OT-64 SKOT

This article is about OT-64 SKOT. For SKOT, see Skot (disambiguation).
OT-64 SKOT

OT-64A SKOT-2A
Type Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier
Place of origin Czechoslovakia,
Poland
Service history
In service 1963 - present[1]
Used by See Operators
Wars See Service History
Production history
Designed 1959
Manufacturer Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych (FSC) (Poland)[1]
Produced 1963 - early 1970s[1]
Number built 4500[1]
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 14.5 t
Length 7.44 m
Width 2.55 m
Height 2.71 m
Crew 2 + 18 passengers[1]
2 + 10 passengers (OT-64A and SKOT-2A)[1]
Armor 6-13 mm
Main
armament
 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and 14.5 mm KPV machine gun.
Engine air-cooled Tatra T-928-14 V-8 diesel
177 hp
Power/weight 12.4 hp/tonne
Suspension 8x8 or 8x4
Operational
range
 710 km
Speed 94 km/h (in water 9 km/h)

The OT-64 SKOT (Czech acronym for: Střední Kolový Obrněný Transportér, and/or Polish Średni Kołowy Opancerzony Transporter – medium wheeled armoured transporter) is an amphibious, armored personnel carrier (8x8), developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia (ČSSR) well into the 1960s.

Until the early 1970s were produced around 4500 of OT-64 SKOT units of all variants, with more than two-thirds owned Czechoslovak army. SKOT belonged in the 1960s and 1970s, to the best of what was in the category of wheeled armored vehicles produced. SKOT came up with the timeless concept of wheeled transporter, which is revered by all manufacturers worldwide today.[2]

History

OT-64 was intended to replace the halftrack OT-810, which was nearly identical to the German SdKfz 251 from World War II. The first prototype was built in 1959. In 1961 the first sample series were built and starting from October 1963 the vehicles were produced in Lublin, Poland by Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych. Czechoslovakia supplied the driveline components, i.e. the engine, transmission and axles. The first production vehicles were delivered in 1964 to both the Polish Army and Czechoslovak Army. They were also acquired by the Hungarian army. Today are gradually replaced by newer vehicles.

Technology

OT-64 SKOT in an amphibious assault exercise
SKOT-2AP

The OT-64's engine, transmission, suspension and axles were produced in Czechoslovakia. The engine was produced by Tatra. The gearbox was manufactured by Praga Hostivař. It has a pre-select Praga-Wilson gearbox, (5 forward +1 reverse gears.) A gear is selected using the gear stick then when the gear is required the left pedal (gear change action/clutch combined) is pressed to the floor, giving a hiss of air sound,on release of the pedal the dry plate clutch engages after about half the return spring controlled movement. The drive then passes to an auxiliary gearbox with low, neutral and high ratios which needs to be selected before moving off, for road/neutral/off road use, this gives option to the driver of 10 forward and 2 reverse ratios. The gear change pedal is hydraulic and on action opens an air valve which causes the selected gear to engage. The armored hull and weapons were produced in Poland.

The OT-64 was the answer to the Soviet BTR-60. Contrary to this the OT-64 used a diesel set in place of a petrol engine. That diminished the danger of fire and at the same time increased the range. The main advantage in relation to the Russian counterpart was the full-armored interior. The entrance is at the rear of the vehicle via twin doors. The OT-64 had an NBC protection facility and night-vision equipment. It also has central inflation for all wheels which can be controlled by driver during a drive. The OT-64 was air-transportable and amphibious, for the transport on water used two propellers installed at the back.

Several variants were built. Some OT-64 were re-equipped for air defense or built as tank hunters. The latter used the AT-3 Sagger missile as a weapon.

Service history

OT-64 SKOT entered service with Polish and Czechoslovak armies in 1963. It was produced until the early 1970s. It is still in service in Poland and Slovakia. Czech units were replaced in 2006 by new armoured vehicles Pandur II CZ.[2] During the 1990s, Slovakia purchased hundreds of these units from the Czech Republic (150 in 1994, 100 in 1998). Slovaks then sold them to other, mainly African, countries. OT-64 SKOT was also exported to eleven different countries. A total number of vehicles produced is 4,500.[1]

Variants

Czechoslovakia

SKOT-1A during reconstruction of Martial law in Poland. Warsaw, 13.12.2007 (in memory of 13.12.1981)
Polish SKOT S-260 Inż towing a trailer crossing a tank launched bridge

Poland

SKOT-2A
SKOT-2A at the Polish Army Museum (Muzeum Wojska Polskiego)

Uruguay

Operators

OT-64 SKOT operators
Two SKOT-2A APCs and one SKOT-2AP APC.

Former operators

Civilian operators

SKOT-1A-based firefighting vehicle

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Pancerni 1"
  2. 1 2 3 SKOT – žádná kráva, ale český obrňák
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JED The Military Equipment Directory"
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
  5. ↑ Algerian army Archived May 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. armyrecognition.com
  6. ↑ OT-64 Specifications
  7. ↑ Egyptian army Archived May 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. armyrecognition.com
  8. ↑ "Czech Ministry of Defense"
  9. ↑ Civilian versions of the OT-64 SKOT, www.specops.com.p
  10. ↑ MILITARIUM - Wojsko Polskie - Uzbrojenie
  11. ↑ Czech SKOT photos, www.specops.com.pl

Literature

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