Russian & Ukrainian MT-LB Adaptations

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Күн бұрын

In this video we take a look at two MT-LB adaptations; one Russia, one Ukrainian. The MT-LB offers an extremely versatile platform for mounting a variety of weapons. Everything from anti-tank guns to heavy machine guns have been mounted on them by combatants.
Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here -
armourersbench.com/2023/06/24...
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Пікірлер: 155

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Correction: The Ukrainian vehicle is based on the slightly larger MT-LB variant, the MT-LBu! Thanks for watching, check out our accompanying article for this video here - armourersbench.com/2023/06/24/russia-ukraines-adapted-mt-lbs/ - Matt

@jkl9984 Жыл бұрын

My favourite versions of MT-LB's are the ones with ZSU-23-2 and with the 2 S-5 rocket pods on it. This thing is surprisingly moddable and can be adapted to almost any mission on the field.

@John-rr9su Жыл бұрын

MT-LB is essentialy soviet equivalent of M113, APC , AA platform , Med evac and so on depending on mods. I would actualy say that they are better than M113 in my oppinion.

@Mthammere2010 11 ай бұрын

@@John-rr9sumuch lower profile has its perks.

@lewis5481 2 ай бұрын

ZU-23-2*

@scar3xcr0 Жыл бұрын

The raised turrets are probably going to be used in a defensive role. The vehicle can be parked behind a berm or a wall and the raised turrets can fire over and provide a good vantage point for a senty.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Indeed that hull down advantage would be smart to use.

@MarcWhitaker Жыл бұрын

If it’s not used as a hull-down static defense, it’ll attract a lot of attention. And can you imagine trying to fire from that turret while on the move?

@obsidianjane4413 11 ай бұрын

No. Its because these were designed for mounting on a boat, so it has machinery and whatnot that extends for another meter or so into that trunk and the Russians couldn't/didn't want to cut a hole in the hull so they just welded the whole thing down and called it хороший.

@javierpatag3609 11 ай бұрын

@@obsidianjane4413Thanks for this explanation. I’ve been wondering why the turrets were installed so tall when that would make them bigger, easier to shoot targets.

@Revegineer 11 ай бұрын

Could also be due to how the turrets are made. Since they are made to be on ships the tube could hold the mechanics. Like the motor and gearing to turn the turret. Or the ammo belts.

@kskeel1124 Жыл бұрын

The MTLB us as popular as it is for the same reason the M-113 is so popular... More than anything it's utility and simplicity, next is its modularity and ease of modification and upgrade 😉

@faatihh1130 Жыл бұрын

now that I think of it, MTLBs are pancake'd m113

@paulsteaven Жыл бұрын

One is flat and one is boxy. I would personally go with the boxy one due to space.

@baneofbanes Жыл бұрын

Also because there’s a shit ton of them.

@rogerjensen5277 6 ай бұрын

Yeah the M113, most commonly known as the aluminum coffin because it's a very large, barely armored death trap especially for the poor troops inside. It's also noisy and rough riding!

@StacheMan26 Жыл бұрын

Gotta say I that I love people applying technical logic to actual AFVs as well as the traditional Hiluxs

@jintsuubest9331 11 ай бұрын

I mean it is a tracked metal box with a huge flat bed. Whatever you can do to a Hilux, you can do better with said metal box. Similar logic with m113 tbh. It was used as a testbed for practically everything from 20mm to 105mm, atgm to sam, and more.

@wardasz Жыл бұрын

Important thing to point out, the Ukraine complex modification is based not on basic MT-LB, but on the enlarged MT-LBu. Roadwheels are the biggest giveaway, there is 7 of them instead of 6.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Yes you're right!

@ColdGhost01 Жыл бұрын

Every vehicle can take on combat roles if you are brave enough :D

@ImperatorSomnium Жыл бұрын

I present to you, the Battle Segway 😂

@SlavicCelery Жыл бұрын

@@ImperatorSomnium I'm thinking recoilless rifle attachment.

@ImperatorSomnium Жыл бұрын

@@SlavicCelery works, as long as it doesn't foll of a cliff haha

@SlavicCelery Жыл бұрын

@@ImperatorSomnium That's why there's an ammo segway and one carrying sandbags.

@ImperatorSomnium Жыл бұрын

@@SlavicCelery nice

@I_hunt_lolis 11 ай бұрын

0:25 that's straight up WW2 era Panzerjäger 5:07 and that's a Flakpanzer. Damn, really did not think I'd see something like this in modern days😂

@justanotherrandomfilipino9018 Жыл бұрын

Love the MT-LB. Its the Kei Truck of tracked fighting vehicles, it could get just about anything done. A true workhorse that deserves all the love it gets.

@aker1993 Жыл бұрын

The MT-LB and the M113 both are the best APC on the era as both are adaptable,reliable and rugged.

@justanotherrandomfilipino9018 Жыл бұрын

@@aker1993 The MT-LB is not an APC, its a prime mover. Basically, a glorified armored tractor. Thats the beautiful thing about it.

@HereticalKitsune Жыл бұрын

Love the looks of the MT-LB for sure!

@ALV694 Жыл бұрын

@@aker1993mtlb can swim whereas the m113 can't swim

@Vadim-gi4sg Жыл бұрын

@@aker1993mtlb это не бронетранспортер, его назначение это тягач

@HereticalKitsune Жыл бұрын

Something is really bothering me about the rocket launching version at 5:50 That sign post is weirdly floating, but also casting a shadow on the road wheel. The dirt pile also has a part of the side armor of the MT-LB on it somehow.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I think that's someone using a clone mask to remove something, probably a watermark.

@Memento-_-Mori-_-982 Жыл бұрын

An MTLB trebuchet would be a great siege adaptation!

@M65V19 Жыл бұрын

MT-LB battering ram would be cool

@Iauchmitschlauch Жыл бұрын

MT-LB siegetower when?

@Jreth Жыл бұрын

MT-LB *EXTRA SHOOTY!*

@paulcrusse7800 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all of your hard work.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Thank you, much appreciated.

@Combobaracker Жыл бұрын

There were also some Ukranian MTLBs that were fitted with Rapira AT guns , looking much like WW2 style tank destroyers.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Yes! I have a couple of videos on them kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qZymdaR7qbvIoJs.html

@SonsOfLorgar Жыл бұрын

The Ukranian modded ones looks to be the larger variant of the MTLB

@sectero9450 Жыл бұрын

There are dozens of even Mtlb unmodified Variants, for example MTLB-Y its feet higher. There are some lower, wider etc.

@wardasz Жыл бұрын

Yea, they are not only larger, but have 7 roadwheels. So it is MT-LBu

@noname-wo9yy Жыл бұрын

this is like the Eastern equivalent of the Toyota hallux

@SnakeKonig Жыл бұрын

Ukraine are using toyota hilux now donated by Japan

@zoiders Жыл бұрын

Western. Japan being considerably further east than Ukraine.

@blackstone777 Жыл бұрын

This is "kit bashing" taken to a new level.

Жыл бұрын

Nice overview Video. I dont have time to follow all these online Videos :) Recently I was allowed to ride in the back of an MT-LB at a German Museum and that was quite something. The Rapira modification doesnt seem to have cought on though. Or I think we would be seeing more of them on Videos.

@tomk3732 11 ай бұрын

The best use so far is MTLB with a Russian Lancet-4 tube drones - new version of a drone 3x bigger. Each MTLB would pack 2x 4 drones. That would be almost idea use of the vehicle.

@Revivethefallen Жыл бұрын

Nice job on a good video!

@paulm1365 Жыл бұрын

Dug into the ground with just the turret showing these would be terrifying anti-infantry weapons in ambush situations. As an aside I wonder if there are any M136 VADS still in storage? Again as an anti-drone and anti-personnel weapon.

@2710cruiser Жыл бұрын

I remember the masses laughing at it but I for one am impressed that I’d get to see such a mod. I’ve read about such mods done in WW2 so to see such a mod work in 2022-23, that’s interesting

@spacedredd Жыл бұрын

Adapt, improvise, overcome!!! Necessity is the mother of all invention.

@brrrlak 20 күн бұрын

5:39 tracks as add on armor? Nice. And cheap, there are plenty tracks laying arond on the battle field

@yoda5565 Жыл бұрын

As others have commented, it's like the M113. I had the chance to play with the Vulcan 20mm AA variant of a 113 one REFORGER. I would take that vehicle in a Cav' platoon any day. What we are seeing here is some serious ad hoc'ing, unlike the ACAV kit for a 113 which was purpose built. I also sensed a challenging number of calibers and ammunition types, adding to the complexity of supply. Unless you're not planning to outlast your basic load?

@blackpowderriflehunter7573 11 ай бұрын

Russia has stockpiles of munitions from WWII and the Cold War. They are not going to run out of ammunition.

@pat0652 Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised you think this would not be capable against drones, particularly how many we see simply hovering...if the 25mm rounds have proximity fuses, they ought to be effective.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

True, it might well be what they're intended for but as you say depends if they have proximity fuzed rounds.

@forcea1454 Жыл бұрын

Proximity fuses have only recently been miniaturised down to 30mm, I doubt there are any 25mm proximity fuses, especially for 1950s naval gun that has not been widely used for many decades.

@LondonSteveLee Жыл бұрын

Drones are largely plastic - good luck finding a proximity sensor sensitive enough to detect a few grams of metal.

@katana2665 11 ай бұрын

I love the idea of mounting an old navy mg turret on these things. Those twin guns would be a terror. Only a matter of time before they put a quad on. One thing Russians do well is build things to last. They don't care about looks, only function in extreme conditions.

@baneofbanes 10 ай бұрын

Lol only if they’re maintained, which a lot of Russian equipment isn’t.

@b.elzebub9252 7 ай бұрын

I don't understand the hate the MT-LB is getting. It's a solid design for what it is supposed to be. Just like the M113. It's an armoured box on tracks. A battle taxi/armoured utility vehicle. Meant to be little more than a step up from a basic truck or a jeep. It's simple, it's rugged, versatile and cost effective. The fact that it's still being widely used by both sides in such a wide range of uses is evidence of that. Most of the time you don't really need an MBT or an IFV to get the job done. You just need something that can cross a muddy field reasonably quickly and can bounce a few rifle rounds and shell splinters.

@durianlau1914 5 ай бұрын

I have been on a MTLB and m113, mtlb’s space is too small compare to m113, when it run on rough road, my head keep bump on the roof, and m113 more comfortable

@allenseeallendo5844 Жыл бұрын

I don’t know what’s more dangerous being in a vehicle or being on foot these days. I think statistically it’s safer to fly.

@Iauchmitschlauch Жыл бұрын

Flying in the war in ukraine is pretty dangerous too. In Vietnam helicoptercrews ie had one of the lowest survivalrates

@grievouslytired7886 Жыл бұрын

Just realized that naval mount dshk isnt even a dshk-m. Its feeding mechanism is the round rotary one, not the flat cover

@IFarmBugs Жыл бұрын

4:10 this image is trippy

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Lol yeah, I think that's someone using a clone mask to remove something, probably a watermark.

@yaboyed5779 Жыл бұрын

Could you cover the Lancet drone?

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

I will add it to the list but at the moment I've got so much to cover I just don't have enough time (or rather time to spare) to cover everything I'd like to!

@americanrambler4972 11 ай бұрын

Is the MT-LB the new Toyota Hy-Lux of gun platforms?

@samuelmartinezyc13 11 ай бұрын

They need a TOW/Kornet ATGM version

@victorzvyagintsev1325 Жыл бұрын

Well its a highly mobile all-terrain platform with a flat top. Its almost a crime not to duct-tape some dakka dakka to it.

@quazar5017 11 ай бұрын

There is probably a MT-LB with a Bradley mounted on top.

@tylerclayton6081 11 ай бұрын

Bradley turret has a longer 25mm cannon that fires depleted uranium rounds. This MT-LB couldn’t penetrate anything with significant armor and it’s own armor is too weak for it to provide frontline fire support. MT-LB can’t even survive .50 cal. The armor of a M2A2/3/4 Bradley for comparison can withstand 30mm BMP auto cannon

@JeanLucCaptain 11 ай бұрын

nice to see somebody making a sober account of these and not just doing the "russian bad huurrrr" take

@allyjane2545 Жыл бұрын

Normal people: woah cool War thunder players: OP premium tanks that cost arm and a leg.

@terrynewsome6698 Жыл бұрын

The Ukrainian add on looks like a actual military upgrade, the Russian one looks like something made by IS.

@sodinc Жыл бұрын

yeah, ukranian ones seem to be a product of some industrial facility, russian ones look like they were made by some dudes in the garage of the military base without any official approval

@brianv1988 11 ай бұрын

It's probably cuz the top of that armored vehicle is so flat they could mount pretty-much anything on

@andrwblood9162 Жыл бұрын

I still say that a lot of the gun modded MT-LBs were done by or for the Russian Navy to be used with their naval Infantry/Marines. Most the gun mounts look small gunboat and larger ship turrets, this video points to two MT-LBs variants that used a Russian Navy turrets. I could also easily believe that Ukrainian Marines are getting a lot MT-LBs with old naval guns on them too. There's just no evidence of that at the moment or at least I haven't seen it.

@hrvojemikulcic7074 Жыл бұрын

Mt-lb look look like nice SA 17 missile carrier !?

@good2goskee Жыл бұрын

looks like the tops would blow off in a strong wind

@ricardokowalski1579 Жыл бұрын

The lack of radar guidance makes them unsuitable for AA work. The high elevation suggest urban combat mission

@blackpowderriflehunter7573 11 ай бұрын

Most drone are very slow. The old AA guns are effective

@RyTrapp0 7 ай бұрын

@@blackpowderriflehunter7573 The problem is that they're also very small

@blackpowderriflehunter7573 7 ай бұрын

@@RyTrapp0 Volume of fire mitigates that. Also some drones are much larger that the usual quad copters.

@Drownedinblood 7 ай бұрын

I assume they are like ifvs...

@JustaGuy1250 Жыл бұрын

people be ridiculing these kinds of vehicles but.. why spend hundreds of thousands if not millions to develop an entirely new vehicle than just stick a turret you already got and isn't being used on an APC that you already have in service? hell, if these 25mm's got AP rounds, they might be able to take out stuff like BMP's!

@Vadim-gi4sg Жыл бұрын

Да, это творческая самодеятельность.

@moritamikamikara3879 Жыл бұрын

I'm not ridiculing them for their decision to adapt these vehicles, I'm ridiculing them for how crudely they've done it, at least with the Russian vehicle. Just because of how much bigger it makes the silhouette, if I was an MT-LB crewman and I was told my vehicle would be converted into a primitive IFV by adding autocannons, I'd spend the whole time praying that they were attaching a ZU-23 mount rather than the goof auhh naval turret.

@JustaGuy1250 Жыл бұрын

@@moritamikamikara3879 this isn't WarThunder where you're peeking over hills with your guns at -30 elevation shooting at blind as fuck lvl 1 players driving past.... the height of the modification changes pretty much nothing. Besides, i assume the height is due to the autoloader/feed system something you can't remove unless you want a bolt action 25mm

@EmilReiko 9 ай бұрын

@@moritamikamikara3879 they are probably meant to be positioned in a trench so only the turret is up and above ground level

@bensmith6868 Жыл бұрын

5:50 looks like an AI photo floating sign armor on dirt lighting looks weird

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

I think that's someone using a clone mask to remove something, probably a watermark.

@bensmith6868 Жыл бұрын

@@TheArmourersBench Ah thank you that would make sense.

@bikechainmic 11 ай бұрын

Love the Mad Vlad lash-up . Didnt the Nazis in WW2 start bodging up such desperardo things?

@jshwck4210 Жыл бұрын

5:45 Has anybody found out why the street sign is a SCP?

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Clone mask too used to remove a watermark at some point probably.

@dominiquegobeil5831 Жыл бұрын

Look at what the Syrian did with tracked AA gun, real effective in urban warfare. No match for concrete.

@Namkify Жыл бұрын

MT-LBs from the Thumbnail are from Georgia, not Russia.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Oh really? Got a source on that info so I can correct it?

@rajaydon1893 11 ай бұрын

No other vehicle has been bastardised is much as the MTLB. Just let the poor thing be

@axis1662 Жыл бұрын

You forgot to mention mtlb + mt12 gun.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

It's at the start of the video, I have 2 full videos on it. Here you go: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pdSioq-Z3N_OYKM.html & kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qZymdaR7qbvIoJs.html

@axis1662 Жыл бұрын

@@TheArmourersBench Oh I guess I missed that video since it was released 10 months ago. By the way russians tried to copy that design but their makeshift mtlb was destroyed recently. Also I heard about breech loading mortars that were put at the top of mtlbs but haven't saw a video or photo of those types.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

@@axis1662 I'd like to see the Russian version!

@axis1662 Жыл бұрын

@@TheArmourersBench Unfortunately there is no close up photos. Only a drone footage. It is listed on Oryx as well as other rare confirmed mtlb samples that were damaged or captured.

@tarekmalaeb8229 Жыл бұрын

Compared to the M113 , is it better in terms of survivability and reliability?

@moritamikamikara3879 Жыл бұрын

In terms of survivability it should be roughly the same. Reliability, I don't know enough to comment.

@schizophrennicautist3858 6 ай бұрын

The same thing no armor but very good reliability and utility

@psychobeam99 Жыл бұрын

Thats a cursed picture if Ive ever seen one lmao.

@D5quared91 Жыл бұрын

23mm, not 25mm.

@angrycolonel1957 Жыл бұрын

the mtlb is the Russian version of the simple mobile metal box that can be modified to anything you think of, like m113, you can turn it into a mortar carrier, artillery, ifv, spaa, supply vehicles, and anything you can think of, they may look silly but it's not a bad idea to use large stockpiles of ammunition and weapons that would have never been used if the modifications never happened, at the end of a day, its just more ammo that you can use

@axlfrhalo Жыл бұрын

The gunshield on the second ukrainian modded mt-lb makes little sense to me, the armor is so sparce you would be hard pressed to expect it to actually offer much protection yet it adds additional weight to the fire control system and vehicle.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

My thoughts too.

@axlfrhalo Жыл бұрын

@@TheArmourersBench glad i'm not alone in my confusion

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

I can only assume it's for elevation but the cutouts are so big they're exposing the action and optics.

@axlfrhalo Жыл бұрын

@@TheArmourersBench Exactly, the armored remote weaponstations that i have seen so far usually place the armor directly onto the optics or ammunition, seems far more weight efficient.

@luiszuniga2859 11 ай бұрын

- NATO: you can't put AMRAAM missiles on a MIG-29 - MT-LB: hold my vodka

@alanthecat59 Жыл бұрын

😻

@philipharris-smith5889 Жыл бұрын

The Russian mtlb’s are vs drones.

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

Potentially yeah.

@macfilms9904 Жыл бұрын

The Ukrainians need to mount some US CWIS on those - keep pesky drones off the armored columns...

@rodrigogoncalves6165 Жыл бұрын

Does anyone know if the west built anything similar to this vehicle?

@paulm1365 Жыл бұрын

Closest equivalent would be the M113. Countless variants of this vehicle. After starting as an APC other uses included command vehicle, mortar carrier, anti tank TOW launcher, Charparel anti aircraft missile launcher, ADATS missile carrier, M61 gun carrier, light tank with 76mm gun, etc., etc., etc.

@paulhickie6974 Жыл бұрын

Very good armoured vehicle the MT-LB .

@mmmamdeadbruh5345 Жыл бұрын

when this in war thunder

@xenophonBC Жыл бұрын

some say artillery is king of battle, nyet. intelligence.

@Iauchmitschlauch Жыл бұрын

nothing beats logistics

@alsanchez5038 Жыл бұрын

Baukommando Becker was far more creative. Our slavic friends are more like orks. Bolting things on top for more dakka!

@curtcoeurdelion Жыл бұрын

Russia in 2021: second best army in the world Russia in 2022: second best army in Ukraine Russia in 2023: second best army in Russia

@michaspringphul 2 ай бұрын

lol 5:55 i clearly a photoshoped image or it is even completey created by AI. and you want to take seriously.. OMG

@aker1993 Жыл бұрын

the Ukrainian MTLB are far more slicker and better per say than the Russian one

@wareagle3651 Жыл бұрын

When the Russians did it, it was a hilarious NAFO meme about Russians being idiots. Now that Ukraine has done it, it’s pure genius! Lol. Very funny to observe. 😂

@TheArmourersBench Жыл бұрын

All in the eye of beholder I guess.

@filipdolker8219 Жыл бұрын

Because they are held to a different standard, as they should be

@Iauchmitschlauch Жыл бұрын

Its the same as if you compare the US Army and Taliban using Rocketpods bolted on Pickup trucks. Russia is expected to be a modern military, ukraine is the small country desperately fighting for its survival. So stuff like MTLB Rocketartillery is seen different than russian naval turrets on them.

@spartand001 11 ай бұрын

your "gotcha" attempt to point out the so-called "double standard" had failed to take into account that the country in question getting mocked claim to be the 2nd strongest army in the world and a world superpower in similar standing as USA.