Notes:
The M-60P (at first designated the M-590) is a “basic box” sort of APC,
being a boxy metal shell on an old artillery tractor chassis (the GJ-800, which
is in turn based on the Hungarian K-800).
It was first seen in public in a parade in 1965, and is similar to the
type of APCs being developed at the time – it is a contemporary of vehicles like
the M-113 and FV-432. Once the basic designs of the M-60P versions were
finalized, they were never upgraded, modified, or enhanced – not even to the
point of having appliqué armor being installed.
They are now therefore a bit dated, and the examples which are still to
be found are likely to be in less than sterling shape.
The Serbians still use 165 of these vehicles, and the Croatians still use
small numbers of them.
The M-60P is
essentially a steel box; there is little real protection for the occupants
except from shrapnel and relatively low-power small arms. The driver is in the
left front hull, with three vision blocks to his front; the center block can be
replaced with a night vision block.
On the right side of the hull at the front is a bow machinegunner, who also has
auxiliary driving controls. He has only one wide-angle vision block built into
his hatch cover and cannot replace it with a night vision block.
Both have hatches that open to the rear.
Behind the driver is the vehicle commander, who has a single periscope
built into his hatch which can be rotated 360 degrees.
Behind the bow machinegunner is the vehicle gunner, who has a
manually-rotating cupola with a two-piece hatch.
Unusually for a former-Eastern Bloc vehicle, its pintle mount takes an
M-2HB machinegun, and the M-60P also carries a tripod mount on the right side of
the hull to allow this weapon to be removed from the vehicle and fired from the
ground. The troops sit on folding
bench seats on either side of the rear troop compartment; they enter and leave
through a pair of large doors in the rear of the hull and also have a pair of
long hatches above the troop compartment.
There are three firing ports on each side of the vehicle and one each
rear door, but these are merely simple holes cut in the hull (or rear door) with
simple swing-open shutters.
The M-60P is
seriously underpowered, its diesel engine developing only 140 horsepower.
The simple torsion bar suspension, a modified form of the suspension on
the SU-76 self-propelled gun, does not have any shock absorbers; the
cross-country ride of the M-60P must be hellish, but at least it will not be
moving very fast. The transmission is manual and reportedly quite a handful for
its driver. The M-60P has no
amphibious capability. The M-60P is
not a big vehicle as APCs go, but 10 troops were expected to jam into it along
with the four-man crew. Operating
out of an M-60P just sounds like a horrible experience.
The M-60PB is a
modification of the M-60P armored personnel carrier.
In this variant, the passenger compartment is partially taken up by
ammunition storage and a suspended seat for the gunner of the twin M-60A
recoilless rifles. The mount
rotates, but shots in the direction of the gunner's machinegun cannot be made,
since the recoilless rifles are mounted on the same level as the machinegun; in
addition, fire straight forward is not possible when the driver's or commander’s
hatch is open.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M-60P |
$53,701 |
D, A |
1
ton |
11 tons |
4+10 |
6 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
M-60PB |
$139,593 |
D, A |
500 kg |
11.3 tons |
4+6 |
7 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M-60P |
105/74 |
26/15 |
150 |
55 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
HS3 HR2 |
M-60PB |
102/72 |
25/15 |
150 |
57 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6
HS3 HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M-60P |
None |
None |
M-2HB, M-53 (Bow) |
500x.50, 500x8mm |
M-60PB |
None |
None |
2xM-60A 82mm recoilless rifles, M-2HB,
M-53 |
8x82mm, 500x.50, 500x8mm |
SPDR/BVP M-80
Notes:
The M-80 was known as the M-980 while in development; it was designed to
replace the obsolete M-60P in almost all roles. Design began in 1969, but was a
long process complicated by budget problems, the ready availability of
Russian-made equipment, the continual incorporation of new technology, and
negotiations with other countries for the use of their technology. The M-80
began production in 1980 in the former Yugoslavia; production continued until
the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, and has never picked up again, by Serbia or
any other former Yugoslavian country.
The M-80 and its variants are still used by most of the former
Yugoslavian countries, including Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and
Croatia; in addition, most of these countries, while not manufacturing complete
vehicles, they are still making parts for the M-80 series.
The M-80
The resulting vehicle
is similar in appearance to the BMP-2, though it is not related to that vehicle.
The roadwheels are fewer in number and more widely-spaced, and the turret
is more akin to the BRDM series, with different main armament than the BMP-2.
Armor is aluminum, and a bit on the light side. The driver sits on the left
front of the vehicle, and the commander has a hatch on the turret roof.
There are two large hatches on the rear deck and rear face for troops.
The driver’s compartment has a conventional design, with a steering yoke,
a brake pedal, a gas pedal, and a clutch pedal.
The driver has three vision blocks to the front, one of which can be
removed and replaced by a night vision block.
The driver’s position is in the front left of the vehicle. The turret is
a two-man turret, though the gunner sits low in the turret basket, with only his
head and upper shoulders in the actual turret, sitting just high enough to
access his sights. The commander
has a hatch on the roof, and has all-around vision blocks; the gunner has no
hatch and normally enters and exits the vehicle through the troop compartment.
The turret has minimal night vision
equipment, as well as telescopic sights for the armament.
The autocannon is of Swiss make and Swedish design, though
license-produced in Yugoslavia (the Yugoslavians designated this autocannon the
M-55); the 260-horsepower engine is the same as used on the French AMX-10P, the
Hispano-Suiza HS-115 turbocharged diesel, and is again license-produced in
Yugoslavia. The transmission is
manual. Suspension is by
conventional torsion bars, with shock absorbers on the front and rear pair of
roadwheels (this is a more-or-less standard form of tracked APC/IFV suspension).
The main armament is supplemented by a pair of launchers for Maljutka
ATGM (a Yugoslavian version of the AT-3 Sagger).
The Maljutka ATGMs must be reloaded with the commander’s head, chest, and
the upper half of his abdomen outside his hatch; firing is done via a sight
outside the hatch and the driver must expose his head to use it, though the
actual controls are inside the turret.
The troops in the rear can also reload the Maljutka launchers through the
hatches in the roof of the troop compartment. The troop compartment is accessed
through a large door in the rear, and there are two narrow, long rectangular
hatches on the rear deck which open to either side.
There are three firing ports on each side of the troop compartment and
two in the rear. The troops sit
down the center of the vehicle, facing outwards, with the squad leader sitting
in the front of the troop compartment behind the turret, facing to the rear.
Radiological protection is notably minimal, with no thought provided to
resistance to chemical or biological agents or radiation, and no sort of even a
collective NBC system.
The M-80A
The Yugoslavians were
almost immediately dissatisfied with the M-80, in particular feeling it was
underpowered and that the suspension was not robust enough.
As a result, the M-80 was produced only in small numbers, and work on its
successor, the M-80A, began almost immediately upon introduction of the M-80.
Low-rate initial production of the M-80A began only about a year later.
The initial changes to the M-80A involved a reinforced suspension able
which also gave a smoother ride; however, the primary change was the switch to
the Daimler-Benz OM-403 320-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine along with an
automatic transmission (the M-80 had a manual transmission).
In addition, a slight change in armament was made, to a dual-feed version
of the same autocannon (which the Yugoslavians still designated the M-55).
Radiological protection remains deficient.
Shortly
thereafter, another change was made to the design, this time to the armament.
The 20mm autocannon was replaced with a heavier-caliber German-designed
autocannon, and the ATGM launchers, while they still must be reloaded in the
same manner as on the M-80 and M-80A, could be aimed, fired, and controlled from
under armor, with the hatch closed.
This version was designated the M-80AK.
Three command
versions of the M-80AK were built; the M-80AKC is designed for use by company
commanders and has one additional short-range and medium-range radios and a
long-range radio. The M-80AKB is
designed for use at the battalion command level; it has the additional radios of
the M-80AKC, plus another long-range radio and an inertial navigation system.
In both cases, the interior is rearranged to allow for a map board,
plotting and office-type supplies, a hand-held thermal image and image
intensifier; the M-80AKB also has a hand-held laser rangefinder.
The interior seating has a small folding work shelf and has seating for a
radio operator and a small command staff. Small amounts of another command
version, the VK-80A, were also put into production.
Designed for use at brigade level, the VK-80A’s turret is armed only with
a single machinegun, and has additional vision devices and a laser rangefinder.
It has the radios of the M-80AKB above, but the long-range radio is
data-capable and the VK-80A carries a ruggedized laptop computer.
The M-80A Sn is
an armored ambulance version of the M-80A.
The hull remains the same as that of the M-80A, but the turret is deleted
and the vehicle is unarmed. The
rear door remains, but there is a single oblong hatch in the rear roof of the
vehicle. There is a commander’s cupola, though it is unarmed.
The commander and the driver are medics, and there are also two other
medics (or sometimes a medic and a nurse or PA) as members of the crew.
The M-80A Sn can transport four stretcher cases and two seated patients
or two stretcher cases and four seated patients.
The M-80A Sn has a defibrillator, an oxygen administration set, a small
refrigerator for perishable medical supplies, the equivalent of two doctor’s
medical bags and 20 personal medical kits, and a collection of assorted
bandages, cravats, and splints.
A local
modification uses the chassis of the ACRV (also known as the MT-LBu, using the
chassis of the 2S1 SP howitzer), and is therefore technically a different
vehicle; I have included it in this entry, however, for completeness.
The turret is that of the M-80A, and the vehicle is used as an IFV with
an ability to carry more troops and armor rather than as any sort of specialist
vehicle. This gives the vehicle,
often called the ACRV/M-80A, a YaMZ-238N 300-horsepower diesel engine and the
hull armor of the MT-LBu, as well as the hull layout with three firing ports,
one in the front right and left sides of the troop compartment, and the other in
the rear door. The rear compartment
has a large square hatch on the rear deck which opens to the rear, and troop
access is by a pair of large doors in the rear of the vehicle. The normal
commander’s and gunner’s hatches are deleted, replaced by the turret.
They do have the advantage of having an NBC overpressure system with a
collective NBC backup. I have not been able to find out whether the ACRV/M-80A
was ever put into production or whether it was simply an experiment, but I have
provided stats below.
The M-80A1 Vidra
In the late
1990s, the Serbians began replacing/supplementing their M-80As and M-80AKs with
the M-80A1 Vidra variant. This
version used a new Czech-designed turret, which was a bit smaller (though much
taller), more angular and had better armor protection.
The autocannon was replaced with a locally-designed autocannon which was
virtually identical to the M-80AK’s German autocannon.
The Maljutka ATGMs are also replaced by locally-produced versions of the
AT-4 ATGM, with a single launcher instead of the twin launcher of the earlier
versions of the M-80. The engine was replaced with a more powerful
locally-produced version of the OM-403 engine, a turbocharged diesel developing
335 horsepower. The main armament is better-stabilized and has the assistance of
a laser rangefinder; the gunsight and telescopic day vision equipment is also in
general improved. The M-80A1 has
the ability to lay a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust,
something earlier versions could not do.
A pair of smoke grenade launchers was also added to each side of the
turret. The M-80A1 normally mounts
lugs for ERA on the hull front, hull sides, turret front, and turret sides.
Unfortunately, production of the M-80A1 was cut short by the breakup of
Yugoslavia and bombing by NATO forces.
In 2004, the
Serbians began fielding a new, updated form of the M-80A1, the M-98 Vidra
(sometimes called the M-80/98). This version has a further modified turret which
is more rounded than that of the M-80A1, and it is armed with a locally-produced
version of the Russian NN-30 AAA autocannon using new, locally-designed
ammunition which provided effectiveness against other APCs, IFVs, LAVs, and from
some angles, tanks. The a round of
ammunition for this gun, being based on the NN-30’s ammunition, is huge, but has
a large warhead backed by a large propellant charge, and gives the M-98
excellent hitting power (though it greatly reduces the amount of ammunition for
the autocannon the M-98 can carry).
The gun length is, however, quite short, which limits range. Early M-98s used a
version of the NN-30 designated the M-86, which feeds from a single ammunition
belt; however, most versions have the M-89 autocannon, which is a dual-feed
weapon. The autocannons are the
same as mounted on the BOV-30 self-propelled AAA gun, though of course the
ammunition mix carried on the vehicle is quite different.
The M-98 retains the stabilization, laser rangefinder, and ballistic
computer of the M-80A1, and also adds thermal imaging for the gunner, which can
also be accessed by the commander. Some more thought was also given to NBC
warfare, with radiation shielding being added as well as a collective NBC
system.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The M-80AK and M-80A and their variants both formed about 40% each of the
Yugoslavian M-80 force at the start of the Twilight War.
The remaining vehicles were about 15%
M-80s and 5% M-80A1s; very small amounts of ACRV/M-80As were also employed.
The M-98 was not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M-80 |
$199,715 |
D, A |
1.5 tons |
13.6 tons |
3+7 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G, C) |
Enclosed |
M-80A |
$263,588 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
14 tons |
3+7 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Enclosed |
M-80AK |
$271,413 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
14 tons |
3+7 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Enclosed |
ACRV/M-80A |
$306,245 |
D, A |
1.8 tons |
15 tons |
3+11 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Shielded |
M-80A1 Vidra |
$254,729 |
D, A |
1.2 tons |
14.2 tons |
3+7 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Enclosed |
M-98 Vidra |
$285,617 |
D, A |
1.1 tons |
14.2 tons |
3+7 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
M-80AKC |
$295,750 |
D, A |
750 kg |
14.7 tons |
3+4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Enclosed |
M-80AKB |
$384,025 |
D, A |
750 kg |
14.7 tons |
3+4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C) |
Enclosed |
VK-80A |
$472,729 |
D, A |
750 kg |
14 tons |
3+4 |
12 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), Image
Intensification (G, C), Thermal Imaging (C) |
Enclosed |
M-80A Sn |
$97,776 |
D, A |
750 kg |
14 tons |
* |
11 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M-80 |
143/100 |
35/21/4 |
510 |
135 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF8 HS3
HR2 |
M-80A/M-80AK/VK-80A |
153/107 |
37/22/4 |
510 |
153 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF9 HS3
HR3 |
ACRV/M-80A |
138/96 |
34/20/3 |
540 |
142 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF5 HS2
HR2 |
M-80A1/M-98 Vidra |
154/108 |
38/23/4 |
510 |
158 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF6
TS4 TR3
HF9 HS3
HR3 |
M-80AKC/M-80AKB |
136/95 |
33/20/3 |
510 |
142 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF9 HS3
HR3 |
M-80A Sn |
153/107 |
37/22/4 |
510 |
153 |
Trtd |
T2 |
HF9
HS3 HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M-80 |
+1 |
Fair |
20mm KAA, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM Launchers |
1400x20mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xMaljutka ATGM |
M-80A |
+2 |
Fair |
20mm KAB, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM Launchers |
1400x20mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xMaljutka ATGM |
M-80AK |
+2 |
Fair |
30mm Mauser MK-30, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM
Launchers |
1100x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xMaljutka ATGM |
ACRV/M-80A |
+2 |
Fair |
20mm KAB, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM Launchers |
1600x20mm, 2500x7.62mm, 6xMaljutka ATGM |
M-80A1 Vidra |
+3 |
Fair |
30mm Mauser MK-30, PKT, AT-4 ATGM
Launcher |
1100x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-4 ATGM |
M-98 Vidra |
+3 |
Good |
30mm M-89, PKT, AT-4 ATGM Launcher |
900x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-4 ATGM |
M-80AKC |
+2 |
Fair |
30mm Mauser MK-30, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM
Launchers |
825x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xMaljutka ATGM |
M-80AKB |
+2 |
Fair |
30mm Mauser MK-30, PKT, 2xMaljutka ATGM
Launchers |
750x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 3xMaljutka ATGM |
VK-80A |
+1 |
Fair |
PKT |
2000x7.62mm |
*See text above for crew
and passenger capacity.