OT M-60 APC
M-60P
Type	Armoured Personnel Carrier
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Specifications
Mass	11,000 kg
Length	5.02 meters
Width	2.77 meters
Height	2.385 meters with 12.7 mm MG 1.86 meters without 12.7 mm MG
Crew	3
Armor	10–25 mm
Main armament	12.7 mm M2 HB Browning heavy machine gun
Secondary armament	coaxial 7.92 M53 machine-gun 2,000 rounds
Engine	Famos FFTR 150 hp
Power/weight	17,3 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	400 km on road 250 km off road
Maximum speed	45 km/h on land 8 km/h in water

M-60P armoured personnel carrier of Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in ambulance role.

Croatian army M-60P armoured personnel carrier at the Vukovar war museum.

The OT M-60 is a Yugoslav armoured personnel carrier produced from 1962 to 1979.

Development

The OT (Oklopni transporter - armoured personnel carrier) M-60 was the first Yugoslav armored vehicle to enter serial production. Research and development began in 1956, and the first prototype was produced in June 1958. Prior to the commencement of serial production, the new armored personnel carrier was known as Objekat M-590. Serial production started in 1962. The M-60 first appeared in public in that year's Victory Day parade. The quality of the vehicles did not satisfy the requirements of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), so FAMOS began development of an upgraded model, OT M-60P (P – poboljšani – "improved") which was introduced in 1970. From 1962 to 1979, around 790 vehicles were produced, of which 190 were exported. An anti-tank variant with two 82 mm M60 recoilless guns was introduced in 1973.^[1]

Most M-60s were used in the JNA's armored and mechanized brigades, while a number were used by the Federal Police, being painted in a characteristic blue color. During the Iran–Iraq War, the M-60 was criticised for its low firepower and weak armor.^[2] During the Yugoslav Wars, the M-60 suffered serious losses, and its firepower deficiencies were once again noted. Later during the war, the M-60 was used as armoured personnel carrier (APC) for transporting ammunition to the front line and the evacuation of infantrymen and wounded combatants. The M-60 was used by almost all armies created as a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia. The Army of Serbia and Montenegro withdrew its last 121 M-60Ps from service in 2004 due to the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control of 1996.

Although the M-60 was generally similar to the other APCs of the period, it never managed to meet all the criteria originally required by the JNA. Despite its disadvantages, it was widely used in the 40 years after it entered mass production and resulted in the mass mechanization of the JNA. Its deficiencies were later compensated for with the introduction of the BVP M-80 infantry fighting vehicle.

Characteristics

The basic layout is driver front left, his hatch has a day sight, which can be replaced with an infrared for night driving. To his right is co-the Bow MG operator. The commander sits behind the driver, behind bow MG operator sits operator of 12.7 mm M - 2 HB PAM ( protivavionski mitraljez, anti aircraft machinegun ) on his cupola, which can be used in the anti-aircraft role.

The vehicle is powered by a 6-cylinder diesel, which generates 140 hp, giving a top road speed of 45 km/h. The vehicle is an all welded steel construction, which gives protection against small arms. It has no NBC protection system.

The rear compartment is for 10 troops who sit on benches back to back so they can fire their personal weapons through side ports (3 either side) and they depart the vehicle via two doors set in the rear.^[3]

Variants

• M-60 – First production model, also known as M-590
• M-60P – Improved model ( P stands for poboljšani= improved )
• M-60PB – Anti-tank variant with twin 82 mm M - 60 recoilless rifles mounted on the top left or top right of hull at rear.
• M-60PK – Battalion commander's vehicle
• M-60SN – Medical evacuation variant with lengthened hull

References

• Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide, Christopher F. Foss, Harper Collins Publishers, 2000.

• Srpski Oklop (Serbian)