MT-LB

Multipurpose tracked armored vehicle - Russia

The MT-LB is a multipurpose tracked armored vehicle that was designed in Ukraine early 1960s. In the Russian army, more than 80 variants are available and a total of 1,493 vehicles are still in service. In Ukraine and Russia lot of defense companies have developed several new modernized or upgraded variants. The MT-LB can also tow a trailer or weapon up to 6,500 kg or carry equipment up to 2,000 kg. A total of 11 soldiers can be carried inside the vehicle.

MT-LB main variants:

- MT-LBV: fitted with 565 mm wide tracks for operation in snow and swampy ground
- MT-LBVM: with NSVT 12.7 mm instead of the original 7.62 mm machine gun turret
- ADZM: fitted with a hydraulic dozer blade and a roof-mounted extendable arm, with a bucket. At the left rear of the hull is a working station for the operator.
- K611/612: radiological reconnaissance vehicles and equipped with special sensors, three R-173 and one R-171 radio, TNA-3 navigation apparatus, gyrocompass IG17-1, computer with teleprinter P115 and AB-2 power generator. The K-611 would be used for the determination of the power of the explosion while the mission of the K-612 is to find the exact location of ground zero.
- MT-LBU: command version of the MT-LB and has additional radios, a generator, a land navigation system.
- MTP-LB: technical support version with no turret, an A frame and stowage on the roof.
- MT-LB Snar-10 Big Fred: artillery radar location system. A radar antenna is mounted on top of a turret positioned at the rear of the hull and when traveling the antenna is folded forwards through 90º.
- MTP-LB: is designed for field maintenance, repair, and recovery of tanks and other AFVs and is recognizable by its lack of a machine gun turret. Mounted at the front of the vehicle is an A-frame, which can lift a maximum load of 1,500 kg.
- MT-LB ambulance: armored evacuation battlefield ambulance with stretchers fitted in the rear compartment.
- MT-LB engineer: a plough blade is mounted on the roof.
- RKhM: chemical reconnaissance vehicle with detection, marking, and alarm devices. This model has the hull shape and single rear door of the 2S1.
- 9P149 "Shturm-S": anti-tank version with a retractable launcher for 9M114 Kokon ATGM. The vehicle carries 12 missiles onboard and entered service in 1979. It has a crew of 2.

Modernized Russian variants:

- MT-LBM ( 6MA): MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80.
- MT-LBM (6MA1): MA armed with additional AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
- MT-LBM (6MA4): MA1 armed with KPVB 23 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun.
- MT-LBM (6MA2): MA armed with KPVB 23 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun.
- MT-LBM (6MA3): MT-LBM armed with four 9M133 Kornet ATGM launchers, 7.62 mm PKTM tank machine gun and an AGS-30 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
- MT-LBM (6MB): MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80A.
- MT-LBM (6MB2): MB armed with AGS-17 30 mm.
- MT-LBM (6MB3): MT-LBM armed with GSh-23V 23 mm, AGS-30 30 mm and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
- MT-LBM (6MB4): MT-LBM armed with GSh-30K 30 mm, AGS-30 30 mm and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
- MT-LBM (6MB5): MT-LBM armed with twin gun 23 or 30 mm, "Igla" SAM and equipped with improved sights.
- MT-LBM1 (6M1): MT-LBM fitted with 300-310 hp engine.