Soviet Tanks today (Tanks Illustrated 04)

ILLUSTRdTED nQ 4

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1. A battery of Czechoslovak SO-I 52 Akatsiyas move into position during the Druzhba 82 (Friendship-82) exercises in Czechoslovakia in January 1982. Besides the SO-152, the Czechoslovak Army has also produced small numbers of a wheeled 152mm self-propelled gun called the DANA which was first seen in 1980. (Eastfoto)

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Introduction

Tanks Illustrated 4: Soviet Tanks Today ?,~ bli s hed

in 1983 by _"---:ns and Armour Press , Lionel Leventhal =--:.:nited , 2-6 Hampstead High Street, London ~\i:' 3 lQQ; 4-12 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne, \ ': ~toria 3000, Australia; Sanso Centre , 8 Adderley ~::-ee t. P.O. Box 94, Cape Town 8000; Cameron e..:::j Kelker Streets, P.O. Box 1831 , Harrisburg, Peill1svlvania 17105 , USA ~ Lionel Leventhal Limited, 1983 .';1! rights reserved. No part of this publication may i::>e reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or :..~smitted in any form by any means electrical, ==~hanical or otherwise , without first seeking the ·;.-:itten permission of the copyright owner.

u.\·out by Anthony A. Evans. T\-pesetting and make-up by \\n-ern Typesetting Limited , Bristol. P:i.!l ted in Great Britain by \\ill iam Clowes, Beccles, Limited

.-\cknowledgments The majority of the photographs are from T_-\ SSfNovosti via the Sovfoto Bureau in New York, and from ADN/Zentralbild (DDR), CTK Czechoslovakia), Interfoto MTI (Hungary) and C.';F ;Poland) via the Eastfoto Bureau in New York ',"ojch is an adjunct to the Sovfoto Office. The ,,'jmor would especially like to thank Vika Edwards "i th e Sovfoto/Eastfoto Bureau in New York for her ::d p, as well as George Balin, Joseph Desautels, j2;J1es Loop and others.

_. The T-SS remained in production until 1981, :'.:::0 these vehicles show the features of the final ;:rod uc tion batches induding the new ' live' track, <..=d laser range-finders in an armoured box above :'::e main gun. (Sovfoto)

The Soviet Army and the armies of its Warsaw Pact allies currently possess the largest inventory of armoured combat vehicles the world has ever seen, a formidable force which outnumbers NATO in the order of 3 to 1 in most categories of armoured vehicles, even higher in some cases . This book endeavours to provide a pictorial representation of this force . Since the 1970s, the Soviet Army and its allies have been in the process of modernizing their armoured units . Tank units of most of these countries have been receiving the new T-n and T-74 tanks to supplement the earlier T-SS tanks. The Soviet Army is beginning to replace the old PT-76 with the BMP-R scout tank . In the armoured personnel transporter area , the Soviets are beginning to replace the older BTR-60 with the new BTR-70, and BMP-l units will begin to receive the BMP-2. The most significant addition to the Soviet and Warsaw Pact units has been the new generation of self-propelled guns, newer self-propelled air defence missiles and related support equipment. Unfortunately, unclassified photos of only a handful of these exist. It will be immediately noticed here that the quality and types of equipment employed by the Warsaw Pact armies differ in a number of respects from the Soviet Army. Poland and Czechoslovakia build Soviet-designed tanks and combat vehicles for their own armies and for export, but also build their own armoured vehicle types under co-operative programmes like the OT-62 TOPAS and OT-64 SKOT in lieu of the BTR-SO and BTR-60. The Hungarians have also had a modest manufacturing programme of their own, building the FUG and PSzH-IV armoured cars for their own use and for the other Warsaw Pact states in lieu of the Soviet BRDM. With these minor exceptions, however, the Warsaw Pact equipment is nearly all of Soviet design . The modernity of the Warsaw Pact equipment varies from country to country. At one time, Poland and Czechoslovakia received the most modern Soviet equipment, but this is no longer always the case because of the political unrest in these countries . East Germany CDDR) today tends to receive the most modern equipment ahead of other Warsaw Pact armies. Nevertheless, because of their size and strategic position, both Poland and Czechoslovakia remain in the first tier of Warsaw Pact armies as far as equipment is concerned. In the second tier are countries such as Hungary and Bulgaria, with Romania largely fending for itself these days as a consequence of its un-cooperative behaviour in the Pact. In this book, every attempt has been made to use the proper Soviet designations where known, or commonly accepted NATO or US Army designations where the Soviet designations are not known . Steven J. Zaloga, Greenwich , Ct, 1983.

3. The most numerous tanks in the Soviet Army are the T-54 and T-55, These types have undergone continued modernization and rebuilding and will probably remain in the majority of Soviet tank units until the end of the decade despite the advent of newer types, Here the crew of two T-54s of a Guards tank regiment receive instructions in the Leningrad Military District in March 1970. 4. Although apparently a T-55, this is in fact an OT-55 flame-thrower tank fitted with a flame-thrower ma'ntlet in place of the machine-gun on the right front side of the turret. This version of the T -55 carries less ammunition and fuel than the tank version, but is armed with the usual D-lOT2S gun, (Sovfoto) 5. This intriguing aerial view shows the conduct of a mechanized 'attack' by T-55 tanks followed by BTR-50 APCs during spring manoeuvres in April 1969, (Sovfoto) 6. A platoon of late production T-55s take part in winter man.oeuvres in the Red Banner Ciscarpathian Military District in February 1980. The Soviets still employ 'tank commando' infantry tactics when insufficient armoured infantry transporters are available. (Sovfoto)

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- . :',.nother example of ' tank : o:nmando ' manoeuvres with :2:e-production T-SSs in the t::..a.rpaty exercises in July : 977 . Note that this version c i the T-SS has the thickened :-;;J.iation shielding on the ::2tches. (Sovfoto) 8. The T-62 was a short-lived ':erivation of the T -SS with :ie new llSmm U-ST gun for long-range fire support of T -54 and T-SS units. Its use :5 confined mainly to the Soviet Army, with few serving in other Warsaw Pact -:ountries. This vehicle, with a Guards tank regiment, is seen du ring the Zapad-Sl exercises. (Sovfoto) 9. For the past decade, Soviet :.anks have been re-equipped with l2.7mm DShK .ami-aircraft machine-guns to ,:ounter the threat posed by £round attack aircraft like :bese USAF A- lOs seen in a :nock attack run on a T -62 :ank being operated by a US Army OPFOR unit in Ge rmany. (USAF) 10. A T-62 taking part in the Zapad-Sl exercises, and fitted wit h KMT-4 mine-clearing p loughs. (Sovfoto)

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11 ..A.n interesting view of a T·64 with its turret traversed ~carwa rds , serving with the Group of Soviet Forcesl Germany. This is the initial production type with remote·control :r.achine-gun and external MG ammunition stowage. (US Army) l 2. Fo llowing the evolutionary development of the T -H/54/55/62 family , in 1967, the Soviets began producing the ~c\'olutionary new T-64 tank armed with a 125mm gun. The :lew auto- loader and other features were plagued with technical ~ro blem s, and the tank soon earned the disreputable sobriquet, 'sc alovy grab' (the steel grave). Here, a company of the late ;:-roduction T-64s, without remote-control machine-guns , take ;-an in the Zapad-Bl exercise. (Sovfoto) 13 . In 1971-72 the T-64 was replaced on the assembly lines by :ie T-72, an improved, simplified type which reverted to a :urbo-charged version of the old V-2 diesel and uses a less ~ o mplicated torsion bar suspension . The auto-loader has also jeen improved to prevent it from 'eating' its crewmen . These T-72s took part in the 1981 Zapad manoeuvres. (Sovfoto) 14. A T -72 is disgorged from an Aist air-cushion landing craft of the Soviet N avy during operations on the Baltic coast as part of the Zapad-81 manoeuvres . The Aist can carry up to 100 :onnes of equipment including tanks . (Sovfoto)

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15. The latest version of the T-72 , the T-74 is fined with fabric armour skirts on the side to protect the suspension and external fuel cells from auto-cannon fire. The T-74M are also fitted with smoke mortar arrays such as these vehicles taking part in the 7 November 1982 parade in Red Square. The US Army calls this tank the T-80. (Sovfoto) 16. Some T-IOM heavy tanks remain in reserve for possible war emergency use, but many have been dug in along the Chinese border as static pillboxes. 17. The venerable PT-76 is beginning to be replaced by the BMP-R as the new scout tank. The lead PT-76 amphibious 12

tank here is from the initial production series with the D-56T gun and multi-baffle muzzle brake. The other tank is fitted with the improved D-56TM gun. This photograph was taken during exercises in August 1979. (SOVfOIO) 18. This peculiar vehicle is an armoured recovery vehicle based on a disarmed IT-l30 assault gun . The IT-l30 was an assault gun based on the T-62 tank chassis, armed with an M-76 130mm gun. A similar vehicle, the IT-I22 , was built on the T-55 chassis, armed with a D-74 122mm gun . These were used in motor rifle regiments to provide fire support, but many have been withdrawn from service. (US Army)

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19. The SO-I22 Gvozdika (Carnation) is the new Soviet amphibious 122mm self-propelled gun. These SO-I22s are on parade after the Zapad-81 manoeuvres. (So"foto) ,

20. The SO-I22 is the light end of the new generation of Soviet self-propelled guns, the heavier types being the SO-IS2 SP gun and the SM-240 SP mortar. (Eastfoto) 21. A rear view of the SO-lS2 Akatsiya (Acacia) IS2mm SP howitzer. Unlike the SO-I22, the SO-IS2 is not amphibious. It is based on a standard chassis also used on the GMZ minelayer and Krug SAM launch vehicl e. (US Army) 22. A battery of SO-IS2 Akatsiyas in action during the Zapad-81 manoeuvres. (Sovfoto) 23. Besides the SO-IS2, the new artillery battalions have 8 armoured command vehicles, believed to be called the TT-LB , as seen here in the foregrou nd. (Sovfoto) 24. A ba ttalion of SO-152 of the 4th Guards Kante­ mirovets Tank Division , in a gaudy paint scheme on parade in Red Sq uare on 7 November 1982. (Sovfoto)

-: 22 is the light !!eneration of '-.--;:,~ ~lle d guns, the e;; ~ing the - .2.::l and the =c ~a r. (Eastfoto) I[" ~.L-"'" of the SO-I 52 ~.::2 ' 152mm SP ~- " '~e the SO-l22, ~~

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25. The old ASU-57 airborne tank destroyer has largely been withdrawn from use by airborne divisions in favour of the more effective BMO . This unit on manoeuvres in the 1960s is using the little­ known unarmed command version of the ASU-57 . 26. The AT-PM artillery tractor was a small armoured utili ty vehicle used for command duties or to tow anti-tank guns. It is now being replaced by the larger MT-LB family. (G. Balin) 27. The old ASU-85 is still in use in Soviet airborne divisions. Each division has a battalion of these , numbering 31 vehicles. By now , the type is largely obsolete as a tank destroyer , and is used instead to provide direct fire support. (Sovfoto)

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28. The MT-LB in its many :-orms is being adopted as the s:andard Soviet armoured LtiJitv vehicle. The basic .\iT-LB chassis also serves as :be basis for the SO-I22 SP 21.l n and the TT-LB ~ommand vehicle. This :'aI1icular model is an engineer derivative with a :arge rear entrenching plough. I: is seen here on trial in the l"SA at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1982. 29. There are several model s oi the TT-LB armoured ~om mand vehicle in service -;;-ith Soviet mechanized 2--u llery battalions . These two \·ebicles are serving with a Soviet SO-122 battalion in the GS FG in 1981. (G. Balin)

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30. A pair of TT-LB in service with an SO-\52 battalion during the Zapad-8l exercises. (Sovforo) 31. Officers of a Soviet SO-\52 battalion confer during Zapad-81 . In the background is a TT-LB command vehicle and several SO-152 SP howi tzers. A tank division or mOlor rifle division has one battalion of these weapons. (Sovfoto) 32. The standa rd Soviet tactical nuclear missile launcher is this MAZ-543P wheeled launcher carrying the R-17E (Scud) tactical missile. Although these missiles can be fitted with conventional warhead s, they are not accurate enough to justify their cost if used with high-explosive warheads. (Sovfoto) 33. Complementing the R-17E tactical missile is the smaller Luna-M (Frog-7) missile seen here on its BAZ-\35 L4 launch vehicle. This missile can carry a tactical nuclear warhead approximately 70 kilometres as compared to approximately 280 kilometres for the R-\7E. (Sovfoto)

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34. One of the older Soviet air defence :nechanized launchers is this vehicle ruing the 3MSM Krug (SA-4 Ganef) :nissile. This is the Soviet equivalent of :he British Bloodhound and rather more :han 1,000 of these launchers were built. It shares a common chassis with the 50-152 SP howitzer and the GMZ :ninelayer. It is intended to provide high-altitude air defence of Soviet force s, and th is battery is seen in operation d uring the Zapad-Sl manoeuvres. Sovfoto) 3; . Supplementing the ZSU-23-4 is the Strela I (SA-9) missile, fired from quadruple launchers on a modified BRDM-2 armoured car . This is an infra -red heat-seeking missile, ,:omparable to the US Chapparal system. Sovfoto) 36. Air defence of mechanized columns is undertaken by the ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft tank. This upper rear view shows details of the rear of the B-76 Gun Dish) radar used to control the quad 23mm cannon. (US Army) 37 . The Soviet equivalent of the NATO Roland or Rapier air defence missile is the Romb (SA-SB), seen here on its wheeled transporter/launcher. This is the later variant of the Romb in ,:ontainerized launch tubes; in the earlier ' ·.:rsion the missiles were exposed. The :arge array in front of the missiles is the Land Roll acquisition , tracking and guidance radar system. A Romb ~eg im e nt, attached to some tank divisions :.JJd motor rifle regiments , has 20 of these :ransporter/launchers. (Sovfoto)

38. The most common Soviet armoured infantry transporter is the BTR-60PB , seen here in the service of a Soviet naval infantry unit being landed ashore during the Zapad-SI manoeuvres. They are used as the low end of a high-low mix of BTR-60170s-BMPs in Soviet motor rifle regiments . The BTR-60 was never very popular in Sovet units because of the difficulty in keeping both of its engines synchronized. Inside the landing-ship hold can be seen a BTR-60PU command vehicle wi th clothes-line antenna. (Sovfoto) 39. This imposing view of Soviet armoured equipment was taken at a parade at the end of the Zapad-SI manoeuvres. To the left is a motor rifle battalion with its 37 new BTR-70 armoured infantry transporters. In the right foreground is an airborne battalion with its 35 new BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles , and behind it is a tank battalion with the new T-72M tank. It should be remembered that a Soviet motor rifle division would field 220 tanks, 123 BMP, 251 BTR-70 and 205 other armoured utility , command and reconnaissance vehicles! (S ovfoto) 40. The BTR-70 is the new armoured infantry transporter which has begun to replace the BTR-60 on the assembly lines. It is of a lower and sleeker design, but is still plagued by the awkward location of the exit doors on the roof of the vehicle. These vehicles took part in Zapad-Sl exercises and behind them can be seen some T-72M tanks. (Sovfoto)

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41. Each an ti -tank ba ttalion in a Soviet motor rifle regiment is equipped with a battery of wheeled anti-tank missile launchers. This unit is equipped with BRDM-2s firing the 9MI4M Malyutka missile. The battery consists of a command BRDM-2 in the lead , followed by nine BRDM-2 launch vehicles which have their missile launchers retracted into the hull. (Sovfoto) 42. The latest wheeled anti-tank missile launcher to enter Soviet service is the BRDM-3 fitted with a 9K III launcher for the Fagot ATGM. This is a Soviet copy of the NATO Milan ATGM. There are also tracked ATGM launchers , like the IT-2 based on the T -62 tank which fires the Drakon ATGi'vt. (Sovfoto) 43. In swampy terrain , the GT-T tractor can be used as an improvised infantry transporter as seen here . 44. The BMP-SON is a radar vehicle based on the BMP infantry combat vehicle. It mounts a 'Small Fred ' J-band counter-ballery radar, and each self-propelled artillery battalion is equipped with one. This vehicle is seen taking part in the Zapad-81 exercises. (Sovfoto) 45. The BMP-I is an amphibious infantry combat vehicle. Introduced in the Soviet Army in the mid- J 960s (in the earlier BMP variant without full NBC protection), this marked a revolutionary change in Soviet infantry combat tactics since it allowed an infantry squad to fight from a mounted, and protected, position . These BMPs are seen attacking, with a dismounted skirmish line behind, during a tactical exercise in April 1980. (Sovfoto)

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46. The new BMP-2, publicly displayed in November 1982 for the first time, has a 30mm auto-cannon in place of the earlier 73mm low-pressure 2A20 gun, and a 9Klll Fagot ATGM launcher in place of the earlier 9Ml4M Malyutka ATGM . The BMP-2 uses the larger two-man turret pioneered on the BMP-R, which allows the squad commander to ride in the main turret. However, it would appear that the use of the larger turret has dropped the size of the rear infantry squad from eight to six infantrymen because of size constraints. The BMP-2 mounts smoke mortars on the turret side and has buoyancy cells added to the mudguards . (Sovfoto) 47. Air defence of mechanized infantry uni ts is provided by the portable 9P54M launcher which fires the 9M32M Strela II (SA-7 Grail) missile. Here, a Guards sergeant practises firing a S!reia II from the rear compartment of a BMP-I. (Sovfoto)

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48. Although the BMP-l was ':'~signed to permit mounted :3fantry combat, Soviet motor :-:Be regiment tactics also ~:: \'isage their use in ,'lp porting dismounted ~fa ntry attacks. Here a motor ~.£e company in the Baltic .\ Ulitary District practises tactics in August 1979. T he infantryman in the :· ~ reground is equipped with a Jragunov SVD sniper rifle , .-hile the rest of the squad are .o:-med with AKM assault :-iles. The neighbouring -..: uad has a soldier with an ::U>G-7 launcher on its left :'..mk. (Sovfoto) 49. The squad commander in ~ B.\1P-I is stationed in the . ~ :i: front of the vehicle ~ :und the driver, and in :~Cl nt of the turret. This ~ ::otograph shows Captain N. :;;":cmichev, commander of a =-otor rifle BMP company, in :.::= Siberian Military District ~ ·.:.ring manoeu vres in ~~D tem ber 1979. Behind him :-"-; be seen the barrel of the ~.;20 73mm gun used on the :::'-tP-l , and the 9M14M .!. T GM launcher. (Sovfoto)

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50. Officers of a motor rifle battalion equipped with the BMP-l confer during e:'\ercises in the Siberian .\iilitary District in August J 979. Each motor rifle battalion has 36 BMP or BMP-Is. (Sovfoto) 51. Although designed with a :hemicallbiologicall radiological filtration system, thi s network is compromised bv the need of the turret gUnner to manually extend the fins of the 9MJ4M .\ialyutka ATGM while reloading it on the BMP as seen here . 52. A company of BMP-Is taking part in the Zapad-8J manoeuvres are marked with triple white bands which are used to distinguish 'friend' from 'foe' during the course of the exercises. (Sovforo)

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58. One of the derivatives of the AT-T tractor is the BAT-M engineer vehicle which is provided with a plough , crane and other features to carry out engineering tasks. (US Army) 59. The BAT-M is being supplanted by the IMR which is a T-SS chassis fitted with a crane and other features for clearing battlefield obstructions. 60. There are a number of armoured recovery vehicles based on the T-55 like this one practising underwater crossing in a concrete training trough . (Sovfoto)

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68. The OT-62 was manufactured jointly by Czechoslovakia and Poland. It is basically an improved version of the Soviet BTR-60PK , and is seen here in snow camouflage. (Eastfoto) 69. The Czechs continued production of an improved version of the German SdKfz 251 after the war as the OT-81O. It was used as a troop transporter until replaced by the OT-62 and OT-64 in the 1960s. (Joseph Desautels) 70. These Czechoslovak OT-62 TOPAS are camouflaged in the three-tone summer manoeuvre colours. The Czechoslovak Army is the only Warsaw Pact army to regularly use patternpainted camouflage. (Eastfoto) 71. A Czechoslovak motor rifle unit on parade. In add ition to the Tarasnice T -21 82mm recoilless rifle on the turret cupola , this TOPAS has an M-59A 82mm recoilless rifle stowed on the rear deck. It can be fired from this position , or towed on its wheeled mount behind the OT-62 . This version is sometimes called the OT-62B. 72 . A camouflaged Czechoslovak OT-64 SKOT fords a river during the Vltava exercises in southern Bohemia in 1982. Like the BTR-60, the OT-64 is fu lly amphibious. This is the basic OT-64 without tu rret or armament package. (Eastfoto)

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75.& 73. A pair of Czechoslovak OT-64 SKOT take part in joim Czech-Soviet tactica l exercises around Doupov in western Bohemia . In addition to their pattern-painted camouflage, these vehicles are heavily disguised with branches. (Eastfoto) 74. River crossing operations are always preceded by scout vehicles to reconnoitre the bottom surface and test the opposite bank. Here a Czechos lovak scout team using a FUG armoured car examine the shore of a river during the Vltava exercises. (Eastfoto) 75. A Czechoslovak T-S4 fords a stream during the Vltava exercises in southern Bohemia. The stream has already been prepared with concrete or wood surfacing, because tanks can easily stall in soft river bottoms. The crew of this tank obviously knew that the river was shallow, since only the lower portion of the combat snorkel is in place on the right turret roof. (Eastfoto)

41

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76. A Czech armoured . engineer unit practise minefield breeching. In the . foreground are two of tbenew ·minecclearing vehicles based on the SO-122 Gvozdika . ... . chassis. In the background is a mine-dearing vehiCle . based on the BTR-50PK series; these.launch special rockets from ' · their rear deck container ' which pull a long tube of'hi'gh · explosive over the minefield ' where it is detonated. This , clears a' path wide ,enough for a tank 'and is much faster- and more efficient than ·roller-s. (Eastfoto) 77. A T-S4 of the East German Army (NVA) taking. part. in the Vltava exercises in Czecho·slovakia., The White ' band on the barrel is Jonhe purpose of the manoeuvres:. · (Eastfoto) . · 78. A company of whitew~sh · camouflaged Czechoslovak 'T-72s take a break during ·the · Friendship-82 exercises in January 1982. (Eastfoto)

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_ practise .=eching. ln th~ - ' ~e two of the ,new _< \-ehic1es based , -~:1 Gvozdika " -= 2.e background is i::!! vehiCle

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! 79, An East German BTR-50PU command vehicle during joint exercises with the Soviet Army, SO_ Most of the remaining OT-810 in Czechoslovak service have been converted to tank destroyers, mounting an 82mm M-59A recoilless rifle , These are used by reserve units, In the background can be seen some SKOT-2A, SL The East German NV A was the first of the Warsaw Pact armies to receive the T-74 with skirt armour. (US Army) S2. An interesting rear view of a T -72M of the East German NVA without the usual twin rear external fuel drums. The new NVST machine-gun mounted on this tank can be seen particularly clearly. (US Army)

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3. A battery of East German ::0-152 SP howitzers during o'Jmmer manoeuvres. The East Germans were the first recipients of this new SP gun outside the Soviet Union. 84. German infantry dismount from a BTR-60PA. One of the main reasons the Polish and Czechoslovak Armies adopted the indigenous OT-64 instead of the BTR-60 was the awkward arrangement of the exit hatches as is very evident in this view. (Eastfoto) 85. A pair of East German ZSU-23-4 move forward during summer manoeuvres . The East German Army has more modern air-defence equipment than any other Warsaw Pact army with the obvious exception of the Soviet Army itself. 86. A 3M8M Krug (SA-4 Ganef) launcher of the NVA being serviced in the field. The East German NV A is the only Warsaw Pact army using this high-altitude air defence missile except for the Soviet Army.

87. This interior view of an NVA BMP-I shows how confined the rear compartment is when firing the AK assault rifle from inside the vehicle. 88. A platoon of NVA BMP-I s take part in the parade concluding the Druzhba-80 Warsaw Pact manoeuvres in September 1980. (Eastfoto) 89. An NVA anti-tank platoon using MT-LB transporters to tow the T-12A 100mm anti-tank gun. The NVA is one of the few forces outside the Soviet Union using the MT-LB in substantial numbers as an artillery tractor and utility vehicle. 90. An East German SO-152 is prepared for firing. In German service, this vehicle is known as the SFL-152.

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91. An East German BTR-60PU command vehicle with a clothes-line style antenna. The BTR-60 is widely used as a command and control vehicle with a variety of different radio and communications arrangemen ts. 92. The Kub (SA-6 Gainful ) air defence launcher vehicle is reloaded by this version of the Ural-375 truck, equipped with a crane and missile racks. (US Army) 93. The NVA uses the Czechoslovak-produced MT-55 recovery vehicle. In East German service, this vehicle is called the T-55TK. It is fitted with a heavyduty crane, a bulldozer blade and various i terns of repair equipment for servicing tanks and other combat vehicles . 94. The Czechoslovak and East German Armies use an armoured multiple rocket launcher , the RM-70 in place of the usual unarmoured BM-21 used elsewhere in the Warsaw Pact. The RM-70 is manufactured in Czechoslovakia on a Tatra 813 chassis.

93.

.... 91

94 •

95. A pair of East German 2SU-23-4 Shilka on manoeuvres. While the Shilka's effectiveness can be degraded by electronic countermeasures, it remains a potent air defence tank when used in conjunction with other Warsaw Pact air defence systems such as the Strela I, Strela II and Kub. 96. A BLG-60 bridgelaying tank being used to span a gap to a section of TPP pontoon bridging. The BLG-60 is used by the Czechoslovak, Polish and East German Armies .

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52

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97. The D-442 FUG is manufactured in Hungary for use by other Warsaw Pact armies. It is somewhat larger than the BRDM, and so is occasionally used as a small transport for infantry. Its main role, however, is that of a command or scout vehicle. This example served with the Polish Army. 98. A column of Hungarian ZSU-23-4 Shilkas on parade after joint Soviet-Hungarian exercises in 1973. (Eastfoto)

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99. A Hungarian T-SS tank unit during tactical exercises in 1962. This version of the T-SS has extensive radiation shielding evident on the driver's and commander's hatches. (Eastfoto) 100. Many of the Warsaw Pact armies are equipped with small numbers of R-17E or Luna-M tactical missiles. Although none of them have nuclear weapons, all these missiles are nuclear-capable. This Hungarian R-17E launcher is the older model based on the 15-3 tank chassis. In the Polish Army it has been replaced by the later model on the MAZ-S43P wheeled launcher/transporter. (Eastfoto) 101. A Hungarian T-S4 on a tank transporter moves through a small sou th Bohemian village during the 1966 Vltava manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia. During manoeuvres, the national insignia of the participants is sometimes 'carried as is evident here . The towing tractor is a Czechoslovak Tatra 141 6-tonne prime mover. (Eastfoto)

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102. A platoon of Polish T-n tanks take part in the summer exercises of 1981. The snorkelling tube can be seen on the turret rear . (Eastfoto) 103. A platoon of Polish T-n tanks on summer manoeuvres. The fittings on the underside of the bow are for attaching plough blades or mine rollers. (Eastfoto) 104. A column of Hungarian PSzH-IV (D-944) take part in the 'Shield 79' exercises. This vehicle is an improved, turreted version of the FUG, and in Czechoslovak service is known as the OT-6S . (Eastfoto) 105. A Hungarian PT-76 amphibious tank emerges from a river during the Vltava manoeuvres in 1966 . For some reason, the muzzle brake of the D-S6TM 76mm gun has been removed. (Eastfoto)

106. The initial versions of the OT-64 SKOT manufactured in Poland had a small, open machine-gun turret before later WAP turret was developed. This photograph was taken in Warsaw in the early 1960s before the Piast eagle national insignia was replaced by the current red and white chequerboard design . (Eastfoto) 107. The TOPAS 2AP is filled with the same WAT turret as the SKOT 2AP. The vehicle shown is in use with the 7th Seacoast Defence Division stationed on the Baltic , a rare Warsaw Pact unit specifically designed for coastal assault landings. (Eastfoto)

108. The TOPAS 2AP is fully amphibious, and is seen here emerging from a river. (Eastfoto) 109. The WPT-TOPAS is a recovery version of the TOPAS filled with winching equipment to recover vehicles stranded in water. In the background, a Polish T-S4 with combat snorkel wades ashore from an amphibious landing ship. (Eastfoto)

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110. The Kub (SA-6 Gainful) air defence missile is one of the most effective systems in Warsaw Pact use. It is currently being upgraded in the Soviet Army by the addition of some SA-launchers. (Eastfoto) Ill. A Luna-M (Frog) tactical missile launcher in Romanian service on display in Bucharest. In most other armies, this early version on a modified PT-76 tank chassis has been replaced by a more reliable BAZ-135 L4 wheeled transporter/la uncher. (Eastfoto) 112. A Polish ZSU-23-4 Shilka in action during summer manoeuvres in 1981. (Eastfoto)

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113. The 'Polish Army was the first army to receive the new SO-I22 Gvozdika SP gun outside the Soviet Union. It is seen here parading in Warsaw. (Eastphoto)

114. The only country outsicl the Soviet Union to use the ASU-85 airborne assault gu n was the Polish 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division, seen here unloadin! an ASU-85 near Moscow during exercises in 1969. (Sovfoto) 115. The Polish Army used the indigenous Mazur D-3SC tractor in place of the ATS-712-4 until it began to be replaced with the ATS- 59 in 1962. 116. The Romanian Army I produces modified versions ~ the T-S4 tank and the BTR-60 troop transporter. The Romanian version of Ih BTR-60, called the TAB-72 : can be distinguished from tn, nearly identical Soviet paren by the optical sighting gear the turret side.

ILLUSTRdTED

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Over a hundred photographs have been specially selected for .their rarity and interest for each title in this all-picture paperback series. A well-known, expert writer on the subject has been given the opportunity, in each volume, to .present his own, personal choice of photographs, depicting fascinating and unusual technical details, rare operational and 'in action' views, the hardware, the crews, the drama and even the lighter side of armoured warfare . However much you have studied the subject it is unlikely that you will have seen more than a handful of these pictures before.

£3.95 net in U.K. only

ARMS AND ARMOUR PRESS London - Melbourne- Harrisburg, Pa.

ISBN 0-85368-601- 7