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The BTR-152 (also known as BTR-140) was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armoured transporter") †) that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60. However, it remained in service in the Soviet Army and the Russian Army until 1993 in a variety of other roles. It was also exported to many Third World countries where some still remain in service.
[edit] HistoryWhile tanks are powerful weapons in their own right, they are badly suited for close-range combat because numerous blind spots make it easy for enemy infantry to sneak close with antitank weapons, and because the tank's own weapons are unsuited for engaging opponents at very short distances. Tanks must therefore be accompanied by infantry, who compensate for the tank's weaknesses by protecting it from enemy infantry. During the Second World War, the Soviet Union understood this principle, and typically had infantry and tanks attack German forces together. However, the Soviets' actual performance was degraded by a lack of an armored personnel carrier (APC): Unprotected Russian troops could be easily pinned down or killed by German weapons fire, leaving only the tanks to advance. Once the two elements were separated, both became vulnerable. The Soviets' lack of an APC also hindered their infantry's ability to keep up with fast-moving tanks more generally. APCs not only allowed infantry to keep pace with the tanks, but it also afforded them physical protection against enemy weapons fire that would otherwise pin them down out in the open. (Perrett 1987:65) Even after the strategic balance shifted in favor of the USSR in 1943, the Soviets normally suffered higher casualties whenever they fought the Germans--even if the end result was a Soviet victory. After the war, the Soviet military leadership recognized that many battlefield losses had resulted from the poor infantry-tank coordination which partly stemmed from a lack of an APC. Concordantly, efforts were immediately made to build such a vehicle. Examples of proven designs such as the American M3 Half-track vehicle and the German SdKfz 251 were in Soviet possession, and served as the starting point for the first Soviet APC. (Perrett 1987:65) The BTR-152 was one of the first Soviet attempts at an armoured infantry vehicle after the Second World War. It was developed from November 1946 at ZiS plant by a team (it included K. M. Androsow, A. P. Pietrenko, W. F. Rodionow and P. P. Czerniajew)[1] led by B. M. Fitterman. The first two prototypes were completed in May 1947 and were followed by three experimental series. The vehicle was adopted by the Soviet Army on 24 March 1950. The vehicle was based on the existing ZiS-151 truck chassis. Despite an improved engine, the addition of 5 tons of armour resulted in the vehicle having insufficient mobility. Several upgraded versions were designed by W. F. Rodionow and N. I. Orłow.[1] They later entered production. They rectified many problems of the vehicle, such as the open roof and the mobility issue. The addition of a central tire pressure regulation system allowed tire pressure to be adjusted to optimize traction in varying terrain. Production of the BTR-152 was stopped in 1962. About 15,000 examples were built. [edit] Description The BTR-152, based on a truck chassis, has the engine located in the front, the crew behind the engine, and an open-topped troop compartment in the rear. The vehicle has all-welded steel construction with sloped armour. The windscreen is protected by twin armoured shutters with integral vision blocks. Driver and commander enter and exit the vehicle via the doors on each side of the crew compartment. The upper part of the doors can be opened without opening the entire door, allowing both crew members a side view. Additionally both driver and commander can view the battlefield using periscopes mounted over the doors. The vehicle's armour varies from 15 mm thick on the front to 9 mm thick on the sides, to just 4 mm thick on the floor. This provides modest protection from small arms fire and small shell fragments, but does nothing against larger artillery fragments or heavy machinegun fire. The BTR-152's tires are not protected by armour and are particularly vulnerable to puncture from gunfire of all kinds. The vehicle is sometimes fitted with a winch that has a maximum capacity of 5 tonnes, and is fitted with a 70 m cable.[2][4] The BTR-152 can tow heavy guns, transport 1.9 tonnes of cargo, or a half platoon of infantry. In the APC role, infantrymen can fire their individual weapons from the relative protection of the vehicle, and can exit through the rear doors or by jumping over the sides.[7][4][1] The troop compartment is open-topped although later versions were enclosed. It can be covered with a tarpaulin to protect the transported cargo or troops from rain and snow, however it makes it unable for troops to disembark over the sides of the vehicle or mount any of the 7.62 mm SGMB light machine guns. The transported troops sit on two wooden benches. Twin doors at the rear of the hull provide access to the compartment. There are three firing ports on each side of the hull, and a further two in the rear. The driver and gunner are the only ones that have overhead protection. The BTR-152K is the only APC variant to have an armoured roof over the troop compartment and an NBC protection system. All other BTR-152 variants lack NBC protection.  The BTR-152 APC is armed with a single pintle-mounted 7.62mm SGMB light machinegun which was a typical armament for APCs of its time. It can also mount a 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machinegun. The machinegun can traverse 45 degrees and elevate between -6 and +24 degrees.[4] Because the original BTR-152 APC used components from the ZiS-151, it shared that truck's maintenance problems and poor cross-country mobility. Later variants using ZiL-157 components featured more power and larger, single tires which reduced the vehicle's shortcomings but did not entirely eliminate them. Serviceability and reliability remained low.[7] The lack of an amphibious capability was also a significant weakness. Armoured shutters controlled by the driver protect the radiator from hostile fire. Closing the shutters can result in sudden overheating of the engine during combat and can force the driver to reduce speed to avoid damaging the engine. The vehicle therefore becomes a slow, unmaneuverable target on the battlefield.[4] [edit] Service HistoryThe vehicle entered active service with the Soviet Army on 24 March 1950 and was first publicly shown during a parade in Moscow in 1951. It was phased out as an APC between the late 1960s and early 1970s and was replaced by the BTR-60. It remained in service with the Soviet Army and later post-soviet Russian Army until 1993 in a variety of roles, including command vehicles, mobile radio stations and ambulances. It was also exported to many Third World countries where some still remain in service. BTR-152 first saw combat use during Hungarian Revolution of 1956. They were later used during the Six Day War in 1967. Dozens of Egyptian and Syrian BTR-152 APCs were captured by the Israeli Army. They were also used in combat during the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 by the Soviet Army and other Warsaw Pact armies. They also were used in a number of local conflicts like the ones in Africa. [edit] Variants [edit] former Soviet Union
[edit] People's Republic of China
 [edit] Egypt
[edit] former East Germany
[edit] Israel
[edit] Lebanon
[edit] Poland
[edit] Operators 
[edit] Former Operators
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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