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TAB-77

1977 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER COLD WAR MODERN

History

The TAB-77 is a Romanian licensed copy of the Soviet Cold War-era BTR-70 8-wheel Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), introduced in 1972 under the Moreni Automecanica trademark. The TAB-77 is still in service today (2014) and is used by the Romanian and Libyan armies.

Since then, several major versions have emerged, including an armored base transport vehicle, a dedicated battlefield command vehicle with additional communications equipment, an artillery observation vehicle ("PCMA"), and a maintenance vehicle (TERA-77L - exported in five examples) to Libya).

The TABV-77 weighed 13 tons, slightly heavier than its Soviet counterpart. Dimensions include a barrel length of 7.42 meters, a width of 2.94 meters and a height of 2.34 meters. The standard operator consists of two drivers and a commander, while nine combat-ready personnel can be transported relatively safely and easily in the hull. Power is provided by 2 Saviem 797-05M1 series diesel engines (each) producing 132 hp at 3,000 rpm and mated to a manual transmission system. Each motor drives a pair of available axles, while the first two are steerable.

Tire pressure can be adjusted during operation. The torsion bar suspension system adopts an eight-wheel arrangement, with a top speed of 80 km/h and a cruising range of 550 km. According to Soviet doctrine, the TAB-77 retained amphibious properties (as previously seen in the BTR-70), capable of flying over water at about 9 km/h using two propeller nozzles located in the lower part of the rear fuselage. Armor protection against small arms fire and shrapnel only. It turns out that the tropical kit for operation in warm climates is optional, while the NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) kit is standard.

Three firing ports on the sides of the fuselage allow passengers to engage enemy forces from the safety of the vehicle. Both the driver and the commander can use infrared vision for low-level combat.

A powered winch is mounted on the front of the hull and is used to rescue other vehicles or clear road debris.

As an APC, the TAB-77 is equipped with a rotating turret with a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 1 x 7.62mm PKT series machine gun. The main weapon is armed with 600 x 14.5mm ammunition and the accompanying machine gun is armed with 2,500 rounds of 7.62mm rounds.

TAB-77 fought during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989, which led to the overthrow of the communist government that was in power during the fall of the Soviet Empire. The vehicle was then regularly used in exercises with the Romanian Armed Forces and then in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars as part of the Western coalition.

In both theaters, the vehicles proved insufficient to protect concealed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) deployed by enemy combatantsa flaw encountered by many vehicles in modern warfare.

Approximately 168 TAB-77s were produced, including one test car destined for China. Production of the TAB-77 continued from 1978 to 1991. During this period, Romania was the only country outside the Soviet Union that produced armored vehicles for the Warsaw Pact.