WZT

WZT ("Wóz Zabezpieczenia Technicznego" - armoured recovery vehicle) - Polish post World War II armoured recovery vehicle series. It consists of five versions. The first two, WZT-1 and WZT-2 were build on T-55/T-55A hull, the WZT-3 was build on T-72M hull, the WZT-3M was build on PT-91 hull and the WZT-4 was build on PT-91M hull for Malaysia.

WZT-1

Infobox Weapon
name= WZT-1


caption=WZT-1
origin=POL
type=Armoured recovery vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1970 - ? (out of service)
used_by= POL
wars= none
design_date= late 1960s
manufacturer= Bumar-Łabędy
production_date= 1970 - 1978
crew= 3
length= 7,10 m
width= 3.27 m
height= 2,1 m
weight= 31,5 tonnes
armour= T-55 armour
primary_armament=12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (200 rounds)
secondary_armament=RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher (3 rounds), F-1 hand grenades (12)
engine= V-55A 12-cyl. 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel
engine_power= 580 hp (432 kW)
suspension= torsion bar
speed= 50 km/h on road, 27 km/h cross country and 15 km/h while towing a damaged vehicle
pw_ratio=18.4 hp/tonne (13.7 kW/tonne)
vehicle_range= 470 km

History

In the early 50s USSR started developing an ARV build on the hull of T-54 that was just entering production. A prototype vehicle was completed after a short while and was named BTS-1 (BTS - Bronirowannyj Tjagacz Sriednij). Production was launched and it became the basic ARV of the soviet army. In 1955 BTS-1 was upgraded with a hoist and a small folding crane. This upgraded version was given name of BTS-2. It was build on the T-54 hull and later on the T-55 hull.In the end of the 60s Poland and Czechoslovakia bought the BTS-2. Basing on BTS-2 technical data the "Zakład Produkcji Doświadczalnej Zakładów Mechanicznych „Bumar-Łabędy”" (Experimental Production Institute of „Bumar-Łabędy”) prepared a prototype of WZT-1 ARV. It was accepted into the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie and became it's basic ARV replacing the older designs.The production started in 1970 in „Bumar-Łabędy” and continued until 1978 when it was completely replaced by WZT-2.

WZT-2

Infobox Weapon
name=WZT-2


caption=WZT-2
origin=POL
type=Armoured recovery vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1973 - present
used_by= POL, IND
wars= none
production_date= 1973 - 1992
number= 600
crew= 4 + 3 wounded in lying position
ength= 6,45 m
width= 3.27 m
height= 2,1 m
weight= 34 tonnes
armour= T-55 armour
primary_armament=12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (200 rounds)
secondary_armament=RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher (3 rounds)
engine= V-55W 12-cyl. 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel
engine_power= 591 hp (441 kW)
suspension= torsion bar
speed= 50 km/h on road, 27 km/h cross country and 15 km/h while towing a damaged vehicle
pw_ratio= 17.4 hp/tonne (13 kW/tonne)
vehicle_range= 465 km

Polish ARV build on T-55 hull. It was build to perform repairs on T-55 and T-55A tanks. When it entered service in 1973 it was not only the best ARV in the whole Warsaw Pact but probably in the whole world. It is still able to carry out tasks that NATO gives ARVs of its class. Unlike the T-55 and the WZT-1, the WZT-2 is still the basic ARV of the Polish army uses for field repairs. It's able to perform repairs not only on Soviet tanks like the T-54/T-55 and T-72 but also on Polish PT-91 and German Leopard 2A4. However because all tanks currently in Polish service weight more than 40 tons it is unable to tow them. It is used to tow lighter vehicles like BWP-1 and 2S1. A number of those vehicles is used by "Ratownictwo Kolejowe" (Railroad emergency respond services). [ [http://www.pancerni.abajt.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=54 WZT-2 [Polska - Pancerni.net ] ] [ [http://www.ratownictwo.org.pl/categories.php?cat_id=149 ratownictwo.org.pl ] ]

Operators

*POL - a total number of 600 produced. 80 in service as of 2004. Some are used by "Ratownictwo Kolejowe" (Railroad emergency respond services). Many have private owners who bought them from the Polish Army.
*IND - India bought 196 of those vehicles from Poland
*IRQ
*YUG

WZT-3

Infobox Weapon
name= WZT-3
origin=POL
type=Armoured recovery vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1989 - 2003
used_by= POL
wars= none
production_date= 1989 - 1999
number= 20
crew= 4
length= 8,30 m
width= 3.27 m
height= 2,71 m
weight= 42 tonnes
armour= T-72M armour
primary_armament=12,7mm NSW machine gun (200 rounds)
secondary_armament=9mm RAK SMG (2), 7,62 AK-47 light machine gun (2) RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher (1)
secondary_armament=
engine= V-46-6 12-cylinder diesel
engine_power= 780 hp (582 kW)
suspension= torsion bar
speed= 60 km/h
pw_ratio= 18.6 hp/tonne (13.8 kW/tonne)
vehicle_range= 450 km

History

When the T-72 entered service with LWP in 1978 a need for a new ARV appeared. It was decided that T-72M hull will be used. Wojskowy Instytut Techniki Pancernej i Samochodowej (Military Institute of Automobile and Armour Technology) from Sulejówek pointed out the main requirements of the vehicle and Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych in Gliwice made two prototypes caring out the "Bizon" (Bison) program. The tests and trials were cared out from 1986 to 1988 and it was immediately accepted into the Polish Army. During a short production run 20 of those vehicles were made until 2003 when they were all upgraded to the WZT-3M standard.

WZT-3M

Infobox Weapon
name= WZT-3M


caption= WZT-3M on a military parade in Warsaw, 15.08.2007.
origin=POL
type=Armoured recovery vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1999 - present
used_by= POL, IND
wars= none
production_date=1999 - 2007
number= 9 + 20 upgraded WZT-3 for Polish Army and 352 built for Indian Army
crew= 4
length= 8,30 m
width= 3.27 m
height= 2,71 m
weight= 42 tonnes
armour= PT-91 armour
primary_armament=12,7mm NSW machine gun (200 rounds)
secondary_armament=9mm RAK SMG (2), 7,62 AK-47 light machine gun (2) RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher (1)
engine= PZL-Wola S12U 4-cyl. 38.9 liter diesel
engine_power= 850 hp (634 kW)
suspension= torsion bar
speed= 60 km/h
pw_ratio= 20.2 hp/tonne (15.1 kW/tonne)
vehicle_range= 650 km on road and 600 km cross country

History

When PT-91 entered service in Polish army it was decided that the WZT-3 which was based on T-72M should be upgraded with elements from PT-91. The upgraded variant was given WZT-3M designation. The main difference was the engine. The original WZT-3 had 780 hp (582 kW) 12-cyl. diesel engine from T-72M. The WZT-3M has 850 hp (634 kW) PZL-Wola S12U 4-cyl. 38.9 liter diesel from PT-91. During initial production run 9 vehicles were made before 2003 when 20 of the old WZT-3 were upgraded to the WZT-3M standard.

Operators

*POL - 29
*IND - In April 1999, India has ordered 44 WZT-3M armored recovery vehicles, this order was followed by another two orders in April 2002 (another 80 vehicles) and in July 2005 (228 vehicles) – that gives the total number of 352 WZT-3M armored recovery vehicles ordered by India. Vehicles are used to support units with T-72 and T-90 MBT. Deliveries began in 2001.

References