Introduction

The BTR-50 is an early Cold War era armored personnel carrier of Soviet origin. The BTR-50 was developed for mechanized formations and was also to be amphibious. Several competing designs were tested, but the Obyekt 750 was selected due to its commonality with the PT-76 amphibious light tank which entered production 2 years before the BTR-50.

Design

The BTR-50 is an armored personnel carrier derived from the chassis of the PT-76 amphibious light tank. Instead of a turret it features a large center superstructure that houses the crew and passengers. The rear mounted engine leaves no other options for the passengers to disembark but via the roof. The roof was open on the original BTR-50P, but changed to a closed roof on the BTR-50PK.

Firepower

Standard armament for the BTR-50P and PK was the 7.62mm SG-43 / SGMB machine gun, capable of sustained fire. Prototypes were fitted with the 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun and the prototype BTR-50PA even had a 14.5mm KPV mounted. Neither entered service. The SGMB was replaced in 1968 with the 7.62mm PKB. Loading ramps for 57mm ZiS-2, 76.2mm ZiS-3 and 85mm D-44 field guns were often fitted. These were officially for transporting these guns in portee fashion, but during trails these guns were fired, even while afloat, with considerable success. Recoilless rifles could be carried and fired from the rear deck as well.

Protection

The initial production model had an open roof. These proved vulnerable as Soviet forces experienced during the 1956 Hungarian uprising. In urban areas these suffered from rifle fire and Molotov cocktails from the upper floors of buildings. Closed roof BTR-50's entered service from 1958. The steel armor varies from 7 to 13mm and is rated against small arms fire and shell splinters. Late during its production run NBC filters were added to the BTR-50PK.

Mobility

The BTR-50 has a good cross country performance and is fully amphibious. Ground pressure is low, which is useful in swampy terrain and in the snow. The road speed is somewhat limited with a maximum of 44 km/h. A 240hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The BTR-50PK was fitted with additional fuel tank to increase its range.

Users

The BTR-50P officially entered service in 1954 in the USSR. It was acquired in quantity for mechanized formations. BTR-50P production transitioned to the BTR-50PK with armored roof in 1958. The BTR-50PK was complimented in Soviet service with the BMP-1. Interestingly the BTR-50 was officially replaced by the BMP-2 in Soviet service. The BTR-50 was exported to several nations. It was used in quantity with Egyptian forces.

The BTR-50 was intended as a multi-purpose vehicle for mechanized infantry. As such it was also to be an artillery tractor for the anti-tank guns, field guns and recoilless rifle that were integral part of the mechanized formation.

These guns were towed normally on roads, but carried portee during amphibious operations. Loading ramps and mounts were fitted to load and unload these guns. The ramps extended into the crew compartment with the trails mounted on the engine deck.

Doctrine was for these guns to be transported only. During trials these were fire on land and afloat, which functioned well enough for emergency purposes.

With the introduction of the BTR-50PK and its armored roof this practice mostly fell out of favor. Introduction of the anti-tank guided missile relegated remaining anti-tank and divisional guns to motorized infantry formations.