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BTR-80 is a Armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union
Description
The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC. It has a 260-hp, V-8 turbocharged, water-cooled, diesel engine. The reconfigured rear portion of the hull accommodates a new, single engine. The Soviets removed the roof chamfers of the modified BTR-70, raised the rear, and squared off the rearward-sloping engine compartment.
Capabilities
The Soviets modified the truncated cone turret used on the BTR-70 for the BTR-80 by redesigning the mantlet. This allows the 14.5-mm and coaxial 7.62-mm machine guns to be elevated to a maximum of 60 degrees. This high angle of fire is useful in engaging targets on steep mountainsides, such as those in Afghanistan. It may also give the BTR-80 increased air defense capability. The Soviets have also modified the design and positioning of the firings ports; the ports are now round, rather than tear-shaped, and have ball mounts similar to those used on the BMP. The forward firing ports now sit in angled recesses which allow the individual weapons to fire to the front of the vehicle.
The redesigned side doors are split horizontally. The upper portion opens forward; this gives dismounting troops some protection against small arms fire from the front of the vehicle. The lower portion opens down, forming a step. Six smoke grenade projectors are mounted on the rear of the turret. Armor protection, particularly in the frontal 60-degree arc, has probably increased.
Limitations
The side firing ports are angled forward. This design prevents mounted infantrymen from engaging targets directly to the sides and rear of the vehicle with small arms fire.
Remarks
In 1984, the Soviets began production of a dieselized variant of the BTR-70, which they called the BTR-80. The Soviets have retrofitted some BTR-70s with several of the improvements incorporated into the BTR-80, including the high-angle-of-fire turret.