BTR-152, what type?

[horia]

does anyone know which type of BTR-152 did romanian army aperated. type K or type V?

[Vici]

I don't know if you found the answer to your question meanwhile, all i can contribute is a picture of a BTR-152 wreck used by NBC decontamination troops for their drills. It's the 49th Battalion in Arges. the source of the picture is one of the issues of "Observatorul Militar" magazine from spring 2009:
http://www.presamil.ro/



This post has been edited by Vici on June 11, 2009 12:40 pm

[ANDREAS]

I also found a photo here http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTR-152 with BTR-152 6x6 armoured carriers in a military parade in the '60s! Both types, I mean that from the decontamination unit and those in parade, are the initial BTR-152 (model 1950) version.

[Mircea87]

Dr. Petre Opriș says something in a document about BTR-40A and BTR-152Z, though I don't think such a model ever existed. These APCs were going to be built in Romania according to a document from 1960. The plan was probably cancelled when Romania got the documentation for the BTR-60P (open top) and later, BTR-60PB.

The picture above from Campulung Muscel CBRN base: behind that BTR-152 there's a PaK 40 AT gun.

[ANDREAS]

Very interesting Mircea87,
indeed only the first type of vehicle that you mentioned existed, the BTR-40A, 4x4, introduced in 1951 who was a antiaircraft vehicle with a AAMG 14,5mm complex ZPU-2, the latter BTR-152Z is mentioned nowhere, not even is russian books! But the BTR-40A existed surely in the romanian army, I saw photos in an old romanian military magazine from the '60s!

[Stan]

BTR-152 VARIANTS IN WESTERN LITERATURE

BTR-152 AKA MODEL A - OPEN TOP, NO WINCH, NO CENTRAL TIRE PRESSURE REGULATION SYSTEM

BTR-152V1 AKA MODEL B - OPEN TOP, FRONT WINCH, CENTRAL TIRE PRESSURE REGULATION SYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL AIR LINES

BTR-152V2 BASIC BTR WITH CENTRAL TIRE PRESSURE REGULATION SYSTEM, NO WINCH

BTR-152V3 AKA MODEL C - OPEN ROOF, FRONT WINCH, CENTRAL TIRE PRESSURE REGULATION SYSTEM WITH INTERNAL AIR LINES AND INFRA-RED DRIVING LIGHTS

BTR-152K AKA MODEL D - BTR-152V3 WITH OVERHEAD ARMOR PROTECTION

BTR-152U - COMMAND VEHICLE BASED ON V1 OR V3 MODELS

BTR-152A A/A VEHICLE - TWIN 14.5 MM MACHINE GUNS

[Petre]

http://www.220.ro/auto/Autoblindata-BTR-152/f4AgmJ72oj/

http://www.66.ru/auto/news/56560/

http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/Modern/btr152/

http://cris9.narod.ru/infanteri_btr152.htm

http://tekhnogun.com/brm001/russ_17.html

http://gvtm.ru/btr-152

[ANDREAS]

I remember reading in this book: Istoria infanteriei române -Ion Şuţa, that the first BTR-152 armored personnel carriers equip the mechanized infantry formations from 1954, same year as the BTR-40 scout armoured vehicles. Obviously not further details specified concerning them!

[ANDREAS]

And some photos from military maneuvers held in 1962, in which appears some BTR-40As!
http://img134.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i...c_122_562lo.jpg

[Petre]

http://www.armyacademy.ro/reviste/1_2003/d5.pdf
Wrong posted, sorry

This post has been edited by Petre on February 19, 2012 06:19 pm

[ANDREAS]

I translated using an online translator this text http://www.kbgrabina.ru/apcs/300-btr152 which confirms that Romania has received the first version of the BTR-152, the model 1950. This first model was produced until 1955, so it was predictable that Romania would receive in 1954-1955 this model.

[Mircea87]

Update to the SIPRI arms transfers database: 100 BTR-152 ordered in 1950 and delivered between 1951-52.

[ANDREAS]

Thanks Mircea87 for the information, but you understand why I take it with large reserves! I have great doubts on the year of delivery (f.i. I found in a polish magazine an information according to which first deliveries of Soviet armored equipment -I mean APCs- to Poland started in 1954, and by 1955 there were 140 BTR-152 by the troops in the Mechanized Divisions), I have no idea about the number of vehicles delivered (I found it likely to be so but I have no reference!) and I have doubts in general towards SIPRI! But anyway it's a start!