TAB-71

Last updated
TAB-71
TAB-71M cropped.jpg
A TAB-71M at the Babadag range
TypeWheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier
Place of originFlag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Socialist Republic of Romania
Service history
In service1970–present
Used bySee Operators
Wars
Production history
Manufacturer Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară (RATMIL)
Produced1970–1990
No. built1,878
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications (TAB-71 [1] )
Mass11 t (24,000 lb)
Length7.22 m (23.7 ft)
Width2.83 m (9.3 ft)
Height2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Crew3 + 8 passengers

Armor Steel
Main
armament
14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm PKT machine gun (2,000 rounds)
Engine2×SR 255 6-cylinder
140 hp (100 kW)
Power/weight25.4 hp/t (18.9 kW/t)
Suspensionwheeled 8×8
Ground clearance0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Fuel capacity290 L (77 US gal)
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed 95 km/h (59 mph) on road
10 km/h (6.2 mph) in water

The TAB-71 (Transportorul Amfibiu Blindat model 1971) is the Romanian license-built version of the BTR-60PB. It was produced between 1970 and 1990 by RATMIL (now Romarm). It is the only other license manufacture of the BTR-60PB. [2]

Contents

Design and Development

Romania had the construction and manufacturing documentation for the BTR-60P version since 1962. A year later, the TAB-63 prototype was built however, it did not enter production as the Romanian authorities wished to acquire the license to produce the more modern BTR-60PB. [3] [4]

After the request was granted by the Military Industrial Committee of the Comecon in the late 1960s, production of the TAB-71 began in 1970 by the Romanian Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară factory. The first vehicle was unveiled at a military parade in 1972. [1]

The TAB-71 is similar to the BTR-60PB, the main difference being the more powerful engine, the exhaust pipes were also positioned horizontally. It also had more day-vision periscopes than the BTR-60PB. The TAB also had an improved turret which allowed the guns to fire at a near 90° angle. The new turret also had a land and anti-aircraft (LOTA) sight mounted on the port side. [5]

Variants

TAB-71M turret TurelaTAB71M.jpg
TAB-71M turret

TAB-71M

Compared to the previous version, the TAB-71M mounted two 130 hp Saviem 797-05 engines, locally produced by Roman. [6] A small hatch was also added between the second and third axles on either side. [1]

TAB-71A R-1450 command vehicle

The R-1450 variant has additional communications equipment and features a second antenna on the left side of the hull. [1]

TAB-71A R-1451 command vehicle

The R-1451 has a different turret. Instead of the regular armament, it has a small crane for the removal of batteries. A box for a generator is mounted on the right side of the roof. There are also four antennae on the right side of the hull roof. The signal equipment used are the R-410M and the R-1451. [1]

TAB-71A R1 1452 command vehicle

Similar to the R-1451 model. It features additional communications equipment. [1]

TAB-71AR

Mortar carrier version. Instead of the turret, it is fitted with a 82 mm mortar which fires through the roof of the vehicle. Behind the circular mortar hatches, there are two rectangular roof hatches. A PKMS machine gun is mounted in front of the left side hatch. The vehicle can carry 100 mortar bombs. [1]

TERA-71L

The TERA-71L is modified for maintenance and recovery role. The enclosed troop compartment is located at the front, and an open compartment in the center, the engine compartment is in the rear. [1]

Operators

Current

Former

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BRDM-2</span> Amphibious armored scout car

The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured scout car designed and developed in the Soviet Union. It was also known under the designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08. This vehicle, like many other Soviet designs, has been exported extensively and is in use in at least 38 countries. It was intended to replace the older BRDM-1, and has improved amphibious capabilities and better armament compared to its predecessor. The BRDM-2 production continues in Poland as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-60</span> Wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier

The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs). It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen in public for the first time in 1961. BTR stands for bronetransportyor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FV432</span> British armoured personnel carrier

The FV432 is the armoured personnel carrier variant in the British Army's FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles. Since its introduction in the 1960s, it has been the most common variant, being used for transporting infantry on the battlefield. At its peak in the 1980s, almost 2,500 vehicles were in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-70</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier originally developed by the Soviet Union during the late 1960s under the manufacturing code GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into Soviet service and would later be widely exported. Large quantities were also produced under license in Romania as the TAB-77.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-80</span> Soviet armored personnel carrier

The BTR-80 is an 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed in the Soviet Union. It was adopted in 1985 and replaced the previous vehicles, the BTR-60 and BTR-70, in the Soviet Army. It was first deployed during the Soviet–Afghan War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BRDM-1</span> Amphibious armored scout car

The BRDM-1 is a Soviet amphibious armored scout car. It was the first purpose-built Soviet reconnaissance vehicle to enter service since the BA-64 and was built on the chassis and drive train of the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier. It is the world's first mass-produced combat vehicle of its class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-D</span> Soviet armoured personnel carrier

The BTR-D is a Soviet airborne multi-purpose tracked armoured personnel carrier. It was introduced in 1974 and first seen by the West in 1979 during the Soviet–Afghan War. BTR-D stands for Bronetransportyor Desanta. It is based on the BMD-1 airborne IFV. NATO gave it the designation BMD M1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-50</span> Amphibious tracked armored personnel carrier

The BTR-50 is a Soviet tracked amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank chassis. The BTR-50 was developed in 1952 and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1954. It ceased production in the USSR in 1970, but production continued in Czechoslovakia until 1972 and there is suggestion that it still produced by some foreign companies. It has the ability to transport up to 20 fully equipped infantrymen, and can be armed with nothing, a 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun, or a 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun. It saw notable service in the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and most recently in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-40</span> Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier

The BTR-40 is a Soviet open-topped, wheeled armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It is often referred to as the Sorokovka in Soviet service. It was eventually replaced in the APC role by the BTR-152 and in the scout car role by the BRDM-1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-90</span> Russian armored personnel carrier

BTR-90 (GAZ-5923) is an 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragoon 300</span> Amphibious Armoured Vehicle

The Dragoon 300 AFV was produced by Arrowpointe Corporation during the 1980s. It was based on the automotive components of the United States Army's M113 APCs and 5-ton trucks. It resembles a larger V-150 Commando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-3</span> Eight-wheel drive armored personnel carrier

The BTR-3 is an eight-wheel drive armored personnel carrier developed in 2000 and 2001 by an international consortium. The companies involved in the project include the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau of Ukraine, Adcom Systems of Abu-Dhabi, UAE, and the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine. Although somewhat similar in appearance to the Soviet BTR-80, the BTR-3U is an all-new production vehicle rather than an update of the existing in-service vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLVM</span> Armoured personnel carrier

MLVM is a Romanian armoured personnel carrier. The vehicle was designed and used as an infantry fighting vehicle for the vânători de munte of the Romanian Army, though technically it is a tracked armoured personnel carrier according to UN classification because of its light armor and armament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OT-62 TOPAS</span> Tracked Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier

The OT-62 TOPAS is a series of amphibious tracked armoured personnel carriers developed jointly by Polish People's Republic and Czechoslovakia (ČSSR). OT-62 stands for Obrněný Transportér vzor 62 – "armoured personnel carrier model 62". TOPAS stands for Transportér Obrněný Pásový – "tracked armoured personnel carrier".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 85 AFV</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The Type 85 is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle produced by Chinese company Norinco. It is an improved version of the Type 63 armoured personnel carrier. The vehicle is bigger, has additional firing ports and periscopes, a longer chassis with an additional road wheel on each side, and is equipped with an NBC protection system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 90 AFV</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The Type 90 is an armoured fighting vehicle produced by Chinese company Norinco; it is the successor for the Type 85 AFV of which it uses some components. The Type 90 series was developed for export, and consists of at least 10 different types; its industrial index is YW535.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fahd (armored personnel carrier)</span> Armored personnel carrier

The Fahd is a 4x4 Egyptian armored personnel carrier, designed to fit the requirements of the Egyptian Military. It replaced older APCs in Egyptian service such as the BTR-40, and the Walid. It has been used by the United Nations.

Bulgaria is a NATO member country with a large indigenous defence industry. Most of its weaponry is of Soviet design, but with significantly improved performance. Bulgaria is ranked as a "medium" small arms exporter according to the Small Arms Survey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABC-79M</span> Reconnaissance vehicle and armored personnel carrier

The ABC-79M (4x4) armoured personnel carrier has been developed in Romania and uses some automotive components of the TAB-77 armoured personnel carrier. Although previously known as TABC-79, it is now known as the ABC-79M.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Christopher F Foss (2011). Jane's armour and artillery 2011-2012. Jane's. pp. 618–619. ISBN   9780710629609.
  2. 1 2 "Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995". Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 11 May 1995 via Google Books.
  3. Petre Opriș (5 May 2009). "Soarta lui Nicolae Ceaușescu a depins și de elicopterele franțuzești". Jurnalul.ro (in Romanian).
  4. Nicolae Spiroiu (1991). Autovehiculele în armata română. Tradiție și contemporaneitate. Bucharest: Editura Militară.
  5. Alexandra Șerban. "TAB-urile din dotarea Armatei Române". Historia. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. "Istoria Roman Diesel! Date tehnice complete modele Saviem 797-05 si MAN-D 2156 HMN 8". whattruck.ro (in Romanian). 12 October 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "Arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. "United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - Romania 2022". United Nations. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  9. Gregurić, Boris; Jereb, Vojislav (2001). Croatian Army vehicles 1991 - 1995. Adamić. pp. 7, 17, 53. ISBN   9532190244.