BTR-60

BTR-60
BTR-60
	A BTR-60PB
Type	Wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1959–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	See List of conflicts
Production history
Designer	V. A. Dedkov
Designed	1955[1]
Manufacturer	Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (Soviet Union); Ratmil Regie Autonoma (Romania, TAB-71)
Produced	1960–1976 (Soviet Union)[2]
No. built	~25,000 (Soviet Union)[3] ; +1,872 (Romania, TAB-71)[4]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (BTR-60PB)
Mass	10.3 tonnes (11.4 short tons)[2]
Length	7.56 m[5][6]
Width	2.83 m (9.28 ft)[6]
Height	2.31 m (7.58 ft)[5][6]
Crew	3 + 14 passengers (original roofless BTR-60P had 2+14 capacity, reduced to 2+12 in BTR-60PA and 2+8 in BTR-60PB)[7][8]
Armor	Welded steel[1] ; 7 mm at 86° hull upper front[1][6] ; 9 mm at 47° hull lower front[1][6] ; 7 mm hull sides[6] ; 5 mm hull upper rear[6] ; 7 mm hull lower rear[6] ; 5 mm hull floor[6] ; 7 mm hull roof[6] ; 10 mm turret front[9] ; 7 mm turret sides[6] ; 7 mm turret sear[6] ; 7 mm turret roof[6]
Main; armament	14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)[6]
Secondary; armament	7.62 mm PKT tank coaxial machine gun (3,000 rounds)[6]
Engine	2×GAZ-40P 6-cylinder gasoline[2]; 90 hp (67 kW) each[2][1][6][10][11][12] ; 180 hp (134 kW) (combined)
Power/weight	18.4 hp/tonne (13.7 kW/tonne)
Suspension	wheeled 8×8
Ground clearance	475 mm (18.7 in)[6]
Fuel capacity	290 l (76.6 g)[6]
Operational; range	500 km (310.7 mi)[6]
Maximum speed	80 km/h (49.7 mi/h) on road; 10 km/h (6.2 mi/h) in water[6]

The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs). It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen in public for the first time in 1961. BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armoured transporter").[13]

History

Origins

The BTR-152 and BTR-40, the first two Soviet mass-produced APCs developed after the Second World War, gave the Soviet Army useful experience with wheeled armoured personnel carriers. However, even as they were designed, they weren't suited for the needs of the Soviet Army as they lacked a roof (which was added in later versions designated BTR-152K and BTR-40B respectively). The low combat values of the BTR-152 and BTR-40 were exposed when the Egyptian Army used them during the Suez Crisis. This was one of the reasons why the new APC was developed.[2]

Between 1956 and 1957, a decision was made to convert all rifle and mechanized divisions into motor rifle divisions and a requirement for a new transport vehicle was drawn up.

ZiL-153 at the Kubinka Tank Museum.

Development proceeded along two paths: a more expensive vehicle that would eventually become the BMP-1, for use in tank divisions, and a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle divisions, that would eventually become the BTR-60. Two design bureaus were given the requirements, GAZ led by V. A. Dedkov,[1] and ZiL led by Rodionov and Orlov. The requirements stated that the vehicle should have all wheel drive, at least two turnable axles, independent suspension as well as mobility and fording capabilities allowing it to operate alongside tanks. The vehicle was also supposed to be amphibious.[2] The GAZ design team started to work on the new APC during the winter of 1956. Despite the fact that the army wanted a fully roofed vehicle with NBC protection system, the GAZ design did not have those features. It was argued that firing from the cramped interior would be difficult and that the limitation of losses wasn't a priority.[2] The prototype was built between 1957 and 1958.[1] ZiL developed a 6x6 design, the ZiL-153, similar in hull shape to the GAZ design. There were also three other 8x8 prototypes: Ob'yekt 560 (also known as MMZ-560[14]), Ob'yekt 1015 (developed by KAZ[14]), Ob'yekt 1015B (developed by KAZ,[14] it had with a turret-mounted armament and stream propellers,[2] also known as BTR-1015B[14]) and Ob'yekt 1020B (developed by KAZ[14]). All prototypes were submitted to and passed state trials in 1959. Even though the Ob'yekt 1015B performed best, the GAZ design was selected and given the designation BTR-60P.[2][1] Officially, the committee that made the decision did so because of the GAZ plant's production capabilities and experience. The main reason was that the GAZ design was the simplest and cheapest one and introduced the fewest technological advancements, which made it easier to put into mass production.[2]

BTR-60P had open-roofed crew and troop compartments, which was deemed to be a serious disadvantage. Accordingly, a new version with an armoured roof, designated BTR-60PA, entered production in 1963. This new version's capacity was reduced from 16 soldiers to 14 soldiers.

The appearance of the German HS.30 APC, which was armed with a 20 mm cannon, prompted the addition of the conical BPU-1 turret. This turret, which was originally developed for the BRDM-2 amphibious armoured scout car, was armed with the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and a PKT 7.62 mm tank machine gun. The new vehicle was designated the BTR-60PAI and entered production in 1965. It was, however, quickly replaced by the BTR-60PB, which had a better sighting system for the machine guns.

Description

BTR-60 was a revolutionary design for its time.[1][10] It had a non-standard layout for an APC; the crew compartment was in the front, the troop compartment in the middle and the engine compartment in the rear.[1] This meant that, while the BTR-60 did not share some of the weaknesses that other APCs had, it had several disadvantages of its own.

Crew

The driver's station.

In the BTR-60, the crew compartment is located in the front of the vehicle and had a roof – unlike the troop compartment, which first received one with the introduction of the BTR-60PA. In the BTR-60P and BTR-60PA, the crew consists of a driver and a commander. The driver's seat is on the left and commander's seat is on the right. In the BTR-60PAI, BTR-60PB and BTR-60PZ, the crew consists of a driver, a commander and a gunner. The position of the driver and commander stations remained unchanged in later models. The gunner operates the BPU-1 turret, using the PP-61A optical sight. In the BTR-60P, both the driver and commander manned their positions by entering the vehicle through the sides. The BTR-60PA introduced two hatches over their stations and crew members had to climb on top of the vehicle to use them. The entry method did not change in later production models. The BTR-60B introduced a side door for the gunner on the right side, and firing ports for both the driver and commander, and two for the gunner, one on each side. (For more information on the BTR-60's firing port see the troop compartment section). Both the driver and the commander have forward views through bulletproof windshields, onto which steel covers can be lowered. In the BTR-60P and BTR-60PA, the covers had vision slots, and additional slots on both sides of the crew compartment. These were removed in the BTR-60PB in favor of two periscopes on each side. In early models of the BTR-60P and BTR-60PA, only the driver had a periscope, while the commander had a removable OU-3 infrared searchlight. In the BTR-60PB, both the driver and the commander have three periscopes in the front (the commander's center periscope can be hard to see as it's just below the OU-3 infrared light). The vehicle was usually equipped with an R-113 radio; however, some models used the R-123. The initial BTR-60P production model lacked night-vision and had only four headlights (two infrared, two white, one of each kind per side, these remained in all BTR-60 models). Late BTR-60P models were fitted with night-vision; the TKN-1 connected with the OU-3 infrared searchlight for the commander and the TWN-2 for the driver. This remained unchanged in later models.[2][1]

Troop compartment

The troop compartment is behind the crew compartment and in front of the engine compartment. The BTR-60P can transport up to 16 fully equipped soldiers. This number reduced to 14 in BTR-60PB. As the BTR-60P didn't have a roof, it was covered with a tarpaulin when traveling in bad weather conditions. It was also covered with bows and canvas. Also, all BTR-60 models had three firing ports on each upper side of the hull through which the infantry being transported could fire at the enemy with their personal weapons. The difference between models was in the position of these three firing ports. The BTR-60P and BTR-60PA had the firing ports positioned in a row between the middle and the front part of the troop compartment. In the BTR-60PB, the firing ports were relocated; one was next to the driver and commander, one next to the gunner and one in the side of the troop compartment.[1][5]

Because of the engine placement (in the rear of the vehicle), transported infantry must mount and dismount through the sides in the BTR-60P or through the roof hatches in the roofed BTR-60PA, BTR-60PB, and BTR-60PZ variants. To help the infantry to mount and dismount the vehicle, the BTR-60P had two steps on each side of the hull, one between the first and second pair of road wheels and the other between the third and fourth pair of wheels. It also had two vertical hand rails on each side of the troop compartment, as well as an angled horizontal one on the left-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. The BTR-60PA introduced yet another step on each side of the hull between the second and third pair of wheels, as well as six horizontal hand rails on each side of the vehicle, three on the lower side and three on the upper side. The vertical ones were removed, while yet another angled horizontal one was added on the right-hand side of the hull next to the engine compartment. In the BTR-60PB, the number of hand rails decreased from six to five on each side of the hull; the rear upper hand rail was removed from he right side, whereas the center upper one was removed from the left side. The BTR-60P has two doors on each side of the troop compartment (one in the front and one in the rear), but infantry still had to dismount through the sides.[2] The side doors were removed in the BTR-60PA.[12] They were used mostly as emergency exits and as auxiliary firing ports. In the BTR-60PB, a side door was added on the front left of the troop compartment.

Protection

The hull armour is made from welded steel and provides protection against small arms fire and shrapnel.[2][1] The frontal armour can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from any range. The rest of the armour can withstand 7.62 mm bullets from a range of 100 m.[1]

The BTR-60P did not have a roof over the troop compartment, which made a weakness that could easily be exploited—even the simplest explosives could take out a BTR-60P. The new BTR design with a roof was called the BTR-60PA.

Armour thickness is as follows:

Hull:

Upper front: 7 mm at 86°[1][6]
Lower front: 9 mm at 47°[1][6]
Sides: 7 mm[6]
Upper rear: 5 mm[6]
Lower rear: 7 mm[6]
Floor: 5 mm[6]
Roof: 7 mm (over the troop compartment since BTR-60PA)[6]

Turret (since BTR-60PAI):

Front: 10 mm[9]
Sides: 7 mm[6]
Rear: 7 mm[6]
Roof: 7 mm[6]

Maneuverability

The BTR-60 has a 8x8 suspension. Originally, there were difficulties in finding a suitable engine for it: the six-cylinder GAZ-40P gasoline engine, which produces 90 hp, had insufficient power, while the 205-hp YaAZ-206B was too heavy. Instead, the BTR was fitted with two six-cylinder gasoline GAZ-40P[2] engines (67 kW)[2][1][6][10][11][12] located side by side in the rear of the vehicle. The combined power of the engines is 180 hp (134 kW). Each engine propels two of the vehicle's axles. The engine on the right propels the second and the fourth axles, while the one on the left propels the first and the third axles. Each engine has its own four-speed gear box with a single-shielded hydraulically controlled clutch and an exhaust. Each axle has its own differential and is hung on transversal torsion bars. The first two axles each have two hydraulic absorbers, while the third and fourth only have one. The first and second pair of wheels can be turned. The gaps between the first and second axles and between the third and fourth axles are even. The gap between the second and third axles is slightly larger than the other ones.[2][1][6][12]

The two-engines setup has an advantage in the fact that each engine could work without the other. This means that if one engine is disabled, it does not affect the other one and the vehicle can still move, albeit with reduced speed. This setup, however, caused several problems that either do not exist in single-engined vehicles or were not as serious: the design itself was complicated and the amount of work that had to be done during maintenance and repair was higher than in vehicles with a single engine. The engines themselves were originally intended for truck use, which meant that they were working in extreme conditions not originally envisioned for them. Because of this, engine breakdowns were frequent. The vehicle also used large amounts of fuel and caught fire easily. Despite all this, the two-engines setup was used in all BTR-60 production models as well as most variants of the BTR-70. The single-engine setup was introduced in the BTR-80.[2]

Ex-Egyptian or ex-Syrian BTR-60PB, in the Yad la-Shiryon museum, Israel, 2005. Notice the exposed water jet with both of its lids opened.

Amphibious capability

The BTR-60 is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by a jet centrally mounted at the rear of the hull.[1] It was, however, prone to breakdowns.[2] When not in use, it is protected by the sideways opening lids. Before entering the water, the trim vane at the front of the hull should be erected to prevent water from flooding over the bow. While in its traveling position, it serves as additional lower frontal armor.

Production models

Characteristics of the BTR-60 production models
	BTR-60P	early BTR-60PA	BTR-60PA	BTR-60PA-1	BTR-60PAI	BTR-60PB
Weight (tonnes)	9.8[15]	10.2[15]		10.3[15]	?	10.3[15]
Height (metres)	2.06 m[11]				2.31 m[5][6]
Crew	2 + 16[5][6]				3 + 14[5]
Primary armament	7.62 mm PKT, SGMB or PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine gun (2,000 rounds)[6]		12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (500 rounds)[6]		14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)[6]
Secondary armament	2 × 7.62 mm PKT, SGMB or PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns (3,000 rounds) mounted on the sides of the troop compartment (optional)[6]				7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun (3,000 rounds)[6]
Power-to-weight ratio hp/tonne (kW/tonne)	18.4 (13.7)	17.6 (13.1)		17.5 (13.0)	?	17.5 (13.0)

Production history

BTR-60s were produced by Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ). The BTR-60P was produced between 1960 and 1963.[2] The BTR-60PA entered production in 1963,[2][11] followed by the BTR-60PA-1 in 1965. Both the BTR-60PA and BTR-60PA-1 were produced until 1966.[2] The BTR-60PAI also entered production in 1965,[2] but was quickly replaced in 1966 by the BTR-60PB, which had a better sighting system for the machine guns. The BTR-60PB remained in production until 1976, when it was superseded by the BTR-70.[2] According to Western estimates, around 25,000 BTR-60s were produced by GAZ.[3] During BTR-80 production, and therefore after BTR-60 production had ended, there was a special production run of 100 BTR-60PBs, some of which have been exported to Iraq.[12]

Service history

Soviet Union

An order to enter the BTR-60P into Soviet Army service was issued on 13 December 1959. However, production did not start until 1960.[2] The first BTR-60Ps were delivered in 1960. It first entered service with the Soviet Army and later the Marine Corps. The BTR-60 entered service with the Soviet military at the time when the USSR was arming on a mass scale.[2] In the early 1960s, it replaced the BTR-152 in the role of the basic APC. The BTR-60P was first seen by the West in 1961. The BTR-60PA entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963, the BTR-60PA-1 and BTR-60PAI entered service in 1965, the BTR-60PB in 1966, the BTR-60PZ in 1972 and the BTR-60PBK in 1975. As newer models of the BTR-60 appeared, the older ones were gradually withdrawn from front-line service. A number of old BTR-60Ps were converted into repair vehicles.[12]

The first use of Soviet BTR-60s in an armed conflict happened during the Warsaw Pact 1968 Invasion of Czechoslovakia. However, actual combat was scarce.[3][16]

In the 1980s, most of the BTR-60s in the Soviet army had been replaced by the BTR-70 and BTR-80; however, a large number was still operated by second-line and border troops. According to the data provided by the USSR during the signing of the CFE Treaty in 1990, there were 4,191 BTR-60s in service with the units stationed in the European part of the Soviet Union.[17]

Sino-Soviet border conflict

The first real combat use of the BTR-60 took place during the Sino-Soviet border conflict on Zhenbao Island (Damansky Island at the time) in March 1969. The frontier units operating on the island were equipped with BTR-60PBs, while the 57th border detachment group was equipped with BTR-50Ps and BTR-50PKs. The BTR-60 proved to be a worthwhile vehicle, although it sustained high losses due to the large number of RPGs used by the Chinese and mistakes made by the commanders of the APCs stemming from their insufficient combat experience with the new vehicles.[18] The high losses due to RPG hits wasn't unexpected, as the BTR-60's armour was designed to protect the vehicle from small arms fire and shrapnel, but not specialized anti-tank weapons. The most effective tactic found for using BTR-60PBs was in covering the dismounted infantry.[18] This is a job more suited for infantry fighting vehicles than armoured personnel carriers, whose main role is transporting infantry to the battlefield and providing them with armour protection during that time. The BMP-1, the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle, started production in 1966 and therefore Soviet Army had very small numbers of those vehicles available at the time of Sino-Soviet border conflict. During the fights in March, the Chinese managed to capture four BTR-60PBs and one T-62 MBT.[3]

BTR-60PBs were used again during the border conflict east of Lake Zhalanashkol in Kazakhstan (Kazakh SSR at the time) in August 1969. During the fighting, the armour of BTR-60PB proved inadequate.[3][19]

A rusting BTR-60PB abandoned in the center of a village in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province.

Soviet–Afghan War

The BTR-60PB was used in large numbers during the initial part of the Soviet–Afghan War. This was because the units that were originally used for this operation weren't the top priority of the Soviet military, which prioritized the units stationed in East Germany. The same design flaws were present during this conflict and the vehicle became even more vulnerable due to the kind of fighting that took place in Afghanistan. The GAZ-40P gasoline engines experienced frequent power losses and overheating due to the tropical highland climate for which they were not well suited. Also, the BTR-60PB's turret could not elevate its armament high enough to fire at the Mujahideen attacking from high ground. Like during the Sino-Soviet border conflict, many BTR-60PBs fell victim to RPGs. Because of those drawbacks, the BTR-60PBs were replaced by BTR-70s as soon as possible to a point where only the BTR-60 command variants were used.[19]

Other operational use

Soviet BTR-60s, BTR-70s and BTR-80s were used for dispersing the demonstrations in Tbilisi in 1989 and stopping the fighting on the border between Uzbek SSR and Kirghiz SSR. They were also used in Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia. In 1990, they were used in Vilnius to suppress the Lithuanian independence movements.[20]

Soviet Union successor states

In 1991, the BTR-60s of the Soviet Army was passed on to the armies of the successor states and thus used in many regional conflicts. 27 BTR-60PBs[20] that were inherited by Moldavia were used by its army during the War of Transnistria. A number of BTR-60s were used by the Georgian army during the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia.[21]

As of 2007, several hundred BTR-60s remain in service with USSR successor states; these are in a process of being replaced by more modern vehicles.[22]

Russia

Russia used BTR-60s during the First Chechen War, but since the mid-1990s BTR-60s have only been in use with the border troops.[19]

In Russian service, many BTR-60 variants have been replaced by variants of the BTR-80/K1Sh1 or have been upgraded with the engines from the BTR-80.[23]

Moldova

Moldova inherited 27 BTR-60PBs from the Soviet Union. They were used during the War of Transnistria against the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.[21] Moldova also ordered 161 ex-Romanian TAB-71Ms in 1992, which were delivered between 1992 and 1995.[4] Moldova also inherited 20 BTR-70s from the Soviet Union and received 250 TAB Zimbrus and MLI-84s from Romania. In the end of March 1992, the Moldavian army was trying to sever the connection between Tiraspol and Rîbniţa. Five out of the six BTRs used during that operation were lost. On 1 April, two BTRs were used during the assault on Bender. In June, dozen of APCs were used during another assault on the city.[20]

Georgia

In 1992, the separatist state of Abkhazia declared Independence from Georgia and the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) began. Georgia sent its troops to Abkhazia to stabilize the region. The 3,000-man force was poorly equipped with military vehicles, having only five T-55 main battle tanks, a few BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, three BTR-60/70 armoured personnel carriers and a small number of BM-21 Grad MRLs. As the war continued, the Georgian forces in Abkhazia were strengthened. The rebels had no AFVs of their own, but captured some heavy equipment from the Georgians.[20] BTR-60 was also used by Ossetian rebels during 1991–1992 South Ossetia War, in one case Ossetian rebels supported by BTR-60PB launched an attack on Georgian Checkpoint, BTR was heavily damaged by 30mm Rounds fired by Georgian BMP-2 and was forced to retreat, following BTR-60 was found by Georgian forces in several days after attack, it was repaired and used by Georgian National Guard.

BTR-60PB of the Armenian police enters Shahumyan Square near the French Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia on 1:30 pm, 1 March 2008.

Armenia

A BTR-60PB of the Armenian police was used on 1 March 2008 during the Armenian presidential election protests in Yerevan. It was sent to counter the protest at the Shahumyan Square near the French Embassy, where it arrived at 1:30 pm. Eventually, the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators surrounded the APC, mounted it, and forced its crew to leave the square.

Ukraine

During the ongoing War in Donbass, Ukrainian Military used several BTR-60 variants. The Ukrainian National Guard, have deployed BTR-60PB's for counter-insurgency operations in Eastern Ukraine.[24]

Foreign service

BTR-60s in Grenada

BTR-60 APCs were employed widely both by the Soviet Army and by more than 30 export customers.[11] Operators of the BTR-60 have included Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, East Germany, Ethiopia, Finland, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, North Korea, Romania, Soviet Union, Syria, Uganda, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Yemen, and Zambia, as well as many of the successor states of the Soviet Union.[25] The most widely spread model is the BTR-60PB.

Although the BTR-60 still remains in service with many of the world's armies, it is almost never used as an APC any more. They are still being used as mobile command posts, artillery forward observation posts, airplane guidance posts, communication posts and many other specialized roles.[10]

The BTR-60 has seen action in the Yom Kippur War, the 1971 War between India and Pakistan (where it was used very effectively to punch a hole through to Jessore and subsequently Khulna), the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (where it was used by both the Soviet and Afghan government troops), the Chechen and Yugoslav wars. It was also used by Warsaw Pact forces during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.[10]

Angola

The Soviet Union invested heavily in bolstering the mechanized and armoured capabilities of the People's Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) during the Angolan Civil War.[26] To that end, it provided FAPLA with just under 500 BTR-60s as part of a comprehensive military assistance programme between 1975 and 1989.[4] FAPLA initially received 74 BTR-60PBs in 1975, and ordered another 175 BTR-60PBs in 1980, which were delivered between 1981 and 1985.[4] In 1987 and 1988, Angolan motorized brigades received another 250 BTR-60PBs and some BTR-60R-145BM command vehicles.[4]

For most of the 1970s, FAPLA remained critically short of modern armoured vehicles, and as late as 1981 many of its motorized infantry formations were equipped only with trucks or obsolete BTR-152s.[27][28] By the late 1980s, however, the BTR-60 had largely superseded the BTR-152 in FAPLA service and was being deployed frequently during the civil war.[29] FAPLA's motorized brigades, which bore the brunt of counter-insurgency as well as conventional army operations, came to include three companies of BTR-60s each.[30] Additionally, both the Cuban and Soviet military missions in Angola possessed a number of BTR-60s, which were used for general liaison purposes.[29]

A number of FAPLA BTR-60PBs were deployed during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, with 65 being lost during several engagements with South African expeditionary forces.[31] FAPLA was not successful in coordinating its combined arms operations over the course of the campaign, and on several occasions the Angolan motorized infantry became separated from their accompanying armour or advanced with no accompanying armour at all, allowing the much more lightly armed South African troops to isolate and destroy them.[32] The first armour-to-armour kill of the battle occurred on 9 September 1987, when a lone BTR-60 carrying out reconnaissance on the Lomba River was knocked out by a South African Ratel infantry fighting vehicle.[33]

Over the course of the civil war, FAPLA BTR-60PBs were commonly used for convoy escort purposes, guarding logistical vehicles bringing fresh supplies and ammunition to the front lines.[34] In this role they were used to repel insurgent ambushes, with some success. Due to prevalence of land mines on Angolan roads, the BTRs always traveled behind a bulldozer or a tank equipped for mine clearance.[34] During the late 1980s, the threat of ambush by South African troops with armoured vehicles and heavy weapons of their own prompted the BTR-60 to be complemented in this role by the much more heavily armed BMP-1.[34]

Finland

Finland's Jäger battalions operated Soviet-built BTR-60R-145BM "Chaika" vehicles. These were upgraded to BTR-60PUM standard between 1996 and 1997. In 1991, seven conscripts of the Karelia Brigade drowned when their BTR-60 sank at Taipalsaari during an amphibious exercise because the vehicle was loaded incorrectly (top-heavy) and the roof hatches opened.

The usual nicknames for BTR-60 amongst the Finnish conscripts were Petteri (a male name), after the initials BTR, and Taipalsaaren sukellusvene (Taipalsaari Submarine) after the 1991 incident.

Poland

Polish-modified BTR-60PB of the Polish Police on Tamka Street in Warsaw, Poland during European Economy Summit 2004. Notice the lack of armament.

Milicja Obywatelska (MO) operated several BTR-60PAs. They were used by ZOMO riot control units.[12] The Polish Army also received a dozen BTR-60PU-12s, which were used within the Soviet supplied 9K33 Osa SAM regiment delivered between 1980 and 1985.[4][12] On 7 December 1981, the delegation of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs went to the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs asking for equipment and supplies necessary to equip around 60,000 MO operatives and reservists enlisted because of the intensified activities against the Communist government. In response, on 17 December, the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to transfer 25 BTR-60PBs along with 10,250,000 "Czeromucha" incapacitating chemical devices and 2,000 tonnes of gas over to its Polish counterpart.[35] These vehicles had previously been used in Afghanistan. They were later modified by adding another radio set. They were used by ZOMO.[12][36] During the martial law in Poland, the MSW automobile plant in Łódź fitted some BTRs with breakers mounted on the front of the vehicle, which were used for clearing obstacles (See Poland section in the Variants section for details).[37][38] When the Milicja Obywatelska was transformed back into Policja in 1990, all BTR-60PBs had their armament removed. This was because Policja, unlike MO, didn't have a need for weaponry with such a high muzzle velocity – such weapons were dangerous to use in urban areas. The MO needed such weaponry because it was also supposed to carry out anti-partisan operations. Policja used unarmed BTR-60PBs for security during European Economy Summit 2004 in Warsaw, as well as for clearing blockades set up by the Samoobrona political party. A few Police BTR-60PBs are kept in storage for anti-riot duty as barricade breakers.

People's Republic of China

PRC reversed engineered the BTR-60PB after capturing four examples during the Sino-Soviet border conflict on Zhenbao Island in March 1969. The program was completed in the late 1970s. However, the vehicle did not enter service in large numbers because the PRC's primitive road system and rugged terrain meant that the wheeled APC was not well suited for the Chinese conditions as it lacked the cross country capability of the tracked APCs in the Chinese inventory.[2] It should be noted though that, before the Sino-Soviet split, the PRC imported 100 BTR-40s and 100 BTR-152s from the USSR and manufactured copies of those vehicles; and these served with the PLA until the mid-1990s.[4][39] The experience gained through reverse-engineering the BTR-60 helped the PRC in developing other more advanced wheeled APCs later in the 1980s.

BTR-60PB captured by Israel during the Yom Kippur War. This example now resides at the IDF History Museum, Tel Aviv.

List of conflicts

1955–1975 – Vietnam War (North Vietnam)
1966–1991 – South African Border War (Angola, Cuba)
1967 – Six-Day War (Egypt, Syria)
1968 – Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
1969 – Sino-Soviet border conflict (Soviet Union)
1973 – Yom Kippur War (Egypt, Syria)
1974–1991 – Ethiopian Civil War
- 1961–1991 – Eritrean War for Independence
1975–1990 – Lebanese Civil War
1975–1991 – Western Sahara War (Polisario)
1975–2002 – Angolan Civil War
1977–1978 – Ogaden War
1978–1987 – Chadian–Libyan conflict
1979–1988 – Soviet–Afghan War (Soviet Union, Afghanistan)
1980–1988 – Iran–Iraq War (Iran, Iraq)
1982 – 1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
1983 – Invasion of Grenada (Grenada)
1988–1993 – Georgian Civil War
- 1992–1993 – War in Abkhazia
1988–1994 – Nagorno-Karabakh War (Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan)
1989 – Romanian Revolution (Romania)
1990–1991 – First Persian Gulf War (Iraq)
1991–present – Somali Civil War
1991–1999 – Yugoslav wars
1992–1997 – Civil War in Tajikistan
1993 – present – Kurdish–Turkish conflict (Turkey)
1994 – Civil War in Yemen
1994–1996 – First Chechen War (Russia)
1999–2009 – Second Chechen War (Russia)
2001–2016 – War in Afghanistan
2003–2011 – Iraq War
- 2003 – Invasion of Iraq (Iraq)
2011 – Libyan Civil War (Gaddafi and Anti-Gaddafi forces)
2011–present – Syrian civil war (Government forces and rebels)
2014–present – War in Donbass (Ukraine and Pro-Russian rebel forces)

Variants

Former Soviet Union

Three assaulting BTR-60P APCs and supporting the entrenched infantry.

BTR-60P (1959) (P stands for plavajushhijj – "swimming")[2] – Initial version with troop compartment completely exposed and often covered with bows and canvas. The vehicle has mounting points for three 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns), one on the front and one on each side between the two small doors; however, only one mount is fitted, and that is usually on the front mounting point. The vehicle carries 2,000 machine gun rounds.[2][1][12] It was also known under the designation GAZ-49.[2]
- BTR-60P with a modified machine gun mounting point in the front to fit the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun like in BTR-60PA instead of the 7.62 mm machine gun. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns.[2][6][12]
- BTR-60P converted into a command vehicle equipped with a rail-type antennae running around three sides of the hull top.[12]
- BTR-60P M1961/1 – BTR-60P converted into a fire support vehicle. It is fitted with the turret from the PT-76 amphibious light tank.[12] Most probably prototype only.
  - BTR-60P M1961/1 fitted with a smaller version of the PT-76 turret.[12] Most probably prototype only.
- BTR-60P M1961/2 – BTR-60P converted into a fire support vehicle. It is fitted with a small open-topped turret armed with a 37 mm gun with clean barrel with conical flash-hider.[12] Most probably prototype only.
- BTR-60P converted into a mortar carrier. It can carry up to two mortars, along with their crews and ammunition.[12]
- MTR-2 – BTR-60P converted into a repair vehicle with a raised tarpaulin cover over the troop compartment running almost to the rear.[12]

BTR-60PA.

BTR-60PA (1963) – This version has an armoured roof over the troop compartment. It is fitted with improved 'closed-down' vision devices for the crew. Behind the commander's and driver's hatches is a single rear-opening rectangular hatch in front of which is a single mount for the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun between the two circular crew hatches at the front of the personnel compartment and two optional mounts for 7.62 mm machine guns (either the PKT, the SGMB or the PKB tank/medium/general-purpose machine guns) on each side of the roof of the personnel compartment. Early production BTR-60PAs only had a single mount for the 7.62 mm machine gun between the two circular crew hatches at the front of the personnel compartment. The small doors on each side of the hull that were present in the BTR-60P were removed. The BTR-60PA introduced collective NBC protection system to the series. It has six handrails on the each side, in rows of three. The personnel compartment has two rectangular hatches. The fact that the roof has been added makes passengers more vulnerable to enemy fire while they're exiting the vehicle through the top hatches. Also, the gunner must be at least shoulder high out of the vehicle to operate the weapons. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns. The weight of the vehicle increased from 9.8 tonnes to 10.2 tonnes. It was also known under the designation BTR-60PK, where K stands for krisha – "roof" and GAZ-49A.[6][11][12][15]
- BTR-60PA-1 (1965) – Upgraded BTR-60PA with improved power plant and transmission and the R-123 radio instead of the R-113. The weight of the vehicle increased from 10.2 tonnes to 10.3 tonnes. It entered service in very small numbers.[1][15]
- BTR-60PA converted into a command vehicle equipped with two side-mounted angled telescopic masts.[12]
- MTP-2 (MTP stands for mashina tekhnicheskoj pomoshchi) – BTR-60PA converted into a technical support vehicle based on the BTR-60PA. It is equipped with a crane mounted on the front of the hull. While in transport, the crane is carried on the left-hand side of the vehicle. It's also fitted with several stowage boxes, two on the roof behind the front hatches, one smaller on the front of the right-hand side of the hull and two over the engine decks. It is also missing two or three hand rails.[12]
- BTR-60PAI (1965) – Initial version with the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun replaced by the conical BPU-1 turret from the BRDM-2, which is armed with the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and the PKT 7.62 mm coaxial tank machine gun, on the top of the vehicle. The turret is placed over the second axle. The two remaining mountings for 7.62 mm machine guns on the upper hull sides were removed. Since the turret has been added, the crew had increased from two to three (commander, driver, and gunner). There are two semicircular hatches for the crew in front of the turret. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for the KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for the PKT 7.62 mm coaxial tank machine gun.[6][12]

BTR-60PB, 14 November 1984.

BTR-60PB (1966) – Improved sighting system for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and improved GAZ-49B engine. The turret was modified to include a new telescopic sight, the 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and the 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun were moved to the right, while the telescopic sight was mounted coaxially to the left. The armour protection has also been improved. The frontal armour of the BTR-60PB can withstand fire from 7.62 mm bullets from any range, while the rest of its armour can withstand fire from 7.62 mm bullets from 100 m. It has a filtration and over pressurization system for NBC protection. It also has self-sealing tires, a central tire inflation system and antennae mount on the right hand side of the rear of the roof. It has a side door in the left side of the front part of the troop compartment. Some BTR-60PBs also lack one of the firing ports on the left side of the hull. Late production BTR-60PBs have the same sighting improvement as the BTR-70, which consists of a small additional episcope sight, which faces to the rear on the turret roof. The vehicle carries 500 rounds for 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds for 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun.[1][6][11][12] It was also known under the designation GAZ-49B.[15]
- BTR-60PB produced during the BTR-80 production run. It has a side door in the right side of the front part of the troop compartment.[12]
- BTR-60PB converted into an agitation and propaganda vehicle. It is fitted with the same turret as the BTR-70ZS.[12]
- BTR-60PB converted into a command vehicle equipped with two side-mounted angled telescopic masts.[12]
- GAZ-4907 – BTR-60PB converted into a specialized chassis used by a few command variants.
- BTR-60PBK (K stands for komandnyj – "command") (1975) – Company commander version, based on the specialized chassis GAZ-4907. This version is equipped with three radio sets (two R-123 and one R-148), as well as three whip antennas and an antenna mast on the left upper hull.[11][15] Late-production models have a modified turret and additional Pin Stick antenna.
- BTR-60R-145BM "Chaika" – Turret-less command vehicle, based on the GAZ-4907 chassis and fitted with a collapsible AZI frame antenna, the AMU 10 m high telescopic mast, the AB-1-P/30 generator, five radio sets (one R-123MT, one R-130, two R-111 and one R-012M) as well as the TA-57 field telephone. It is also known under the designation BTR-60PU.[11][12][15]
  - BTR-60R-145BM-1 – Modernized model.[15]
  - BTR-60R-149BM – Command vehicle based on BTR-60R-145BM-1.[15]
- BTR-60PZ (zenitnyj) (1972) – Version with an improved turret similar to that on the BTR-70, which can be used to fire at flying targets.[2] It's equipped with the 1PZ-2 roof-mounted periscope mounted on the turret. The armament has a high angle of elevation.[6] It entered service in very small numbers.
- BTR-60 1V18 "Klyon-1" – BTR-60PB converted into an artillery command and forward observer vehicle, used by battery commanders of units equipped with towed artillery and MRL systems. The original turret has been replaced by an unarmed one ("Darth Vader") with the NNP-21 and DV observation devices and a rangefinder.[15] Other specialized equipment comprises the UD-15G internal generator, four radio sets (three R-123M and one R-107M), as well as the 1V510 computer, the PUO-9M fire control set and the PAB-2A aiming circle. Crew consisted of five soldiers. Each 1V17 "Mashina-B" set consists of three 1V18s, one 1V19 (qv), three 1V110s (based on GAZ-66) and one 1V111 (based on ZiL-131).
  - BTR-60 1V18-1 – Modernized model.
- BTR-60 1V19 "Klyon-2" – BTR-60PB converted into an artillery fire direction center externally identical to the BTR-60 1V18 but provided with the R-130M radio set and an additional stowage box on each upper side of the hull. Used by battalion commanders.[15]
  - BTR-60 1V19-1 – Modernized model.
- BTR-60 R-145BM – BTR-60PB converted into a turret-less communications vehicle and equipped with five radio sets: two R-111 or R-171, one R-123 or R-173, one R-130M, and one R-012M.[15]

BTR-60PU-12

- BTR-60PU-12 (9S482) (punkt upravleniya) (1972) – BTR-60PB converted into an air defense command vehicle and used by units equipped with ZSU-23-4, SA-9 or SA-13. The turret was removed and the vehicle was fitted with the AMU telescope mast on the right side of the front hull roof and the AB1-P/30 1 kW generator on top of the blanking plate.[15] The vehicle is equipped with the 1G13 gyroscope, the KP-4 navigation apparatus and the ASPD-12 computer. Often, the PU-12 is connected to a radar and the radar image is directly visible on the vehicle's IT-45 monitor. BTR-60PU-12M can process up to 12 targets.
  - BTR-60PU-12M (9S482M) – Modernized model developed in the 1980s for units equipped with more modern SAM systems.[15] This model is equipped with the more modern ASPD-U computer instead of the ASPD-12 and with the S 23-1 data processing unit connected to the MP-21, MP-22, Strela-10M, Osa-AK etc. BTR-60PU-12M can process up to 99 targets instead of only 12.
- BTR-60R-975 – Vehicle used by Tactical Air Control Parties, equipped with four radio sets (R-123, R-134, R-853 and R-864), as well as the SMI-2 km beacon system (protected by a conical cover during transport) and the G-290B generator.[15] It has two blade antennas on the rear of the deck.
  - BTR-60R-975M1 – Modernized version.[15] It doesn't have the conical cover for the beakon system.
- BTR-60R-137B – BTR-60PB converted into a USW signals vehicle similar to the BTR-60R-140BM. It is equipped with two radio sets: R-123 and R-405.[15] It also has a frame antennae around the top of the hull and a telescopic mast on the right side of the front of personnel compartment's roof.[12]
- BTR-60R-140BM – BTR-60PB converted into a SW signals vehicle similar to the BTR-60R-137B. It is equipped with three radio sets: R-140, R-405, R-123.[15]
- BTR-60R-156BTR – BTR-60PB converted into a HF signals vehicle used on the operational level. It is equipped with the R-156 HF radio and two other radio sets: R-405 and R-123.[15]
- BTR-60R-409BM – BTR-60PB converted into a radio relay station similar to the BTR-60R-419BR equipped with the R-409 radio set.[15]
- BTR-60R-419BR – BTR-60PB converted into a low-frequency radio relay station similar to the BTR-60R-409BM.[15]
- BTR-60E-351BR – BTR-60PB converted into a battery charger vehicle used by signals units. It is equipped with a 20 kW generator.[15] The vehicle has an extra seat and carries fuel inside for the generator.
- BTR-60P-238BT – BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle[15] (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-239BT – BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle[15] (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-240BT – BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle[15] (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telefonnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60P-241BT – BTR-60PB converted into a switchboard vehicle[15] (kompleksnaya apparatnaya telegrafnoj svyazi).
- BTR-60MS – BTR-60PB converted into a communications Vehicle fitted with a "High Ball" antennae mount.[12][15]
- BTR-60MBP (MBP stands for mashina boyevogo posta) – BTR-60PB converted into a base security vehicle for Strategic Rocket units.[40] The original turret has been replaced by a new type armed with NSVT 12.7 mm heavy machine gun[40] and equipped with an improved 1PN22M1 sight, loudspeakers, OU-3GA-2 IR search lights and additional TNPO-170 periscopes. The vehicle is also equipped with a stowage box on the right side of the hull. Behind the right side troop compartment roof hatch, there's a small bolted on plate.[12]
BTR-70