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    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull?

    d_taddei2
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    • Post n°1

    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull?

    Post  d_taddei2 Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:08 pm

    Hi all,

    Would like peoples views on the PT-76 and on the PT-76E, is this tank still usefull, despite production starting 60yrs ago, which stopped 44yrs ago, and has had very little upgrades in it life, the most notable change was the PT-76E with a change of arnament. any views etc would be great.
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    OnlineGarryB
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    • Post n°2

    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty Re: PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull?

    Post  GarryB Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:45 am

    Its main advantage is its amphibious capability, which in a marine environment or on boggy marshy terrain is actually rather important.

    The 76.2mm is obsolete, but the new 57mm gun in the upgraded model is starting to look interesting. With modern ammo and modern optics it starts to become a more interesting vehicle, but it is certainly a light tank only... trying to use it as a standard tank would be like trying to use an M-113 as a standard tank with a 40mm gun mounted on its roof.

    If they have an APFSDS round for the 57mm gun and it can manage 300-400mm penetration at 1,500m then you are looking at a very potent weapon... especially with a laser guided shell that can take on aircraft and point ground targets...
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    d_taddei2
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    • Post n°3

    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty reply

    Post  d_taddei2 Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:06 am

    hi garry thanks for the reply, i definately agree, the 57mm is much more suited for the tank, and your right the amphibious qualities is definately its strongest point/use, and could provide a nasty surprise to enemy force who least expect an attack from marine or boggy areas. This truely an amphibious vehicle, not like the western term which is different to the Russian term, when i was in the forces(british) their reference to amphibious vehicles was one which meant a vehicle which basically could cross rivers with the use of its tracks or wheels touching the bottom, not floating like Russian equipment.
    And when we did vehicle recognition training nothing was mention to say that these vehicles actually floated and could swim, everybody thought it would have the same type of amphibious qualities as a normal tank. So most people in the the western armies (certainly the British army) could totally be taken by surprise by these, considering troops would plan of being attacked by land or boggy ground, and not realising these tanks can actually swim and could come from lakes or the sea.
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    • Post n°4

    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty Re: PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull?

    Post  GarryB Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:06 am

    There are certainly degrees of amphibious capability, but being able to drive through rivers with tracks on the ground is generally referred to as fording capability.

    Most light armour in the Russian military is amphibious, but vehicles like the BTR and BMP are designed for rivers and lakes rather than open ocean and are not specifically designed to land in rough sea beach landings.

    The new medium vehicles (boomerang and Kurganets) are amphibious but for instance the Russian Navy is getting a modified version of Kurganets that includes external rear propellers and likely with a higher freeboard (ie sits higher in the water) so it is able to land on a steeper beach with higher waves.

    The original PT-76 is in many ways like a very big Scorpion light tank, but the upgrade to fit it with a 57mm gun will include a range of improvements in the fire control and optics that will make it a far more potent vehicle in terms of engaging air and ground targets. Being a large vehicle it will also have plenty of space for ammo, which takes up quite a bit of space unfortunately.

    Using newly developed rounds it will be quite a potent system against air and ground targets of light and medium weight.

    With a good stabiliser it should be able to pump out 120 rounds a minute while on the move... which would ruin even a modern IFVs day and also be a serious threat to a previous generation tank.

    Guided anti helo rounds would be very useful too.
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    • Post n°5

    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty reply

    Post  d_taddei2 Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:28 am

    this is exactly what i mean the British army class vehicles that can ford as amphibious, which to me its doesnt count as being truely amphibious, it will be interesting to see the new vehicles and their different variants, got a few years yet before we see finished product. It will also be good for other countries as Russia will look to start clearing out older systems so some of the poorer nations out there should be able to get a bargain on older equipment.
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    PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull? Empty Re: PT-76 light tank, is it still usefull?

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