61 km/h (38 mph) (road) 30 km/h (19 mph) (off-road) 5 to 6 km/h (3.7 MPH) (in the water)
The MT-LB (Russian: Многоцелевой Тягач Легкий Бронированный, romanized: 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]
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.
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 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb). A load of 6,500 kilograms (14,300 lb) 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 mmPKT 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 three to ten millimetres (0.12 to 0.39 in) of steel with a maximum of 14 millimetres (0.55 in) for the turret front.[8]
Several weapon systems are based on this hull (for example Strela-10 or SNAR-10).
9P149 vehicle based on the MT-LB of the Shturm-S tank destroyer.
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 BladeorMT-LB M1980 is used for vehicles that are fitted with a hydraulicdozer blade.[citation needed]
Bulgaria has various models of the MT-LB in service, as of 2016.[9] Along with the base model, between 1971 and 2012 Bulgaria manufactures MT-LB VM variation with improved snow and swamp-going capabilities.[10][11]
The upgraded MT-LBM 6MB with MB2 turret, whose main armament is a 2A72 30 mm automatic cannon.
Iraqi MT-LB converted into a SPAAG armed with a ZU-2 anti-aircraft gun.Iraqi MT-LBV fitted with wider tracks.
MT-LB converted into a SPAAG by mounting a ZU-23-223×152mm 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.[13]
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.[14]
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:
SZorMT-LB Z (stacja zakłóceń) – EW/Jamming vehicle;
SRorMT-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:[14]
TRI Hors – engineering reconnaissance vehicle, built in series from 1983, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;[14]
WPT Mors-II – armored recovery and repair vehicle, produced from 1986, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;[14]
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.[15] Prototypes only
MT-LBV - a modification with wider tracks (670mm instead of 350mm) for lower ground pressure for snow/swamp operations and an NSVT machine gun in place of the normal PKT.[16]
MT-LBVM
MT-LBVMK – a modification of MT-LBVM with a 12.7mm Kord instead of a 12.7mm NSVT machine gun.[17]
MT-LBu
MT-LBM 6MB - 30mm autocannon turret mounted above the main compartment.
Russia – 3,300 in active service before the start of Russo-Ukrainian War.[42] Currently being modernized in the version MLBSh for the Marines with more powerful engines, new tracks and new weaponry.[43][needs update] At least 50 were upgraded to the VM1K variant with a new radio station and a more powerful 310 hp engine.[44] As of June 5th, 2024 Russia has lost over 1,100 MT-LBs of various variants in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[45]
Sweden – 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)[56]
^Pike, John (16 January 2000). "MT-LB Multipurpose Armoured Vehicle". Federation of American Scientist Military Analysis Network. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^Kočevar, Iztok (August 2014).『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 (in French). No. 62. Caraktère. pp. 66–79. ISSN1765-0828.
Bangladesh – 134[27]
Boko Haram – Captured from the Nigerian Army.[28][better source needed]
Bulgaria – 100 [9]
Belarus – 70[29]
Congo-Kinshasa – 6[30]
Eritrea – 10[31]
Finland – 40 MT-LBV, 102 MT-LBU[32]
Georgia – 66 in Service[33]
Iraq – About 400 in Service.[34]
Iraqi Kurdistan - Around ~400 in Service.[35]
Kazakhstan – 150[36]
Moldova – 60[37]
Myanmar – 26[38]
Nigeria – 67[39]
North Korea – unknown number of HT-16PGJ based on Strela-10
North Macedonia – 10[40]
People's Defense Units (YPG)[41]
Russia – 3,300 in active service before the start of Russo-Ukrainian War.[42] Currently being modernized in the version MLBSh for the Marines with more powerful engines, new tracks and new weaponry.[43][needs update] At least 50 were upgraded to the VM1K variant with a new radio station and a more powerful 310 hp engine.[44] As of June 5th, 2024 Russia has lost over 1,100 MT-LBs of various variants in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[45]
Syria[46]
Transnistria
Ukraine – 2,090.[47][48] In 2018 nine MT-LBs received from Poland (those vehicles were previously in Polish service).[49]
Uruguay – 5[51]
United States – Used by opposing force units for training purposes.
Artsakh − Seized by Azerbaijan after the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh[52]
Croatia – 6 SNAR-10 stored, for scrap.
Czechoslovakia – Passed on to the Czech Republic.
East Germany – 721 Bulgarian-made MT-LBs, 32 SNAR-10 and 36 Strela-10M. Unified with West Germany.
Germany – taken from GDR's army, all scrapped or sold to other countries.
Hungary – Strela-10 and SNAR-10
Lithuania – 10 retired.[54]
Poland – 15 retired[55]
Soviet Union – Passed on to successor states.
Sweden – 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)[56]
Yugoslavia[57]
Media related to MT-LB at Wikimedia Commons
