- Yes, as a tech tree vehicle.
- Yes, as an event vehicle.
- Yes, as a squadron vehicle.
- No
- 7.7
- 8.0
- 8.3
- I said no.
The Object 911 is a prototype IFV developed by the Volgograd Tractor Plant for the BMP contest. A unique feature of this vehicle is its ability to operate both on tracks and wheels. Only one prototype was ever built.
History:
Spoiler
The development of the Object 911 began in 1963 at the Volgograd Tractor Plant’s design bureau, under the direction of I.V. Gavalov. On August 9th, 1963, the project was presented to the State Committee for Defense Technology, which requested a prototype. The prototype was completed that same year and entered comparative trials alongside other BMP prototypes in 1964.
The Obj. 911’s most distinctive feature were its four auxiliary wheels located on the internal sides of the tracks. These wheels could be operated from inside the vehicle and be retracted in under three minutes. Even when fully retracted, they moderately protruded from the hull. Using a 4x2 configuration, the front wheels were steerable while the rear wheels served as the drive wheels powered by the main shaft. The chosen wheels, K 157-300 from the Ilyushin IL-14, were lighter and capable of handling more weight than other wheels of similar size. This design aimed to achieve higher maximum speed and reduced fuel consumption on highways while retaining the advantages of a tracked vehicle off-road.
Another quirk was its adjustable pneumatic suspension, which could increase ground clearance to 426 mm or lower it to 96 mm. The vehicle had a rear-drive sprocket, a front idler, and five road wheels per side which look identical to those used on the PT-76.
The hull featured a bow-shaped front and a retractable trim vane to enhance hydrodynamics. It had a relatively low profile, with a total height of 2068 mm, including the turret while at maximum ground clearance. The combat weight was 12.07 tons, with a length of 6.735 m and a width of 2.940 m. The average ground pressure was 45 kPa (0.46 kgf/cm²) and hull displacement was 16.7 m³. The level of protection was the same as the Object 765 (BMP-1 prototype). The Object 911 housed a crew of two: the driver and the gunner/commander, along with eight dismounts. The dismounts were positioned around the turret, with the machine gunner and squad commander at the front, one on each side of the driver and the remaining six behind the turret. Each dismount had their own firing ports and periscopes.
The engine, UTD-20, produced 300 hp at 2,600 rpm with a maximum torque of 981 N⋅m at 1,600 rpm. Its compact size allowed for rear placement along with the transmission, which featured a two-disc main friction clutch and a two-shaft, five-gear gearbox. The Object 911 was also equipped with two hydrojets at the rear, taken directly from the PT-76.
The six dismounts at the back exited the vehicle through a large hatch at the rear, which could be opened upward and locked at 90°. The squad commander and machine gunner at the front had their own hatches. The plan was for two dismounts to exit at a time, dropping 0.75 m to 1.10 m to the ground, though this left the dismounts vulnerable to enemy fire during the exit.
Skip to 3:01 to see the dismount process.
All vehicles in the BMP project used the same one-man turret design by the Tula KBP Design Bureau, also seen on the Object 765. This turret could rotate at 20°/s, with a gun elevation speed ranging from 0.07º to 6°/s, and could achieve maximum depression and elevation angles of -4º and +30º, respectively.
The main armament was the 73 mm 2A28 Grom with a 1PN22 day-night sight. During its design in the 1960s, only one type of round: PG-15V HEAT, was available for the 2A28. The gun was fed by an autoloader holding 40 rounds. Because there was only one type of shell, the autoloader design was simplified, as there was no need to cycle different shell types. The gun had to be elevated by 3° for loading, and each loading cycle took 6 seconds. Manual loading was also possible. The Malyutka missile was controlled by the gunner using a control box in the turret and could be reloaded through a small hatch above the gun breech. The 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun was mounted to the right of the main gun and fed from 250-round ammo boxes.
In 1964, the Obj. 911 was tested alongside Objects 19, 914, 765, and 1200. The Obj. 911 reached a maximum speed of 57 km/h on the road using its tracks and 108 km/h using its wheels, with an average cruising speed of 70 km/h. On water, it achieved a top speed of 10.3 km/h. During off-road tests, it managed to cross a 30° slope, although it was inferior to the Obj. 914 and Obj. 765. The wheels not only increased its top speed on road but also significantly reduced fuel consumption. The range was extended to 1350 km on wheels, compared to only 350-500 km on tracks.
Unfortunately, the Obj. 911 was rejected due to numerous issues that offset its advantages. Despite the mixed track and wheel drive offering benefits such as improved road speed and range, maintenance proved to be extremely difficult. The aviation wheels wore out much faster than comparable ground wheels. This system also complicated production, making the vehicle longer and more expensive to manufacture. Another critical issue was that, when fully retracted, the wheels still protruded slightly, causing them to occasionally touch the ground and get caught on dirt roads or uneven terrain. Additionally, the vehicle was found to be very unstable in water. The final nail in the coffin was the crew placement and the fact that dismounts had to exit from the top instead of from the back, as in the Obj. 765.
The Obj. 911, alongside the Obj. 19, were among the first to be rejected. While the mixed wheel and track system might have seemed like the best of both worlds, in practice, it proved mediocre compared to wheeled and tracked vehicles in their respective domains. Fortunately, this wasn’t the end for the Obj. 911, as another vehicle would be designed using the same chassis: the Object 911B.
Today, the one and only prototype is on display at the Kubinka Armor Museum.
Specification
Spoiler
Dimensions (L-W-H): 6.735 x 2.940 x 2.040 m (maximum ground clearance)
Ground clearance: 96 - 456 mm (adjustable)
Combat weight: 12.07 tonnes
Engine: UTD-20 6-cylinder 300 hp
Suspension: Adjustable pneumatic springs
Transmission mount: Rear
Forward gears: 5
Wheels configuration: 4×2
Wheels diameter: 840x300 mm
Steering wheels: Front
Maximum speed (road): 57 km/h on tracks, 108 km/h on wheels
Cruise speed (road): 70 km/h on wheels
Maximum speed (water): 10.3 km/h
Crew: 2 (driver, commander/gunner)
Dismounts: 8
Effective armor protection: Heavy machine gun fire (frontal arc), rifle-caliber projectiles, and artillery shell splinters (sides and rear)
Armament
Spoiler
1x 73 mm 2A28 ‘Grom’ (40 rounds), Reload speed: 6s with autoloader.
1x Coaxial 7.62 mm PKT (2,000 rounds)
1x 9M14 Malyutka (Up to 2)
Possible 2x RPK for the Squad commander and machine gunner at the front.
In game
This would be a very interesting 7.7 light tank and could be foldered with the BMP-1. The wheels deployment might need a new keybind to work, or it could use the same keybind as deploying dozer blade.
Photos
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