The Soviet PTS-2 is a tracked amphibious transport vehicle developed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union. It's a versatile military vehicle designed to carry troops, equipment, and supplies over water and rough terrain. The PTS-2 was an upgrade to the earlier PTS-M series and was mainly used by Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces. it's key asset is Amphibious capability: The PTS-2 like its precedessor is capable of traversing rivers, lakes, and marshy terrain. It can transport up to 10 tons of cargo over water and land. The tracked system gives the PTS-2 excellent mobility on rough terrain, including mud, snow, and soft ground. In addition to all sorts of compatible cargo including trucks it could carry up to 72 soldiers in full gear. Only a few were produced until the falll of USSR. Its current replacement is the PTS-4 accepted in 2011, based on the T-80 MBT drivetrain with T-72 components.



Powered by a 350-horsepower V-46-5 diesel it is capable of 42 km/h (26 mph) on land and 11 km/h (7 mph) when swimming. The hull is made from welded steel with a thickness on the walls and cabin providing some level of protection for the crew and cargo against small arms fire. Its flat-bottomed design assisted with buoyancy during water crossings. The basic crew was 2, a driver and commander which had access to a light machine gun when installed. Like its predecessor it is used for logistical purposes in the Soviet Army, including ferrying supplies and personnel during military operations and disaster relief missions. Although it is primarily a military vehicle, its versatility meant it was also used in civilian roles, such as disaster response and construction projects in remote areas.

An evolution of the PTS

The PTS-2 is a modernization of the concept of the PTS and serial PTS-M, themselves entering service in 1965 following itself the post-WW2 DUKW copied BAV-485 produced from 1949 to 1962. The PTS (Plavayushchiy Transportyor Sryedny or "Medium Amphibious Transporter") or PTS-1, later produced as the PTS-M was a tracked amphibious transport vehicle designed for transporting troops, equipment, and cargo across both land and water.


An even earlier PTG K61

Its propulsion system allowed it to cross rivers and lakes with design allowing it to carry much heavy loads (up to 5-10 tons depending on the variant) across water, more than the BAV-485 and its tracks allowing ti to better climb shore embamkments. It could reached speeds of around 40 km/h (25 mph) on land and 10 km/h (6 mph) when swimming with its V-54 diesel engine and had a large open cargo area in the back, designed to carry a variety of cargo types with a lowering tail to allow vehicles to cimb in. It was also built in parallel to the PTG K61 amphibious transporter made by Czechoslovakia (little info).

It had a shallow draft and stayed buoyant even with substantial cargo loads due to its deep hull. It had an enclosed driver's compartment at the front, for a crew of two, driver and commander and the PTS-M became the the most common which saw several improvements over the original PTS, including better engines, increased load capacity, and enhanced amphibious performance.



It was used by the Soviet and Warsaw Pact militaries and was also employed in civilian roles, for relief or accessing remote areas. The PTS-M was also mass produced and largely exported, to Yugoslavia, Czechslovakia, Poland (282 PTS-M), Hungary (still active), and beyond, to Algeria, Egypt (seeing action during operation Badr), Indonesia (with the Marine Corps) Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Uruguay, Vietnam. Today wih the successors states (Czech Rep. and Slovakia). It was also given the PKP trailer, also amphibious and produced by Lugansk teplovoz LTvZ to around 1,200 vehicles.

About the PTS-2

A PTS-2 loading an Ural 6-on truck, not the folded down poop tail and and ramps. A towing cable could be also used to winch any payload in up to 10 tonnes.

The PTS-2 is a late Cold War, further development of the PTS-M, based around the new MT-T tracked chassis and greeted with a better engine, also with a reworked hull shape and buoyancy making it overall better suited to salt water operations, but in calm seas. Production start date is foggy, most sources pointing out acceptance in 1984 with a development as soon as 1973, produced at Voroshilovgrad locomotive plant as the "Plavayushchij Transportyer Sryednyj 2" until the fall of the Soviet Union.

The PTS-2 follows the same basic design as the PTS-M with a front cabin with two seats for the commander and driver, the former having a hatch overhead with optional PKS light Machine gun on a ring mount. The V-46-5 38.9 liter V12 four-stroke liquid-cooled diesel rated for 710 hp at 2.000 rpm with a torque of 2.920 Nm at 1.400 rpm was placed in the middle. Above was the large open cargo area accessed via the rear ramp. The noverly is the use of a MT-T tractor chassis (and powerplant) sharing its running gear also with the T-64 main battle tank. The PTS-2 is a bit larger than the PTS-M though and had better performances overall. This is traduced also with a better payload capacity on a 8.3 x 2.6 m utility surface and increased mobility. The main engine exhausted through two large vents on either side, topping the cargo bay.

Characteristics

The PTS-2 was rated indeed with a 12 ton cargo capacity instead of 10 tonnes for a total possible of 38 tonnes in working order fully loaded. The cargo area was also longer and could accomodated the latest medium 6x6 trucks such as the Ural-375 family. In alternative, 75 fully equipped troops or 12 stretchers could be also carried inside. In addition like the PTS-M; it could tow the same PKP amphibious trailer to increase its own transport capacity.

Thanks to its 720 hp diesel common both to the MT-T tractor and T-72 main battle tank it was capable of reaching 60 km/h on land and 12 km/h when swimming, instead of 42/11 km/h and this speed made it capable or salt water unlike the PTS-M. It had a tracked chassis comprising 7 cast roadwheels with drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear, four return rollers, hydraulic shock dampers on the front and rear axles. Suspension used torsion bars on all axles (2,76 thread), and the track surface on ground is 5.18 m for a ground pressure of 0.44 kg/cm² empty and up to 0.65 kg/cm² at max load.

In water, the buoyant, deep hull and front flat-boat shape ensured milinal seaworthiness , helped by a deployable trim van forward, deployed with hydraulic arms on the nose. When folded it could act as an extra protection. A bilge pump was activated and the transmission activated two carened propellers used as water jets at the poop, each with its own rudder activated by the driver. The windows were regular ones, but there were armoured shutter. The armour is all steel, no more than 7 mm, flat all around with the exception of the nose. There was an NBC protection for the cabin only but no smoke dischargers. The driver could use aslo a rudimentary passive night vision system.

Performances wise, the V46 diesel produced a torque of 2.920 Nm at 1.400 rpm, for 60 km/h on road, 34 km/h off road, 13 km/h afloat empty and 12 km/h afloat fully loaded. Fuel tanks carried 1.090 L for 500 km on road, perhaps 100 km in water, based on a power to weight ratio of 29.1 hp/t empty. It is capable of climbing a 0.6 m wall, gape a 2.5 m trench, negociate a 60 % gradient, 30 % slope, both unladen. Equipments also included an R-123M radio for internal communication and a R-124 intercom inside the cabin, with a port at the rear of the cabin for personal in the cargo bay. For towing in heavy loads, there is a 10 ton capacity wing witgh a 60 m steel cable.

Deployment and users

The PTS-2 was adopted by the Soviet Army from 1985 onwards, but it was not widely exported. Russia and Ukraine both inherited the vehicle after the collapse of USSR. Russia still have pershaps 100+ PTS-2 and derived PTS-3s as well as a number of reactivated PTS-1 alongside with depot BTR-50s for the needs of the Ukrainian campaign. The Ukranians allegedly still had 15 PTS-2 in their inventory. As of October 2024, 16 PTS-2 have been confirmed lost since the start of the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine. No PTS-4 or PTS-3 seems to have been deployed. Ukraine lost two PTS-2.

Variants included the:
PTS-1 1986 Czech variant.
PTS-3 1992-95, tests prototypes only with higher sides for better performance in choppy water.
PTS-4 built by OTM Ural TM as the designated replacement for the PTS-M/PTS-2, currently in construction, which passed tests in 2011. The PTS-4 weights 33 tons with the same payload of 12 tons on land, 18 tons on water, 60 km/h/15 km/h, developed since 2007 by Uralvagonzavod. It reused basically the drivetrain of the main battle tank T-80 and the gears of the T-72. In addition to the same fully-enclosed armored cab it also had lower sides armour panels. The cabin design is also different as well as its sides. The PTS-4 is also better armed with a remotell controlled 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine gun Weapon station on the rood with 400 rounds, 50 rounds ready to fire but non-stabilized (soon covered as well).

PTS-M specifications
Dimensions (L-w-h)	11.99 m x 3.32 m x 3.17 m
Curb weight	24,4 tons empty, 38t max load, 12t payload
Crew	2 (commander, driver)+ up to 75 troops
Propulsion	V46 V12 water-cooled diesel 710 hp
Top speed	34-60 km/h (38 mph) road, 12-13 kph water
Suspensions	Torsion bars with hydraulic arms
Range	500+ km (220 mi)
Armament	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, optional.
Armor	Protection against small arms fire
Production (USSR only)	Est. c200

Illustrations

Basic PTS-2 in green livery and soviet markings


PTS-2 with tarpaulin


Camouflaged PTS-2 today (1)


Another Camouflaged PTS-2 today


AVLB variant


Captued AVLB variant in the Donbass, 2023.

Gallery

Polish PTS-M to compare.


PTS-2s at full speed on a sand race, flying the Naval Infantry flag.


Presentation of the vehicle, 1st illustration


Inspiration for the second camouflage version, Russian Marines


PTS-3 at Forum Armiya


PTS-4 at Nizhniy Tagil, Russia, September 27. 2013 for RAE-2013 exhibition

Related links

deagel.com
militaryperiscope.com
weaponsystems.net
Media: The Ministry of Defense will purchase an amphibious transporter based on the T-80 tank
army.cz
old.weaponsystems.net
joint-forces.com
weaponsandwarfare.com
oryxspioenkop.com russian losses
oryxspioenkop.com ukrainian losses