SVK - VT-72C (vyslobodzovacie opravárenské vozidlo)

VT-72C


The VT-72C recovery repair vehicle, developed based on the requirements of a foreign customer for the needs of a field repair team (FRT), is based on the VT-72B vehicle.


Compared to the VT-72B recovery vehicle, this new modified version includes the following modifications:
- the space is adapted for five additional members of the field repair team in addition to the two crew members (driver, commander)
- a 24V/220V inverter with an output power of 1000 VA is placed between the driver's panel and the equipment rack for the possibility of powering electrical equipment (drill, grinder, etc.)
- special socket and cable set allowing external charging of the batteries with the vehicle's own dynamo starter
- the vehicle is equipped with radio station R-173M and indoor intercom R-174
- hydraulically operated cargo platform with a volume of 3 cubic meters provides, in addition to the possible transport of additional crew members (folding seats, armrests and handholds located on the rear sidewall), also the transport of a larger amount of cargo, equipment and equipment for field repair team
- 3 drinking water tanks, each with a capacity of 80 litres, located on the left side of the cargo platform to enable the crew to survive in desert conditions
- more economical layout of the vehicle's wheeled assembly (ZIP) to allow storage of additional power tools and accessories
- due to the changed profile of the load platform and drinking water tanks, the vehicle height profile is changed from 2640 mm to 2820 mm


On special customer request, the VT-72C can be equipped with an independent petrol generator for powering other electrical appliances, for charging other vehicles' batteries or for recharging its own batteries.


All operations of the special-purpose superstructure aggregates (main and auxiliary winch, crane, etc.) can be controlled by the vehicle crew by means of the control electronics directly from the vehicle or outside the vehicle up to a distance of 7 m.


Tactical technical data
Crew 2 + FRT
Curb weight -46 700 kg
Length including fuel drums - 8150 mm
Width including track edges - 3370 mm
Height including new loading platform - 2820 mm
Specific power - 12.75 kW/t
Average specific ground pressure - 0.090 MPa


Operating data
Maximum ground speed - 60 km/h
Driving range on the road with basic fuel - 485 km
Driving range on the road with additional drums - 620 km
Driving range on dirt roads with basic fuel - 235-470 km
Driving range on dirt roads with additional drums - 300-600 km


Fording depth
Without vehicle preparation - 1.2 m
With vehicle preparation - 1.8 m
Overcoming water obstacles by driving underwater
Maximum water speed - 1.5 m/s
Maximum width of water obstacle - 1000 m
Maximum depth of water obstacle - 5 m


Welding and burning equipment
Maximum welding and burning current - 300 A
Maximum electrode diameter - 6.13 mm


Main winch
Maximum pulling force - 300 kN
Working rope length - 200 m
Rope winding and unwinding speed - infinitely adjustable
For forces up to 300 kN - 0-0.3 m/s
For forces up to 110 kN - 0-0.7 m/s
Drive - hydrostatic


Auxiliary winch
Maximum pulling force - 10 kN
Working rope length - 400 m
Rope - 6.3 mm
Rope winding speed - 0-1.1 m/s
Rope unwinding speed by operator - 3 m/s
Drive - hydrostatic


Radlica
Output - 3360 mm
Maximum depth - 300 mm
Maximum load - 900 kN
Ploughing capacity (clay terrain) - 126 m3/h


Crane
Maximum lifting capacity - 19 000 kg
Maximum unloading - 7.6 m
Boom tilt angle - 0°-72°
Turning speed - 0-2 rpm
Telescopic boom extension and retraction speed - 0-0.1 m/s
Hook lowering and lifting speed - 0-0.1 m/s


Inverter
Type - SK 1-24/220
Input voltage (single phase) - 22-29 V
Output voltage - 220 V±10% / 50 Hz
Output power - 1000 VA
Output voltage waveform - sinusoidal
Useful output current - 4.45 A
Operating time (with motor running and battery charging) - max. 4 h
Dimensions - 396x204x228.5 mm
Weight max - 17 kg


Loading platform (internal dimensions)
Width - 2 m
Length - 1.37 m
Height - 1.3 m
Load capacity - 4000 kg (3.3 m3)


Drinking water tanks
Number - 3 pieces
Volume - 80 litres/piece


Source : ZTS TEES

VT-72C for India


By the time serial production of the VT-72B salvage tanks was discontinued at ZTS Martin (from 1999 ZTS TEES Defence) in 1989, 75 production examples had been produced. A significant part of the production was taken by the Soviet Union - 45 units in total. The VT-72C version was developed in the first half of the 1990s based on the requirements of the Indian Army, which was looking for a new salvage repair vehicle to meet the needs of field repair teams in tank regiments.


The first contract for the supply of VT-72B type recovery tanks to India was signed between Unimpex Ltd, Martin and India's BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited) in late 1993 and involved the supply of 35 vehicles. The total value of the contract was $31.5 million. The actual deliveries took place between 1994 and 1995, with the first tank being delivered in May 1994. The initial 10 vehicles were imported complete from Slovakia, while the remaining 25 were to arrive in India in a disassembled state. The final assembly was carried out by BHEL's plant in Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) in South India. Probably in 1994, another contract followed, this time for the delivery of 78 VT-72C versions, probably at a unit price of $2 million. Implementation was to take place between 1996 and 1997. This contact consisted of 42 vehicles and was valued at $30.4 million.


The latter contract included a technology transfer so that the VT-72C tanks could be produced under license by BHEL. BHEL was to invest around $125 million in its VT-72C manufacturing plant in Hyderabad. Production was to start there by the end of 2001.


As one DMD Mobiltec manager (the new name for ZTS TEES Defence, used since March 2001) commented on the Indian deliveries: "It was an interesting job. It was better than making battle tanks, which we had more work to do."


Around 2006, however, the last contract to supply VT-72C tanks attracted considerable attention from India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as evidence of possible corruption emerged.
By the end of 1997, the Indian Ministry of Defence had grown tired of the constant price increases for the VT-72C recovery tanks, and in December 1997 sent five companies a request for proposals to supply recovery tanks for the Indian military. The most financially advantageous bid was submitted by PSP Bohemia, which offered 87 recovery tanks after overhaul at a price of Rs 2.48 crore. In second place was the bid for the Polish WZT-3M ($730,000 apiece) and the Slovakian VT-72C ($850,000 apiece) came in third.


According to the CBI investigation, Suresh Nanda, who was the Indian dealer of Unimpex, was to be bribed into the whole affair, which effectively spelled the end of hopes for PSP Bohemia. Officially, the reason given was that the company was not offering new vehicles. Furthermore, Nanda was to receive large sums of money from Unimpex through various companies, which were then apparently used to bribe the Indian Ministry of Defence. This was reflected in the fact that the contract for the recovery tanks awarded in 1999 was 'cut in half' so that the contract was awarded to both the runner-up BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) working with the Polish manufacturer Bumar Łabędy S.A. and offering WZT-3M, as well as BHEL, hence Unimpex with Suresh Nanda in the background (Nanda was sent to jail by the court in March 2008). The Indian Ministry of Defence bought both types for the same price of $723,000. The WZT-3M was purchased in 44 units, while 42 examples of the Slovak VT-72C were delivered.


These deliveries, however, still did not saturate the Indian Army's requirements - in order to equip all of India's 58 or so tank regiments with recovery tanks, some 400 recovery vehicles were needed. This gap was eventually filled by the Polish WZT-3M after the Indian Ministry of Defence ordered first 80 vehicles in April 2002 and another 228 in July 2005.


A total of 156 VT-72B/VT-72C vehicles were produced for the Indian Army, making it the largest user of VT-72 series recovery tanks.

VT-72C

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Celkový pohľad

The VT-72C of the indian army captured on the exercise Ashwamedha, which was held in the desert Thár on the territory of the indian Rajasthan, 1. may 2007. In the background are noticeable tanks T-72M1..

The VT-72C of the indian army dealing with the wreckage of a train (Express 19321), which derailed at about the 3.10 on 20. November 2016 in the industrial city Kánpur in the northern indian state of uttar pradesh. In the accident killed 150 people, approximately 150 persons were wounded..