Combat vehicles / Armored personnel carriers / BTR-40
BTR-40
General Facts
- TYPE
Armored personnel carrier - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
Type 55 (Chinese production)
Sorokovka (Soviet nickname)
SPW-40 (East German service)
BTR-141 (prototype designation) - DESIGNED
1947 - 1950 - DESIGNER
V.A. Dedkov - PRODUCTION
1950 - 1960 - PRODUCERS
China
USSR - GAZ - QUANTITY
About 8.500 produced in the USSR - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good mobility on roads
Limited production costs
Limited armament
Limited level of protection
Introduction
The BTR-40 is an early Cold War era armored personnel carrier of Soviet origin. It was developed shortly after World War 2 and is based on the GAZ-63 utility vehicle. The BTR-40 was one of the first mass produced armored personnel carriers. It was supplemented and replaced by the BTR-152 and BTR-60 since the 1960's. The BRDM-1 reconnaissance vehicle was derived from the BTR-40.
Layout
The BTR-40 is based on the GAZ-63 4x4 utility vehicle. If features a thin steel monocoque hull. The cabin and crew compartment are connected. Most versions have an open roof. Firing ports are located on either side and one, two or three pintle mounts are provided.
Firepower
Often the BTR-40 was fitted with only a single 7.62mm SGMB machine gun. Up to three weapons can be fitted. Occasionally a 12.7mm DShKM or 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun are fitted. The BTR-40A anti-aircraft version features a ZTPU-2 mount with two 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine guns.
Protection
The welded steel armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. Most BTR-40 feature and open roof. The gunners are exposed when operating the pintle mounts. NBC protection and smoke grenade launchers are not provided.
Mobility
The 4x4 chassis with large wheels make the BTR-40 highly manueverable on road. Cross country mobility is good in all but the most diffcult terrain. The 80 hp petrol engine provides a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The BTR-40 is not amphibious, unlike the BRDM-1 reconnaissance vehicle that was derived from the BTR-40.
Users
The BTR-40 was used in large quantities with Soviet forces. It was eventually replaced by the larger BTR-152. Many have been exported to Soviet allies around the world. China used both Soviet and locally produced vehicles under the designation Type 55. A limited number of BTR-40's remain in service with third world nations today.
BTR-40
BTR-40: Original production version with open roof. Introduced in 1950. Known as SPW-40 in East German service and Type 55 in China.
BTR-40A: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the BTR-40, also introduced in 1950. Features the ZTPU-2 mount with two 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine guns. Known as SPW-40A in East German service.
BTR-40V: BTR-40 with central tire pressure regulation system. Introduced in 1956.
BTR-40B: BTR-40V with armored roof with four hatches, introduced in 1957. Carries only 6 infantrymen instead of 8. The only APC version with NBC protection system.
BTR-40Kh: NBC reconnaissance version based on the BTR-40B. Known as SPW-40Ch in East German service.
Type | Armored personnel carrier |
---|---|
Crew | 2 + 8 (commander, driver, 8 infantry) |
Length | 5 m |
Width | 1.9 m |
Height | 1.75 m |
Ground clearance | 0.275 m |
Weight | 5.3 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.7 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track, 9.75 x18 tires |
Turn radius | 7 m |
Engine | GAZ-40 6-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 80 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.1 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road |
Fuel | 120 L |
Range | 285 km on road |
Wall | 0.5 m |
Trench | 0.7 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
Fording | 0.8 m |
Armor | Steel, 6 to 8 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 7.62mm SGMB machine gun |
Weapon1 | 7.62mm SGMB machine gun on pintle mount 1.250 rounds in total, 250 ready to fire -6 to +24° elevation, manual -45 to +45° traverse, manual non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
---|---|
Crew | 5 (commander, driver, 3 gunners) |
Length | 5 m |
Width | 2.75 m |
Height | 1.75 m |
Ground clearance | 0.275 m |
Weight | 5.5 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.7 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track, 9.75 x18 tires |
Turn radius | 7 m |
Engine | GAZ-40 6-cylinder water-cooled petrol, 80 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 14.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road |
Fuel | 120 L |
Range | 285 km on road |
Wall | 0.5 m |
Trench | 0.7 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
Fording | 0.8 m |
Armor | Steel, 6 to 8 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | 0 |
Armament | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun (2) |
Weapon1 | Twin 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun in ZTPU-2 mount 2.400 rounds in total, 100 ready to fire -5 to +80° elevation, manual 360° traverse, manual non-stabilize |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |