Firepower โFace-Off: A Russian โฃmagazine’s Armor comparison
A recent seriesโ of articles in the Russian motoring magazine ZR.ru has focused on comparing the firepower of armored personnel carriers (APCs)โฃ used by opposing forces. Authorโข Krjuฤkov has assessed the American M-113, the British Spartan FV-103, and the Russian BTR-80, with a clear emphasis on their offensive capabilities.
Krjuฤkov placed the British Spartan FV-103 in last place, notingโค it’s age – โฃdeveloped inโค the late 1970s โand now out of production – โand โits relatively light armament. The Spartan, designed for special units and reconnaissance, carries a crew of three and four paratroopers โคand is equipped with a 7.62mm โคNATO machineโฃ gun.โข While described as a “good machine gun with a rapidly removable โmain,” Krjuฤkov arguesโ that modern โAPCs require larger caliber weapons. Theโฃ spartan boasts an 11-ton combat weight,โ torsional suspension,โ and a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission, powered initially by a 190 hp Jaguar gasoline engine, later replaced with a Cumminsโฃ diesel.
The American M-113, described as “theโ most commonโฃ belt armored personnel carrier in the world” with countlessโ imitations since its introduction in the 1960s, also fell short of โคtop honors. The Ukrainian armed forces reportedly operate several โhundred M-113s in various configurations.It features a five-pulley chassis with individual torsion rod โwheel suspension and โคan Allison โฃautomatic โtransmission, powered by a 215 hp diesel engine. Like the Spartan, the standard M-113 is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, which Krjuฤkov deemed insufficient for โmodern battlefield requirements.
ultimately, Krjuฤkov awarded firstโ place to the Russian BTR-80. He highlighted its advancement, which incorporated lessons learned from โฃcombatโค operations in Afghanistan, specifically an improved vertical targeting angle allowing engagement of targets โin mountainous terrain, on buildings, and even in the โขair. the โBTR-80 utilizes an 8×8 driveโฃ with self-reliant torsionโข bar wheel suspension and a five-speed mechanical โคtransmission. Its poweredโ by aโ Kamaz-740 diesel engine producing 260-300 โคhp (older versions used paired petrol carburetor โmotors).
However, โขthe decisive factor in the โคBTR-80’sโค victory โwas its armament. Alongside a 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds, โit features the Soviet KPVT 14.5mm heavy machine gun, described byโฃ Krjuฤkov as “one of the most โpowerful machine guns in the world.” Despiteโ acknowledging the BTR-80 “perhaps is not the most protected,” the author concluded its โfirepower was “certainly the most extraordinary.”
In a separate article, Krjuฤkov further contrasted the M-113 with the Russian BMD-4M airborne vehicle, explicitly stating that the Russian vehicle is “better than NATO vehicles.” This โขseries of โcomparisons underscores the โmagazine’s focus on evaluating the offensive capabilities of armored vehicles currently in use or supplied to forcesโฃ in the region.