Notes: This wheeled armored personnel carrier was developed in the late 1950s to replace the BTR-152 series. By 2000, they were mainly found in the armies of Third World nations, having been replaced in the Russian and Pact armies by newer versions of wheeled APCs such as the BTR-70, BTR-80, BTR-90, and the TAB and OT-64 series. Early versions had an open-topped troop compartment and a pintle-mounted machinegun; a little later, the troop compartment was enclosed and a commander’s hatch with a pintle-mounted weapon was introduced, and then the primary version found by 2000 was introduced (the BTR-60PB), which has the now-familiar closed top and turret with a KPV/PKT combination. The turret is almost identical to that on the BRDM-2 (except for the level or armor protection). The traverse and elevation are manual, and thus are slower than on newer vehicles. Throughout the course of its history, the BTR-60 was produced in over 10 versions by almost 35 countries. There are hatches on the front deck for the driver and commander; the turret does not have a hatch. On the rear deck is a large hatch for the passengers (if closed-topped); this hatch is the primary method of ingress and egress for the passengers and gunner, since the two doors in the hull are very small and best suited for emergency use or as auxiliary firing ports. There are also two firing ports in each side of the hull. In the front of the vehicle is a winch with a capacity of 4.5 tons.

The BTR-60PBK is a company commander’s version of the BTR-60PB. It has three radios with three antennas.

The BTR-60 R-975 is a forward air controller team vehicle. It has a total of five radios, including four ground-to-air sets. It is distinguishable by its five antennas.

The BTR-60-Z-351BR is basically a 15 kW generator on an armored platform. It does not normally carry passengers, but there is an extra seat. The extra fuel carried is for the generator, and is carried internally.

The BTR-60PU is a command vehicle designed for use at higher echelons. It has bows and a tarpaulin cover that may be erected to either side of the vehicle to increase working space, and map boards and additional communications gear. There is a roof-mounted 5kW generator, a 10m high radio antenna, and a rail antenna which runs along the front, left side, and rear of the hull. The BTR-60PU-12 is similar, but has different antennas and communications equipment. It is designed to control SA-8 and SA-13 SAM vehicles.

In the late 1990s, Ukraine began upgrading their BTR-60s by replacing the twin gasoline engines and their complicated dual transmissions with a single diesel engine controlled by a single transmission. This upgrade decreases fuel consumption and, as the engine id more powerful then the original two (put together), performance improves as well. Unfortunately, the new engine is heavier, so the performance increase is not great. The new engine is able to run on kerosene as well as diesel fuel.

Notes: This improved version of the BTR-60PB was first identified as a separate vehicle type during a parade in Moscow in 1980. Before that, it was thought to be merely a modified BTR-60. The improvements include more powerful engines, the addition of a firing port on either side of the passenger compartment along with greatly improved vision blocks, and better armor protection, especially for the turret. The interior layout is basically similar, but is more cramped due to the larger engines and fuel tanks. The turret controls are still manual. The BTR-70 was a common sight in Russian forces as well as in Pakistani and Afghani armies, but is rarely found outside those forces, since the BTR-80 appeared not long after the BTR-70 was made public and the BTR-80 is a much better vehicle.

The BTR-70Kh is an NBC Reconnaissance version of the BTR-70. It carries instruments to measure radiation and chemical contamination, as well as better shielding.

The SPR-2 version of the BTR-70 carries radio detection gear and radar jamming and detection equipment.

Some BTR-70s have an AGS-17 mounted on the roof of the turret. It is fired by one of the infantrymen from the hatches behind the turret.

The BTR-70KShM is a command/staff version of the BTR-70. It has 4 radios, and is distinguishable by its four antennas.

In the late 1990s, the Ukrainian firm of KMDB began offering an upgrade package for the BTR-70 featuring a new diesel engine and associated transmission as well as a new turret with increased armor protection and a 30mm KBA-2 autocannon instead of the standard KPV machinegun. Customers for this upgrade have not been made public, but are rumored to include Ukraine herself as well as Russia. The new engine is more powerful than the two gasoline engines it replaces, as well as offering greater fuel economy; it may also burn kerosene as well as diesel. The new gun, Swiss-made, is much more effective than the KPV. The modification may be noticed primarily by the turret, which has a raised superstructure on top of the old turret with the autocannon, coaxial machinegun, and ammunition storage. The autocannon and the machinegun may be fired from under complete armor protection, and the turret now has electrical traverse instead of being manual.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The BTR-70M does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

The BTR-80B is a version of the BTR-80, fitted with the Kliver turret. The Kliver turret is similar to the turret of the BTR-80A, except that there are 4 launchers for the AT-14 Kornet missile. This turns the BTR-80 into a viable infantry fighting vehicle for less cost than a BTR-80D, and provides a significant upgrade in firepower from a BTR-80 or BTR-80A. It was encountered with greater frequency than BTR-80Ds.

The BTR-80D is the answer to the NATO light tanks in Russian formations using the BTR-series of vehicles. It features the same turret as a BMP-3 on top of a BTR-80 chassis. It is designed for heavy support of the BTR-series of vehicles and their infantry forces.

The BTR-80 M1989/1 is a command version of the BTR-80. The Russian designation is the Kushetka-B command/staff armored vehicle. It has a much higher roofline, five secure radios, and the turret is not fitted with a PKT. In the forward part of the turret is a window with an armored shutter. It is distinguishable by its 5 radio antennas.

The BTR-80K is a command vehicle designed for use at lower echelons than the BTR-80 M1989/1. The BTR-80K has three radios. It retains full armament, but lacks the observation window in the turret. It is distinguishable by its 3 radio antennas.

The BMM-1 is an armored ambulance version of the BTR-80.

The RKhM-4-01 is an NBC reconnaissance version of the BTR-80. It is equipped with chemical sniffers, Geiger counters, and gamma radiation detectors. It automatically records the level of contamination of the area it travels, and has communications equipment to upload these findings to higher echelons.

Twilight/Merc 2000 Notes: South Korean examples of these vehicles were often mistaken for North Korean BTR-series vehicles in the heat of battle. The BTR-80D was so rare in the Twilight War that it was regarded as a mere myth by most NATO and Chinese troops.