| OT-64 SKOT | |
|---|---|
 OT-64 SKOT-2A |
|
| Type | Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier |
| Place of origin |  Poland/ Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1963 - present[1] |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | none |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1959 |
| Manufacturer | Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych (FSC) (Poland)[1] |
| Produced | 1963 - early 1970s[1] |
| Number built | 4500[1] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 14.5 t |
| Length | 7.44 m |
| Width | 2.55 m |
| Height | 2.71 m |
| Crew | 2 + 18 passengers[1] 2 + 10 passengers (OT-64A and SKOT-2A)[1] |
|
|
|
| Armor | 6-13 mm |
| Primary armament |
7.62 mm PKT machine gun and 14.5 mm KPV machine gun. |
| Engine | air-cooled Tatra T-928-14 V-8 diesel 180 hp |
| Power/weight | 12.4 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | 8x8 |
| Operational range |
710 km |
| Speed | 94 km/h |
The OT-64 SKOT (Czech acronym for: Střední Kolový Obrněný Transportér, and/or Polish Średni Kołowy Opancerzony Transporter) is an amphibious armored personnel carrier (8×8), developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia (ČSSR) well into the 1960s.
Contents |
History
The first Prototype with the name SKOT was built 1959. It was to replace the halftrack OT-810, that with a few modifications was identical with the German SdKfz 251 from the Second World War. In 1961 the first sample series were built and starting from October 1963 the vehicles were built in Lublin by FSC (Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych). Czechoslovakia supplied some parts, for example the engines. The first production vehicles were delivered in 1964 was delivered to both armies and many are still in use today, although the Czech units, between 2007 and 2012, are being replaced by the Pandur II (8×8).
Technology
The Czechoslovaks produced the engines ,suspension and axles by Tatra ,transmission by Praga Hostivař,the Polish produced the armoured hull and weapons. The OT-64 is based on the Tatra T813 using the V8 T138/T148 family based engine instead of the T813 uses V12 engine. OT-64 uses 5 speed planetary gearbox built by Praga under license from Wilson (preselected gear changes when driver declutches) while the T813 uses a 5 speed synchro gearbox coupled to 2 speed aux gearbox aka half split and low range planetary power divider. There is some Tatra running gear used but its not specifically T813 based. (Note that the other armoured Tatra T813 was the RM-70 122mm multiple rocket launcher system based on the T813 chassis and only its cabin was only lightly armored plated.) The OT-64 was the answer to Soviet BTR-60. Contrary to this the OT-64 used a diesel set in place of a petrol engine. That diminished the danger of fire and at the same time increased the range. The main advantage in relation to the Russian counterpart was the full-armored interior. The entrance is at the rear of the vehicle via twin doors. The OT-64 was air-transportable and buoyant. To the swimming drive the vehicle used two screws installed at the tail. The OT-64 had a NBC protection facility and a night-vision equipment. Several variants were built. Some OT-64 were reequipped for air defense or built as tank hunters. The latter used the AT-3 Sagger missile as a weapon.
Variants
Czechoslovakia
- OT-64 - Original version, used in the APC role. Early models were unarmed but later the vehicle was fitted with a pintle-mounted 7.62 mm light machine gun or 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun. They used to be known in the West as respectively OT-64A and OT-64B. Some 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun armed OT-64 APCs had shields around the heavy machine gun mount.[2][1]
- OT-64 fitted with a small light machine gun turret from OT-65.[2]
- DTP-64 (dilna techniké pomoci) - Czech repair version with tow bars, welding equipment and a hand operated crane with a capacity of 1 tonne. There were two sub-versions, namely the DTP-64/M for mechanized infantry units and the DTP-64/T for tank units. Photos
- OT-64 ZDRAV or ZDR-64 (zdravodny): ambulance.Photos
- OT-64A - Improved version fitted with BRDM-2 type turret which is armed with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun. In Western sources, this version is often called OT-64C. In the late 1990s, some vehicles had the turret replaced by a pintle-mounted machine gun for peace keeping operations.Photos The OT-64A is used as the basis for several command vehicles (velitelsko štábní obrněný transportér) fitted with multiple radio sets, a 1 kW generator and an antenna mast:
- VSOT-64/R2 R102 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- VSOT-64/R2 R105 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- VSOT-64/R2 R108 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- VSOT-64/R2M - Signals and command variant with OT-64A's turret.Photos
- VSOT-64/R3 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- VSOT-64/R3MT - Unarmed signals and command variant.Photos
- VSOT-64/R4MT - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- VSOT-64/R4RT - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- OT-64A fitted with the ATGM mounts on the turret sides.[2]
- OT-64A fitted with the new turret with higher elevation for armament. Similar to Polish SKOT-2AP.[2]
- OT-93 - Export version of the OT-64A with the original turret replaced by the one from the OT-65M or OT-62B. The armament consists of a single 7.62mm machine-gun.Photos
- Cobra - Infantry combat vehicle version with a new turret with 30mm gun 2A42. Did not enter production
Poland
- SKOT-1 - Early, unarmed model, similar to the OT-64.[1]
- SKOT-1A - SKOT-1 fitted with a superstructure in the front of the troop compartment. The superstructure a large, two piece hatch.[1]
- SKOT-WPT (wóz pogotowia technicznego) - Technical support vehicle with a light crane.
- SKOT S-260 Art (artyleryjski) - Artillery tractor and transport vehicle for ammunition and mortar or anti-tank squads.
- SKOT S-260 Inz (inżynieryjny) - Fitted with racks for anti-tank mines and used to tow mechanical mine layers or mine-clearing systems.
- SKOT-2 - SKOT-1A with pintle MG mount around the hatch of the superstructure. Two types of machine guns were fitted there, 7.62 mm light machine gun (first SGMT and later PKT) or 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun. Sides of the machine gun mount are protected with armour plates.[1]
- SKOT-2A - Polish designator for the version with the BRDM-2 turret which was designed in late 1960s. The vehicle is fitted with conical turret armed with 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun on the top of the vehicle. Number of soldiers transported in the troop compartment went down from 18 to 10. In Western sources, this version is often called OT-64C.[1]
- SKOT 2AM - A small number of Polish SKOT-2A APCs was fitted with 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) ATGM launchers on the turret sides. The launchers were protected with armour plate or wire mesh. In the West, they were known as OT-64C(1A).[1]
- SKOT R-2AM - Unarmed command and fire control variant for artillery units.
- SKOT R-2M - Signals and command variant with SKOT-2A's turret.
- SKOT R-3M - Unarmed signals and command variant for combat engineer units.
- SKOT R-3Z - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- SKOT R-4 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- SKOT R-6 - Unarmed signals and command variant.
- SKOT-2AP - Polish modification with a new anti-aircraft WAT turret armed with 14.5 mm heavy machine gun. The turret had higher elevation for it's armament and therefore could be used to fire at air targets. The turret has the new CGS-90 sight. This vehicle was known in the West as OT-64C(2).[1]
- SKOT-2A - Polish designator for the version with the BRDM-2 turret which was designed in late 1960s. The vehicle is fitted with conical turret armed with 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm PKT coaxial light machine gun on the top of the vehicle. Number of soldiers transported in the troop compartment went down from 18 to 10. In Western sources, this version is often called OT-64C.[1]
- KTO WR-02 "Ryś" (kolowy opancerzony transporter- Lynx) - Heavily upgraded version with IVECO Cursor 8 engine. Work is performed by the 5th Military Mechanical Institute in Poznan.
- KTO WR-02 "Ryś-2" (kolowy opancerzony transporter- Lynx-2) - The export version of KTO WR-02 "Ryś".
- SKOT-1A - SKOT-1 fitted with a superstructure in the front of the troop compartment. The superstructure a large, two piece hatch.[1]
Operators
Algeria
Cambodia
Czech Republic
India
Iraq
Libya
Morocco
Pakistan- Poland - On beginning of the 1990s, SKOT's were gradually withdrawn from the Polish Army, and consists of around 300-400, in particular in the versions R-2AM/AMT (for artillery units) and R-3M, engineer's, school. The SKOT is being replaced by the Patria AMV. There were 110 SKOT APCs in service as of 2005.[3]
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Sudan
Syria
Uganda
Uruguay
Former Operators
- Czechoslovakia - Passed on to the successor states.
References
- Jerzy Kajetanowicz - Polish Fighting Vehicles in Post-war period.
- Janusz Magnuski - Wozy Bojowe LWP 1943-1983 Wydawnictwo Miniterstwa Obrony Narodowej - ISBN 83-11-06990-5
- Technika Wojska Polskiego - Dom Wydawniczy Bellona - 1998
Literature
- Philip Terwhitt, “Tank”, New Emperor Publishing House, complaint ford, 2005, ISBN 3-7043-3197-x
External links
- Chech MoD official site
- www.globalsecurity.org: OT-64 (SKOT) (English)
- Panzermodelkit site
- SKOT (Polish)
- KTO Ryś (Polish)
- bharat-rakshak site
- OT-64 (Czech)
