MT-LB

Development

Description

Variants

Former USSR

• MT-L
• * MT-LB – basic model, often used as simple APC but also as artillery tractor or ambulance. In the West the term MT-LB Blade or MT-LB M1980 is used for vehicles that are fitted with a hydraulic dozer blade.
• ** MT-LBV – low-pressure track version, with 565 mm tracks giving a ground pressure of 0.27 kgf/cm². Used in Arctic regions instead of BMP or BTR wheeled vehicles.
• *** MT-LBVM – with NSVT 12.7 mm instead of the original 7.62 mm machine gun turret.
• *** MT-LBV-N
• *** MT-LBV-NS
• ** MTP-LB – technical support version with no turret, an A-frame and stowage on the roof.
• ** SNAR-10 "Jaguar" – with 1RL-127 Ground surveillance radar in a large rotating turret. Range: 16 km. Old NATO designators are MT-LB M1975 and MT-LB SON.
• *** SNAR-10M "Pantera" – upgraded, automated system with a range of 40 km.
• ** 9A34 – launch vehicle of the 9K35 "Strela-10" system.
• ** 9A35 – as per 9A34 but additionally with a passive detection system.
• ** 9P149 "Shturm-S" – anti-tank version with a retractable launcher for 9M114 Kokon ATGM. The vehicle carries 12 missiles on board and entered service in 1979. It has a crew of 2.
• ** RKhM "Kashalot" – chemical reconnaissance vehicle with detection, marking and alarm devices. This model has the hull shape and single rear door of the 2S1. Former Western designator: ATV M1979/4.
• *** RKhM-K – command version with additional signal equipment but without sensors or markers.
• ** RPM – radiological reconnaissance vehicle with a single KZO-2 flag dispenser and equipped with radiation detection devices NGP-81, KDN-2, KRB-1, KRA-1.
• ** K-611 – radiological reconnaissance vehicle.
• ** K-612 – radiological reconnaissance vehicle.
• ** AZM "Vostorg-1" – engineer vehicle, equipped with a hydraulic dozer blade and an extendable hydraulic arm with a bucket.
• * MT-LBu – variant with a larger hull and longer chassis. Many so-called "MT-LB variants" are in fact based on the MT-LBu.
• * UR-77 "Meteorit" – mine-clearing system with a rocket-launched explosive hose.
• * 2S1 122 mm self-propelled howitzer.

  Russian Federation

• MT-LBM – MT-LB modernization developed by Muromteplovoz in the 1990s. It can be fitted with several different turrets.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80, with a KPVT 14.5mm machine gun and co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine gun.
• ** MT-LBM – MA armed with additional AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
• *** MT-LBM – MA1 armed with KPVB 23x115 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun.
• ** MT-LBM – MA armed with KPVB 23x115 mm instead of KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM armed with four 9M133 Kornet ATGM launchers, 7.62 mm PKTM tank machine gun and an AGS-30 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM fitted with a turret from BTR-80A, using a 2A72 30 mm autocannon and co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine gun.
• ** MT-LBM – MB armed with AGS-17 30 mm.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM armed with GSh-23V 23 mm, AGS-30 30 mm and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM armed with GSh-30K 30 mm, AGS-30 30 mm and "Kord" 12.7 mm.
• * MT-LBM – MT-LBM armed with twin gun 23 or 30 mm, "Igla" SAM and equipped with improved sights.
• * MT-LBM1 – MT-LBM fitted with 300–310 hp engine.
• * MT-LBM2 – MT-LBM upgrade package developed by Kurganmashzavod with new engine and transmission, improved suspension, BMP style side skirts etc. Prototype.
• 2S24 – mortar carrier with 2B24 82 mm mortar and 83 rounds. The system designator for the carrier vehicle, mortar, and ammunition is 2K32 "Deva". The 2S24 was designed by TsNII "Burevestnik" and has a crew of five. In service with RF Interior Ministry.
• MT-LBVMK – a modification of MT-LBVM with "Kord" 12.7 mm machine gun instead of NSVT 12.7 mm.
• Toros – Arctic adapted vehicle developed by Muromteplovoz based on the MT-LB chassis armed with a 30mm autocannon 2A42, PKMT 7.62mm machine gun, and 30mm AGS-17D grenade launcher, and equipped with a snowplow. Toros is able to operate in −45 °C.

  Bulgaria

• MT-LB AT-I – tractor for mine-laying systems. Fitted with racks for anti-tank mines.
• MT-LB RHR or MR HR – NBC reconnaissance vehicle with detection, alarming, sampling and markings devices.
• MT-LB SE – ambulance.
• SMM B1.10 "Tundzha" – mortar platform with M-38/43 120 mm mortar and 58 rounds.
• * SMM 74 B1.10 "Tundzha-Sani" – improved version with 2B11 120 mm mortar.
• KShM-R-81 "Delfin" – command and staff vehicle with R-123M, R-130M and R-31M radios, an AZI frame antenna, a generator and an additional cupola on the hull roof.
• MT-LB TMX – mortar carrier with 82 mm mortar M-37M.
• BRM "Sova" – reconnaissance version with NBC detection system ASP-3 and VPHR, radio sets R-123M and R-31M, PAB-2 aiming circle and NSPU night vision device. Comes in three versions with additional specialized equipment:
• * "Sova-1" – with R-130M radio set, an AZI frame antenna, and a telescopic mast.
• * "Sova-2" – with R-143 "Lira" radioset.
• * "Sova-3" – with PSNR-5K battlefield surveillance radar.
• R-80 – artillery forward observer vehicle with observation devices.
• BMP-23 – infantry fighting vehicle with 23 mm gun 2A14 and ATGM 9K11 "Malyutka" in a 2-man turret. The chassis is based on the one from the MT-LB but with components of the 2S1 and fitted with a 315 hp engine.
• * BMP-23D – improved version with 9K111 "Fagot" and smoke grenade launchers.
• * BRM-23 – reconnaissance version. Prototype.
• BMP-30 – similar chassis as the BMP-23 but with the complete turret of the Soviet-made BMP-2. Only 10 built.

East Germany

• MT-LB – combat engineer vehicle.
• MT-LB – version for anti-tank units.
• MT-LB – command vehicle for anti-tank units.
• MT-LB SFL – battery command vehicle in self-propelled artillery units.
• SaN MT-LB – ambulance
• MTP-LB – technical support vehicle.

  Iraq

• MT-LBV fitted with wider tracks.
• MT-LB converted into a SPAAG by mounting a ZU-23-2 23 mm twin anti-aircraft gun on the rear part of the vehicle. The gun had its wheels removed and as such cannot be easily dismounted and used separately. There were at least two variations of this conversion; one with the ZU-23-2 mounted in an open-topped turret, the other with the ZU-23-2 mounted on a platform extending beyond the hull of the MT-LB with a roof for the gun operators. The second version was most likely intended to be used in a fire support role, as the roof would hinder the gun's sights at high elevation.

  Poland

• MT-LB-2AP – APC variant with a turret from SKOT-2AP, armed with high elevation 14.5mm KPVT MG and 7.62mm PKT CMG. Prototype only.
• WEM Lotos – medical evacuation vehicle with four stretchers.
• WPT Mors – armored recovery and repair vehicle, produced from 1983.
• R-137T – signals vehicle with VHF radio set R-137. Entered service in 1987 and has a range of 70 to 150 km.
• * ZWD-1 "Irys" – command vehicle, belongs to the automated command set "Irys".
• MT-LB-23M "Krak" – APC variant with a 23 mm gun in an unmanned turret. Prototype only.
• Promet – self-propelled AA gun with twin 23 mm guns, from 1979. Four prototypes only.
• "Przebiśnieg" – electronic warfare system, consists of three different vehicles:
• * SZ or MT-LB Z – EW/Jamming vehicle;
• * SR or MT-LB R – Comint/Sigint vehicle;
• * WD krel – command post vehicle.
• SPG-2 – much-modified base vehicle, with reworked nose section and hydro jets for better floating:
• * TRI Hors – engineering reconnaissance vehicle, built in series from 1983, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;
• * WPT Mors-II – armored recovery and repair vehicle, produced from 1986, armed with 12.7mm NSVT AAMG mounted on a turret;
• * Opal-I and Opal-II – artillery command vehicles, with a turret with NSWT-12.7 Utios: Opal-I with a 245 hp turbocharged diesel engine SW680/167/1, Opal-II with a 300 hp engine SW680T and a longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side. Prototypes only.
• * BWO-40 – infantry fighting vehicle with 40 mm Bofors gun. A similar turret was mounted on the BWP-40. Prototype only.

  Sweden

• Pbv 401 – modified former East-German vehicle with 7.62 mm machine guns Ksp 95 and Ksp 58.
• * Stripbv 4011 – battalion-level command post.
• * Bgbv 4012 – Swedish designator for the MTP-LB.
• * Rlpbv 4014/T – signals vehicle.
• * Stripbv 4021 – company-level command post.
• * Sjvpbv 4024 – Military ambulance.
• * Lvrbpbv 4016 – an unconfirmed designator for vehicles, equipped with RBS 70.
• * Pvrbbv 452 – with RBS 56 BILL 1 Anti-tank guided weapon.

  List of conflicts

• 1979–1989: Soviet–Afghan War
• 1980–1988: Iran–Iraq War
• 1991: Gulf War
• 1991: 1991 uprisings in Iraq
• 1992: Nagorno-Karabakh War
• 1992: Transnistria War
• 1994–1996: First Chechen War
• 1999–2009: Second Chechen War
• 2003: Invasion of Iraq
• * 2003–2010: Iraq War
• 2008: 2008 South Ossetian War
• 2009: Boko Haram insurgency
• 2011–2019: Syrian Civil War
• 2014: War in Donbass
• 2014: Iraqi Civil War

  Operators

Current operators

• – 336
• – 8

• – 134
• – 100
• – 70
• – 6
• – 10
• – 389 MT-LB/v, 50 MT-LBU
• – 66 in Service
• – About 400 in Service.
• – 150

• – 10
• – 60
• – 26
• – 67
• – 10
• – 15
• – 3,300 in active service. Currently being modernized in the version MLBSh for the Marines with more powerful engines KAMAZ-740.50 of 360 hp, new tracks and new weaponry, etc.
• – 2,090. In 2018 nine MT-LBs received from Poland.
• – 5
• – Used by military in OPFOR missions
• – Was seen used by artillery troops preparing for the 2020 International Army Games.

  Former operators

• – 6 SNAR-10 stored, for scrap.
• Czechoslovak Socialist Republic – Passed on to the Czech Republic.
• – 721 Bulgarian-made MT-LBs, 32 SNAR-10 and 36 Strela-10M. Unified with West Germany.
• – taken from GDR's army, all scrapped or sold to other countries.
• – Strela-10 and SNAR-10
• – Passed on to successor states.
• – 460

• Surviving vehicles

• Museum of Missouri Military History, on static display outside the museum