Kubinka Tank Museum Hall N3 Guide and Virtual Tour

Soviet Light Tanks, Assault Guns and Carriers in Kubinka Tank Museum (Russia). Pavilion N 3 exhibits list and official catalog at 1994- 2015.

Armored Vehicles of the World War two, Cold War and the Local Conflicts: light tanks, airborne combat vehicles (BMD), assault guns.

History of the pavilion N 3. Virtual tour on the tank museum 1972-2014

“Pavilion No. 3 impresses with a variety of light armored vehicles with the most unexpected combat qualities and their combination. This variety is modestly supported by the only two tank T-26 tanks preserved in the world. Here is the T-70 tank, a participant in the heavy battles of 1942 in the area of ​​Velikiye Luki , which for 60 years lay in a swamp and a group of enthusiasts have been restored and put back into operation. Why do you like tanks of marines, which today do not have equal tanks (tanks) all over the world.? The tanks of the winged infantry are BMD, a kind of small brisk weight A mobile floating tank bristling with a complex of missile-cannon-machine-gun weapons You can imagine yourself being loved in the place of the driver-mechanic of the combat vehicle when the “aluminum tank”, being pulled out of the belly of a military transport aircraft, on one dome of the parachute, in almost free fall, gaining speed of 9 floors per second falls into the abyss? Such systems failed to create any country in the world. ” (colonel Boris Ozerov)

Soviet light tanks began to develop following the results of the First World War. France and Poland produced tanks to support cavalry. And in these times the Red Army considered Poland as the main potential LDP. In the UK, light tanks of the Karden-Loyd-Vickers type were purchased for study, and in the United States two samples of the Christie automobile tank. From 1931-38, through the creative development of foreign experience, various first Soviet light tanks for reconnaissance, support of cavalry and infantry were manufactured. Some models were floating. In the pavilion there are tank-amphibians T-37A and T-40 (designer A.N. Astrov). At the beginning of the war, the T-40 amphibian was transformed into a land T-40S and on its basis began to develop a “line” of light tanks T-30, T-60, T-70 with car engines. These tanks are also represented in the pavilion.

For delivery to the guerrillas and landing in the rear of the enemy in late 1941, designers were given a task to develop a towed airframe. Oleg Antonov, an aircraft designer, was one of the founders of Soviet gliding. He suggested an interesting variant of transportation of a tank equipped with wings, in tow behind the plane (project A-40 “Wings of the Tank”). The design was extremely simple and cheap. The tank had to detach from the towing aircraft for 20-30 km from its destination, move silently, make landing and, dropping its wings, engage in battle. The first flight took place on September 2, 1942.

After the evacuation of the factories to the Urals, light tanks T-50, T-60, T-70 and T-80 were produced. They were also intended to directly support the infantry. Manufactured more than 14,000 light tanks. Tanks T-70 participated even in the Kursk arc. For the tactics of fighting the “pack,” the Germans called them “locusts.” After the Kursk arc, the chassis of these tanks were used for the production of self-propelled guns with guns of 76 mm.

T-26, designed to directly support the infantry, is presented in two versions (with one and two towers). This is so widely known for the civil war in Spain. Developed on the basis of a six-ton ​​tank of the British company Vickers. In 1938, the telescopic sight of the TOC was installed on the tank with stabilization of the aiming line in the vertical plane. In total, more than 11,000 tanks of this type have been produced.

BT (high-speed tank) – was developed to interact with the cavalry on the basis of the “Christie” tank. After removing the tracks for about twenty minutes, this tank could rush along the M1 highway to Warsaw and Berlin as a high-speed car. The tank was produced in 4 main modifications: BT-2, BT-5, BT-7, BT-7M. They had exceptional speed data (on tracks up to 55 km / h, on rinks up to 75 km / h) and good cross-country ability. BT tanks were produced around 8,000, only a few survived. By the end of 1942, they were almost all destroyed. One of the preserved stands on a monument in Mongolia.

In the postwar period, based on the experience of war, as well as some new tasks, a lightweight floating PT-76 tank (lead designer NV Shashmurin) was created.

PT-76 is the first domestic tank designed for land, airborne troops and marines, for fighting in different LDP, where the conditions of the terrain, the use of major tanks is difficult. For the first time in the world a water cannon was used as a propulsor on water, which allowed using the tank not only on open, but also waterlogged reservoirs. Until now, for tanks of this class on patency it has no equal in the world. The tank since 1951 to the present time is on the armament of the army. On the basis of the PT-76 tank, armored personnel carriers BTR-50P, BTR-50PK, tactical missile launchers, command and staff vehicles,

The experience of light tanks of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and even elements of their designs were again in demand during the development of technology for the Airborne Forces. Until the mid-sixties, the airborne troops (“Uncle Vasya’s troops” -the commander of Colonel-General Vasiliy Margelov) were equipped with ultra-light self-propelled artillery systems of 76 mm and 57 mm caliber, created on the basis of automobile units and units, and even 85 ms SU-85 (15 tons) on the original base using elements of light tanks of the T-30-T-40-T-60 series. Since the mid-sixties new special combat vehicles for landing with powerful weapons have already been developed: BMD-1, BTR-D (caterpillar floating amphibious armored personnel carrier), Nona S, BMD-2 with 30 mm automatic cannon.

At the beginning of 1972, they began to test BMD (landing combat vehicle) first on a special test bench, and then dropping it from an airplane on special shock-absorbing platforms weighing two tons. When landing, the huge dome of the parachute covered the technique, and the lines became entangled and fell under the tracks and skating rinks. In addition, after the dump of the combat vehicle, the crew jumped after it. Back in the 1960s, the commander of the Airborne Forces, General of the Army, Margelov, had the idea of ​​landing troops directly in technology. Paratroopers sitting in their BMD, immediately after landing, go on the attack.

On January 5, 1973, ANT-12 lifted BMD with its crew inside. In the space armchairs the commander of the crew Lieutenant-Colonel Leonid Zuev, the gunner-operator – Senior Lieutenant Alexander Margelov (the son of the commander of the Airborne Forces, General of the Army Vasily Margelov) was sitting at the place of the driver.

Five huge parachutes slowly lowered the BMD … which flew by the wind for many kilometers from the proposed landing point. Thus, the multi-dome parachute system “CENTAUR” allowed to assault the crew inside the BMD, but the accuracy of the landing was far from ideal.

And if instead of a dome system there is only one light parachute installed? Then the combat vehicle will descend four times faster, and, therefore, more accurately. The vertical speed at the moment of landing can be extinguished due to the operation of special brake motors.

On January 23, 1976, near Pskov, above the parachute radar of the 76th Guards Airborne Division, the BMD dropped out of the hatch of the military transport aircraft and, braking just one parachute, rushed to the ground, quickly gaining the speed of almost free fall. The reactive braking system worked well. The car immediately wound up and rushed to the firing line, where the crew shot perfectly. The task of landing BMD with a part of the crew inside the parachute-reactive system (ORS) – without a platform was solved. The program was called “REACTAVR” (jet centaur). The crew included Alexander Margelov and Leonid Shcherbakov. Twenty years after this event, for their courage and heroism, they were awarded the title Heroes of the Russian Federation.

Since 1976, the Airborne Forces have adopted the reactive-reactive systems “REACTAVR”, which allowed to reduce the time for the collection of personnel and equipment on the landing site after landing to tens of minutes.

Airborne Forces of the Russian Army

BMD-3 (designed by AV Shabalin) is made with an aluminum alloy body, powerful weapons, an improved chassis, excellent hydraulics and universal seats with an amortization system that allows them to parachute these vehicles with a crew and landing “from heaven to battle”. There was a real opportunity to drop the crew inside the car in its entirety – all seven people!
On August 20, 1998, for the first time in the world, such landing in the course of conventional exercises was carried out by the 104th Guards Regiment. Mobility and patency of domestic cars of light weight category is much better than the best analogues of foreign production. Such systems are the pride of Russia, the masculinity of the paratroopers, the heroism of the testers, the highest intellect of the creators of military equipment, unsurpassed domestic technologies. After all, no one in the world, either in America, Germany, the UK, or France has been able to solve this problem. If you believe the foreign press, the French military had such an attempt, but it did not end with success (tests on the convicted criminals ended in the death of the latter)
“Soviet light tanks, AF, BMD, BTR-D”, photo archives of the hall before 2014

Kubibnka tank museum Hall N3 exhibits (**) the official catalog.
“Soviet light tanks, self-propelled guns, landing vehicles and BTR-D” ***  (prepared by Mikhail Blinov)

N – Brand — Object — Year of manufacture — Designation – type of production
1. Т-27,  — , 1931, tankette,  serial
2. T-26,  — , 1932, light two-turret tank, serial
3. T-26,  — ,   , light tank, serial
4. OT-130, — , 1938, flamethrower tank, serial
5. BT-5,  — , 1933, wheeled tracked tank, serial
6. T-37A, —  , 1933, amphibious tank, serial
7. T-30, —  , 1940, light tank, small series
8. T-40, —  , 1940, amphibious, serial
9. T-126, —  , 1940, light tank,  single sample
10. Т-50, — , 1940, light tank, small series
11. T-60,  — , 1941, light tank, serial
12. T-70,  — , 1942, light tank, serial
13. ZSU-37, — , 1944, anti aircraft gun, serial
14. SU-76,  — , 1943, assault gun, serial
15. T-80,  — , 1943, light tank, small series
16. K-75,  — , 1947, tracked armored carrier, one sample
17. K-78,  — , 1950, tracked amphibious armored carrier, one sample
18. K-90,  — , 1950, light amphibious tank, single sample
19. PT-76, Object 740B, 1951, light amphibious tank, serial
20. ZPTU-2, Object 750, 1955, anti aircraft on the base BTR-50P, small series
21. ZPTU-4, Object 750, 1959, anti aircraft assault gun on BTR-50P, small series
22. BTR-50PK, Object 750PK, 1957, amphibious tracked armored carrier, serial
23. BTR-50PN, Object 750 (905),1960, commander carrier, serial
24. PT-76M, Object 907, 1960, light amphibious tank, single sample
25. PT-85, Object 906, 1963, light amphibious tank, one sample
26. -, Object 685, 1976, light amphibious airborne tank, one sample
27. -, Object 934, 1975, light amphibious airborne tank, one sample
28. -, Object 940, 1976, commander carrier, one sample
29. ASU-76, Object 570, 1949, airborne assault gun, single sample
30. ASU-57P, Object К-73, 1949 (?), amphibious assault gun, one sample
31. ASU-57, Object 572, 1951, light airborne assault gun, serial
32. ASU-57P, Object 574, 1954, amphibious airborne assault gun, single sample
33. SU-85, Object 573, 1956, light AG, serial
34. BMD-1, Object  915, 1969, fighting paratrooper vehicle, serial
35. BTR-D, Object  925, 1974, paratrooper armored carrier, serial
36. BREM-D, —  , 1984, armored recovery vehicle, serial
37. BMD-2, Object 916К, 1986, combat paratrooper vehicle, serial
38. BMD-3, Object 950, 1986, same
39. BT-2,  —  , 1931, wheeled / tracked tank (on monument outside), serial

* – there are some inaccuracies in the Catalog, corrections and clarifications in the possibility are also given
** – from January 2012 – “Central Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment”
*** – this official catalog includes all the samples of the 3 pavilions that were in it since the museum was founded (1972) until its “reorganization” (2014). At the moment, most of the rare pre-war equipment in the pavilion is missing. The right half of the pavilion is occupied by a playing field for fans to play in controlled models of tanks.
Some samples were temporarily moved to Patriot Park and other museum pavilions (N4)

• Soviet light tank history and description, Part 1: T-26, T-37A – British series,
• BT series (USA Christie), Part 2: BT-2, BT-5 and T-126 prototype for T-34,
• WW2 soviet light tanks (Astrov series) – T-40, T-30, T-60, T-70
• WW2 Soviet T-70 light tank and armored vehicles on its chassis
• Serial  Soviet Airborne Forces armored vehicles :
• Soviet ASU-85 airborne serial assault gun
• PT-76 amphibious tank for WW3 D-Day as well as AV on its chassis
• Serial airborne combat vehicles: BMD-1, BMD-2, BMD-3

Time Machine: back to the past of the pavilion.
This pavilion is most changed till 2014. Recently, the right half of the pavilion has been cleared from the lungs of Soviet tanks (pre-war) and organized the games site for the bench moving models. The former exhibits of the pavilion are scattered in different places, including 15 kilometers (in the park, “The Patriot” and repair hangars). We display the official exhibits catalog, which were here in the years since 1972 till 2014, and the archival and the modern photos of this pavilion.

2016. For the summer of 2016 only the left half of the pavilion had the VDV vehicles. All armored vehicles of the Second World War were taken to different places, partly to the Patriot Park, partly to other pavilions, and a bit overhaul shops.

Recently, the right half of the pavilion has been cleared of light Soviet tanks (pre-war period) and a gaming range for bench moving models is organized. Hall N3, the modern view in 2015. Note the right side was changed into the scale-model polygon.

Some of the exhibits of this pavilion:

• WW2 battlefields (Pskov region) researching and extracting the T-70 light tank

The pavilion is especially represented by the VDV (descent paratroops, nickname “Uncle Vasia” units) AV from the creation to the modern Russian army.

2013 Virtual tour, continue…

T-126SP prototype Soviet light tank

It was developed in 1940. Only the prototype has been issued. He was not in service. In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of T-126SP: Weight – 17 tons, Number of crew – 4 people.
Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4700 x 2765 x 2330 mm.
Armament: gun – 1 piece, caliber – 45 mm., Ammunition – 150 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 4250 rounds. Armored protection – 45 mm.
Engine power – 270 horsepower, The maximum speed is 35 km / h, Cruising range on the highway – 270 km., The depth of the water barriers to be waded is 1.1 meters
Design Features: Base – the original.
**
Comrade Stalin and the command of the Soviet Army carefully studied the sad experience of the largest WW2 Allied landing operation in Normandy on D-Day in 1944. The Cold War began and set new challenges for the development of USSR armored vehicles. New Soviet tanks, self-propelled guns and military personnel carriers were supposed to provide landing from the sea and by air. The coast and military bases in France, Belgium, England, the USA, Turkey and other NATO countries were considered as the main possible battlefields. Particular attention was paid to the English Channel and the Black Sea. Obsolete WW2 light Soviet tanks and self-propelled guns, developed by designer Astrov, have received a second life.
Part 1: The first landing self-propelled guns designed by Astrov.

ASU-76 Soviet experimental light airborne assault gun

Airborne self-propelled gun ASU-76 “Object 570” (USSR), the only sample, Developed in 1949. Issued in one copy. In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the ACS-76 assault gun: Weight – 5.8 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 4670 x 2340 x 1575 mm. Armament: cannon – 1 piece, caliber – 76mm., Ammunition – 30 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Armor protection: body front – 14 mm., Side – 6 mm.
Engine power – 78 horsepower.  Maximum speed – 45 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 235 km. The depth of the water obstacles surmounted ford – 0.65 meters
Design features: The base is special. The overall layout – the top of the machine is open; there is a door in the rear wall of the left to access the loader’s seat; The engine compartment is located at the front of the vehicle.
Armament – there is a gun, adapted for firing direct fire and from closed positions, as well as a light machine gun. Protection – hull of rolled armor plates, welded.
Chassis – special, GAZ-51E engine ; mechanical transmission; crawler chassis; individual suspension, torsion bar.

ASU-57P or K-73 amphibious airborne assault gun (prototype)

Soviet Light airborne amphibious self-propelled gun ASU-57P “K-73”, USSR Airborne Forces, the only sample.
Developed in 1949. Issued in one copy. Not used in battles.

Tactical and technical characteristics of soviet ASU-57P “K-73”: Weight – 3.4 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5355 x 2085 x 1400 mm. Armament: cannon – 1 piece, caliber – 57mm., Ammunition – 30 shots
machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 400 rounds. Armor protection – 6 mm.
Engine power – 70 horsepower, Maximum speed – 54 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 265 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 7.8 km / h
Design features; The base is special. General layout – self-propelled open gun; the hull is riveted-welded; the top is covered with a tarp; power pack engine is located in the front of the case. Armament is a cannon, the peculiarity of which is the presence of a powerful muzzle brake; it is possible to fire a grape shot, the constancy of normal extraction, regardless of the length of the rollback; SG gun (*) is paired with a gun.
Protection – the body is made of rolled armor plates. Chassis – special, engine GAZ-51; mechanical transmission; crawler chassis; individual suspension, torsion bar.
* SG – machine gun system Goryunov

ASU-57 Soviet serial light airborne assault gun

Soviet serial light airborne self-propelled gun ASU-57  or “Object 572”, Soviet Airborne Forces,
Developed in 1951. It was mass-produced since 1951. It was in service with the Soviet Army. Not used in battles.

Tactical and technical characteristics of ASU-57:
Weight – 3.3 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5750 x 2086 x 1460 mm.  Armament: cannon – 1, caliber – 57 mm, ammunition – 30 shots.
Armor protection – 6 mm.
Engine power – 50 horsepower, Maximum speed – 45 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 250 km. The depth of the water obstacles surmounted ford – 0.7 meters
Design features: The base is special. General layout – refers to the type of semi-open self-propelled units; In front of the hull placed the power plant and transmission.
Armament – the gun on a special support is attached to the front plate and the bottom of the car. Protection – the hull is welded and partially riveted from steel and aluminum sheets.
Chassis – carburetor engine, gearbox and side friction with belt brakes form a single unit; suspension torsion, individual; the assault gun is descanting by parachute and glider; There is a device that blocks the extreme nodes of the suspensions on the case.

ASU-57P or Object 574 amphibious airborne assault gun (prototype)

Light amphibious airborne self-propelled gun ASU-57P “Object 574”, the Airborne Forces of the USSR, the only sample.
The object was developed in 1954. Released prototype. Not at army service. In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of ASU-57P.
Weight – 3.4 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5355 x 2085 x 1400 mm. Armament: cannon – 1, caliber – 57mm, ammunition – 30 shots. Armor protection – 4 mm.
Engine power – 55 horsepower, Maximum speed – 45 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 265 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 8.3 km / h
Design features: The base is an airborne self-propelled gun ASU-57.. The overall layout – in the front of the hull is the engine and powertrain; in the stern – fighting compartment and management department.
Armament – the initial speed of the subscale projectile 1158 m / s; there is a submachine gun. Protection – the hull is made of armor steel and duralumin armor, divided transversely by a partition into two parts, the rear part of the hull can be closed with a removable awning. Chassis – carburetor engine mounted across the hull; the power train has a power take-off with a drive to the propeller; rear rollers act as guide wheels – the tensioning mechanisms of the track chains are built into their balancers.

K-75 Soviet amphibious armored carrier (prototype)

Tracked armored personnel carrier K75, the only sample. Developed in 1947. Released prototype. Not in service. In the battles did not participate.
Location: There is no pavilion N3 for 2016

Tactical and technical characteristics of the K-75 armored carrier: Weight – 7.5 tons. The number of crew and assault – 17 (?) People. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 5360 x 2750 x 1850 mm /
Armament: machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Ammunition load – 1000 rounds.
Armor protection – 15 mm.
Engine power – 140 horsepower, Maximum speed – 40 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 200 km. The depth of the water obstacles surmounted ford – 1.0 meter
Design features: The base is a light T-70 tank and heavy car units. The overall layout – power plant and power transmission are located in front of the machine. Armament – 8 brackets are provided for the installation of the machine gun: six around the perimeter of the troop compartment and two on the roof of the control compartment. Protection – hull welded, from rolled armor plates 10-15 mm thick; sheets of the frontal part have large angles of 40-50 degrees.
Chassis – six-cylinder diesel engine, two-stroke, liquid cooled; a torch heater is built into the unit to ensure engine start; instead of supporting rollers longitudinal runners are used.

K-90 Soviet amphibious tank (prototype)

Light amphibious K-90 tank was developed in 1950, released prototype only. Not in service and In the battles.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the K-90 experimental tank:
Tank weight – 10 tons, The number of crew of the tank – 3 people. Armament: cannon – 1 piece, caliber – 76.2, ammunition – 40 shots, machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 1000 rounds. The armor protection of the tank is 15 mm. Engine power – 140 horsepower, Maximum speed – 43 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 250 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 9.6 km / h
Design features: Base – units of artillery tractor M-2. The overall layout – the power plant is located in front of the machine, the fighting compartment is shifted to the stern. Armament – a gun and a machine gun are paired, a telescopic articulated sight. Protection – welded hull, from rolled armor plates, turret welded, conical shape.
Chassis – two-stroke engine, four-cylinder, diesel engine liquid cooling; mechanical transmission; individual suspension, torsion bar; Propellers with a diameter of 600 mm are placed in the recesses of the aft hull.

K-78 Soviet amphibious armored carrier (prototype)

Tracked amphibious K-78 armored personnel carrier, the only sample.
Armored personnel carrier developed in 1950. Released prototype. In service with the Soviet army was not. In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the K-78 armored carrier: Weight – 10.5 tons. The number of crew (troops) – 2 (22) people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 6750 x 2940 x 1970 mm.
Armament: machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Ammunition load – 1000 rounds
Armor protection – 15 mm.
Engine power – 140 horsepower, Maximum speed – 46 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 250 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 9.3 km / h
Design features: Base – a floating tank K-90. The overall layout – an open type armored personnel carrier; power plant is located in front of the machine.
Armament – a machine gun is mounted on one of the two pins on the roof of the control compartment. Protection – the hull form “boat” is made of rolled armor plates.
Chassis – two-stroke engine, four-cylinder diesel engine liquid cooling; mechanical transmission; individual suspension, torsion bar; caterpillar with an open metal hinge; there is a heater.

Soviet PT-76M amphibious tank (prototype)

Soviet  experimental PT-76M amphibious tank or “Object 907” was developed in 1960. Issued in one example. In service with the Soviet army was not. In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of PT-76 M amphibious tank: Weight – 14.87 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 7625 x 3140 x 2255 mm. Armament: -1 gun, caliber – 76.2mm., Ammunition – 40 shots; machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Armor protection: hull and turret – 13 mm.
Engine power – 300 horsepower. Maximum speed (on the highway) – 45 km / h
Cruising on the highway – 250 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 11.2 km / h.
Design features: the base is PT-76 amphibious tank. The overall layout – the engine and transmission are located in the rear of the machine; case of increased displacement.
Armament – a cannon and a machine gun paired with it installed in the turret; ejection blowing of the bore is introduced. Protection – hull welded, from armor rolled sheets; the turret has the shape of a truncated cone.
Chassis – diesel engine; mechanical transmission; individual suspension, torsion bar; for the movement afloat the tank is equipped with two jet water-cannons; fuel tank capacity increased to 500 liters.

ZTPU-2  Amphibious anti-aircraft  armored carrier on BTR-50P

Soviet ZTPU-2 anti-aircraft self-propelled armored carrier (Object 750) on the BTR-50P , small-serial, developed in 1955. Released prototype only. Not at the army service. In the battles did not participate. In the official catalog of the Kubinka Tank Museum, the object is designated as ZPTU-2.

Tactical and technical characteristics of ZTPU-2: Weight – 13.6 tons, Crew – 5 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 7070 x 3140 x 2100 mm. Armament: machine gun – 2 pieces, caliber 14,5 mm., Ammunition load – 1280 rounds, Armor protection – 13 mm. Engine power – 240 horsepower, Maximum speed – 44 km / h. Cruising on the highway range – 250 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 10.2 km / h.
Design features: Base – armored personnel carrier BTR-50P. The overall layout – the power plant is located in the rear of the machine. Armament – vertical guidance angles of two machine guns from 3 ° to + 91 °; The guidance mechanism has manual drives. Protection – hull (bearing) of armor rolled sheets 10 and 13 mm thick, welded.

Chassis – six-cylinder engine, four-stroke, diesel engine liquid cooling; manual transmission is located in the aft hull; it consists of a main friction clutch, five-speed gearbox, side clutches, power take-off gears for water jets, final drives.

ZTPU-4  Amphibious anti-aircraft  armored carrier on BTR-50P

Soviet ZTPU-4 anti-aircraft self-propelled armored carrier (Object 750) on the BTR-50P , small-serial, developed in 1955. Released trial batch. Not armed. In the official catalog of the Kubinka Tank Museum, the object is designated as ZPTU-2.

ZTPU-4 performance characteristics: Weight – 13.6 tons, Crew – 5 people, Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 7070 x 3140 x 2200 mm. Armament: machine gun – 4 pieces, caliber – 14.5 mm., Ammunition load – 2500 rounds. Armor protection – 13 mm.
Engine power – 240 horsepower, Maximum speed – 44 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 250 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 10.2 km / h.
Design features: The overall layout – the engine-transmission unit is located in the aft of the hull. Armament – anti-aircraft set, consisting of four KPVT machine guns (*) vertical guidance of machine guns from – 3 ° to + 91 “; rate of fire 484 shots per minute; effective firing at air targets flying at speeds of up to 600 km / h at 500 -1000 meters.
Protection – hull welded, from armor rolled sheets. Chassis – diesel engine, six-cylinder, liquid cooled; Transmission and chassis units are practically the same as those on the BTR-50P.
* KPVT – large-caliber tank machine gun system Vladimirov.
**
After World War II, the USSR created the remarkable PT-76 amphibious tank, which served the Soviet Army for decades. During the Cold War, this amphibious tank was supposed to carry out landings on the coasts of NATO countries, as the Allies did at Normandy on D-Day in 1944. But the caliber of NATO armored vehicles increased, which necessitated the creation of a new generation of Soviet amphibious and airborne armored vehicles. Before the creation of the serial BMD-1, the USSR produced many different experimental objects that never entered service in the Soviet army. The first attempt to replace the PT-76 with a new amphibious tank was the creation of the PT-85 with an increased gun caliber to 85 mm. But any increase in the caliber of the gun entails a major change in the design of the hull and an increase in the weight of the entire armored vehicle.

Soviet experimental PT-85 amphibious tank or Object 906

Soviet PT-85  light amphibious tank  or Object 906 was developed in 1963. Issued only two prototypes according to the Kubinka Museum specialists and 6 copies according to other sources.  Was not at the Soviet Army service.  In the battles did not participate.

Tactical and technical characteristics of PT-85 amphibious tank: Weight – 15 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 7730 x 2950 x 2250 mm. Armament: -1 gun, caliber – 85 mm, ammunition – 40 shots, twin machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm. Armor protection: hulls – 30 mm., Turrets – 15 mm.
Engine power – 300 horsepower, Maximum speed (on the highway) – 75 km / h. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 12 km / h
Design features: The base is special. The overall layout – the engine and transmission are located in the rear of the machine.
Armament – a gun and a machine gun paired with it are stabilized in two planes; an automatic loader of a conveyor-type gun is placed in the niche of the turret; in laying 15 shots. Protection – hermetic housing made of rolled aluminum alloy sheets; steel turret.
Chassis – engine four-stroke, six-cylinder, V-shaped diesel; mechanical power transmission; torsion bar suspension with compensating device; aluminum track rollers; there are systems of SES and emergency pumping of water.

Soviet experimental Object 685 Airborne amphibious tank

Light amphibious airborne “Object 685” tank was developed in 1975, released prototype only. In service with the Soviet Army was not . In the battles did not participate.

Performance characteristics: Weight – 16.5 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 9451 x 3150 x 2250 mm. Armament: cannon – 1 piece, caliber – 100 mm., Ammunition – 40 shots
twin machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition load – 2000 rounds
a portable anti-aircraft missile system “Strela-3” – 1 pcs., ammunition – 4 missiles
Armored protection – provides protection against a 23mm projectile.
Engine power – 400 horsepower, Maximum speed – 70 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 600 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 10 km / h
Design features: The base is special. The overall layout – the engine and transmission are located in the rear of the machine. Armament – the gun is stabilized in two planes, rifled; installed: loading mechanism, laser rangefinder, night sight.
Protection – hull of steel armor plates, welded; turret of sheets of titanium alloy, welded; air conditioning and a system of protection against nuclear weapons.
Chassis – four-stroke engine, multi-fuel, diesel with gas turbine supercharging and air cooling in the heat exchanger; mechanical transmission; independent suspension, torsion bar; also installed: water jet, software system, radio station, means of masking.

Soviet experimental Object 934 Airborne amphibious tank

Object 934 Light amphibious tank was developed in 1975, released prototype only. In service with the Soviet Army was not. In the battles did not participate.

Object 934 Performance characteristics: Weight – 17.5 tons, Crew – 3 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 9430 x 2250 x 3150 mm. Armament: rifled gun – 1 piece, caliber – 100 mm., Ammunition – 40 shots
machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., ammunition – 2000 rounds. ZRK “Strela-3” – 1 piece, ammunition – 4 missiles. Armor protection – bulletproof. Engine power – 400 horsepower, Maximum speed – 70 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 600 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat -10 km / h
Design features: The base is original. The overall layout – the engine compartment is located in the rear part of the machine; Armament – installed in a rotating turret. There is a loading mechanism, a ballistic computer, an optical range finder, a weapon stabilizer. Protection – hull and turret of aluminum alloy; The turret has steel plates in the frontal part.
Chassis – hydropneumatics suspension, double-flow MPP, multi-fuel turbocharged engine; there is a built-in equipment for self-digging with a hydraulic drive; the design is adapted to airborne parachuting.

Soviet experimental Object 940 Airborne amphibious Command vehicle

Object 940 command vehicle was developed in 1976 and released prototype only. In service with the Soviet Army was not consisted. In the battles did not participate.

Object 940 Performance characteristics: weight – 16 tons, Crew – 4 people. Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 7145 x 3150 x 2160 mm. Armament: machine gun – 1 piece, caliber – 7.62 mm., Ammunition – 500 rounds, Armor protection – bulletproof.
Engine power – 400 horsepower, Maximum speed – 70 km / h, Cruising on the highway – 600 km. The speed of overcoming water obstacles afloat – 10 km / h
Design features: Base – object 934 tank. The overall layout – the engine compartment is located in the rear part of the machine; the housing is a log cabin; the habitable compartment is divided into three isolated compartments: control, command and staff, communications. Armament – 7.62 mm machine gun.
Protection – aluminum alloy casing. Chassis – hydropneumatics suspension; two-line WFP, multi-fuel turbocharged engine; there is a built-in equipment for self-digging with a hydraulic drive; the object is adapted to parachute parachuting.