VOP CZ OT-90

     Notes:  With the advent of the Conventional Forces Europe treaty, the Czech at the time had a large number of BVP-1s (Czech and Slovak versions of the Russian BMP-1). As the BVP-1 had a large-caliber gun, it was considered a tank by the treaty, and the CFE treaty put limits on tanks and other vehicles with large caliber guns. (The CFE treaty eventually expired in the late 2000s, and the Czech and Slovakia and put the original turrets back on some of their BVP-1 hulls.)  To comply with the CFE treaty’s restrictions, yet keep the BVP-1 as troop carriers, the Czechs and Slovakians put a new turret on their BVP-1 – basically an OT-64 turret, which had machineguns instead of a large caliber gun.  This vehicle was the OT-90. Most OT-90s were phased out of Czech and Slovakian service in the early 2010s; some were retained to serve as troop carriers on United Nations duty, when the UN needs to present a less aggressive stance. However, for the most part, large-scale modifications were cancelled as the CFE treaty neared its end; in addition, the Czechs and Slovakians had a large number of BVP-2s, armed with an autocannon instead of the 73mm gun of the BVP-1, and these were not affected by the CFE treaty, As they were intended for temporary use only, they have never been offered on the international market.

     For a short time, the Czechs and Slovakians used a version of the OT-90 with a BMP-2 turret.  This was later phased out when the Czechs and Slovakians had received an adequate number of BMP-2s and other vehicles. These are essentially the same game purposes as BVP-2s (the Czech and Slovakian version of the BMP-2).

     The OT-90 was later colloquially known to its crews as the “Havel’s Tiger.”

OT-90

     The first OT-90s were mostly simple turret swaps, with the hull roof modified to take the much smaller turrets. It retains the BVP-1 hull, including the basic hull layout, and a 300-horsepower turbocharged engine with a manual transmission. Turret armor has been partially brought to BVP-1 standards, particularly on the Turret Front. The OT-64 turret is a bit larger than a BTR-70 turret, but is armed in the same manner – KPV and PKT machineguns. The gunner mans the turret, but the turret has no hatch, and the gunner enters and exits via the rear doors.  The commander has a cupola on the left roof and forward of the turret, near the front of the hull. Unlike the BVP-1, the OT-90 does not carry the equipment nor does it have the water propellers of the BMP-1, and it is not amphibious.  The OT-90 retains the firing ports of the BVP-1 (three on the left, two on the right, and one on the left rear door). The OT-90’s hull can take ERA on the Hull Front and Hull Sides.

OT-90M1/2

     The OT-90 M-1 moves the searchlight to the top of the turret. The OT-90M2 also adds a thin layer of applique armor, and has an IFF receiver/transmitter, and a laser rangefinder.

OT-90M Zarmod

     This version appeared in early 2000 and is considered the definitive version of the OT-90. It adds an automatic fire/explosion system. It has improved armor and a new modular turret (though the full capabilities of this modular construction were never realized). In addition, the commander’s hatch has a mount to the right of the cupola for a 9P135M1 (AT-4 Spigot); though it is a single launcher, reloads are carried in the turret basket.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The OT-90 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 v2.2 timeline.