BETA PLC MTP-1 CEV

     Notes:  This combat engineer vehicle is a variant of the MTLBu used by Bulgaria. It can be used to recover and repair vehicles of a similar size and weight., though it is primarily meant to clear debris from routes friendly vehicles will take, and map accessible routes and report them through data-capable radios to higher headquarters and other vehicles with data-capable radios.  Though based on an unmanufactured East German design, the MTP-1 is for the most part of Bulgarian design. Currently, except for spare parts, production is done when needed. It appears that the MTP-1 has not been built since the early 1990s The MTP-1 has a secondary role in building large fighting positions.

     MTLBu chassis is expanded both to the rear and to the sides; it is not only longer and has an additional roadwheel, the sides are for the most part sloped. The roof has a telescopic crane that can lift 3 tons, and can be extended over the entire vehicle to a maximum of 3.4 meters.  (The operators can also restrict weight lifted to 2 tons, in which case the crane may be extended to 5 meters.)  The crane is designed to reach over the front of the vehicle and can rotate 280 degrees, but does not have enough reach to reach over the rear of the vehicle or towards the rear corners. The crane may be tipped by a bucket able to dig out soil or small rocks.

     The rear of the vehicle has a large blade similar to that on the engineering variant of the MT-LB that is used to brace the vehicle when using the crane.  It can also be used to prepare vehicle entrenchments, and the MTP-1 can prepare a hull-down position for a main battle tank in 110 minutes.  The MTP-1 also has a winch that can pull 30 tons, or 10 tons when not braced by the dozer blade.  The dozer blade can also scrape and dig, digging, for example, to dig a complete Vasilek firing position in 110 minues, The MTP-1 is fully amphibious with preparation.  On the center deck is a flat area with tie-down rings for the carrying of a large cargoes.  In its role to clear routes, it is equipped with a 5kW APU which is used to power tools, ranging from to chainsaws to circular saws to jaws-of-life debris separators.  To aid in route reconnaissance, the MTP-1 is equipped with inertial navigation and a mapping module.

     The cupola of the MT-LBu is retained. Most MTP-1 are armed with a PK or similar machinegun for local defense; however, some 25% of them are equipped with a DShK or NSVT.   Power for the MTB-1 is a 300-horsepower turbocharged diesel; this no coincidence, as the MTP-1 is based on the MT-LBu. Along each side, there is a set of three stowage lockers; these not only store tools and a few spare parts, but also change the side armor from “no slope” to moderate slope. It also carries a torch to burn away fuselage and a variety of pioneer tools, an engineer demo chest, and an amount of C-4 or RDX to blow stubborn obstacles, as well as primercord to sever tree trunks. The MTP-1 is topped on the front left by the same turret as an MT-LBu; this is normally armed with a PKT, some 10% have seen with a DShK, or NSVT. On each side of the vehicle are three firing ports; in front and the rear door are each another firing port.  These are inherited from the MTLBu. In the deck roof are a pair of hatches, plus a hatch for the driver on the front left side.  On each glacis plate, on each side, are a cluster of three smoke grenade launchers; the crane operator has a WL spotlight.

     Though the standard crew of the MTP-1 is only two, quite often 1-3 additional combat engineers or mechanics are carried.

*The rear blade has AV 4; depending on the position of the blade, this AV may be applied against hits from the lower rear hull or upper rear hull. (When firing at the rear hull, apply a 50-50 chance, unless the firer is aiming; then apply a 75-25% chance.)

Kharkiv Sova NBC/EW Reconnaissance Vehicle

     Notes: This is a vehicle based on the BRM-23 IFV, but heavily-modified for it’s role.  It looks more like the standard MTLBu chassis, with a flat roof, the same layout as the standard MTLBu, including a small turret on right front armed with a PKT machinegun.  Externally, it looks almost identical to the MTLBu.  Where it is vastly different , however is in the interior and some boxes and ports on the exterior at the front of the roof.  These boxes contain an optical chemical sniffer, a biological agent detector, a laser rangefinder/designator. and a radiac meter.  The commander has an actual rotating cupola, and the top of the cupola ring is an artillery/rocket aiming circle, which allows the Sova to direct artillery and rocket artillery fire if the need arises. (The secondary role of the Sova is as a general reconnaissance vehicle.)  Unlike most MTLBus, the Sova has a night vision suite for the commander, gunner, and driver as well as telescopic sights for the commander, the these can be downlinked to the crew manning the sensors inside the vehicle.  The Sova-1 has a long-range radio and a medium-range radio.  The Sora-1’s transmission range for its radios is extended to double range by use of an AZI frame antenna, and it may extended to triple range by use of a telescoping mast.  The long-range radio is data-capable.  The Sova-2 is essentially the same, but uses a longer-range radio with 150% range and is also data capable. 

     The current Sova-3 is equipped with a PNSR-5K Block 87 (NATO reporting name Tall Mike).  The dish unfolds out of a box on the rear deck and is anchored to the center deck of the vehicle.  The Sova-3 has additional computers to monitor and fix targets, and hand them off to the computers for transmission vis long-range radio.  The radios have the same general range and capabilities, but are more modern versions of the Sova-2’s radios.  The Sova-3 has more of a general reconnaissance role than the other Sova variants, and also has two CCD day/night cameras (one on top of the turret to allow it to rotate).

     The Sova-1 and Sova-2 are equipped with inertial navigation and a mapping computer. The Sova-3 is equipped with GLONASS with an inertial navigation backup (GLONASS was later replaced with a GPS receiver after Bulgaria’s entry into NATO).  The commander and driver have MFDs that display the mapping computer’s data as well as two MFDs for the crew inside, that display the information from the sensors (or the radar on the Sova-3).  If the radar is extended on the Sova-3, the Sova-3 cannot conduct amphibious operations. There is no sampling equipment on the Sova and variants other than the basic sensors.  All Sora Variants have ELINT 1 suites, including RDFs and limited MIJI capability.  (Radio Jamming 2.) All Sovas have an NBC Overpressure system.