BTR-80
BTR-80: Armored Personnel Carrier
Statistics
HMG: 14.5mm KPVT
Ammunition Stowage: 50 ready/450 stowed
Default Ammunition: 50/450 14.5mm AP
Coaxial MG: 7.62mm PKT
Ammunition Stowage: 250 ready/1750 stowed
Default Ammunition: 250/1750 7.62mm
Grenade Launcher: 6x 81mm 902V "Tucha"
Ammunition Stowage: 1 ready/0 stowed
Default Ammunition: 1/0 Smoke
Armor Protection:
Frontal Turret Armor: N/A
Frontal Hull Armor: Thin, Steel. Protected vs HMG
Combat Mass: 13.6 tonnes
Length: 7.65m
Width: 2.90m
Height: 2.46m
Engine Power: 260hp KamAZ-7403 eight-cylinder diesel
Top Speed: 90 kph
General
The BTR-80 is a linear descendant of the BTR-60PB and BTR-70 wheeled APCs, sharing a similar layout to these vehicles. It offers improved access to the infantry squad by having larger two-piece doors in the hull sides and replaces the troublesome twin gasoline engines of the previous vehicles with a larger single diesel engine. Due to the single engine, the rear portion of the hull has been reconfigured with a squared off engine compartment and removal of the BTR-70s roof chamfers. The infantry firing ports were also updated with a ball mount design similar to that of the BMP-1 and reconfigured to offer better fields of fire to the vehicle's front quarters. Although it retains the same 14.5mm KPVT heavy and 7.62mm PK-T medium machine gun armament found on previous BTRs, the PP-61AM sight was replaced by the superior 1PZ-9 periscopic sight and the turret's mantlet was been modified to increase the maximum elevation to 60°.
As with other members of the Bronetransporter family, the BTR-80 equips the majority of battalions in a Motor Rifle Division, with the balance being equipped with the much more expensive, but equally vulnerable BMP tracked IFVs. While not able to keep up with the T-80 across country, the BTR-80 is roughly as capable as the BMP-1/2, somewhat faster than the T-72, and is amphibious with minimal preparation.
The dismount section for the BTR-80 is 6 men, carrying 3 RPG-26 anti-armor weapons, a PKM, and 5.45mm rifles.
In production since 1984, manufacture of the BTR-80 is so far modest compared to other Soviet designs with about 5,000+ vehicles in current service, but well exported to more than thirty nations from the Middle-East and Africa through the Far-East and the Americas.
Thermal Signature
Crew Positions
Tank Commander's Position F7
In Steel Beasts Professional the tank commander's (TC) position on the BTR-80 is fully crew-able, but only partially modeled with rudimentary interior views. The TC's position is accessed by pressing F7.
From this position the user can raise and lower their perspective (and exposure level) by holding the Q key (to go up) and the Z key (to go down). The TC can also button or unbutton (close and open the TC's hatch) by pressing the B key (toggle). While unbuttoned, the TC may also wish to use binoculars to get a closer view on a distant area by pressing the N key (toggle). Pressing the Shift-B key combination will close the ballistic doors in front of the wind shield, in that case the vision blocks have to be used!
Note that with the hatch open the gunner cannot slew the gun, so it is advisable for the TC to use the vision blocks instead!
TKN-3 Commander's Periscope
The TKN-3 commander's periscope is used for target acquisition, range estimation, directing the gunner onto a target. The periscope has a fixed 5x magnification. The periscope also has night vision capability. However, the periscope has only a very limited range of movement in elevation.
The TC can access the TKN-3 periscope by pressing F3.
Once the user is at the TKN-3 periscope view, the user can traverse and elevate the cupola using either the mouse or joystick.
The sight on the TKN-3 is a simple reticle with lead and elevation lines. The reticle also has a series of marks used for range estimation similar to the M1 tank's GAS sight. The numbers along the bottom of the scale represent the range in hundreds of meters. To estimate range to a typical sized tank target, place the range scale so that the bottom horizontal line is where the bottom of the tracks of the vehicle is, and the top part of the scale is at the top horizontal hash mark of the turret. When the target fully fits between the two, then the range is estimated at the value above the appropriate has mark.
The TKN-3's night vision can be turned on by pressing the + key on the num pad, however, this cannot be activated during daylight.
TC's TKN-3 periscope view
TC's TKN-3 periscope, reticle
TC's TKN-3 periscope IR view
TC's vision block view
On some occasions the TC may need to look around the vehicle without having to expose himself to hostile fire. The vision block view allows the TC to remain safely inside the vehicle and quickly scan around for close threats. It is most useful when enemy infantry are in the immediate area, although the TKN-3 periscope is probably more useful for this purpose. The BTR-80 commander has four TNP-B vision blocks, which cover the vehicle's front and right side, and may be accessed by pressing F4.
Once in the vision block view, the mouse or joystick can be used to quickly and seamlessly pan the TC's view from vision block to vision block, allowing him to scan around the vehicle. While the vision block view completely protects the TC from hostile fire, it does have an extremely limited field of view and offers no magnification.
Key listing for BTR-80 TC's position
General Commands:
SHIFT + TAB: Smoke Generator. Instructs the driver to deploy a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust manifold. Useful for breaking up enemy LRFs or obscuring following vehicles and infantry against a non thermal sight equipped threat.
Q: Raise position in hatch. Moves the TC's view and exposure level up in the hatch.
Z: Lower position in hatch. Moves the TC's view and exposure level down in the hatch.
B: Button and unbutton the hatch (toggle). This is used to close and open the hatch.
LEFT ARROW / RIGHT ARROW: Face left / face right. When in the TC's eye view F1, pressing these keys will cause the TC to face to the left or right of the main gun (turret).
UP ARROW / DOWN ARROW: When in the TC's eye view F1, pressing these keys will cause the TC to face in the direction of or to the rear of the gun (turret).
Driver related commands:
SHIFT + BACKSPACE: Shut down / start up engine (toggle). Orders the driver to shut off or start up the engine. If the TC is a platoon leader then it orders the platoon to execute a "short count" and simultaneously shut down or start up their engines.
W: Driver, move out. Instructs the driver to move forward (press again for increased speed.
S: Driver, stop. Instructs the driver to stop.
X: Driver, backup. Instructs the driver to reverse.
A: Driver, go left. Instructs the driver to go left (hold the key).
D: Driver, go right. Instructs the driver to go right (hold the key).
Gunner related commands:
SPACE BAR: Fire. Orders the gunner to fire at a target he is looking at.
H: Hold fire. Orders the gunner to hold fire. If the TC is a platoon leader then it will also order the platoon to hold fire.
F: Fire at will. Orders the gunner to fire at will. If the TC is a platoon leader then it will also order the platoon to fire at will.
E: Engage. Orders the gunner to engage, and instructs the driver to take up a battle position. If the TC is a platoon leader then it orders the platoon to engage and take up a battle position in the direction of the user's view.
M: Coax / Main gun (toggle). Orders the gunner to toggle between the main gun and coax to engage targets.
SHIFT + LEFT ARROW: Gunner, scan left. Orders the gunner to put move the turret approximately 45 degrees to the left and scan for targets.
SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW: Gunner, scan right. Orders the gunner to put move the turret approximately 45 degrees to the right and scan for targets.
SHIFT + UP ARROW: Gunner, scan front. Orders the gunner to put the gun over the front and scan for targets.
SHIFT + PAGE DOWN: Reload all. Orders the tank crew to reload all weapons systems.
Gunner's Position F6
In Steel Beasts Professional the gunner's position on the BTR-80 fully crew-able, but only partially modeled with no interior views. The gunner's position is accessed by pressing F6.
Gunner's Primary Sight (GPS)
The gunner's primary sight (GPS) is the 1PZ-9 periscopic sight and is similar to the commander's sight on the BMP-2 recalibrated for the 14.5mm KPV-T and 7.62mm PK-T machine guns. The sight features two magnification levels toggled with the N key: a 1.2x wide field of view, and a 4x narrow field of view.
The three large rings around the sight are lead rings used for AA engagements. These are used to help determine lead on air targets moving at 50, 100 and 250 m/s velocities. The small horizontal line in the center of the sight is the Vertical Reference Line, which represents the center of the AA lead rings and matches super elevation equal to 31 MOA (average 1500m range to target elevated at 45 degrees in relation to firing position).
On the left and right side of the commander's sight are a set of horizontal lines. These lines are range scales used to set the aim point for certain types of ammunition. The scale on the left is used for the 14.5mm KPV-T , the longer scale to the far right is used for the 7.62mm PK-T coax.
The vertical line that extends across the sight is the Adjustable Index Line, which is the line that can be moved up and down to index range. The position where the adjustable index line intersects with the vertical line that extends across the sight defines the aim point for the appropriate ammunition type at the specified range. The three smaller vertical lines to either side of the center aiming line are used to determine lead on a moving ground target. The distance between these lead lines is 5 mils.
To adjust the aim point, press SHIFT + UP to increase the range by moving the horizontal index line down the sight. Press SHIFT + DOWN to decrease range. Alternatively the mouse wheel can be used to adjust range, and holding SHIFT while doing so will increase the speed of the range adjustment.
The numbers along the range scales are in hundreds of meters (hectometers), so if you want to set the KPV-T sight to 800 meters then you would increase range until the horizontal aiming line is in line with the "8" range line on the left "KPV-T" scale.
BMP-2's commander's sight, 4x magnification, range adjusted to 800 KE
BMP-2's commander's sight, target!
Turret Controls
In reality, the elevation and traverse controls for the BTR-80 are manual but, beginning with revision 4.016, may be moved in elevation and traverse with either the mouse or joystick. For manual use of the handcranks the default movement keys are UP ARROW / DOWN ARROW for elevation and depression respectively, and LEFT ARROW / RIGHT ARROW for left and right traverse. Tapping these keys quicker results in faster movement.
Engaging Targets
Engaging targets with the 1PZ-9 sight is fairly straight forward. Once a target's range has been determined (using either an estimation by the gunner or a range provided by the TC) align the target with the central sight line and adjust the the Adjustable Index Line to the appropriate range line for the weapon being fired. Pressing SPACEBAR or Joystick Button 1 fires the selected gun with M toggling between the KPV-T and coax. Lead is manually applied using the mil scale described above. Thanks to the 14.5mm's flat firing characteristics, BOT (burst on target) engagement techniques are the norm.
Driver's Position F9
In Steel Beasts Professional the driver's position on the BTR-80 is crew-able, but only partially modeled with a rudimentary interior views and no functional controls. Sitting to the left of the TC, the driver's position is accessed by pressing F9. Once in the driver's position, you can drive the vehicle by using the joystick or W A S D X keys.
Driver's vision blocks
When buttoned up, the driver views the world through 4 TNP-B vision blocks set in the roof of his compartment and a windshield to his direct front. Pressing the Shift-B key combination will open and close the ballistic doors in front of the windshield.