BTR-3RK: Exceeding Expectations

Yontzee · July 20, 2023, 3:07am

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BTR-3RK

The BTR-3RK being prepared for the Royal Thai Army.

Basic Description:
- The BTR-3 is an Armored Personnel Carrier developed in 2000 that can be equipped with many different combat modules to serve different mission requirements. Some of these variants include an ARV, which is equipped with a dozer blade, crane, and winch, the BTR-3E 90 equipped with the 90mm Cockerill turret for direct-fire needs, or a tank destroyer variant armed with the Barrier-212 complex, the BTR-3RK.The BTR-3RK was developed in the late-2000’s when a request was made by Thailand’s Ministry of Defense for the production of a tank destroyer variant along with the BTR-3E1 for the Royal Thai Army. The vehicle features the standard chassis of the BTR-3E1, sporting the MTU 6R106TD21 Diesel Engine capable of producing 326hp, protection against small-caliber weaponry with the option to mount Bar armor, and retains its amphibious capabilities. The Commander and Driver are located in the front of the vehicle, with the driver on the left and commander on the right if viewing from inside the vehicle. The Driver can utilize the TVNE-4BM Night Vision Scope while the Commander utilizes a 1PZ-3 Day Sight. However, the Commander has access to the Gunner’s controls, allowing them to operate the turret and optical equipment. Instead of the BM-3M ‘Shturm-M’ Combat Module found on the BTR-3E1, a new combat module was developed with the capability to fire 4x RK-2 anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) mounted on the Barrier-212 complex, a KT-12.7mm self-defense machine gun, laser rangefinder, 6x 81mm grenade launchers, and a 3rd-generation thermal imager at the gunner’s station located underneath the turret. In the rear of the vehicle, the BTR-3RK can store 12 missiles on designated storage racks. In 2013, the BTR-3RK were delivered to Thailand to began integration of the platform into the Royal Army along with the BTR-3E1 with the vehicle now produced under license in Thailand under a deal with Ukrspetsexport, a conglomerate of Ukrainian Defense companies. Currently Thailand is the only user of the BTR-3RK and operates them alongside other Ukrainian vehicles such as the BTR-3E1, and T-84M Oplot-T.
Specifications:
- Role:
  - Tank Destroyer
- Origin:
  - Ukraine
- Armament:
  - Barrier-212 Anti-tank Module
    - Primary: 2x Dual Barrier ATGM Launchers (4x missiles ready to fire, 12x stored)
      - Missile:
        
        RK-2S Missile
        
        Warhead: Tandem-HEAT
        
        Caliber: 130mm
        
        Range: out to 5km
        
        Penetration: at least 800mm of RHA behind ERA.
        
        Guidance: Semi-Active Laser
        
        RK-2OF Missile
        
        Warhead: HE-FRAG
        
        Caliber: 130mm
        
        Range: out to 5km
        
        Penetration: at least 60mm of RHA.
        
        Guidance: Semi-Active Laser
    - Coaxial: KT-12.7mm Machine Gun
    - Laser Rangefinder
    - 6x 81mm Smoke Grenade Launchers
    - Optics:
      - Commander: 1PZ-3 Day Sight
        
        Has display and weapon controls to operate with Gunner.
      - Gunner: 3rd-generation Thermal Imager integrated with FCS.
      - Driver: TVNE-4BM (Night Vision Device )
Dimensions :
- Length: 7.850m
- Width: 2.900m
- Height: 2.774m
- Weight: 16.5t (Up to 25t with Bar Armor Installed)
Mobility :
- Engine:
  - 326hp - MTU 6R106TD21 Diesel Engine
- Max Speed: 100km/h (~8km/h in water)
- Transmission:
  - Allison MD3066 Fully-automatic Transmission
- Suspension: 8 x 8
Crew:
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
Additional Features:
- ESS
- Amphibious
- Armor:
  - Kevlar Lined
  - 7.62mm all-around protection.
  - Up to 12.7mm frontally.
  - 360-degree Bar Armor
In-game :
- With its higher profile, the BTR-3RK would play very similar to the ZT3A2, being a highly mobile platform capable of firing over obstacles and equipped with highly effective ATGM’s. Not to mention, on certain maps the amphibious capabilities could play well into ambushing groups of tanks/light vehicles.
- Estimated Battle Rating: 8.7.
Sources:
Imagery: