Object 1015 / Object 1015B

In 1959 the soviet army adopted the latest BTR-60, which determined the main directions for development of such equipment for the next few decades. Together with the sample from the Gorky Factory, eventually recommended for adoption and serial production, testing several other experimental machines. Among them was present the armored "Object 1015" and "Object 1015B" which was the result of joint work of experts of the military and the automotive industry. Work on the subject of prospective armored vehicles started in the early 1950, and soon joined the staff of the Military Academy of Armored Troops.

In 1954, a group of engineers headed by G.V.Simulium started working on the appearance of the new APC. This machine had to have a chassis with the wheel formula 8x8 and independent suspension, as well as a sealed body, allowing it to swim. The engine was proposed to put in the aft compartment and connect to the transmission H-shaped circuit. The academy independently worked on this design until the end of 1958. Then the Council of Ministers of the USSR by its decree ordered to join forces with another organization. The second party of the project was a special design bureau of the Kutaisi Automobile Plant.

During the joint development of the armored personnel carrier that SKB waas consistently led by M.A. Ryzhik, D.L.Kartvelishvili and M.S.Batiashvili. They all made a notable contribution to the cause. After attracting enterprises to the project, now under consideration from a practical point of view, has been given the working designation "Object 1015". At some point the development of the project resulted in an improved modification, which was proposed to be distinguished by the index "1015B". Since these machines were not adopted, other names were not given.

The new project proposed the use of welded armor carrying case with anti-bullet protection. For a specified increase in the basic characteristics provided a significant number of curved parts while reducing the total length of the welds. Taking into account the main threats case from the start it had a flat roof. The bottom was shaped to increase the performance of the machine afloat. From the point of view of layout "Object 1015" was like no other experimental APC. The front part of the housing accommodated the command office, after this was the troop compartment, combined with combat.

The engine and part of the transmission units was in the stern. Like some other experimental personnel carriers, "Object 1015" received frontal part of the body of characteristic shape, formed by several large parts. The lower glacis was a sloping panel with curved sides. On top there was the assembly of the two inclined sheets, one of which had openings for manholes. The hull sides differed quite complex form.

Their lower part was vertical. Above it were developed shelf formed wheel arches and sloping sides. Between the second and third pairs of wheels provided for a sufficiently large polygonal enclosures. T-shaped feed collected from several flat sheets that are installed tilted backward. In the rear of the hull was located petrol engine ZIL-Z129 capacity of 180 hp with the engine combined five-speed manual transmission, followed by the central lebortovo differential. With a transfer case torque acted on side gears. The latter, together with the brake mechanisms were inside the hulls.

Final drives the two front axles were slightly different from the two rear units, because of the presence of the turning mechanism. Applied transmission led to very interesting results. Cardan shafts and gearboxes placed directly at the sides of the body, and their casings are not particularly large. Due to this, the inside of the hull has sufficient space to accommodate a large number of paratroopers. In addition, this reserve of free volume even allowed to some extent to reduce the overall dimensions, without losing the basic qualities. Two front axle were steerable.

They got a special link suspension design. Load was assumed helical spring and located inside a hydropneumatic shock absorber. On the two rear axles used a combination of torsion and spring suspension. High permeability was to provide large diameter wheels. All the wheels were connected with a centralized pressure control. To move through water "Object 1015" got a water-jet propulsion system built on units of the floating tank pt-76. In the rear of the hull, on each side of the power plant, there were two channels of the conduit. Intake vents placed on the bottom of the nozzle on the aft sheet. Drive water cannons was organized with the help of the transmission output shaft.

Due to this control of the jet and the wheel mover was carried out independently and without mutual influence. Control rod jet was carried out by changing the revolutions of the impeller, as well as by moving flaps on the aft nozzle. When the throttle is closed the flow of water is routed down forward through the appropriate slit in the bottom. Through the use of special ejector nozzles water cannon has also served as a pump for pumping water out of the hull.

On the water also followed to use a flap on the front armor plate. In the event of jamming an armored personnel carrier equipped with its own winch driven from the transfer box. This device could choose the cable, creating a force up to 4.5 tc. To tow the damaged equipment had a standard tow hitch. In accordance with the requirements of the army, the armored personnel carrier had to bear the standard machine gun armament.

The project involved using machine-gun turrets, placed on the roof of the enclosure. This combat unit had the device for mounting a machine gun of rifle caliber. Management of fire and shooting was done manually. This provided a circular attack with the ability to attack air targets. Machine-gun fire could be supplemented with personal weapons. Side of the crew compartment received a large number of embrasures with movable lids. If necessary, crew can shoot through open hatches. Side distribution of power based on compact units, allowed to increase the available volume inside the case.

At the front of the machine, in the office, there was a crew of two. Above their seats were their own hatches. Follow the road proposed by two large windshields in combat camouflage armor flaps. With closed flaps, the monitoring was carried out through a periscope devices on the hatches. On the housings of the transmission at the sides of the hull called for the establishment of shops for the landing. The optimal use of available volumes allowed to place in the troop compartment 18 seats.

Along with the other marines in the main compartment of the case was the shooter who drove the machine-gun. Thus, the armored personnel carrier "Object 1015" could take on board at once 21 people. However, in the original version of the project the troop compartment is not very convenience, and 19 soldiers had to sit as close as possible. View to the stern and port side for the embarkation and disembarkation of the troop compartment had to use a large hatch in the roof, fitted with four movable lids.

Cover the top of the hatch could lean back and lie on side, to a certain extent, increasing the level of protection of the housing. Access to the machine is facilitated by a set of foot pegs. Simple devices from metal bars were above the gaps between the wheels. Favorably differing from competitors design opportunities, new APC had similar dimensions.

Machine length was 6.8 m, width was 2.5 m. The clearance of 450 mm the machine had a total height of just over 1. 8 m, which were obtained through optimal use of interior volume. Combat weight was set at the level of 9.8 tons. On the highway the car had to reach the speed of 90 km/h, on water – more than 10 km/h.

Development of thea full-fledged project started in 1958, but it didn't take much time. Before the end of the year of kutaisi automobile plant built a pilot machine of a new type. It is almost fully consistent with the existing draft, but not yet had a turret with a gun. The equipment has been factory tested, which showed their pros and cons. It was found that the original layout of the hull combined with the special architecture of the powertrain allowed the desired results. At the same time, reliability of individual components and assemblies were not sufficient. It was also revealed the disadvantage of the troop compartment.

The project was in need of the most serious improvements affecting the design of almost all systems and assemblies. The complexity of the required improvements have led to the fact that in the process of finishing the original project into a new one. With a certain time perspective of the APC was designated as "Object 1015B".

New literature pointed to a significant change in the original design. In addition, the variance of projects, most noticeably manifested in the exterior of the car. Updated the layout of the crew compartments. According to the results of the first test, it was decided to preserve the main characteristics of the hull, but the shape of the parts and the layout had to be revised. In particular, the changed contours of the frontal part of the hull and sides. So, instead of the curved wheel arches are now used.