OT M-60

The OT M-60 is a Yugoslav armoured personnel carrier produced from 1962 to 1979.

OT M-60 APC
M-60P
TypeArmoured Personnel Carrier
Place of origin Yugoslavia
Service history
WarsIran–Iraq War
Yugoslav Wars
Production history
DesignerMilitary Technical Institute Belgrade
Specifications
Mass11,000 kg
Length5.02 meters
Width2.77 meters
Height2.385 meters with 12.7 mm MG
1.86 meters without 12.7 mm MG
Crew3
Armor10–25 mm
Main
armament
12.7 mm M2 HB Browning heavy machine gun
Secondary
armament
coaxial 7.92 M53 machine-gun 2,000 rounds
EngineFamos FFTR
150 hp
Power/weight17,3 hp/tonne
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
400 km on road
250 km off road
Maximum speed 45 km/h on land 8 km/h in water
M-60P armoured personnel carrier of Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in ambulance role.
Croatian army M-60P armoured personnel carrier at the Vukovar war museum.

Development

The OT (Oklopni transporter - armoured personnel carrier) M-60 was the first Yugoslav serial produced armored vehicle. Research and development of the M-60 began in 1956, and the first prototype has been produced in June 1958. Until the final serial production, the new armoured personnel carrier was known under the designation Objekat M-590. Serial production started in 1962, and M-60 has been publicly presented on Victory day parade, same year. The quality of the vehicles did not satisfy the requirements given by Yugoslav People's Army, so the FAMOS has started the development of upgraded model, OT M-60P (P – poboljšani – "improved") which has been introduced in production in 1970. During the serial production, from 1962 until 1979 around 790 vehicles were produced, which from 190 have been exported. In 1973 anti-tank variant with two 82 mm M60 recoilless gun has been developed.[1]

Most of armored personnel carriers consisted armored and mechanized brigades of Yugoslav People's Army, while a number has been used by Federal Police, being painted in a characteristic blue color. During the Iran–Iraq War, M-60 was criticised for its low power and its weak armor.[2] With the start of Yugoslav wars the M-60 APC's have suffered serious losses while firepower was insufficient. Later during the war, M-60 was used as armoured personnel carrier (APC) for transport of ammunition to the front line and evacuation of infantry and wounded. M-60 has been used by almost all armies created in former Yugoslavia. FR Yugoslavia has withdrawn last 121 M-60P APC's from service in 2004 due to the arms limitation agreement.

The M-60 armoured personnel carrier had never managed to meet all the required specifications. Despite all disadvantages, it has played a role during its 40 years use. According to its characteristics was generally similar to the other APCs of the period. Most importantly it was inciting mass mechanization of Yugoslav People's Army. Its deficiencies were later compensated with newly introduced BVP M-80 infantry fighting vehicle.

Characteristics

The basic layout is driver front left, his hatch has a day sight, which can be replaced with an infrared for night driving. To his right is co-the Bow MG operator. The commander sits behind the driver, behind bow MG operator sits operator of 12.7 mm MG on his cupola, which can be used in the anti-aircraft role.

The vehicle is powered by a 6-cylinder diesel, which generates 140 hp, giving a top road speed of 45 km/h. The vehicle is an all welded steel construction, which gives protection against small arms. It has no NBC protection system.

The rear compartment is for 10 troops who sit on benches back to back so they can fire their personal weapons through side ports (3 either side) and they depart the vehicle via two doors set in the rear.[3]

Variants
  • M-60 – First production model, also known as M-590
  • M-60P – Improved model
  • M-60PB – Anti-tank variant with twin 82 mm recoilless rifles mounted on the top left or top right of hull at rear.
  • M-60PK – Battalion commander's vehicle
  • M-60San – Medical evacuation variant with lengthened hull

Operators

Former operators
  • Iraq – 190 M-60P armoured personnel carriers ordered and delivered before 1990.[4] Withdrawn from service.
  • Yugoslavia – about 600 vehicles in various variants delivered from 1962 to 1979. Passed on to successor states.

References
  1. M-60P
  2. Kočevar, Iztok (August 2014). "Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide" [The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War]. Batailles et Blindés (in French). No. 62. Caraktère. pp. 66–79. ISSN 1765-0828.
  3. The Yugoslavian (former) M-60P APC Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  4. CNN - War in Iraq
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