Notes: This
mortar carrier based on the BMP-2 ICV is known officially by the Indian Military
as the “Carrier, Mortar, Tracked” or simply “CMT.”
Like the Sareth itself (the Indian designation of the BMP-2S), the CMT is
not regarded as having a bright future in the Indian Army.
The Indian Army has several problems with the BMP-2; chief among these is
the relatively weak armor and the position of the fuel tanks.
Like the BMP-2, 61.5 liters of the fuel supply are inside tanks that are
set within the doors, and the rest is in a large fuel tank in the centerline of
the crew compartment. The Indians are currently considering a new base IFV,
currently referred to as the FICV (Future Infantry Carrier Vehicle).
The CMT will probably last longer, though it has its own problems, such
as the short-range in comparison to other 81mm mortar carriers and especially,
120mm mortar carriers. Service use
began in 1997, and some 100 have been delivered by 2017.
The 81mm mortar
mounted in the CMT is a mid-range model, the IOF 81mm Mortar Type 1F. This is
licensed copy of an Israeli-made mortar, the B-455. Like most such mortar
carriers, the mortar must be lowered to a traveling position for major movements
and then raised and locked in firing position again. The modified baseplate for
use in the CMT built on top of the centerline fuel tank; a second baseplate is
carried on the side of the vehicle, along with aiming stakes. The CMT also
carries a standard aiming circle, along with grease pencils, rulers,
protractors, etc., to be used if there is no FDC to provide firing coordinates
or is no mortar ballistic computer is available.
Part of the space where the turret used to be is covered (primarily a
small section at the front of the circle where the turret was and at the rear),
has hatches which open to the left and right.
The mortar fires through this hatch space.
The mortar can be fired with an angle of 40 to 85 degrees, and traverse
24 degrees on either side without having to actually move the entire vehicle.
The mortar can be fired within 23 seconds of a halt, and brought back
into traveling order within 30 seconds.
The mortar is capable of fire from 40-85 degrees and at a traverse of 24
degrees to either side. A mortar ballistic computer is provided, allowing the
CMT to provide its own fire solutions.
However, the CMT can digitally transmit firing information, as well as
the coordinates of the target, to other vehicles and mortar emplacements.
The CMT has a long-range data-capable
computer and s short-range computer.
The mortar crew is separate from the driver and commander, instead of the
commander and driver being part of the standard mortar crew of the CMT.
The Sareth CMT, in addition to its copious ammunition supply, carries
some 500 rounds for the crew’s assault rifles and an 84mm Carl Gustav M-3
recoilless rifle with five rounds of antitank rockets.
Like the
Sareth/BMP-2, interior space is limited, though this partially offset by the CMT
not having a turret or ammunition for the turret armament. However, the CMT does
have copious ammunition space, including the associated racks for the
ammunition. More space is taken up
by the mortar itself. The commander
has a hatch on the front right, which is usually armed with an IOF MG-6A
(license-produced version of the MAG-58 designed specially as a commander’s
machinegun). The commander’s hatch
is surrounded by vision blocks, and has electric traverse (with manual backup.
The commander has a reticle on the forward vision block; this block can
show the view using an image intensifier.
The MG-6A can also be aimed and fired (but not reloaded) from under armor
and with the hatch closed. The
commander also triggers the smoke grenade launchers on the glacis (there are
four on either side instead of the standard three). The driver is in the normal
Sarath driving compartment on the front left above the glacis plate; he has
vision blocks to his front and left side, as well as one that looks partially to
the right side. He can remove and
replace his front vision block with a night vision block.
Other than
removal of the turret, the CMT has other differences between it and the Sareth.
All firing ports and associated vision blocks are deleted.
However, the twin rear doors, complete with fuel tanks, remain in place.
The commander’s periscope is omitted.
The CMT, like the Sareth, is powered by a locally-produced version of the
UTD-20/3 turbocharged diesel providing 300 horsepower.
The driver and commander have use of a gyrocompass to help them navigate;
this can also be of use when pointing the vehicle for proper employment of
the mortar. The
transmission is semiautomatic instead of being fully manual. Some sources say
the Sareth is propelled in the water by its tracks, and others say that
propulsion when swimming is switched to waterjets; I have not been able to
determine which is correct. If the
Sareth is propelled by waterjets, they must be of low power, since the swimming
speed reported in Sareths with waterjets of is not as high as most vehicles
equipped with waterjets – indeed, no higher than standard Sareth reported as
being propelled by their tracks. Amphibious operations can be dangerous in the
Sareth, particularly in a strong current; and the suspension’s bearings are not
airtight, and freeboard is not great.
The CMT has an NBC overpressure system for use when the vehicle is
buttoned up and a collective NBC system for use otherwise.
The Sareth CMT has a stainless steel tank within that carries 320 liters
of drinking water.
Twilight 2000
Notes: CMTs provided less than 1/10th the mortar fire support for the
Indian Army in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$280,297 |
D, G, AvG, A |
750 kg |
14.48 tons |
6 |
10 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (C) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
147/103 |
41/29/4 |
462 |
111 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF9 HS5
HR4 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
None |
None |
81mm IOF E-1 mortar, IOF MG-6A (C) |
108x81mm, 2350x7.62mm |