BTR-70 Armored Personnel Carrier

Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide

The BTR-70 (Bronetransporter-70) is a fully amphibious vehicle that is propelled through the water by a single water jet at the rear of the hull. The vehicle has an all-welded hull with improved protection over its frontal arc, as compared to the original BTR-60 series. The nose is also wider and the front of the vehicle provides added protection to the front wheels.

The commander and driver are seated at the front with the commander on the right and the driver on the left. The troop compartment is to the rear of the turret and the engine compartment is at the rear of the vehicle. The BTR-70 has a filtration and overpressurization system for NBC protection.

Recognition features:

• An overall shape similar to the BTR-60 series.
• Three forward-facing periscopes and one side-facing periscope for observation to the front and sides for both the commander and driver.
• A turret identical to that fitted to the BTR-60PB and the BRDM-2 amphibious scout car.
• A commander's single-piece front-opening hatch cover and a driver's single-piece rear-opening hatch cover.
• Two front windows, one for the commander and one for the driver, which are covered in combat by an armored hatch cover hinged at the top.
• Three firing ports and one vision block in each side the troop compartment to the rear.
• Two square roof hatches over the top of the troop compartment, each with a circular firing port.
• A prominent gap between the second and third wheels.
• Cigar-shaped exhaust pipes mounted high on the rear of the hull that run down each side towards the rear.
• A single-piece rear-mounted hydro-jet cover.
• A trim vane that is erected at the front of the hull before entering the water and stowed on the top of the hull when travelling. On the BTR-60 series the trim vane is carried under the nose of the vehicle.
• Split rim wheels.
• Two foot steps on each side, between the first and second and third and fourth wheels and two small half doors, one on each side, that open forward between the second and third wheels
• A low-silhouette stretched body.

BTR-70 with BTR-80 Turret

A number of BTR-70 APCs have been observed fitted with the turret of the more recent BTR-80. Besides the turret change, additional firing ports have been installed in the very top of each side of the troop compartment between the hull sides and the roof.

BTR-70 with AGS-17

A number of these versions have been observed in Afghanistan fitted with the pintel-mounted 30mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher on the roof to the rear of the driver and commander. The machine gun turrets on these vehicles are retained.

BTR-70MS

A turretless communications vehicle.

BTR-70 KShM

A command/staff vehicle.

BREM (Armored Repair and Recovery Vehicle)

A BTR-70 fitted with a bow-mounted jib crane and no turret.