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Object 488 - Tank with troop compartment

A heavy infantry fighting vehicle, possessing weapons, protection and mobility like a tank, can conduct combat operations in the same battle formations with tanks, and not in the second echelon as motorized rifle units and subunits, and independently.· Due to the fact that the infantrymen simultaneously with tanks and armored vehicles reach the line of reinforcement, this allows, without waiting for the approach of motorized rifle units and subunits, to seize and hold an important bridgehead.

The idea of ??placing troops in a tank is not new. In the early 1960s, VNII-100 developed several projects of special vehicles based on the Object 167 and Object 432 tanks, in the layout diagrams of which, in addition to the crew, additional placement of three or four paratroopers was provided. On the basis of the Object 167 tank, a special vehicle with the passive deployment of three paratroopers was created. Compared to the tank, the mass of the special vehicle increased by 1.4 tons and reached 38 tons, and the length of the vehicle body increased by 345 mm and made 6710 mm ... In addition, the 115-mm cannon ammunition was reduced from 40 to 28 rounds and the vehicle's clearance was changed from 482 to 420 mm ... The rest of the vehicle's characteristics remained the same as those of the Object 167.

To accommodate three paratroopers in the Object 432 tank, the hull length had to be increased by 600 mm ... When installed in the Object 432 tank, the Rubin ATGM and 115-mm low-ballistic cannon, the ammunition load was 23 artillery rounds and 9 guided missiles. The crew of the car in this case consisted of two people, in addition, provision was made for the placement of four paratroopers. Vehicle weight decreased from 34 to 33.2 tons, and vehicle height on the turret roof from 2,160 to 1930 mm ... The rest of the characteristics in comparison with the base car remained unchanged.

Because Infantry fighting vehicles with bulletproof and splinterproof armor protection - cannot accompany tanks on the battlefield, due to their vulnerability to almost all types of anti-tank weapons. The armament of modern infantry fighting vehicles also does not provide for the solution of all fire missions on the battlefield. Consequently, modern infantry fighting vehicles cannot solve combat missions on their own, without the support of tanks. In this regard, it became necessary to create a new type of infantry fighting vehicles.

The creation of an infantry fighting vehicle based on tank units (transmission, chassis, etc.) makes it possible to combine the qualities of a tank (armament, protection, mobility) and an infantry fighting vehicle (landing) in one vehicle. This allows for close interaction of tanks and motorized riflemen with the fullest use of their strengths in the course of combat operations. The performance characteristics of the new BMP with tank armament and protection allow it to act on the battlefield independently without the use of tanks.

The first projects of heavy infantry fighting vehicles based on tanks developed by the KMDB involved reworking the existing chassis of the T-80UD tank (object 478B). Various variants of the vehicle were developed (with a hull lengthening by 1 roller, with an increased chassis height, etc.), all of which included a crew of three and five paratroopers located between the fighting compartment and the engine bulkhead.

The idea of ??the BMT-84 compartment was borrowed from the Israeli armored personnel carrier based on the Akhzarit tank. Despite the relative simplicity of converting the tank, such a landing compartment had drawbacks. While maintaining the fighting compartment of the MBT on the BMT-84, only five paratroopers were accommodated in the compartment, the conditions for their placement near a running engine would be far from ideal. In addition, there was an unused passageway above the MTO.

Combat heavy infantry vehicles are intended for combat operations both as part of tank units and subunits, being with them in the same combat formations, as well as independently. At the same time, paratroopers can fight from a car and dismounted. The use of infantry fighting vehicles, which have weapons, protection and maneuverability like those of tanks, provides close interaction on the battlefield of tanks and infantry paratroopers with the fullest use of the strengths of these types of troops. The fire control system and armament of the BMP provides detection and destruction of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, anti-tank weapons, enemy infantry as effectively as tanks.

The BMP consists of a chassis and turret assembly. The complete tower does not undergo any changes compared to the tower mounted on a tank (object 478DU9). Several layout options were considered in common in which there was a front placement of the 6TD-2 engine with GOMT. The options differed in the placement of the driver - in the center and on the right in the hull, the layout of the troop compartment and the engine cooling system (fan or ejection).

The layout of the chassis is completely new and includes the installation of MTO in the bow of the hull and consists of:

• power department;
• department of management located in the center of the case;
• fighting compartment;
• troop compartment with a ramp and an additional sunroof;
• undercarriage.

The power compartment includes an engine power 1200 l .from. with GOMP. Chassis height - 1800 mm (1500 for the base tank). The options for placing the driver on the left and in the center of the body were considered. The fuel tanks are separated from the control compartment and the fighting compartment by armored partitions. The engine cooling system is a fan, radiators and fans are located in the rear of the hull, ideas developed for the promising tank object "490" were used. An option with a traditional ejection cooling system was also considered, in which additional space was freed up for the separation of the landing.

The fighting compartment does not change compared to the base tank. The fuel tanks are located under the fighting compartment in the hull. In the version with a fan cooling system, the paratroopers were placed facing the sides of the hull, as on the BMP-1; in the version with a one-piece cooling system, the seats were placed opposite each other. There was a hatch in the middle part of the airborne compartment partition for the transition in emergency situations of paratrooper gunners from the airborne compartment to the fighting compartment and crew members from the fighting compartment to the airborne compartment. During the transitions, it is necessary to remove the two upper half-trays and a removable shield of the crew compartment from the loading mechanism conveyor.

The undercarriage of the tank with six support rollers on board, while the supporting surface increased from 4290 mm (for T-84) to 4470 mm , the specific pressure on the ground increased from 0.94 kgf / cm 2 to 0.99 kgf / cm 2 . Variants of the vehicle with significantly enhanced protection were developed - multi-layer armor of the sides and bottom of the hull.

Detachment of the landing "Object 488". Frontal armor (upper belt) - dimensions 700-1000 mm. Partition between the MTO and the department of management. As in the Israeli Merkava, the main emphasis was placed on the protection of the crew and troops. In this case, the car had to have a very solid level of protection. In front of the power compartment, a modular armor was installed with an overall dimension of 700 mm (central part). As in the Israeli Merkava, the main emphasis was placed on the protection of the crew and troops. In this case, the car had to have a very solid level of protection. In front of the power compartment, modular armor was installed, the size of which was 700 mm (central detail).