BTR-50P

Though now obsolete by any standard, the BTR-50 series a reliable design and
easy to manufacture.

Designation: BTR-50P
Classification Type: Armored Personnel Carrier
Contractor: State Factories - Soviet Union
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1950

The BTR-50 series of Soviet armored personnel carriers was developed in the
1950s and served for a time to good effect. The system proved to be reliable
on the field and simple enough to produce in quantity therefore making it
readily available and was based on the chassis of the PT-76 light tank, a
system also exhibiting proven amphibious qualities carried on by the BTR-50
design as well. The system was fielded with Soviet-friendly nations during
the Cold War.

At its core, the BTR-50 APC was a most fundamental design. The system was
crewed by two personnel and additional seating for some 10 combat-ready
infantry was available at the rear of the hull. The crew sat in an
open-topped compartment which exposed them to any kind of battlefield
element that could prove quite the detriment. The initial production model
appeared as the BTR-50P though this was followed up by a closed-top version
in the BTR-50PK. When it appeared in operational service, the BTR-50 became
only the first fully-tracked armored personnel carrier system for the Red
Army.

Armament of the base BTR-50P consisted of a single 7.62mm machine gun
mounted on a pintle at forward hull. Beyond this, and any personal weapons
carried by the crew, there were provisions for the addition of a 57mm or
85mm anti-tank gun which could be set up and fired from the rear. The later
BTR-50PK featured a 7.62mm machine gun in a roof mounting.

The BTR-50 series has seen combat with Egyptian, Syrian and North Vietnamese
forces during its production life. The BTR-50 appeared in a modified
Czechoslovakian form with the local OT-62 designation. The BTR-50 series is
no longer in service with the Russian Army though it might still serve in
some capacity with other owners the world over.

Variants:
BTR-50P - Base Production Model; open-topped superstructure; 1 x 7.62mm
machine gun in forward pintle mounting; waterjets for amphibious travel.
BTR-50PK - Enclosed crew compartment; 1 x 7.62mm roof-mounted machine gun;
NBC protection.
BTR-50PU Model 1 - Command Vehicle
BTR-50PU Model 2 - Command Vehicle
BTR-50MTK - Mine Clearing Vehicle
BTR-50MTP - Technical Support Vehicle
OT-62 - Czechoslovakian-produced BTR-50PK with subtle improvements.

Specifications: BTR-50PK
Dimensions:
Length: 23.23ft (7.08m)
Width:10.30ft (3.14m)
Height: 6.46ft (1.97m)
Performance:
Speed: 27mph (44km/h)
Range: 249miles (400km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 2 + 10
Weight: 15.7 US Short Tons (14,200kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x Model V-6 water-cooled 6-cylinder diesel engine generating
240hp.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 7.62mm machine gun in forward pintle mount

OPTIONAL:
1 x 57mm anti-tank gun OR 1 x 85mm anti-tank gun