Firepower Face-Off: A Russian magazine’s Armor comparison
A recent series of articles in the Russian motoring magazine ZR.ru has focused on comparing the firepower of armored personnel carriers (APCs) used by opposing forces. Author Krjučkov has assessed the American M-113, the British Spartan FV-103, and the Russian BTR-80, with a clear emphasis on their offensive capabilities.
Krjučkov placed the British Spartan FV-103 in last place, noting it’s age – developed in the late 1970s and now out of production – and its relatively light armament. The Spartan, designed for special units and reconnaissance, carries a crew of three and four paratroopers and is equipped with a 7.62mm NATO machine gun. While described as a “good machine gun with a rapidly removable main,” Krjučkov argues that modern APCs require larger caliber weapons. The spartan boasts an 11-ton combat weight, torsional suspension, and a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission, powered initially by a 190 hp Jaguar gasoline engine, later replaced with a Cummins diesel.
The American M-113, described as “the most common belt armored personnel carrier in the world” with countless imitations since its introduction in the 1960s, also fell short of top honors. The Ukrainian armed forces reportedly operate several hundred M-113s in various configurations.It features a five-pulley chassis with individual torsion rod wheel suspension and an Allison automatic transmission, powered by a 215 hp diesel engine. Like the Spartan, the standard M-113 is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, which Krjučkov deemed insufficient for modern battlefield requirements.
ultimately, Krjučkov awarded first place to the Russian BTR-80. He highlighted its advancement, which incorporated lessons learned from combat operations in Afghanistan, specifically an improved vertical targeting angle allowing engagement of targets in mountainous terrain, on buildings, and even in the air. the BTR-80 utilizes an 8×8 drive with self-reliant torsion bar wheel suspension and a five-speed mechanical transmission. Its powered by a Kamaz-740 diesel engine producing 260-300 hp (older versions used paired petrol carburetor motors).
However, the decisive factor in the BTR-80’s victory was its armament. Alongside a 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds, it features the Soviet KPVT 14.5mm heavy machine gun, described by Krjučkov as “one of the most powerful machine guns in the world.” Despite acknowledging the BTR-80 “perhaps is not the most protected,” the author concluded its firepower was “certainly the most extraordinary.”
In a separate article, Krjučkov further contrasted the M-113 with the Russian BMD-4M airborne vehicle, explicitly stating that the Russian vehicle is “better than NATO vehicles.” This series of comparisons underscores the magazine’s focus on evaluating the offensive capabilities of armored vehicles currently in use or supplied to forces in the region.
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