• megopie@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    22 days ago

    BTR series simply do not in practice protect their crews & passengers, the armor is essentially meaningless.

    That’s not strictly true, the BTR armor does have a use, mainly, protecting against shrapnel and debris from stuff like artillery hitting near by but not directly on the vehicle. It’s not meant to be on the front line, it’s meant as a transport in areas that are at threat of indirect fire. Same as an M113. If all that is expected is un observed indirect artillery fire, it’s very useful, unfortunately, now there is a lot of observed fire and guided munitions threatening rear areas, so the utility is diminished.

    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      22 days ago

      They literally show a piece of shrapnel that easily penetrated and destroyed equipment inside as an example to illustrate in the video.

      BTRs and BMPs are deathtraps, especially if they are loaded with ammunition.

      • megopie@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        22 days ago

        It depends on the distance from the blast and the size of the shell. Too close and it won’t do much, again not designed to survive observed fire, designed to survive shelling in the general area. Like a steel helmet. Won’t stop a bullet, won’t block a mortar round right next to someone, will statistically reduce the number of deaths from a variety of head wounds by an order of magnitude.

        • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          22 days ago

          There is a reason russians don’t ride into battle inside their bmps and btrs, but rather on top of them completely exposed, it is because they aren’t that stupid.

          • megopie@beehaw.org
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            21 days ago

            They’re cramped as shit, have awful suspension and seats, not air conditioned (and not even ventilated really), and you’re safer from mines on top due them not being designed to be survivable from mines. The protection and comfort also varies greatly between BTR type, there being a big difference between BTR-60 and BTR-80. Although the BTR-80 isn’t exactly comfortable, or safe from anything bigger than 7.62 nato ball.

            When people ride on top, they’re ether imitating what they’ve seen or been told by others, or there is a decision being made: That the vulnerability to mines on the road, danger of being inside the vehicle when it gets hit with a HEAT charge, or the fatigue of being so cramped and overheated, isn’t worth the protection from mortar shrapnel.

            • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzOP
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              21 days ago

              Yeah, in otherwords they are junk vehicles that don’t do the basic job they are supposed to and that russia is too full of bullshitters to have addressed the obvious critical failures of for many decades.