MT-LB explained

Is Vehicle:	yes
MT-LB
Type:	Amphibious armored personnel carrier Multi-purpose armored vehicle
Origin:	Soviet Union
Service:	early 1970s – present
Used By:	See Operators
Wars:	Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Transnistrian War First Nagorno-Karabakh War War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Boko Haram insurgency Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Russo-Ukrainian War^[1]
Manufacturer:	Kharkiv Tractor Plant
Designer:	Central Auto and Tractor Directorate
Design Date:	1950s
Length:	6.45m (21.16feet)
Width:	2.86m (09.38feet)
Height:	1.86m (06.1feet)
Weight:	11.9t
Suspension:	Torsion bar
Speed:	61km/h (road) 30km/h (off-road) 5 to 6 km/h (3.7 MPH) (in the water)
Vehicle Range:	500km (300miles) (road)
Primary Armament:	12.7mm NSV/Kord heavy machine gun; or 30mm AGS17D/AGS-30 Automatic grenade launcher, or 30mm 2A42/2A72 autocannon
Secondary Armament:	PKT (2,500 rounds)
Armour:	14 mm max.
Engine:	YaMZ 238, V-8 diesel SW 680, I6 diesel (in Poland)
Crew:	2 (+ 11 passengers)
Engine Power:	YaMZ 238: 240 hp at 2,100 rpm SW 680: 240 hp at 2,200 rpm
Pw Ratio:	20 hp/tonne

The MT-LB (ru|Многоцелевой Тягач Легкий Бронированный|translit=Mnogotselevoy tyagach legky bronirovanny, literally "multi-purpose towing vehicle light armored") is a Soviet multi-purpose, fully amphibious, tracked armored fighting vehicle in use since the 1970s. It was also produced in Poland, where (starting in the mid-1990s) its YaMZ engine was replaced by a Polish 6-cylinder SW 680 diesel engine.^[2]

Development

In the 1950s, the Soviet Central Auto and Tractor Directorate began a development program to replace the AT-P series of artillery tractors (which were based on the ASU-57 airborne self-propelled gun) with a new generation of vehicles. The MT-L was developed to meet this requirement based on the PT-76 amphibious light tank chassis. The MT-LB is the armored variant of the MT-L. Entering production in the early 1970s, it was cheap to build, being based on many existing components, e.g. the engine, which was originally developed for trucks.

It was built at the Kharkiv Tractor Plant^[3] (KhTZ) in Soviet Ukraine, and in Bulgaria.^{[4] [5]} Formerly it was also manufactured under license in Poland by Huta Stalowa Wola^[6]

Description

The crew (a driver and a commander/gunner) sit in a compartment at the front of the vehicle, with the engine behind them. A compartment at the rear enables up to 11 infantry to be carried or a cargo of up to 2000kg (4,000lb). A load of 6500kg (14,300lb) can be towed. The vehicle is fully amphibious, being propelled by its tracks in the water.^[7]

A small turret at the front of the vehicle fits a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 360-degree manual traverse and an elevation of −5 to +30 degrees. The vehicle is lightly armored against small arms and shell splinters with a thickness of 3to of steel with a maximum of 14mm for the turret front.^[8]

Several weapon systems are based on this hull (for example Strela-10 or SNAR-10).

Variants

Former USSR

• MT-L
  • MT-LB (izdeliye 6) – basic model, often used as simple APC but also as artillery tractor or ambulance. In the West the term MT-LB Blade or MT-LB M1980 is used for vehicles that are fitted with a hydraulic dozer blade.

Bulgaria

• Bulgaria has various models of the MT-LB in service, as of 2016. Along with the base model, between 1971 and 2012 Bulgaria manufactures MT-LB VM variation with improved snow and swamp-going capabilities.^{[9] [10]}

East Germany

• MT-LB (Pi) – combat engineer vehicle.^[11]
• MT-LB (Pzj) – version for anti-tank units.
• MT-LB (Pzj Fü) – command vehicle for anti-tank units.
• MT-LB (BO) SFL – battery command vehicle in self-propelled artillery units.
• San MT-LB – ambulance
• MTP-LB – technical support vehicle.

Iraq

• MT-LB converted into a SPAAG by mounting a ZU-23-2 23×152mm twin anti-aircraft gun on the rear part of the vehicle. The gun had its wheels removed and as such cannot be easily dismounted and used separately. There were at least two variations of this conversion; one with the ZU-23-2 mounted in an open-topped turret, the other with the ZU-23-2 mounted on a platform extending beyond the hull of the MT-LB with a roof for the gun operators. The second version was most likely intended to be used in a fire support role, as the roof would hinder the gun's sights at high elevation.^[12]

Poland

Polish HSW S.A. (Huta Stalowa Wola S.A.) license produced MT-LB since 1976, and it also developed a modified chassis SPG-2, with better floating capabilities.^[13]

• MT-LB-2AP – APC variant with a turret from SKOT-2AP, armed with high elevation 14.5mm KPVT MG and 7.62mm PKT CMG. Prototype only.
• WEM Lotos – medical evacuation vehicle with four stretchers.
• WPT Mors – armored recovery and repair vehicle, produced from 1983.
• R-137T (radiostacja ruchoma UKF) – signals vehicle with VHF radio set R-137. Entered service in 1987 and has a range of 70 to 150 km.
  • ZWD-1 "Irys" (zautomatyzowany wóz dowodzenia) – command vehicle, belongs to the automated command set "Irys".
• MT-LB-23M "Krak" – APC variant with a 23 mm gun in an unmanned turret. Prototype only.
• Promet – self-propelled AA gun with twin 23 mm guns, from 1979. Four prototypes only.
• "Przebiśnieg" – electronic warfare system, consists of three different vehicles:
  • SZ or MT-LB Z (stacja zakłóceń) – EW/Jamming vehicle;
  • SR or MT-LB R (stacja rozpoznania) – Comint/Sigint vehicle;
  • WD krel – command post vehicle (wóz dowodzenia kompanii radioelektronicznej).
• SPG-2 – much-modified base vehicle, with reworked nose section and hydro jets for better floating:
  • TRI Hors – engineering reconnaissance vehicle, built in series from 1983, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;
  • WPT Mors-II – armored recovery and repair vehicle, produced from 1986, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;
  • Opal-I and Opal-II – artillery command vehicles, with a turret with NSWT-12.7 Utios: Opal-I with a 245 hp (180 kW) turbocharged diesel engine SW680/167/1, Opal-II with a 300 hp (220 kW) engine SW680T (YaMZ-238N) and a longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side.^[14] Prototypes only

See main article: Opal (armoured personnel carrier).

• • BWO-40 – infantry fighting vehicle with 40 mm Bofors gun. A similar turret was mounted on the BWP-40 (BMP-1 upgrade). Prototype only.

Russia

Vehicle in service

• MT-LB
• MT-LBV - entering service in 1972, introduced new roadwheel swing arms, fenders and mudguards to accommodate a wider set of tracks. A modification with wider tracks (670mm instead of 350mm) for lower ground pressure for snow/swamp operations.
• MT-LBVM - equipped with the NSVT 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mount instead of the TKB-01-1 turret.
• MT-LBVMK – a modification of MT-LBVM with a 12.7mm Kord instead of a 12.7mm NSVT machine gun.^[15] Engine: YaMZ-238VM with rated power of 240 hp.
• MT-LBVM1K - mountain modification, equipped with the new YaMZ-238BL-1 engine with rated power of 300 hp, new on-board radio station and new heater.
• MT-LBu – a bigger, unarmed version that is used as the basis for many specialised vehicles. It has a more powerful engine, a 40 cm higher hull and a longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side, instead of 6.
• MT-LBM 6MB - 30mm autocannon turret mounted above the main compartment.

Prototypes

• MT-LB 6MB3 - Modification from Muromteplovoz with AG-17 grenade launcher, 12.7mm Kord and a GSh-23-2. Possibly only one made.^[16]
• MT-LB 6MA - Modification using BPU-1 turret mounted above main compartment.

Hybrid vehicles:

• MT-LB with ZU-23 AA gun^[17]
• MT-LB With 14.5mm BPU-1 Turret
• MT-LB with 14.5mm 2M-7 naval gun mount
• MT-LB with AZP S-60 AA gun
• MT-LB with 100mm MT-12 anti-tank gun
• MT-LB with 82 mm automatic mortar 2B9 Vasilek
• MT-LB with 25mm 2M-3 naval gun
• MT-LB with 140mm Ogon-18 MLRS

Vehicle not in service

• Toros – Arctic adapted vehicle developed by Muromteplovoz, armed with a 30mm autocannon 2A42, PKMT 7.62mm machine gun, and 30mm AGS-17D grenade launcher, and equipped with a snowplow.^{[18] [19]}

Sweden

• Pbv 401 (pansarbandvagn) – a modified former East-German vehicle with 7.62 mm machine guns Ksp 95 and Ksp 58.^[20]

Ukraine

• MT-LBMSh – announced in 2017, and built for Myanmar by the Kharkiv Tractor Plant. Equipped with a KBA-105 "Shkval" combat module with a 30 mm autocannon, KT-7,62 machine gun, KBA-117 30 mm grenade launcher, six smoke grenade launchers 902B Tucha, and Barrier ATGM system. The vehicle also has reinforced armor and a new YaMZ-238B engine with a power of 330 horsepower.^[21]
• MT-LB-12 – A 2022 modification in which a MT-12 Rapira 100 mm anti-tank gun was mounted on top of the vehicle with an open-topped superstructure for cover. At least two made with more planned for production.^[22] During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine also deployed improvised chop-jobs combining the hulls of the MT-LB with the 85 mm divisional gun D-44.^[23]

Operators

Current operators

• • – 336
• Angola – 31^[24]

• Bangladesh – 134
• – 100 MT-LB in service as of 2024.^[25]
• Belarus – 70
• – 6
• Eritrea – 10
• – 320 MT-LBu/MT-LBV in service as of 2024.
• – 66 in Service
• Iraq – About 400 in Service.
• – 150
• – 60
• Myanmar – 26+ of MT-LBMSh
• Nigeria – 67
• – unknown number of HT-16PGJ based on Strela-10
• – 10 MT-LB in service as of 2024.
• People's Defense Units (YPG)^[26]
• – 3,300 in active service before the start of Russo-Ukrainian War. Currently being modernized in the version MLBSh for the Marines with more powerful engines, new tracks and new weaponry.^[27] At least 50 were upgraded to the VM1K variant with a new radio station and a more powerful 310 hp engine.^[28] As of June 5th, 2024 Russia has lost over 1,100 MT-LBs of various variants in the Russo-Ukrainian War.^[29]
• ^[30]
• Transnistria
• – 2,090.^[31] In 2018 nine MT-LBs received from Poland (those vehicles were previously in Polish service).^[32]
  • As of 1/2-2024 Ukraine has lost 104 MT-LB of various variants during Russia's invasion.^[33]
• – 5
• – Used by opposing force units for training purposes.

Former operators

• − Seized by Azerbaijan after the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh^[34]
• – 6 SNAR-10 stored, for scrap.
• Czechoslovakia – Passed on to the Czech Republic.
• – 721 Bulgarian-made MT-LBs, 32 SNAR-10 and 36 Strela-10M. Unified with West Germany.
• – taken from GDR's army, all scrapped or sold to other countries.
• – Strela-10 and SNAR-10
• ^[35]
• – 10 retired.
• – 15 retired
• – Passed on to successor states.
• – 460 (Locally designated Pbv 401, former East German, bought in 1993, then decommissioned gradually until the last 147 examples were sold to Finland in 2011)^[36]
• ^[37]

See also

• • • • • • – a similar vehicle based on PT-76 light tank
• List of AFVs

References

• * Book: Hull . Andrew W. . Markov . David R. . Zaloga . Steve . Soviet/Russian armor and artillery design practices : 1945 to Present . Darlington Productions . Darlington, Md. . 1999 . 1-892848-01-5 . 42600399.
• Book: The Military Balance 2017 . International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) . Routledge. Arundel House, Temple Place, London, UK . 2017 . 978-1-85743-900-7 . 960838207 . .
• Book: The Military Balance 2023 . International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) . Routledge. February 15, 2023 . 9781032508955 . .

External links

• • Huta Stalowa Wola – producer of MT-LB
• Russia upgrades firepower for MT-LB Jane's, 26 September 2006
• fas.org
• inetres.com

Notes and References

1. News: Kadam . Tanmay . Desperate For 'War Machines', Russia & Ukraine Turn Their 70-Year-Old Armored Vehicles Into Fire Support Weapons . 16 April 2023 . Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News . 7 March 2023.
2. Web site: MT-LB multipurpose tracked armoured vehicle technical data sheet specifications pictures video . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210310/https://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_light_armoured_vehicle_uk/mt-lb_multipurpose_tracked_armoured_vehicle_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video.html . 3 November 2018 . live .
3. http://tractor-xtz.com/tractor/htz-3n-snegobolotohod/HTZ-3H-road vehicles
4. News: US Analyst Expects Bulgaria to Renew Production of BMP Armored Vehicles. 1 March 2011. Novinite.com. 2 April 2022.
5. News: Bulgaria has signed contract for sale of 500 MT-LB multirole tracked armored vehicles to Iraq. 16 June 2012. Army Recognition. 2 April 2022.
6. http://hsw.pl/czytaj/765 Light Armoured Multipurpose Tracked Tractor MTLB
7. Web site: Pike . John . January 16, 2000 . MT-LB Multipurpose Armoured Vehicle . July 21, 2022 . Federation of American Scientist Military Analysis Network.
8. Web site: MT-LB Light Armored Multi-purpose Vehicle . www.inetres.com . Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide . 22 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181007134424/http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/inf/MT-LB.html . 7 October 2018 . live .
9. News: Бойната техника, произведена в комбината "Девети май", Червен бряг, още е на въоръжение в армията. Петров. Генерал-майор (рез.) Петър Петров. 9 May 2016. Отбрана.com. 2 April 2022. bg.
10. News: Министерството на промишлеността търси решение за лошите кредити на военните заводи. Александрова. Галина. 24 April 1995. Capital.bg. 2 April 2022. Economedia. bg.
11. Gau L-R., Plate J., Siegert J. (2001) Deutsche Militärfahrzeuge – Bundeswehr und NVA. Motorbuch Verlag.
12. Web site: Jim Webster . MT-LB [ZU-23 – Iraq] tracked armoured fire support vehicle |publisher=Jedsite.info |access-date=2013-03-22].
13. Jerzy Kajetanowicz, Prace nad rozwojem sprzętu pancernego w Polsce – przegląd lat 1955–1990 in: Poligon nr.5/2010, pp.12–18 (in Polish)
14. Web site: Lekki samobieżny zestaw przeciwlotniczy Sopel/Stalagmit . Militarium . 2016-10-05 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120209094108/http://www.militarium.net/viewart.php?aid=83 . 9 February 2012 . pl.
15. Web site: ru:Транспортер-тягач МТ-ЛБ ВМК . http://muromteplovoz.ru/product/mil_mtlb_vmk.php . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150206042954/http://muromteplovoz.ru/product/mil_mtlb_vmk.php . 6 February 2015 . 6 February 2015 . Muromteplovoz . ru.
16. https://dzen.ru/a/ZYsx3LChZQJnYMbC
17. Web site: ЦАМТО / / На учениях в ЗВО впервые применили модифицированные бронированные тягачи в качестве платформы для ЗУ-23 . armstrade.org.
18. Web site: Russia could order Toros tracked armoured vehicle for military units deployed in the Arctic Region . 18 May 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210234/https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/russia_could_order_toros_tracked_armoured_vehicle_for_military_units_deployed_in_the_arctic_region_11805162.html . 3 November 2018.
19. Web site: Behrendt . Paweł . 11 October 2015 . Nowa wersja MT-LB dla brygad arktycznych .
20. Web site: Pbv 401 (MT-LB) . ointres.se . Rickard O. . Lindström . 2014-10-18 . 2024-07-21 . sv . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530015754/http://www.ointres.se/pbv401.htm . 2024-05-30 . live.
21. Web site: 2023-10-31 . Myanmar rebels seize Ukrainian-made MT-LBMSH infantry fighting vehicle . 2024-07-17 . www.armyrecognition.com . en-gb.
22. Web site: https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1574802751959273472 . 2022-09-27 . Twitter . en.
23. News: . Ukraine Is Collecting A Lot Of Russia's Old T-62 Tanks. October 27, 2022 . Forbes.
24. Book: [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]. 2021. The Military Balance. 448. Taylor & Francis . 9781032012278.
25. [International Institute for Strategic Studies]
26. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria . Oryx Blog . 29 October 2021.
27. Web site: В России модернизируют бронетранспортер МТ-ЛБ . 14 May 2018 . 16 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180516065428/https://ria.ru/arms/20180514/1520470939.html . 16 May 2018 . live .
28. Web site: ЦАМТО / / Горные мотострелки ЮВО получили партию модернизированных бронированных тягачей-транспортеров. armstrade.org.
29. Web site: Oryx . Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine . 2024-06-05 . Oryx.
30. https://twitter.com/Bosni_94/status/1760714564566466856?t=PVI-8NMirImLe1ycJh_2lQ&s=19 SAA’s MTLB with the ZU-23-2
31. Web site: John Pike . Ground Forces Equipment – Ukraine . Globalsecurity.org . 2013-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170707104146/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/groundforces-equipment.htm . 7 July 2017 . live .
32. Web site: Drgnęło w eksporcie broni. www.rp.pl.
33. Web site: Attack on Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine .
34. Web site: Mitzer . Stijin . Oliemans . Joost . Documenting Equipment Losses During The September 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict . Oryx . 7 October 2023.
35. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Vehicles and equipment captured by the Islamic State inside Syria until November 2014 . Oryx Blog.
36. Web site: Puolustusvoimat hankkii miehistönkuljetusajoneuvoja . 24 March 2011 . The Finnish Defence Forces . 24 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120510164843/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/xZLLkqJAEEW_pT9AyQLlsUQoEOQhSKGyMXzQCggyjVpSX984ExMzG-3ZjF25vHHzRp5bXMJ1U62v2X59zk7V-sgtuERcmbwoj21Aij9xR2D5DsSSM0VaIHX68rEO6JmbH_xyiwKeYM8cIHOqDcCa6USJiCSYRPwX9wPdD6Uv3HNuAYPVLG9rixUszFnouMC3nqNSV8csKih4pAdnXYVZUTJP3wpukd08PfbQVkGxEWDV4jfvN_mt25U8SzP55_qd011_RuKJ_-etdx0ePBU4b3wqU27JJdKfLSby5G5LNOXN0ABAwEW_mZyaaMb_QOq21To8ZBXkbGe7RUs7PDeXWTTCIHi47fBYaAYZ89gSXNLhieIpalp3ZwRGTY8j4YtM_hsy0QsyfdHWwRrY2kgf464C9Po7x9_Q5_gVffrdt-_YTi1XFwUey8J_ybS5JNuUfbot-9AXEC8LQxmJkjxUeEUacvPNEm5GY1Ed-1fYD1NT7m0PziTxstgvWHbd7uo2pRO3wZUItZuw9EBkSgJZz_x9qtxKLdCq3CzUei-UgVGRs12dT1pkO7HNUsijPF5QYyIttAU5fSwaWhswdw7eip-Fon9NyUUwQwvrDfmQrEKpjfU7DtNjJUhHM-4tL001P1vz8kx3V7Mll3YX7qZ2zsTVnsxXt9ORq0tCyLXG4Zgi-e-h6tsnLz3wug!!/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=6f5b9080463aa57a9812df97720d955e . 10 May 2012 . live .
37. Iztok . Kočevar. Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide. The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War. Batailles et Blindés. fr. August 2014. Caraktère. 1765-0828. 62. 66–79.