Armour in Canada (7) New Brunswick, 5 Canadian Division Support Base (5 CDSB) Gagetown, Russian Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV)

Russian Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV),

5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown

The data and photos found on this page has been compiled by the author, unless otherwise credited.  Any additions, corrections or amendments to the lists of Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Canada found on these pages would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Une traduction au français pour l'information technique présente serait grandement apprécié. Vos corrections, changements et suggestions sont les bienvenus, et peuvent être envoyés au hskaarup@rogers.com.

Russian AFVs on display at the New Brunswick Military History Museum

Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank.  Museum vehicle park.

Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank

The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970.  It was the most common tank used by the Soviet Army from the 1970s to the collapse of the Soviet Union.  It has been widely exported and is in use by more than 40 countries.

Laser rangefinders have equipped T-72 tanks since 1978.  The T-72 is equipped with the 125-mm 2A46 series main gun and is capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles, as well as standard main gun ammunition, including HEAT and APFSDS rounds.  The main gun of the T-72 has a mean error of one metre (39 inch) at a range of 1,800 m (2,000 yd).  Its maximum firing distance is 9,100 m (10,000 yd), due to limited positive elevation.  The limit of aimed fire is 4,000 m (4,400 yd) (with the gun-launched anti-tank guided missile, which is rarely used outside the former USSR).  The T-72’s main gun is fitted with an integral pressure reserve drum, which assists in rapid smoke evacuation from the bore after firing.  The 125 millimetre gun barrel is certified strong enough to ram the tank through forty centimetres of iron-reinforced brick wall, though doing so will negatively affect the gun’s accuracy when subsequently fired.  One with the NBMHM came to CFB Gagetown in the early 1990s from East Germany.

The Canadian government/CF received gifts of Ex-East German armour in the 1990s. T34,T54/55 and T72 tanks went to Borden, a BTR-152 and BRDM2 went to Gagetown. A second batch of five T72M1 tanks came to Canada afterwards for Trials and Evaluations (Not museum vehicles). These fives tanks were again ex East German but made in the Czech Republic. (Terry Warner)

Russian ASU-57 SP Airborne Assault Gun, Gun Serial No. 52-∏-270, N?556.  Museum vehicle park.

Russian 57-mm ASU-57 SP Gun

The ASU-57 was a small, lightly constructed Soviet assault gun specifically designed for use by Soviet airborne divisions.  The ASU-57 was designed to be a light-weight assault gun that could be air-dropped and deployed by rocket-assisted parachute along with the troops.  The ASU-57’s engine was taken from the Pobeda civilian car.  The ASU-57 was a successful design, and saw service with Soviet airborne divisions for around 20 years before being replaced by the 85-mm ASU-85 SP Gun.  During its years of operation 54 vehicles would have been assigned to each airborne division.

One main drawback was the vehicle’s welded aluminum hull and open top which offers little protection for the crew.  However for airborne troops such vehicles are invaluable, giving lightly armed soldiers who are isolated behind enemy lines mobile artillery support on the battlefield.  One is preserved at 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick.

Russian AT-S/T Artillery Tractor.  Museum vehicle park.

Russian AT-S/T Artillery Tractor

The AT-S/T is a Soviet artillery tractor used mainly for towing 152-mm Howitzers and as an ammo transporter.  It was replaced in 1959 by the ATS 59.  It has a six passenger cab.  The AT-S chassis was used in a variety of roles to carry anti-aircraft guns, missiles, BM-24T rockets as well as utility and cargo transport.  It was in use by all the former Warsaw Pact countries and many in the Middle East.

Russian BTR-152 Armoured Personnel Carrier.  Museum vehicle park.

Russian BTR-152 Armoured Personnel Carrier

The BTR-152 (also known as BTR-140) was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armoured personnel carrier (BTR stands for Bronetransporter, literally “armoured transporter”) that entered Soviet service in 1950.  By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60.  However, it remained in service in the Soviet Army and the Russian Army until 1993 in a variety of other roles.  It was also exported to many Third World countries where some still remain in service.

Russian BRDM-2 Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle.  Museum vehicle park.

Russian BRDM-2 Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle

The BRDM-2  Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia.  The BRDM-2 entered service with Soviet Army in 1962.  It has a crew of four, a driver, a co-driver, a commander, and a gunner.  It has two pairs of chain-driven belly wheels lowered by the driver which allow trench crossing and a centralized tire pressure regulation system which can be used to adjust the tire pressure of all four tires or individual tires while the vehicle is in motion to suit to the ground conditions.

The BRDM-2 has a GAZ-41 gasoline V-8 engine in the rear which means the engine is much better protected from enemy fire.  The BRDM-2 is amphibious.  The GAZ-41 gasoline V-8 engine supplies power to the circular water-jet, equipped with a four-bladed propeller at the rear of the vehicle, which allows amphibious travel with a speed of 10 km/h for 17 to 19 hours.  The armament is a 14.5-mm KPVT heavy machine gun with a coaxial 7.62-mm PKT general purpose machine gun as a secondary weapon both in a small conical BPU-1 turret mounted on the hull in a central position above the belly wheels. The armour on the vehicle which is composed of welded steel, protects it fully against small arms fire and small shell fragments.

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