Russia is using BTR-50 armored vehicles in the war in Ukraine. These tanks were manufactured until 1970. Do they act as a modified kamikaze weapon?
MOSCOW – The Kremlin has stockpiled a large number of military vehicles on its territory: main battle tanks, trucks, artillery pieces – all retired after using new equipment. However, in the event of war, they could be reactivated to support the Russian armed forces. However, due to their age, they are not commonly used in the foreground. What is behind it?
Russia is sending old armored personnel carriers to Ukraine
However, on February 23, in the midst of the war in Ukraine, images were circulated on social networks that seemed to disprove this assumption. Pro-Russian Telegram channel of war blogger Kirill Fedorov According to Russia, Soviet armored personnel carriers of the BTR-50 type are currently being transferred to the combat zone in Ukraine. The relevance of the photos is indicated by the Russian identification mark: the Latin letter V for the units of the Russian Navy. However, the information cannot be independently verified.
The amphibious armored personnel carrier dates back to the 1950s. The BTR-50 has been in service with the ground forces of the USSR since 1954. As the SPW-50PK, it remained part of the standard equipment of the GDR NVA until the 1990s. Serial production of the BTR-50 ended in 1970. In total, more than 6,300 vehicles of various modifications were produced.
BTR-50 tanks weigh over 14 tons, are lightly armored and can carry up to 20 men. They are based on the light swimming tank PT-76, with two water jet openings at the rear used for locomotion in water. Tanks may be equipped with a machine gun for defensive purposes.
Old BTR-50 tanks in operation? Russia has run out of equipment
I don’t know why they reuse old tanks like this. This could be another sign of the absence of armored vehicles in the ranks of the Russian armed forces, which have been suffering heavy losses since the start of the war in Ukraine.
But vehicles are being used to implement a new Russian tactic. Older armored vehicles can function as remote-controlled kamikaze machines — loaded with explosives and sent forward to destroy fortified defenses. Similar tactics were used by the terrorist group IS during the fight for the city of Deir Ezzor in Syria. The terrorists also sent modified BTR-50s loaded with explosives to the positions of Syrian troops. (CS)
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