Russia
MT-LB Light Armored Multi-purpose Vehicle
Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide

MT-LB
GENERAL DATA
 MT-LB
Alternative DesignationsMT-LB-T
Country of OriginCIS (formerly USSR)
RoleMulti-role, including: APC, maintenance, prime mover for towed guns, command and control
Date Of Introduction1970, modernized in 1995
Crew2 (commander-gunner, driver) + 11 passengers
Combat Weight13.1 tons (11.9 mt)
Ground Pressure6.54 psi (0.46 kg/cm²) standard track.  3.98 psi (0.28 kg/cm²) wide track
Length, Overall 21.16 ft (6.45 m)
Width, Overall 9.35 ft (2.85 m)
Height, Overall 6.14 ft (1.87 m)
Ground Clearance15.7 in (400 mm)
PERFORMANCE
 MT-LB
Engine240 hp (179 kw) diesel.  290 hp (216 kw) diesel modernized
Range311 miles (500 km)
Fuel Capacity119 gal (450 l)
Road Speed38 mph (61.5 km/h).  43.5mph (70 km/h) modernized
Cross Country Speed?
Swim Speed3.1-3.7 mph (5-6 km/h)
Fording DepthAmphibious
Grade60%
Side Slope40%
Trench Crossing8.9 ft (2.7 m)
Vertical Wall Climb2.3 ft (0.7 m)
PROTECTION
 MT-LB
ArmorTurret front: 0.28-0.55 in (7-14 mm)
Applique ArmorN/A
Explosive Reactive Armor?
Active Protective SystemN/A
NBC Protection SystemCollective
Smoke EquipmentN/A
ARMAMENT
MT-LB
Type Mount Typical Ammo Load
7.62mm PKT machine gun Turret; belt-feed 2,000.
Light Ball, Ball-T, API, API-T, Incendiary
Firing ports: 1 on each side and 1 in each rear door
FIRE CONTROL
 MT-LB
Fire Control System?
Main Gun StabilizationN/A
RangefinderN/A
Infrared SearchlightN/A

NOTES

The MT-LB is a multipurpose soft-terrain vehicle that can be used as an APC or command vehicle, a prime mover for various types of artillery, and a cargo and general transport vehicle.

The MT-LB is an amphibious armored tracked vehicle with a hull made of welded steel plates. The vehicle has a two-man crew consisting of the driver and commander-gunner and is lightly armed and lightly armored.

VARIANTS

Russian AG-17 30-mm automatic grenade launcher modification is available for use on MT-LB.

Russian KBP offers a drop-in one-man turret, called Kliver, with a stabilized 2A72 30-mm gun, a 4 Kornet ATGM launcher, thermal sights, and improved fire control system.
MT-LB
1970. Original production model. See data above.

Recognition features:
  • Tracked vehicle.
  • Six evenly spaced road wheels with no support rollers.
  • Low silhouette.
  • Cone-shaped turret on right front.
  • Sloping sides and front; vertical back.
  • Boat-shaped hull.
  • Engine hatch on top of nose.
  • Two large square doors in rear that have one firing port each.
  • Two additional, forward-opening, troop exit hatches located on the flat hull roof.
  • Driver left front.
MT-LB Upgrade
1995 modernization upgrade includes improved steering and a new engine. See data above.
MT-LB "blade"
Dozer version with a blade attached to the vehicle.
MT-LBu
Expanded variant for artillery command and reconnaissance vehicles (ACRVs) and other uses.
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBu-PS
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
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Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBu-PS
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
800x533, 157K, JPEG
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBu-PS
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
800x533, 144K, JPEG
MT-LBV
Arctic variant with 0.57m wide track for snow and improved flotation.
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
800x533, 95K, JPEG
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
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Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
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Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
800x533, 110K, JPEG
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
800x533, 134K, JPEG
Finnish Defence Forces: MT-LBv
Exercise - Helle 06
Finnish Defence Forces Photo
1024x680, 235K, JPEG
MT-SON
Ground surveillance radar vehicle with Pork Trough/SNAR-2 radar.
MTP-LB
Technical support vehicle for repair and recovery.
SA-13
Regimental surface-to-air missile launcher vehicle.
SA-13
790x440, 44K, GIF
SNAR-10
Ground surveillance radar vehicle with Big Fred radar.
  • Modified MT-LB chasis.
  • Large D-shaped turret mounted at rear of hull.
  • Turret has 2 "levels."
  • "Box" on right side of hull below turret - exhaust.
RSLC: SNAR-10
800x599, 174K, JPEG
2S1
122mm self-propelled howitzer derivative.
9P149/Shturm-S
ATGM launcher vehicle with AT-6 autoloader.
Vasilek
82mm self-propelled mortar derivative. The AM 2B9 Vasilek is an automatic mortar that fires four-round clips with an effective rate-of-fire of 20 to 30 rounds per minute and a cyclic rate-of-fire of 60 to 120 rounds per minute out to 5,000 meters. The self-propelled version was first seen in Afghanistan in a two-gun firing battery.
June 1988 Field Artillery: Vasilek

MT-LB Photos - Click on image sample to see full size image.

MNSTC-I: MT-LB
Iraqi MT-LB
Iraqi Army Day parade
Taji Military Training Base
06-JAN-2005
MNSTC-I Photo by U.S. Air Force TSgt. Andrew Hughan
450x294, 26K, JPEG
MNSTC-I: MT-LB
Iraqi MT-LB
1st Mechanized Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade
Western Baghdad district of Abu Ghraib
MAY-2005
MNSTC-I Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Maria Mengrone
500x331, 42K, JPEG

Last updated:  03-MAY-2008: Added Vasilek variant.
Copyright ©2004-2008 Gary W. Cooke
To the best of my knowledge all military data and images presented in these pages are UNCLASSIFIED, NON-SENSITIVE, and approved for public release.

Sources:
FM 17-98: Scout Platoon.
IN0534: Vehicle Recognition (Threat Armor), Edition D.
OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide.
"Field Artillery", June 1988 - Vasilek.
U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course (RSLC): Vehicle Identification Top 50, October 2005.
Finnish Defence Forces website.
Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) website.