User:Benphi/Ben's Sandbox

Soviet Union

PT-76B

PT-76 Model 1 (Ob'yekt 740,[15] 1951) - Original PT-76 with a 76.2 mm D-56T rifled tank gun (no bore evaluator, long multi-slotted muzzle brake and fume extractor). It was produced in small numbers between 1953 and 1954.[20][4] PT-76 Model 2 (1954) - PT-76 with a 76.2 mm D-56TM rifled tank gun (double-baffle muzzle brake, bore evaluator, fume extractor and single-axis stabilisation). It also has turret spotlight fitted to a bracket on right hand side edge of the turret roof. Appeared in 1954. It produced between 1954 and 1963.[20] PT-76B (PT-76 Model 4, Ob'yekt 740B, 1958) - PT-76 with a 76.2 mm D-56TS or D-56B rifled tank gun (double-baffle muzzle brake, cartridge ejector, fume extractor and STP-2P 'Zarya' 2-axis stabilization system), 7.62 mm PKT coaxial general purpose machine gun instead of 7.62 mm SGMT coaxial medium machine gun, TDA thermo smoke generating system, new R-113 radio set instead of the old 10-RT-26E radio set (It was later replaced by R-123 radio set), PAZ (protivo-atomnaya zashchita) NBC protection system, automatic fire extinguishing system, improved TShK-2-66 sight, filtration-ventilation system, improved observation devices, improved electric equipment, new V-6B 6-cylinder 4-stroke in line water cooled diesel engine developing 263 hp (196 kW) at 1800 rpm and additional internal fuel tanks for which the shape of the armour had to be slightly changed. These additional internal fuel tanks increase the fuel capacity from 250 l to 400 l. The new engine is same engine that is used in one bank of that fitted to the T-54 main battle tank. Thanks to the new engine and additional fuel tanks, the range of the vehicle has gone up to 480 km on the road, 590 km on road with additional external fuel tanks and 120 km on the water. The 76.2 mm D-56TS or D-56B rifled tank gun could fire a new undercaliber AP projectile piercing up to 75 mm at 60° hitting angle from a range of 2,000 meters. One such round was added to PT-76B typical ammo load and so it now carried 41 duffrent rounds. The vehicle also has an increased height of the hull. This variant was produced between 1958 - 1969.[15][20][15][17][1][3][19] PT-71 (Not to be confused with Israeli PT-71) - PT-76B fitted with 9M14 "Malyutka" (NATO code: AT-3 Sagger) ATGM pack on the rear of the turret.[20]

PT-76A - A designator for different PT-76 and PT-76B models armed with 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 antiaircraft heavy machine gun on a rotateable mount on top of the turret.[20] PT-76 armed with a 57 mm autocanon.[19] PT-76K - Command version with an additional antenna on the right hand side of the turret and a generator on the rear of the deck.[20]

Ex-Syrian or ex-Egyptian BTR-50PK APC in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. 2005.

ZSU-23-4

ASU-85

2K12 Kub

PT-76M (Ob'yekt 740M) - PT-76 with improved amphibious features thanks to slightly larger displacement was developed for the Russian Navy Marines but was never adopted because it didn't had increased combat features so instead the Navy Marines adopted usual PT-76B with a snorkel, placed over ventilator preventing water from getting in.[20][3] PT-85 (Ob'yekt 906) (Not to be confused with PT-85 with a cast turret or North Korean Type 82) - PT-76 armed with 85 mm rifled tank gun.[20] PT-90 (Ob'yekt 906) - PT-76 armed with 90 mm rifled tank gun.[20] PT-85 (Not to be confused with Ob'yekt 906 or North Korean Type 82) - PT-76 with a cast turret and a 85 mm gun. It was used during Invasion of Czechoslovakia.[20] Objekt 280 - PT-76 fitted with 16x130mm multi barrel rocket launcher.[20] PT-76RKh - PT-76 converted to a light amphibious NBC reconnaissance tank. It has a dome cupola and a flag marker on the rear.[20] BTR-50 - PT-76 converted into an amphibious tracked APC.[2]. Ob'yekt 914 - experimental IFV. The vehicle was developed in the early 1960s by a design team led by I. V. Gavalov at Volgograd Tractor Works (VTZ) and the prototype was ready for trials in 1964. It had similar armament to other BMP prototypes (but Ob'yekt 914 was also armed with two 7.62 mm PKT general purpose machine guns mounted in the hull on both sides of the driver). It had the crew of two and could transport up to eight fully equipped soldiers (two of whom operated the mentioned PKT machine guns). Its combat weight was 14.4 tons. After a series trials in 1964, the competitor Ob'yekt 765 was selected to become the new BMP-1 mostly because the rear engine design forced infantry to mount and dismount through the single door in the rear of the right hand side of the vehicle and roof hatches. Also it was felt that the Ob'yekt 764 had a better layout. MTP-1 PT-76 converted into a technical support vehicle.[5] UR-67 (ustanovka razminirovaniya) - Mine-clearing vehicle equipped with a UR-67 rocket launcher system which has three launchers firing UZP-67 or UZR-3 tubes filled with explosives. The UZP-67 or UZR-3 are carried in a fabric tube container carried inside the hull of the vehicle. The mine clearing procedure is composed of driving the vehicle to the edge of a minefield and aligning it before the rockets are fired from its elevated launcher at the rear of the vehicle. As the rocket travels it tows the line charge, which is secured by a line to the launcher vehicle, across the minefield. The line charge is then positioned by the vehicle crew using the securing line and detonated to clear any mines in its vicinity. The cleared lane is usually 60 m to 150 m long and 2 m to 5 m wide. The vehicle has a crew of three. Some of the vehicles were based on BTR-50PK APC while some were based on PT-76 amphibious light tank. Used to be known in the West as MTK and MTK-1. Only a small number remains in service, most have been replaced by the UR-77.[5][20] ZSU-23-4 - PT-76 converted into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. ASU-85 - PT-76 converted into an 85 mm airborne assault gun [3]. FROG-2 "Mars" tactical missile launching vehicle.[15][3][21] FROG-5 "Luna" tactical missile launching vehicle.[3][21] 2K12 Kub - PT-76 converted into an anti-aircraft missile launching vehicle. NATO gave it a designation SA-6 Gainful.[4]

[edit]Czechoslovakia

OT-62 TOPAS APC in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel. 2005. Notice the second bay and the side hatch.

OT-62 TOPAS (OT-62 stands for Obrněný Transportér vzor 62 - "Armoured Personnel Carrier model 62") ("TOPAS" stands for Transportér Obrněný PÁSový - "Tracked Armoured Personnel Carrier") - Series of BTR-50 variants developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia. They are similar to BTR-50PK but have side hatches in the hull sides, stronger PV-6 engine with power of 300 hp (224 kW) and with two projecting bays, like the BTR-50PU.[5].

[edit]East Germany

K1 - Designation for command versions with extra R-112 radio set of PT-76 Model 2 and PT-76B.[20]

[edit]Indonesia

PT-76B fitted with Cockerill 76,2 mm tank gun (clean barrel with multi-slot muzzle-brake on end) and larger gunners sight.[20]

[edit]Israel

PT-71 (Not to be confused with Soviet PT-71) - PT-76 upgrade made by Nimda Group Ltd., which included a 90 mm Cockerill tank gun, a new machine gun, a new fire control system, laser range finder, night vision devices and a 300 hp (224 kW) diesel engine. The only known customers were Israeli army and Indonesian army. [6].[20]

[edit]North Korea

PT-85 (Type 82) (Not to be confused with Ob'yekt 906 or PT-85 with a cast turret) - North Korea apart from using PT-76 also developed their own vehicle based partly on PT-76.

[edit]People's Republic of China

Type 60 - The Chinese obtained a few PT-76 amphibious light tanks in mid 1950s. In October 1958, the PLA decided to develop an indigenous amphibious tank based on the PT-76 design. The development program was carried out by 201 Institute and 615 Factory. A prototype known as WZ221 was built and tested in 1959, but the design suffered from a number of problems including engine overheating. The PLA wasn't satisfied with the performance of the vehicle, which led to the development of a new vehicle based on Type 60, Type 63amphibious light tank.

[edit]Poland

PT-76 Model 2 with additional 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 antiaircraft heavy machine gun on a rotatable mount and separate hatches for commander and loader. PT-76 Model 2 with additional periscopes fitted on right hand side of the turret roof.[20] PT-76 Model 2 without the muzzle brake.[20] PT-76B with additional 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 antiaircraft heavy machine gun on a rotatable mount and separate hatches for commander and loader.[20] OT-62 TOPAS (OT-62 stands for Obrněný Transportér vzor 62 - "Armoured Personnel Carrier model 62") ("TOPAS" stands for TransportérObrněný PÁSový - "Tracked Armoured Personnel Carrier") - Series of BTR-50 variants developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia. They are similar to BTR-50PK but have side hatches in the hull sides, stronger PV-6 engine with power of 300 hp (224 kW) and with two projecting bays like the BTR-50PU.[7]. WPT-76 - Polish FROG launcher vehicle converted to an ARV.[20]

[edit]Russia

PT-76B fitted with a new B6M diesel engine developing 300 hp (224 kW) which increased the maximal road speed from 44 km/h to 45 km/h and maximal swimming speed from 10,2 km/h to 11,2 km/h. This increased the power to weight ratio from 17.1 hp/tonne (12.3 kW/tonne) to 19.5 hp/tonne (14.5 kW/tonne).[6] PT-76E - The most recent PT-76 modernization program which increases vehicle's battle efficiency. Therefore it includes a radical growth of firepower which required a new turret with armament complex. It is armed with 57 mm autocannon (modification of 57 mm L/76.6 S-60 AA gun, this modified variant was developed by CB Burevestnik (Nizhniy Novgorod). The armor-penetrating tracer rounds fired from a range of 1,120 m can penetrate 100 mm of steel armour (corps of a modern tank). The new cannon can destroy modern APCs and IFVs from any range. The maximum inclined range of fire which allows firing at air targets is more than 6 km. The 57 mm autocannon can uses two types of staff unitary shots with the splinter-tracer or armor-penetrating-tracer shell. However, it is possible to fire with a special zenith shell. The autocannon can fire single shots or short bursts (2 to 5 rounds) or continuous bursts (up to 20 rounds). It can also continuously fire up to 120 rounds per minute. The automatic fire operates at the expense of each shot's energy and can be done without using an outward driving gear, as it is done on the majority of foreign autocannons. Because of that the construction could have acceptable mass-overall dimensions characteristics and does not demand any extra power sources. The gun can fired even at a lack of a power supply. The cannon is equipped with a special automatic machine which lets it charge and throw out the ammunition at high rates and provide a rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute. The ammunition can be placed in either the automatic gear (20 rounds in each) or in the mechanical one (72 rounds). The automatic gear is a machine carbine, which allows the usage of different ammunition. The change takes place in 2 to 4 seconds. The charger replenishes the ammunition gear. At that, no complicated manipulations are required as the next shell is chosen from the mechanic gear and is placed in the automatic one. The time of full replenishment is two minutes. Such construction doesn't have an equivalent in the rest of the world and is considered an original Russian design. The new turret is also armed with 7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun. The modern automatic fire control system is included for high-precision shooting. It operates together with the new 2-plane armament stabilizer. The FCS provides detection of targets in both day and night conditions and estimation of range it also determines shooting correction, has stabilization for both primary and secondary armament and allows shooting at land, above-water and air targets with any kind of shells. Sights and observation devices include combined sight Liga-S (developed by Public Corporation Peleng in Minsk) with independent stabilized vision line with optic, infrared and laser channels, as well as the double of the 1P67 zenith aim main sight. The corrections are made by ballistic calculator which operates together with a complex of automatic sensors of firing conditions. Such sensors include block of the main mirror of Liga-S sight, laser rangefinder, sensors of bank, course angle, tank speed and weather conditions. A part of necessary information is inputed manually this includes temperature of air and of a shell, deterioration of barrel, atmospheric pressure and other indexes as well. After all the information is inputed, the ballistic calculator works out automatic signals corresponding to the angles of sighting and forestalling, which are sent to the control block over the stabilizer and gears of biplanar armament stabilizer receive the corresponding aiming. Overall the firepower is 5.5 times greater in PT-76E than it is in PT-76B. To increase the maneuverability on land (the swimming maneuverability wasn't altered as the PT-76 still has no competition in that matter) the PT-76E is fitted with a more powerful UTD-20 6-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water cooled multifuel 15.8 litre diesel engine developing 300 hp (224 kW) at 2,600 rpm from BMP-1 as well as the transmission from BMP-1. This allows an increase of the power to weight ratio up to 20 horsepower per ton. This also increases the maximum road speed from 44 km/h to 60 km/h, average cross country speed from 32 km/h to 42 km/h. The vehicle also includes new caterpillar tracks. The fatigability of the driver was also lessened. The vehicle's survivability on the battlefield is increased at the expense of new fast-acting firefighting system. The vehicle also has a scanning system, detection system of optical devices with automatic aiming directions. As soon as any optical device is caught by the system, FCS turns the turret in the automatic regime and prepares the information for shooting and aiming. When all is ready the gunner pushes the button to fire. The tank is also equipped with dynamic defense system, which lets it protect itself from grenades and ATCM with tandem battle parts. Such systems have already been tested in Russia. The vehicle also has complexes of optic-electronic interference in channels of anti-tank missiles control, as well as a complex of active defense. The vehicle also has new communication devices. The very process of PT-76 modernization is purely technological, and its laboriousness is comparatively low. That is attained at the expense of using module technology. The modernization may be run at enterprises possessing very little technological hardware. This modernization increases PT-76's battle possibilities by 2.7 times, which is comparatively low at insignificant expenses. The vehicle was accepted into service by Russian marines in 2006 and about 40 to 50 vehicles were ordered.[22]

[edit]United States of America

PT-76 used by the US Army for OpFor training. They were modified in a number of ways including the replacement of the engine with a caterpillar diesel engine, changing the turret hatch to a rear hinged arrangement and the fitting of US radios and antennae mounts. Due to the new engines different exhaust arrangements the exhausts were rerouted to use the water jet ports rather than the original engine exhaust.[20]

[edit]Vietnam

PT-76 fitted with an antiaircraft machine gun on top of the turret.