MILITARY THOUGHT: THE PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMORED COMBAT VEHICLES, BY MAJOR-GENERAL OF ENGINEER-TECHNICAL SERVICES L. SERGEYEV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A029700160001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 23
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 26, 1962
• Content Type: MEMO

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The Prospects of Development of Armored Combat Vehicles
by
Major-General of Engineer-Technical Services L. Sergeyev
Now, perhaps, no one will oppose the tenet that the tank tr(,~);ops
are best suited for conducting combat operations under conditions of
a nuclear/missile war, that they, better than other arms of trcpse,
can exploit the results of our own nuclear strikes against the enemy
and have the most protection from enemy nuclear counterstrikes, ens
that they have great striking power and high mobility, as a result
of which they are the basic strike force of the ground troops.
Obviously it is not necessary to prove the dependence of all ttese
qualities on the level of development of the armored equipment
which the tank troops are armed.
At the present time, because there is a rapid development of
military equipment in general, and armor in particular, the danger
that may arise as a result of losing qualitative superiority over
the enemy from an equipment standpoint becomes apparent. In connection
with this, it is necessary to emphasize that the greatest differences
of opinion concerning military-technical progress are observed in the
definition and determination of the actual directions of development
of armored equipment.
In this connection, the statements of several authors is t, e
pages of the Journal "Military Thought"*, concerning questti o, ~,r`
future development of tanks, deserve serious attention.
A lot of attention was also devoted to these questions at the
military-scientific conference that was conducted at the Mill a'
cademy of Armored Troops at the end of May 1961.
* Note: We have in mind the articles of Mfarshal of Armored
Troops P. Rotmistrov and General of the Army A. : adov., ecia1
Collection of Articles of the Journal "M 2.:s III' ov ., First
1961, and Lieutenant-General N. Slyuniix , of Articles f
the Journal "Military Thought No.. 1 (5`-,) 191
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This article will expound on the prospects of development of
basic types of armored combat vehicles that meet the conditions
of utilizing tank troops in a nuclear/missile war.
Tanks
Despite the fact that tanks, in comparison with other equipment,
have turned out to have the greatest ability to withstand nuclear
bursts, new tanks have to be created, mainly taking into consideration
a further increase in the effectiveness of their utilization in a war
with wide-scale use of nuclear weapons and missile means.
The basic data on modern Soviet and foreign tanks are given in
Table 1.
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Crew, number
of persons
UK
West
Germany,
France
USSR
USA
UK
Cen-
Chic
Experimen
"Con-
urion'
F
l tsin"
tel Model
T-10M
1 M103
querar',
X
7.9
Dimen-
alone
in
meter.
Caliber of
Gun in M
Penetrating
ability at
1000m, in mm
370
80
150(600
!or
guided
missile
15
s
0 150
180
Unit of fire,
number
43
55
60
0
3
34
35
40
37(. 4
guided
missile
J
5
7
Automatic
loader
Ejec-
tion
of
shell
case
Hamm-
er,
Ejec-
tion
of
shell
case
t
I -
'
Thick-
ne
s of
Turret,
(bow)
203
511
Light
alloy
s
armor
in mm
Olacis
plate
250
280
10-15 40
i 51
Light
alloy
-10-15 20
25 i
Light
alloy
Special anti-
atomic protec-
tion (PAZ)
Maximum speed,
km/hour
35 1
55
70 1
64
Cruising range
in km*
350
(500) 420
240
(350)
* For the Soviet tanks the cruising range given in the parentheses takes into consideration the use of extra tewkw
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The variety of combat tasks entrusted to tanks makesit nc ,zft.r
to broaden their combat qualities in such a way that they cannot be
incorporated in one model. At the same time, because of economic and
purely military considerations it is necessary to strive to reduce the
number of essential tank types to a minimum.
Even though it is impossible to create a single universal type
of tank in modern conditions, in the tank parks of all the armies a
tendency is observed to find a basic type, the combat qualities of
whicLA would permit its utilization for performing quite a wide range
of combat tasks. The other types of tanks will be more specialized in
their characteristics.
In the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the develop-
ment of armored equipment by our probable enemies, it is advisable to
improve further our light, medium (basic), and heavy tanks, to develop
artillery combat vehicles and also create infantry combat vehicles,
which will probably replace the present armored personnel carriers in
combat subunits of motorized rifle units and large units. Besides these
combat vehicles, it is necessary to produce combat vehicles of special
designation in more limited quantities (command vehicles, bridge layers,
flame throwers, and others), built on the chassis of tanks.
A cutback of specialized production and a decrease in the inventory
of spare parts must be achieved by creating a "family" of vehicles based
on the components and mechanisms of mass produced types of tanks, with
the maximum uniformity and standardization of components, mechanisms
and other equipment both within the "family" Ind among the vehicles on which
they are based.
The medium tank, being the basic tank and We one found in the great
est numbers, must fulfil the widest range of combat tasks. These tanks
form the basis of the combat power of the major tank large units and
formations, intended for performing independent operational tasks. In
the composition of the motorized rifle units they are used for direct
support of infantry. This great range of combat tasks being fulfilled
makes the problem of determining the basic specifications of the medium
tanks quite difficult and critical. The difficulty of resolving it is
indicated by the fact that, for a decade (1937 to 1947), in the British
army it was considered impossible to create one type of medium tank, as a
result of which the major tank large units were armed with high-speed
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"cruiser" tanks and slow "infantry" tanks which were issued for direct
support of infantry.
From the nature of the combat operations of medium tanks it is
apparent that combat with enemy tanks will be unavoidable for them
and will be one of the most important missions. 'Therefore the wea-
pons of these tanks must first of all be antitank, capable of des-
troying the basic tanks of the enemy. Besides, it is called upon to
fulfil many other fire tasks (for example, the incapacitation of
personnel in armored personnel carriers and in shelters). Consequently,
the armament of medium tanks must be versatile and multipurpose.
With the improvement of the means of antitank defense and the in-
crease of the combat qualities of enemy tanks, firepowe' increased,
the thickness of the armor increased, and the weight of medium tanks
increased correspondingly. At the present time the weight of our
tanks of this type has reached 36 tons, in West Germany (experimental
model) - 35, in Japan and Switzerland - about 35 tons. In the USA and
the UK, the combat tasks of medium tanks are fulfilled by 46 to 50 ton tank.
Research carried out by industry and in the Military Academy
of Armored Troops shows that with the retention of tube artillery systems
for the armament of the tank, the optimum combat weight of a medium tank
in the next few years will be approximately 36 tons. It is highly un-
desirable to increase further the weight of the medium tank. But it is
also completely unacceptable to reduce the weight at the expense of its
protective features.
Reduction of the weight of a medium tank, with simultaneous im-
provement of its protective features, an increase in its mobility, and
the growth of its firepower may clearly be achieved by switching over
to guided missiles* however, for the time being, the basic armament of
a medium tank will be a gun. At the present stage of guided missile
development, they still cannot satisfy two contradictory requirements -
versatility and antitank effectiveness. In connection with this (as a
stage in the assimilation of guided missiles), it would be interesting
to combine a powerful antitank gun with guided missiles (URS). In this
case the latter must be located inside the tank and be launched by means
of a gun. They (URS) will be used for destroying enemy tanks at great
distances, i.e., it will be a specialized supplement to the basic (gun)
armament of the tank.
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In order to increase the firepower of the tank it is necessary
to have e rangefinder and automatic loading, equipping it with a
night sight ai,u cxevi~-;es for night vision that work without special
lighting.
The armor of the tank must ensure reliable protection from mass
antitank weapons and the best possible protection from the busi c tank
and antitank guns of the enemy.
It is necessary for the medium tanks to have high mobility in
order to ensure swift tempos of the offensive, the best utilization
of conditions created by the delivery of nuclear strikes against the
enemy, and for rapid dispersal when there is a threat that the enemy
will use these weapons. The necessary mobility, with the possibility
of attaining average speeds of movement over the terrain of about
35 to 40 km/hour may be achieved in tanks with the utilization of
improved transmissions with automatic or semi-automatic drive, and
with the creation of a suspension that ensures a very smooLn ride.
Moreover, the maximum speed of the tank should be 70 to 75 km/hour,
for which it is necessary to increase the power of the tank by
approximately 25 HP/ton.
In order to increase the maximum effective range of the tank
troops, the cruising range of the tank must be substantially in-
creased in comparison with that which has been achieved in our modern
medium tank.
The tank must have effective special antiatomic protection (PAZ)
from all the destructive effects of a nuclear burst. Special attention
should be given to increasing the biological protection of the crew
from penetrating radiation.
Fundamental improvements in protecting tanks from all the various
modern destructive means must be found in completely new elements, in
particular the compact accommodation of a reduced crew. In this case,
it will be much simpler to carry out the appropriate complex (armor and
biological) protection of the crew, without detriment to the other com-
bat characteristics of the tank.
The tank must be suited for moving along the bottom of rivers with
the aid of simple equipment for underwater driving (OPVT) and for float-
ing with the use of individual means of flotation.
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00, _RFrPFT
Heavy Tank. In modern conditions the heavy tanks that have, in
comparison with the medium tanks, more powerful armament and consider-
ably better protection, are a means of qualitative reinforcement of
the medium tanks, and are the most powerful weapon for combating the
tanks of the enemy.
The qualitative reinforcement of medium tanks, as is known, may
be attained with the assistance of heavy tanks.or assault guns created
on the chassis of the medium tank and differing from it by having more
powerful armament. The first method is preferable. The powerful arma-
ment of the heavy tanks increases the possibility of their combat utili-
zation, especially in offensive operations.
With the adoption as armament, by our probable enemy, of 105mm
rifled guns that have quite a high muzzle velocity of subcaliber pro-
jectile, as the basic artillery weapon of its mass-produced types of
tanks, with the presence of various means for reinforcing them, it
becomes necessary to create qualitative means for reinforcing our
medium tanks in the form of heavy tanks or other combat vehicles that
differ from the medium tank, at least by the fact that they have more
powerful armament.
Since the basic task of the heavy tanks will be the destruction
of enemy tanks, they will, to a greater degree than the medium tanks,
be better suited for the installation of guided missiles (URS) as
their main armament. The use of URS opens the most effective path for
increasing the firepower with a sharp improvement in protective features.
The future development of the heavy tank depends on increasing its
firepower I increasing its armor protection, and ensuring a more effective
system of antiatomic protection than other types of tanks have. An in-
crease of the combat qualities of heavy tanks must be achieved by im-
plementing new- decisions on specifies, based on the use of new armament.
Light Tank. The broadening of the sphere of tank use in conditions
of a nuclear missile war makes it necessary to have well-armed light
tanks, among which it is possible to single out the following types:
reconnaissance, antitank and tanks of airborne troops.
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Reconnaissance combat vehicles perform intelligence, combat
security, pursuit, and ccumunications tasks. Their distinguishing
features are high mobility and cross-country ability. In order to
achieve these qualities, striving to get low weight, firepower nd,
protection are sometimes sacrificed. However it should Oe E:..
mind that with the fulfilment of the task of security with such
vehicles, it is often necessary to halt enemy tanks at favorable
lines, and to be subjected to the effects of various fire means
during pursuit.
Antitank combat vehicles are an important supplement to the
heavy tanks, as a highly mobile antitank reserve. They can, in a
very short period of time, be moved in a sufficient quantity to the
point of an enemy tank breakthrough., for example, into the zone of
a nuclear burst. The quickly created antitank screen will slow down
the enemy advance before tanks with more powerful armament arrive.
With the limited weight, these vehicles will have relatively weak
armor protection and will be inferior to the medium (basic) ones in
respect to firepower. If it is necessary to have multipurpose arma-
ment for the reconnaissance vehicle, then, for similar vehicles, it
is possible to use guided missiles, even some of the simpler ones.
Airborne landing tanks are necessary for the airborne troops.
A landing is an important target and will definitely be attacked by
enemy tanks. It must be capable of maneuver and must have an adequate
strike force to capture important objectives. Low weight and unavoid-
able limiting of armor and firepower are obvious for the airborne
troops' (VDV) tank. At the same time it is assigned quite complex
tasks. They need armament that is both versatile and quite effective
from the antitank standpoint. The armor must provide protection from
the fire of large-caliber machineguns and small-caliber automatic guns.
It is very difficult to combine all these characteristics. But if an
effective airborne landing tank is created, it will be able to fulfil
the functions of both a reconnaissance and a light antitank vehicle.
Obviously such a multipurpose light tank must have a 76 to 851mn caliber
gun, capable of destroying the basic enemy tanks (mainly their side
armor) at medium distances. As an additional antitank weapon it may
have several guided missiles of the simplest design, located, for
example, on the turret and guided by wires. The tank must have auto-
matic loading and be equipped with a rangefinder.
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The maximum speed of such a tank must be higher than that of medium
and, especially, heavy tanks. We should recall one of the lessons ,f
the last war: light tanks, that were inferior to the medium ones in
respect to mobility, were found to be useless for fulfilling combat sup-
port tasks. Seeing that their armament (37 to 45mm guns) did not con-
stitute any danger for the medium tanks, not to me t mention
Germany ea a year , pro-
duction of our light tanks was halted in 1943,
The system of antiatomic protection of the tank being proposed must
consist mainly of carrying out hermetic sealing, introducing a filtering-
ventilating installation, pressurizing the crew compartment, and ensuring
simple decontamination.
In this tank, ensuring flotation will be of special concern, as this
is contrary to the striving for compactness and small size. It is possible
that this question will be resolved with the aid of stationary blocks of foam
plastic (penoplast) or by other means with which it is possible to attain a
temporary (during the time of floating) increase in water displacement.
It is necessary to note that the most successful light tank will not
be able to replace the basic tank in an offensive operation. Of course
the light tank will be cheaper than the medium one, but it will remain a
specialized combat vehicle that is inferior to the basic (medium) tank in
the complex "fir(.: v .,,,.c-armor protection" that defines the effectiveness of
a tank in a fire
Infantry Combat Vehicles
At the present time the explanation of the basic tactical-technical
qualities of a special combat vehicle for the infantry deserves very
serious attention, the need for which, in conditions of a war with the use
of weapons of mass destruction, is apparent.
The difficulties in determining the basic features of such a vehicle
are explained by the fact that it must be the combat vehicle that is mass
produced in the largest quantities, with the requirements and limitations
that arise there from, imposed, first of all, by economics. At the same
time, this vehicle must ensure the conduct of vigorous combat operations
during the use of nuclear/missile weapons, the requirements ofwhich can-
not be satisfied by regular armored personnel carriers that are just a
means of transport.
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The variety of approaches cited for determining the basic features
of the infantry combat vehicle makes it necessary for us to dwell on
this question in greater detail.
Up to the present time the infantry is a necessary arm of the 50X1 -HU M
troops, even though its role and significance in the ground army
has essentially changed. The basic strike force role passed from
the infantry, first to the artillery (World War I), then to the
artillery and tanks, and finally to nuclear/missile weapons and tanks.
In examining the offensive operation, it may be said simply that the
infantry is given the final functions after the enemy is subjected to
strikes by the strike arms of the troops, and also the final assimilation
of the captured territory.
The essence of combat utilization of infantry is the individual
actions of individual soldiers within the framework of the organized
collective. The infantry is capable of destroying the enemy to the
last soldier, i.e., to bring the battle to an end, while the strike
arms of the troops, as a rule, perform the cardinal, basic tasks of
the battle, but do not bring it town end.
Besides performing the functions of bringing things to an end, the
infantry, in some cases, creates opportunities for using the strike arms
of the troops, and carries out combat operations under conditions where
the use of strike arms of the troops is not expedient (for example, when
operating in mountains).
Under conditions of a nuclear/missile war, the infantry will not
be able to fulfil its inherent functions with its old weapons. On the
battlefield it must be mobile (motorized) and to a certain extent pro-
tected from a nuclear burst and its effects (armored). This can only
be achieved with combat vehicles that are specially constructed for the
infantry. It is of special importance to have such vehicles for the
infantry in the tank troops.
Thus, infantry combat vehicles (PBX) are combat vehicles with the
use of which the infantry retains its inherent peculiarities for con-
ducting battle and acquires the protection and mobility on the battle-
field that it lacks. In our opinion it is completely incorrect to ex-
amine the PBX only as a means for coordinating the infantry with the
tanks, or as the means of transport to the field and partially on the
battlefield. Infantry combat vehicles - are the basic infantry means
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for carrying on combat in modern conditions. Therefore they must be
constructed in such a way as not to limit, but on the contrary, to
develop the positive qualities that are inherent to the infantry,
thanks to which the infantry varies from the other arms of troops
and justifies its existence.
Maybe the best solution of this question would be the creation of
individual armored mobile vehicles, equipped with weapons, for a single
soldier. However, at the present time this solution is impossible due
to technical and economic considerations.
Proceeding from this, it is possible to formulate approximate
requirements for the modern infantry combat vehicle.
It is visualized in the form of an armored (it must be closed and
hermetically sealed) mobile, amphibious vehicle having high cross-country
ability and holding several soldiers. The crew (landing force) must, to
a certain extent, be protected from the effects of a nuclear weapon and
its after-effects (thermal radiation, radioactive substances and others).
While in the vehicle, they must have the opportunity to use their indi-
vidual weapons. It is advisable to foresee the possibility of convenient
and covered dismounting.
Obviously it is expedient to limit the size of the crews.9 (landing
force) of such a vehicle to a squad - the minimal T(E unit. .A smaller
crew (landing force) will lead to an undesirable increase in the total
number of such vehicles, and a larger one will turn the infantry combat
vehicle into a personnel carrier, where, in a number of cases, incomplete
combat use of the entire landing force concentrated in the vehicle will
be observed, and with its destruction the personnel will suffer heavy
losses. Besides the landing force, the PBM must have a mechanic-driver
and an operator for the fixed armament. The latter must remain in the
vehicle in order to give fire support to the dismounted landing force.
Therefore, total size of the crew (landing force) will be 7 to 10 persons.
The armament of the PBM must ensure the destruction of similar
vehicles of the enemy, emplacements, and personnel. The individual wea-
pons of the landing force, even if it is possible to use it actively in
combat, cannot fulfil all these tasks. It is only capable of incapacitat-
ing enemy personnel, and even then at an insignificant distance. Therefore
it is recommended to have fixed., light armament on the vehicle.
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The fixed armament must be compact and have the ability to conduct
all-around fire (3600), not require an increase in the size of the
vehicle, and not decrease the ease of accommodating the landing force.
50X1-HUM
If such armament requires a special combat compartment with a ro-
tating race (pogon) having a diameter of 1300 to 1500mm, this will com-
plicate and increase the weight of the PBt4, and will turn it into a
combination artillery combat vehicle. and armored personnel carrier. This
will result in an unjustified complex vehicle which it probably will not
be possible to create on a mass scale.
Apparently the most appropriate armament for the PBM will be a small-
caliber automatic gun (20 to Nom caliber) which will sometimes even destroy
tanks. It should be kept in mind that fragmentation shells of a small-
caliber gun give a substantially greater effect than a large caliber machine
gun. The gun must be reinforced with a regular machine gun.
With light guns, it is possible to install several infantry-type
antitank guided missiles (PTURS) at the sides of the turret.
For effective utilization of the small arms of the landing force, the
riflemen can best be located along the vehicle, facing the sides, which
should have ports and embrasures provided in them.
An infantry vehicle that is mass produced, compact, and if possible,
light, cannot have armor capable of withstanding shells. It is advisable
to protect the PEM from the fire of large-caliber machine guns, otherwise
they will stop it just as easily as the standard machine gun stopped the
infantry in World War I. The glacis plates of the PBM must have a design
thickness of about 35 to 40mm. The sides cannot be the same, or the vehicle
cannot be amphibious. However, l3mm sides will ensure protection from the
fire of standard machine guns and, within the limits of a target angle of
3do, from the fire of large-caliber ones also.
The special protection of the PBM must include the hermetic sealing
of the body and a filtering-ventilating system for the collective protection
of the crew from radioactive substances, and chemical and bacteriological
weapons. It is not obligatory for the PBM to have higher speeds (average and
maximum) than the tanks, but in principle they are helpful. Obviously.,
the power rating of 20 HP/ton and a maximum speed of 70 to 75 km/hour will
be adequate for it.
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50X1-HUM
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The cruising range should not be less than for tanks. The cross-
country ability of the PBM should be no worse than that of the tanks.
Fundamentally this can be ensured with tracked or improved wheeled
running gear.
Without going into detail regarding the advantages and disadvantages
of tracked and wheeled running gear, we will only point out that a
thorough analysis shows that it is expedient to use tracked running gear
on the PBM. With tracked running gear it is possible to have a simpler
transmission, running gear, and body, and it is considerably easier to
make them buoyant by using ordinary caterpillar tracks for this purpose.
With other conditions equal the vehicle has smaller dimensions and weight.
On the whole these parameters for a mass-produced vehicle are decisive
and the necessary assurance of a caterpillar track service period of
8Poo to 10,000km is not a problem for a light vehicle. This problem can
be resolved fairly easily by using rubber and metal couplings.
The comparatively low weight of the infantry combat vehicle permits
making it amphibious. Since the attainment of high speeds in water is
not an obligatory requirement of the PBM, its buoyancy in water can be
achieved by using ordinary caterpiller tracks.
Seeing that the infantry combat vehicle must be the vehicle found
in the army in the largest numbers, it is necessary to strive for it to
be of minimal weight, simply constructed, and cheap, so that it would be
possible to make wide-scale use of standard components of the automobile-
tractor industry.
All this makes great demands on the space allocation (komponovka).
If the quality of the allocation in the tank is evaluated by how much of
the interior volume of the vehicle is left for the combat compartment,
then for the PBMthe largest portion of the interior volume should be
devoted to personnel.
The space allocation of the PBM must be original. It is doubtful
that the chassis of other vehicles (for example, of the reconnaissance
tanks) can be used for it. On the contrary, it is more likely that on
the chassis of this mass produced vehicle other vehicles in the same
weight category, may be created.
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In principle it is possible to have two logical arrangements of
such vehicles. The first - the motor and transmission complex and
the mechanic-driver are located in front, occupying 1/4 to 1/3 of the
vehicle length; the other space remains free for accommodating the
landing force and armament; the rear is made in the form of a hinged
ramp.
The advantages of this arrangement are the ease of accommodation
and convenience of disembarking the landing force, and the wide possi-
bility of using the chassis of such a vehicle without substantial
alterations (thanks to the presence of vacant space) for command-staff,
reconnaissance, medical, transport, and other vehicles. However, with
this arrangement it is difficult, when the vehicle is floating, to
distribute the weight of the heavy nose section to the rear. Besides,
the vehicle becomes rather long.
The second arrangement o the motor and transmission complex are
located in a narrow tunnel along the center line of the vehicle, with
the motor in the rear section and the transmission in the forward part.
The landing force is located along the sides of the vehicle with their
backs to the tunnel. In order to decrease the width of the vehicle it
is possible to turn the soldiers of the landing force slightly forward.
The armament and its operator are installed in the forward part of the
vehicle, along with the mechanic-driver. The rear is made in the form
of a hinged ramp, the same as for the first variant. This arrangement
permits obtaining the minimum length and floating balance, but it is
inferior to the former in vevc tilLty (because of the tunnel along the
center line of the vehicle).
Working this out with sketches has shown that the P in the
tracked version, that fulfils all the requirements examined above.,
may be created with a weight of 8 to 10 tons.
It should be said that in the armies of the LISA, West Germany
and France, a considerable amount of attention is given to developing
infantry armored personnel carriers.
So far the US Army is concentrating exclusively on tracked vehicles.
It is assumed that all the infantry will conduct combat operations in
armored personnel carriers.
. l5?
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Ths Bundesvehr is only beginning to create a pool of armored per-
sonnel carriers and is also concentrating on tracked vehicles. More-
over,, they make wide-scale use of the French and Swiss experience. In
West Germany they also operate on the principle that infantry must oper-
ate in armored personnel carriers.
Several armored personnel carriers have been introduced as armament
in the French army, but they are produced in a limited quantity. The
appearance of the wheeled, armored personnel carrier "Panar" must be
viewed only as an attempt to test the possibility of creating an armored
personnel carrier on the chassis of the reconnaissance armored car "Panar".
So far the British army does not have any tracked armored personnel .
carriers. The basic vehicle of this type is the wheeled armored personnel
carrier "Saracen". It should be said that in it, to a certain extent, it
was possible to-combine a moderately complex chassis with satisfactory
cross-country ability.
Table 2 presents data on modern vehicles that are used for the
infantry. The majority of them are still just a means of transport, and
do not provide the infantry with the opportunity to carry on combat oper-
ations under the new conditions. However, some of the foreign vehicles
mounting appropriate armament may approach the prospective PBM that we
have examined.
Let us dwell on individual models of armored personnel carriers.
The Soviet wheeled, armored personnel carrier BM-152 does not stand
up to criticism. In the pursuit of an economic commercial chassis, a
vehicle was created that does not satisfy the given requirements as regards
cross-country ability, unit power rating, and several other parameters.
The combat qualities of this vehicle equate with the level of armored
personnel carriers used in the years of World War 11.
The tracked, armored personnel carrier BM-50PK possesses a more
improved design, but neither does it satisfy many requirements. Without
dwelling on its merits, let us note the faults. In actuality, this is a
means of transport for carrying a landing force of 20 persons. The latter
are accommodated in crowded conditions in the central part of the vehicle
and, located there, they cannot participate in combat. Dismounting of the
landing force is difficult. The vehicle does not have fixed armament. The
glacis plate is not thick enough. The arrangement of the vehicle is poor
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for use as a PBM - with the large size of the vehicle the landing force
is accommodated on a "postage stamp". This is a result of using the
chassis of an amphibious tank. The special propellers for traveling
through water are an unnecessary luxury for a vehicle of this type. On
the whole the design of the armored personnel carrier is complex, heavy,
and also quite expensive. Finally, its mobility (speed, cruising range)
leaves much to be desired.
Some of the most successful foreign models appear in a much better
light, even though they also have faults. Here we have in mind the ve-
hicles M113 (USA, Illustration 1); "Hotchkiss" (France, West Germany,
Illustration 2); "Hispano-Suiza'1 (West Germany, Switzerland, Illustration
3); and "Pirate" (Switzerland). These armored personnel carriers have the
smallest size and weight. The landing force (approximately a squad) is
conveniently accommodated in the enclosed body and can, to a certain ex-
tent, participate in combat. Convenient dismounting is provided through
a ramp at the rear. They make wide-scale use of motor vehicle engines
and transmissions. Some vehicles ("Hotchkiss", "Hispanc -Suiza" ) have
an automatic small-caliber gun (with a muzzle velocity or ?00 meters/second).
The others have a large-caliber machine gun in a rotating turret. Some of
the models (A1IC, "Pirate", 1(1.13) are equipped with a PAZ system.
The Al4X armored personnel carrier cannot be counted with the best,
despite a number of good features (for example, the armor), as a result
of a somewhat excessive landing force and great weight. The wheeled,
armored personnel carrier "Panay" has a very unique design, but due to
its great complexity ( which is probably not acceptable for a mass-produced
vehicle), it is only interesting from the technical standpoint.
The PBM that our army needs must considerably surpass the best foreign
vehicles that have been examined. Here, it must be considered that it will
still only be under development, and that these vehicles are already in-
troduced into the armament, and will probably be improved. Therefore, there
should be a large measure of qualitative superiority in its makeup, such as:
very small dimensions and weight with convenient accommodation of the land-
ing force, armament (free rockets), that is even capable, if necessary, of
destroying tanks, adequate armor protection from large-caliber machine guns,
and together with all this, it should be amphibious.
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Basic Data on Modern Soviet and Foreign Armored Personnel Carriers
West Ger-
West Ger-
Country
USSR
USSR
USSR
USA
UK
France
France
many,
many.
Switzer-
d
France
Switzer-
lan
land
"Sara-
"Hispano-
Model of armored per-
i
BTR-50FK
BTR-152K
BTR-60P
W13
cen"
AM
"Panar"
"Hotchkiss"
Suiza"
"Pirate"
er
sonnel carr
Type of running gear
Tracked
Wheeled
Wheeled
Tracked
Wheel-
Tracked
Wheeled
Tracked
Tracked
Tracked
ed
Weight in Tons
14.3
8.9
9.9
10.1
10.2
13.5
13.5
6.4 12.5
11.2
Length
7.1
6.8
7..1+
4.8
5.0
5.5
5.6
3.7
5.3
5.3
Dimensions
in meters
Width
3.1
2.3
2.87
2.66
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.4
Height
2.0
2.1
2.1 1
2.2
2.4
2.3
2.1
1.9
2.1
1.95
Lending force and
20+2
16+1
15+1
10-0-2
10+2
12*2
13+2
5+2
9+2
11+1
crew, persons
Armament
-
-
-
12.7mm
7.5mm
12.7mm
12.7mm
20mm gun
20mm gun
machine
machine
machine
machine
gun
gun
gun
gun
Glacia
Plate
10=13
6=13
6=10
13
30
40
30
20
Thickness
of?armor
mm Side
10:13
6=13
6. 10
13
20
15
15
12
Rear
10:-13
6113
6.10
13
15
15
10
10
Special antiatomic
+
+
-
protection (PAZ)
-
-
-
-
Maxim/hpour
44
65
80
64
70
6o 100
65
65 65
Cruising range, km
250
550
600
320
360
340 600
350
300
300
Amphibious
!water
.1
water
propulsion
jet
-
jet
Tracke
-
- -
-
-
-
drive
drive
drive
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Illustration 1. Armored Personnel Carrier M113 (USA)
Illustrat.ipa 2. Armored Personnel Carrier "Hotchkiss"
(West Germany, France)
Illustration 3. Armored ~?ersonnel Carrier "Hispano
Su1,za+" (West Germany, Switzerland)
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Artillery Combat Vehicles
Despite the presence of nuclear weapons, artillery support may be
necessary for successful operations by tanks and infantry, especially
when they are separated from the other forces. Therefore, it is desirable
for the tank troops to have mobile tracked vehicles with light armor,
equipped with howitzer or rocket armament (free rockets) and designated
for artillery support of the tanks. Such vehicles should not be confused
with the turretless tanks with shell-resistant armor, the so-called
assault guns (SAU) of wartime. Artillery combat vehicles (ABM) usually
carry out group fire from concealed positions at a definite distance
from the enemy.
The ABM, in conformity with the missions it fulfils, must have shells
that have good high-explosive fragmentation action, considerable range of
fire, capable of destroying area targets, good lateral and range fire
maneuverability, and, moreover, a large unit of fire. The most expedient
armament is the howitzer (larger caliber than on tanks) or free rockets
(multiple launching mount). It is recommended that only part of the
vehicles be armed with the latter, as a supplement, capable of creating
a high concentration of fire. Howitzer armament must be located in a
closed revolving turret. Bulletproof armor giving protection from standard
caliber automatic fire, is completely adequate - such vehicles avoid direct
contact with the enemy.
The arrangement and chassis of the ABM should be the same as for a
light tank, only having a different turret. For stability there should
be a spade (soshnik) and suspension idler wheels. The questions of
antiatomic protection should be resolved in the same manner as for other
vehicles having light armament - light tanks and infantry combat vehicles.
The ABM has been developed to the greatest degree in the US Army
where the artillery battalions of tank divisions are armed with 105mm and
155mm self-propelled howitzers. As an example of a vehicle of this type,
Illustration 4 shows a T196 self-propelled howitzer of the American Army.
Its weight is 18 tons. It is completely armored (bulletproof). The 155mm
howitzer is mounted in a revolving turret. The range of fire is 16,000
meters, and the unit of fire is 50 rounds. The vehicle overcomes water
barriers afloat, under its own power.
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Illustration 4. 155mm T196 Self-Propelled Howitzer (USA)
Besides the field-type ABM,used in the tank divisions for direct
artillery support of tanks, it is now necessary to have high-powered
ABMs. Such vehicles are intended for inflicting nuclear or conven-
tional artillery strikes at distances of 20 to 30km. Their design
:can duplicate that of the field-type ABM in many ways (in an enlarged
form) and can be made on the chassis of the basic tank. Either 150 -
175mm caliber guns or medium-caliber free rockets (missiles) may serve
as armament. A vehicle of this type is shown in Illustration 5. This
is the 175mm T235 atomic assault gun of the US Army. Its weight is
26 tons, and range of fire is 30,000 meters. The mechanic-driver is
located in an armored cab. The crew and an additional unit of fire are
located in an auxiliary armored personnel carrier. The vehicle has
quite a large cruising rang.. (800 km). 50X1-HUM
High-powered ABM's may be attached to tank divisions or even in-
cluded in their composition.
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Illustration 5. 175mm T235 Atomic Assault Gun (USA)
Vehicle on an "Air Cushion"
Let us evaluate the prospects of military application of vehicles
flying slightly'above the surface of. the ground by using supporting
("air cushion") running gear. In order to have such a vehicle travel
above the surface of the ground and above water, the pressures exerted
at its base are limited by values of approximately 50 to 100 kg/m2.
This means that a vehicle that weighs approximately 10 tons must have,
with a fairly small expenditure of force, a base area of more than 100
square meters. The uppermost limit of the above-indicated pressure is
applicable for some planned vehicles of greater weight, and the lowest
has been implemented in various types of. flying motor vehicles and in
the British vehicle "Hovercraft".
The large length and width, with a comparatively small lift height
(not over 0.4 meters) and the small size of slope' negotiated (from 8
to 130 in prototypes) limit the possibilities of wide-scale application
of such vehicles for military purposes, permitting them to move only
1- water surfaces.
d
oven m
over roads, unusually level terrain, an
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The advantages of utilizing supporting running gear consist of
the fact that in comparison with the engines of aircraft (helicopters)
it permits reducing the power from approximately 200 HP/ton to 80 to
100 HP/ton. Moreover, according to data in the foreign press,, the
useful load may reach 40 percent of the weight of the vehicle.
If we limit ourselves to a small clearance (of up to 0.4m), then
the basic faults of a vehicle with supporting running gear will be:
complexity of design, connected with ensuring control during movement,
large size, and limited cross-country ability when moving over uneven
terrain. If their clearance is increased, then the power necessary to
lift it will grow rapidly and will attain values that modern aircraft
have. The power limitations are approximately the same for "flying jeeps"
that have ducted rotors. With an increase of the clearance, the load
capacity decreases sharply, the expenditure of fuel increases, and the
cruising range is reduced.
Taking into consideration everything that has been stated, it is
possible to visualize two types of such combat vehicles:
-- small vehicles, intended for movement above land and water,
which will be ground troop equipment; their intended combat use will
be reconnaissance and communications; increasing the clearance will
lead to unfavorable parameters of the unit power rating which, however,
may prove necessary; therefore we do not rule out the possibility of
utilizing a vehicle of the "flying jeep" type with ducted rotors;
-- fairly large vehicles that are a means of transport., obviously
they will be used to advantage for moving over water, but also will be
able to move over fairly level terrain.
During the last few years, the combat characteristics and., above
all, the firepower of the tanks of our probable enemies have increased
significantly (see Table 1). The correlation of the combat qualities
of our medium tanks and the basic tanks of the US Army has become less
favorable than it was several years ago. Therefore., it is necessary
to apply serious efforts to creating new models of tanks that would be
superior to the foreign ones. It is also clear that successful ground
troop operations are possible only if they are equipped, not only with
high-quality tanks, but also with a number of other combat vehicles that
answer modern requirements.
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