MTU-20

MTU-20
	A captured MTU-20 in an Israeli museum
General properties
crew	2
length	11.64 m (with bridge)
width	3.3 m
height	3.4 m
Dimensions	37 tons
	Armor and armament
Armor	Tank 33-100 mm armored steel, cf. T-55
Main armament	unarmed
Secondary armament	unarmed
agility
drive	V12- W-55 , 38.88 liter displacement ; 520 hp (382.5 kW)
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	50 km / h
Power / weight
Range	500 km

The MTU-20 ( Russian МТУ-20 ; abbreviation of М ос т о у кладчик- 20 , in German: Bridge-laying vehicle -20 ; Object 155А) is a bridge-laying tank of the Soviet Army and belongs to the group of combat support vehicles . It is based on the tub of the T-55 .

Development history

By order of the Defense Minister of the USSR, the development of a new bridge-laying tank on a tracked chassis was approved on July 16, 1962. Series production could already be started in 1963 and continued until 1977. The MTU-20, based on the T-55 , acted as the successor to the MTU-12 bridge-laying tank. A modernized version of the MTU-20 is the MTU-72 , which uses an identical bridge, but with a different base vehicle.

technology

The quick bridge rests on the T-55 chassis and has two foldable ends that are folded down hydraulically before laying. As a result, the bridge has a total length of 20.0 meters. To increase stability when laying the bridge, there is a hydraulic stabilizer on the front of the tub, which can be lowered if necessary. The express bridge is then pushed over the maximum 18 meter wide obstacle. In order to save weight, the bridge was made of the alloy duralumin , which had a negative effect on the usability, since only 15 to 20 crossings with tanks were possible , making the bridge unusable. As a result, the Soviet army command decreed that the MTU-20 bridge could only be used in an emergency . The armor of the base vehicle corresponds to that of the T-55. The vehicle also has IR night combat equipment and full NBC protection , and the crew can move the bridge without having to leave the vehicle.

Technical data of the rapid bridge

Mass of the bridge; 7.0 tons
Payload: 50 tons
Setup time: 5 minutes
Width: 3.3 m
Total length: 20.0 m
Side height of the bridge: 1.0 m
Maximum width of the obstacle to be overcome: 18.0 m

Users

Finnish MTU-20 in a museum

Soviet Union Soviet Union
Egypt Egypt
India India
Nigeria Nigeria
Russia Russia
Syria Syria
Finland Finland : Five vehicles received, now retired.
Ukraine Ukraine
Israel Israel : Egyptian vehicles captured in the Six Day War.
Belarus Belarus : Current use unclear, but in export offer

Web links

Commons : MTU-20 - collection of images, videos and audio files

Description and technical data (Russian)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Мостоукладчик МТУ-20 (Объект-155А)
^ Russell Phillips: Bridging the Gap: Warsaw Pact River Crossing - MTU-72
^ Department of the Army [DoD], Headquarters: Engineer Combat Operations, Part 101. 1979. Page 22.
↑ The Military Balance 2012, p. 320.
↑ The Military Balance 2012, p. 244.
↑ The Military Balance 2012, p. 447.
^ The Military Balance 2012, p. 194.
↑ The Military Balance 2012, p. 349.
↑ armstrade.sipri.org
↑ The Military Balance 2012, p. 166.
↑ Belspetsvneshtechnika: MTU-20 tank bridge layer

[saper-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Мостоукладчик МТУ-20 (Объект-155А)

[2] Russell Phillips: Bridging the Gap: Warsaw Pact River Crossing - MTU-72

[3] Department of the Army [DoD], Headquarters: Engineer Combat Operations, Part 101. 1979. Page 22.

[4] The Military Balance 2012, p. 320.

[5] The Military Balance 2012, p. 244.

[6] The Military Balance 2012, p. 447.

[7] The Military Balance 2012, p. 194.

[8] The Military Balance 2012, p. 349.

[9] rmstrade.sipri.org

[10] The Military Balance 2012, p. 166.

[11] Belspetsvneshtechnika: MTU-20 tank bridge layer