles much later than Soviet engineers. Moreover, American infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles were developed almost simultaneously. The combined program was called FVS (Fighting Vechide System) and included work on the creation of two vehicles: IFV (Infantry Fighting Vechile) - an infantry fighting vehicle for transporting an infantry squad and CFV (Cavalary Fmghting Vachicle) - a BRM with a crew of 5 people. In 1981, the US Army finally received production infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles, which were called, respectively, M2 and M3 Bradley.
Alternative armored personnel carrier of the Red Army ZIS TB-42 and a family of vehicles based on it.
Home » Alternative tank building » Alternative armored personnel carrier of the Red Army ZIS TB-42 and a family of vehicles based on it.
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Faced with the Wehrmacht, the command of the Red Army sharply realized how much the troops needed armored personnel carriers. Their absence did not allow tanks to provide infantry support and led to heavy losses. But the monstrous war did not allow industry to find the resources to produce such machines. However, at the end of 1942, ZIS engineers made an attempt to create such a machine. I propose, for your consideration, an alternative development of the design of the ZIS-22/42 half-track truck into the ZIS-42 armored personnel carrier and a family of combat vehicles based on it.
History of creation.
In 1938, the first in the domestic half-track chassis was the ZIS-22 on the ZIS-5 chassis, which became a development of the NATI-VZ (ZIS all-terrain vehicle), developed by the NATI team under the leadership of G. A. Sonkin. The car was equipped with propellers with rubber-metal belts, front and rear friction drive rollers with a chain drive. Until mid-1940, about 200 ZIS-22 trucks were built, but their operation proved the complexity and unreliability of this design. An example of the second direction in the development of half-track vehicles was the ZIS 33, which was a ZIS-5 truck with simplified tracked propulsors with onboard chain drives to the rear drive sprockets directly from the vehicle wheels.
At the beginning of 1940, 3.7 thousand copies of them were assembled, and then the ZIS-35 version with an additional rear axle with drive sprockets was accepted for production. These all-terrain vehicles also did not satisfy the military. The escalation of World War II intensified work on creating more reliable half-track airborne vehicles. The new propulsion unit consisted of two narrower caterpillar “half-belts” connected by transverse linings, which made it possible to use front drive gears with a chain drive, which eliminated the tracks from slipping and jumping off.
In the fall of 1940, it was mounted on the NATI-52 all-terrain vehicle, which corresponded to the prototype ZIS-22-52. In July 1941, the modified ZIS-22M truck passed tests, but they did not have time to launch its production.
Only in the spring of 1942 did production of the modernized version of the ZIS-42 begin. It was a truck with a payload of 2.25 tons, a ZIS-16 engine with a power of 73~84 hp, a flatbed body with an awning, caterpillar tracks extended from 390 to 415 mm, a shield between the front ends of the frame, a casing under the front axle, three fuel tanks with a capacity of 295 liters and removable skis on the front wheels. On the highway the car developed a speed of 42 km/h, on the road – up to 20 km/h, consuming from 58 to 95 liters per 100 km.
In the spring of 1942 Gorky Artillery Plant No. 92 named after Stalin (ZIS), on the “22/42” series chassis, assembled prototypes of self-propelled guns with armored cabs, ZIS-41 and ZIS-43 with guns of 57 and 37 mm caliber, respectively. The cars were produced in small series.
But the front required a multi-purpose armored infantry transporter and weapons. It was decided to use the newly developed ZIS-42 half-track chassis as the basis. The ZIS-42, having excellent cross-country ability on soft soils (snow, swamp, deep mud), had insufficient mobility (low specific power, imperfect transmission, insufficient traction properties) and, what is most unpleasant, extremely low reliability and durability of its units. But there was no other suitable chassis, so we decided to try it.
In the summer of 1942, a wooden full-size mock-up of an armored personnel carrier with the index TB-42 was built with 12 seats for soldiers with one DT machine gun. Hull armor 12 mm. The total weight of the TB-42 - 8500 kg was too large for the ZIS chassis - 42, and with a power of 80 hp. With. (everything that could be squeezed out of the ZIS-5M engine) this made it possible to achieve a speed of no more than 30 - 35 km/h (and then on the highway).
However, the “tankers” showed interest in this work and GKO decree No. 3289ss dated July 5, 1942, set the deadline for the production of five prototypes - August 15, 1942. ZIS built 5 armored personnel carriers, on three of them the armor thickness was reduced to 8 mm and boosted ZIS-60 engines with 110 hp were installed.
These vehicles had a total weight of 8200 kg. and reached a speed of 52 km/h on the highway, which satisfied the requirements of the military and they were adopted by the Red Army under the designation ZIS TB-42.
Mass production began at the ZIS plant on September 10, 1942. By the end of the year, the Red Army received 250 TB-42 armored personnel carriers.
The TB-42 armored personnel carrier was supplied primarily to motorized rifle regiments of tank and motorized divisions and brigades.
From the summer of 1943 to the artillery divisions of tank and motorized brigades of the Red Army, where 76.2 mm ZIS-3 guns and 122 mm M-30 howitzers were used as artillery transporters.
Main modifications of TB-42:
1. Ammunition transporter with a closed body. Crew: 2 people. Armament: 7.62 mm DT machine gun.
2. Self-propelled 82-mm and 120-mm mortars and on the TB-42 chassis. Carryable ammunition 60 min. Calculation 4 people. In tank, mechanized and motorized rifle brigades as part of a mortar company. Statewide 6 pcs.
3. 76.2 mm SAU-42. Created by installing a universal 76.2 mm cannon mod. 1914/15 8-K on a pedestal installation. Elevation angle - 75 degrees. The firing sector is 360 degrees. Rate of fire – 10-12 shots/minute. Carryable ammunition: 60 shells. Calculation 4 people. In tank, mechanized and motorized rifle brigades as part of reconnaissance companies. It has proven itself well in urban battles.
4. ZSU-42-4-12.7. Created by installing a ZPU-4 anti-aircraft gun consisting of four 12.7 mm DShK machine guns in an armored body. The elevation angle is 80 degrees. The firing sector is 360 degrees. Carryable ammunition capacity is 1200 rounds. Calculation 4 people. In tank, mechanized and motorized rifle brigades as part of an anti-aircraft artillery division. It has proven itself well in urban battles.
5. ZSU-42-37. Created by installing a 37-mm 61-K anti-aircraft gun in an armored body. 1940 Elevation angle - 87 degrees. The firing sector is 360 degrees. Carryable ammunition capacity is 400 rounds. Calculation 4 people. In tank, mechanized and motorized rifle brigades as part of an anti-aircraft artillery battalion.
6. Rocket launcher VM-8-48 TB-42. In tank, mechanized and motorized rifle brigades as part of an artillery battalion.
7. Sanitary evacuation armored personnel carrier.
8. Command and staff vehicle TB-42. At its base there is a mobile radio station and an armored personnel carrier for controlling the air defense radar.
Experimental developments based on the TB-42 armored personnel carrier:
1. An armored personnel carrier with a closed hull roof and a T-60 turret. Armament: 20 mm cannon and 7.62 mm machine gun. Produced in small series since 1943.
2. Self-propelled 76.2 mm ZIS-3 gun with an open wheelhouse. The vehicle did not pass the test because it was overweight, had an elevated line of fire, and was unstable when fired. Did not show any advantages compared to the SU-76.
A total of 9,711 units were produced. BTR TB-42 of all modifications.
Alternative constructor
Sergey Sych
