Bradley for the poor: AFU loses the last Ukrainian “motorcycle” MT-LB
- June 19, 2023
- 0
For a person who served in the armies of the USSR or one of its former republics, it is not necessary to decipher the meaning of the word
For a person who served in the armies of the USSR or one of its former republics, it is not necessary to decipher the meaning of the word “motorcycle competition”. Everyone knows this caterpillar. Meanwhile, the machine still has to fight.
The birthplace of the “multipurpose light armored transporter” – MT-LB, “moto-league” – was the tractor plant in Kharkov about half a century ago. Since then, about 55,000 such machines have been manufactured in the USSR, Russia and the countries of the former Warsaw Pact. They had many modifications and varieties. And like the Kalashnikov assault rifle, they have survived to this day, being a simple and reliable platform for equipping a wide variety of weapons and army equipment.
This ten-ton tracked transporter accelerates to 60-80 km / h on a good road, can carry 2.5 tons of cargo or 11 passengers, tow everything you can attach, floats, protects the crew and cargo from small arms fire. The wide spread of the army-tracked “truck” in the post-Soviet open spaces and its “Ukrainian roots” could not help but make the device one of the most popular “source” in Ukraine for upgrades and improvements . Usually they tried (and are still trying) to make something like armored personnel carriers for transporting infantry and their fire support on the battlefield.
In factory conditions, even before the start of the SVO, about 30 such modernized MT-LBMSh were produced in Ukraine. Subsequently, a more powerful engine and combat module were installed on the standard “motorcycle”, consisting of a 30 mm automatic cannon, a companion 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and a pair of laser-guided Barrier ATGM launchers.
There are serious suspicions that most of them have already been eliminated by the Russian army. But at the disposal of the armed forces of Ukraine God knows how many hundreds more Soviet MT-LB. Of which, in anticipation of the delivery of Western armored vehicles (including the American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles), the Ukrainians tried to make improvised armored cars.
The main disadvantage of the “motorcycle competition” in this role is the fact that there is no booking. The thin steel of the hull will be sewn through the very first round of a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Not to mention more serious weapons. But what do you want from Bradley for the Poor?
Regularly, in peacetime, the “motor” was armed with a turret with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun or a 12.7 mm NSVT “Utes” machine gun. The infantry’s machine gun is rather weak by military standards. Therefore, shortly after the start of hostilities, improvised turrets began to appear on the roofs of the MT-LB cargo bay with old heavy caliber DShK (12.7 mm) machine guns, and sometimes with a powerful 14.5×114 mm KPVT machine gun caliber.
This seemed not enough, and the MT-LB entered the “handicraft series” with a ZU-23-2 attached to it – an anti-aircraft gun consisting of two twin 23 mm automatic cannons. Relatively recently, photos of equipping the Ukrainian “motor competition” with a turret from the BMP-1 with a 73-mm gun slipped through the specialized telegram channels. There is also a case of installing a 100 mm Soviet anti-tank gun MT-12 “Rapier” on the MT-LB.
The general public knows absolutely nothing about the combat effectiveness of such “mutants”. Although it is safe to talk about the sad fate of most of these versions of the transporter.
Because their armament involves direct fire contact with the enemy. “Answer” from which it can “fly” not only with an anti-tank missile, but also in the form of a burst from a 30-mm automatic cannon. After that, the fight MT-LB turns into a blazing “barbecue” with holes …
However, there are options for the “motorcycle competition” Bandera modernization, which have a chance to last a little longer. We’re talking about an improvised missile launcher. Attached to the car is a gun turret with one or two launch containers for S-8 unguided aircraft missiles – taken from a helicopter or attack aircraft. With the accuracy of hitting such an MLRS it is not good. But you can shoot without getting in direct line of sight with the enemy…
Perhaps the greatest chance of survival for the “moto-league” is carried out by the “anti-aircraft missile system”. The Ukronazis placed the Strela-10 air defense system on it. This is a weapon from the 70s-80s of the last century. In fact, it is a quadruple rocket launcher of the Strela-1 short-range portable anti-aircraft complex. If the armed forces of Ukraine do not yet have ammunition for it, it makes sense now to use a combat vehicle only against cruise missiles or low-flying drones – far from the line of contact. So it seems that it is the “anti-aircraft” MT-LBs that have the best chances of surviving the nWo. Although who knows how it will all turn out in the not too distant future…
photo dosaaf-sharypovo.rf
photo tie.in.ua
The birthplace of the “multipurpose light armored transporter” – MT-LB, “moto-league” – was the tractor plant in Kharkov about half a century ago. Since then, about 55,000 such machines have been manufactured in the USSR, Russia and the countries of the former Warsaw Pact. They had many modifications and varieties. And like the Kalashnikov assault rifle, they have survived to this day, being a simple and reliable platform for equipping a wide variety of weapons and army equipment.
This ten-ton tracked transporter accelerates to 60-80 km / h on a good road, can carry 2.5 tons of cargo or 11 passengers, tow everything you can attach, floats, protects the crew and cargo from small arms fire. The wide spread of the army-tracked “truck” in the post-Soviet open spaces and its “Ukrainian roots” could not help but make the device one of the most popular “source” in Ukraine for upgrades and improvements . Usually they tried (and are still trying) to make something like armored personnel carriers for transporting infantry and their fire support on the battlefield.
In factory conditions, even before the start of the SVO, about 30 such modernized MT-LBMSh were produced in Ukraine. Subsequently, a more powerful engine and combat module were installed on the standard “motorcycle”, consisting of a 30 mm automatic cannon, a companion 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and a pair of laser-guided Barrier ATGM launchers.
There are serious suspicions that most of them have already been eliminated by the Russian army. But at the disposal of the armed forces of Ukraine God knows how many hundreds more Soviet MT-LB. Of which, in anticipation of the delivery of Western armored vehicles (including the American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles), the Ukrainians tried to make improvised armored cars.
The main disadvantage of the “motorcycle competition” in this role is the fact that there is no booking. The thin steel of the hull will be sewn through the very first round of a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Not to mention more serious weapons. But what do you want from Bradley for the Poor?
Regularly, in peacetime, the “motor” was armed with a turret with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun or a 12.7 mm NSVT “Utes” machine gun. The infantry’s machine gun is rather weak by military standards. Therefore, shortly after the start of hostilities, improvised turrets began to appear on the roofs of the MT-LB cargo bay with old heavy caliber DShK (12.7 mm) machine guns, and sometimes with a powerful 14.5×114 mm KPVT machine gun caliber.
This seemed not enough, and the MT-LB entered the “handicraft series” with a ZU-23-2 attached to it – an anti-aircraft gun consisting of two twin 23 mm automatic cannons. Relatively recently, photos of equipping the Ukrainian “motor competition” with a turret from the BMP-1 with a 73-mm gun slipped through the specialized telegram channels. There is also a case of installing a 100 mm Soviet anti-tank gun MT-12 “Rapier” on the MT-LB.
The general public knows absolutely nothing about the combat effectiveness of such “mutants”. Although it is safe to talk about the sad fate of most of these versions of the transporter.
Because their armament involves direct fire contact with the enemy. “Answer” from which it can “fly” not only with an anti-tank missile, but also in the form of a burst from a 30-mm automatic cannon. After that, the fight MT-LB turns into a blazing “barbecue” with holes …
However, there are options for the “motorcycle competition” Bandera modernization, which have a chance to last a little longer. We’re talking about an improvised missile launcher. Attached to the car is a gun turret with one or two launch containers for S-8 unguided aircraft missiles – taken from a helicopter or attack aircraft. With the accuracy of hitting such an MLRS it is not good. But you can shoot without getting in direct line of sight with the enemy…
Perhaps the greatest chance of survival for the “moto-league” is carried out by the “anti-aircraft missile system”. The Ukronazis placed the Strela-10 air defense system on it. This is a weapon from the 70s-80s of the last century. In fact, a quadruple missile launcher of the Strela-1 short-range portable anti-aircraft complex. If the armed forces of Ukraine do not yet have ammunition for it, it makes sense now to use a combat vehicle only against cruise missiles or low-flying drones – far from the line of contact. So it seems that it is the “anti-aircraft” MT-LBs that have the best chances of surviving the nWo. Although who knows how it will all turn out in the not too distant future…
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
