Pioneer said:
Those pictures on the Soviet GT-R (or GT-LB) APC are fantastic
perttime. I never knew this design existed (unfortunately the written information remains elusive, as I can't copy the documents too put it through Translate Google into english, to read what it says :'( ) Still this GT-R/GT-LB remains elusive on the web, as I'm unable to find out anything more about it
A little more googling ("Объект 12" "ГТ-Л") seems to reveal some more Russian forum threads - and a Russian Wikipedia article on the GT-L:
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%A2-%D0%9B
My Google translate, too, seems to insist on Translating the "Л" (L) as R ... and translating to Finnish
Edit: managed to get this out of Google Translate:
GT-LB (HBTU Index - Object 12) - Soviet tracked lightly armored armored personnel carrier. Developed in the design office of the Altai Tractor Plant. Not commercially produced.
History of creation
The work was started on the basis of the decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on April 2, 1954 and the Order of January 24, 1959. For the tests were made three prototypes that were sent for testing in NIII BT. The tests took place from January to March 1961. According to the results of the test samples were not taken on board. The main drawback was the weight machines, which significantly exceeds the set of tactical and technical requirements. Also, the fuel tanks were located too high on the sides of the crew compartment. Because of the uneven distribution of weight, the car felt unstable during the melt. In addition, there were problems with the ergonomic requirements. As a result, to fix all the comments had to completely change the design of the machine, so the 15 June 1963 the work on the car were closed. [1]
Description of construction
The function of a GT-R was the transportation of personnel, as well as the evacuation of the wounded. In addition, the GT-R was able to transport ammunition and weapons weighing up to 2.5 tons, and tow artillery systems weighing up to 6 tons. In the elements of design components and assemblies used by tractors AT-A, GT-T and the AT-T, as well as the BTR-50P. The machine frame is welded and provided protection from bullets and shrapnel. In front of the building houses the engine-transmission compartment. It was located behind the separation of management, which established the jobs of the driver, commander of the troops and the two shooters. In the middle and rear parts of the body were the troop compartment in which the seats were installed landing. Troopers could fire from handguns through 13 embrasures located in the body of the machine and in the rear hatches output [1].
Armament
The main armament is a 14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun KPVT. The machine gun was placed in front of the machine, in a unified anti-aircraft machine gun, developed by the design bureau of the Leningrad Kirov Plant [1].
Engine and transmission
In the GT-R was installed inline six-cylinder diesel engine 8D6, razvivavschy power up to 240 hp The machine is equipped with a manual transmission, which consisted of five-speed manual transmission, the main clutch and two final drives [1].
Chassis
For driving on terrain GT-R was used tracked mover with front drive wheels. Suspension - the individual, the torsion bar. Maximum road speed was 50 km / h For the movement afloat were two jet. Swimming speed could be up to 8.2 km / h [1].
Combat weight, t 13.6
Crew. 1
Troopers, pers. 19
History
Developer ATZ
Manufacturer of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Years of development from 1959 to 1963
Years: 1960
The number of issued, pieces. 3
Booking
Type of armor bulletproof
Armament
Guns 1 x 14.5 mm KPVT
Mobility
Engine Type 8D6
Engine power, hp. s. 240
Speed, km / h 50
Cross-country speed, km / h 8.2 afloat
Cruising on the highway, 450 km
Suspension individual torsion
Ground pressure, kg / cm ² 0,39
Fording, m swim