PT-76
|
|
 | |
| General Characteristics (PT-76) | |
| Length: | 6.91m |
| Width: | 3.14m |
| Height: | 2.26m |
| Weight: | 14.0 tons |
| Speed: | 44 km/h (road) 10 km/h(swimming) |
| Range: | 260 km |
| Primary armament: | 76mm gun |
| Secondary armament: | 7.62mm machinegun |
| Armour: | 14mm (0.55in) Maximum |
| Power plant: | 240 hp Diesel |
| Crew: | 3 |
The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious tank (Plavayushiy Tank) which was introduced in 1954. The PT-76 was the standard reconnaissance tank of the Red Army and the other Warsaw Pact armies. It was also exported to other Soviet client-states like Iraq, North Korea and Vietnam. It was propelled in the water by two water jets, one in each side of the hull with the jet exits at the rear of the tank. The tank commander had to act as radio operator and gunner. It had no night vision or NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) systems. It was later replaced by the BMP-1.
Variants
Several other vehicles were based on the PT-76 chassis:
- BTR-50 - APC
- MTLB - APC and prime mover
- OT-62 (TOPAS) - Czech/Polish APC
- ZSU-23-4 - Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
The Chinese Type 60 and Type 63 are very similar to the PT-76.