The GAZ Bronetransportyor 60 Plavajushhijj (“swimming armoured transport of the year 1960”) is open-topped and lightly armored. A boat-shaped lower hull and water-jet system make it fully amphibious with only minimal preparation. A 5-ton winch (ST 50) with a 33-yard cable is fitted to the prow.
Due to having its two engines in the rear, crew and passengers have to climb in and out over the vehicle’s sides, which is assisted by various steps and rails, as well as two half-doors on each side. The driver and commander sit at the front of the vehicle (on the left and right, respectively) with a small roof (DR 20) to protect them. They have ‘bulletproof glass’ (DR 18) windshields, with steel covers (DR 18) which can be closed for extra protection. This reduces vision to a small slit in each cover, one small window on each side, and a single periscope for the driver, which can be exchanged for an infrared vision device (gives Night Vision 4). Infrared illuminators (GURPS High-Tech, p. 47) with 70-yard range are mounted alongside the headlights for use with night vision. The commander has an infrared searchlight (0.25-mile range) and a medium radio (GURPS High-Tech, p. 38).
Passengers sit behind the crew, on two long benches running along the sides of the vehicle. A detachable canvas cover gives them some relief from weather. The troops have three firing ports on each side, as well as three mounting points for machine guns, one on each side of the troop compartment and one in the middle of the roof of the crew compartment. Generally the two side mounts were used for the infantry’s machine guns, while the front one was fitted with an SGMB (for which around 2,000 rounds were carried).
Early improvements included adding a night-vision device for the commander (gives Telescopic Vision 2 and Night Vision 2) and replacing the front machine gun mount with one for the DShKM HMG (GURPS High-Tech, p. 133).
In 1963 production was changed to the new BTR-60PA which has a roof and air-filters. The half-doors on the side are eliminated, and access is via top hatches. The commander and driver each get a small hatch above their seats, while a large rectangular hatch behind them allows troops to reach the three machine gun mounts which have been moved there. Another large hatch is located on the back left side of the roof.
In 1966 the BTR-60PB came with more powerful engines, upgraded armor, and a turret copied from the BRDM-2 (GURPS High-Tech, p. 240). Turret armament consists of a ZiD KPVT HMG (GURPS High-Tech, p. 134) with 500 rounds and a coaxial KMZ PKT MG (GURPS High-Tech, p. 135) with 2,000 rounds. The gunner has a 4× sight (+2 Acc). The manually rotated turret takes two Ready maneuvers to change facing. Passenger seating is changed to two forward-facing benches and two folding seats. The windshield covers lose their vision slits, with both the driver and commander getting three periscopes each instead. Their hatches are the same as on the BTR-60PA, as is the one on the back left of the troop compartment. A small door is added on either side of the hull, and a small roof hatch is placed behind and to the right of the turret. Later production versions add a rear-facing periscope to the turret.
The TAB-71M is a Romanian copy of the BTR-60PB with more powerful engines.
The BTR-60PAI is an intermediate step between the BTR-60PA and BTR-60PB, with a turret but lacking improved armor and engines. Use the profile of the BTR-60PA but change locations to gt8W and add note [5].
The BTR-60P requires little conversion to turn it into a mortar carrier, usually holding two mortars.
The BTR-60PU is a command variant of the BTR-60P. It usually carries no weapons and has two extra radios with long-range antennae (GURPS High-Tech, p. 39). A version based on the BTR-60PA has similar equipment. The R-145BM is another command vehicle, based on the BTR-60PB with the weapons replaced by an antenna for a large radio. Several additional medium radios, an auxiliary generator, and a satellite navigation system capable of using either GLONASS or GPS (GURPS High-Tech, p. 53) are also carried. The BTR-60PB Forward Air Control vehicle is similar, but has an observation window instead of the antenna on the turret. Various other command, fire-control, signals, and observation vehicles have roughly the same set-up.
The MTR-2 and MTP-2 are repair and recovery vehicles based on the BTR-60P and BTR-60PA respectively. They have cranes which can be fitted to the front of the vehicles. The Irtish and BTR-60PPM are civilian versions of the BTR-60PB (used for firefighting and rescue) with no turrets, firing ports, or window covers, and several doors and windows added to the sides. They have safety rails around their roofs and carry cranes and ladders. Change locations to G8W.
The APC-70 is a Mexican variant based on a civilian version of the BTR-60PA, re-armed with a single open mount which can be fitted with a FN MAG (GURPS High-Tech, p. 134), HK21 (GURPS High-Tech, p. 136), or Sako MK 19 (GURPS High-Tech, p. 143). It has side windows instead of firing ports.
DRIVING/TL (TRACKED)
| TL | Vehicle | ST/HP | Hnd/SR | HT | Move | LWt. | Load | SM | Occ. | DR | Range | Cost | Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | BTR-60P | 101 | −1/4 | 9f | 1/24 | 10.8 | 2.4 | +4 | 2+14 | 36/24 | 310 | $30.0k | O8W3X | [1][2][3] |
| 7 | BTR-60PA | 103 | −1/4 | 9f | 1/24 | 11.2 | 2.4 | +4 | 2+14S | 36/24 | 310 | $32.0k | g8W3X | [1][2][3][4] |
| 7 | BTR-60PB | 104 | −1/4 | 10f | 1/24 | 11.3 | 2.4 | +4 | 3+12S | 40/24 | 300 | $36.0k | t8W | [1][2][3][4][5] |
| 7 | TAB-71M | 106 | −1/4 | 10f | 2/29 | 12 | 2.4 | +4 | 3+8S | 40/24 | 300 | $38.0k | t8W | [1][2][3][4][5] |
[1] Amphibious: water move 1/3.
[2] Central Tire Inflation System (GURPS High-Tech, p. 229).
[3] Higher DR is for hull front. Lower DR is for hull sides and rear. Hull underside has DR 14.
[4] Hull top has DR 20.
[5] Turret has DR 40 on all facings except the top, which has DR 20.