View source for Engineering:PTS (vehicle)

{{Infobox automobile
 | image            = PTS-M VS4.JPG
 | name ='''PTS-M'''
 | type = tracked amphibious transport
 | manufacturer     = Soviet State Factories
 | aka              = 
 | production       = begun 1965
 | assembly         = Soviet Union
 | predecessor      = 
 | successor        = 
 | class            = tracked amphibious transport
 | body_style       = waterproofed hull
 | layout           =  front engine (under floor), front drive sprocket<ref name="Hogg309">Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John.  ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles''. (London: Hamblyn Publishing Group Limited, 1980), p.309, "PTS Tracked Amphibian".</ref>
 | platform         = 
 |engine=A-712P V12 water-cooled diesel (PTS) or V-54P V12 water-cooled diesel (PTS-M)
|engine_power= {{convert|250|hp|kW|abbr=on}} 350 hp (PTS-M)
 | transmission     = <br /><br />water: [[Power take-off|PTO]] propeller drive
|suspension=wheeled 6×6 <br> front - 2 leaf springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. <br> rear - equalizing type with 2 leaf springs and torsion bars.
 | wheelbase        =  
|length={{convert|11.52|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="Hogg309"/>
|width={{convert|3.32|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|height= {{convert|2.65|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 | ground_clearance = 
 front_track      = 
 | rear_track       = 
 | weight           = {{convert|17700|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
 | payload    = {{convert|5000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} land; {{convert|10000|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| top_speed        = {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (road)<br /> (water)
 | range    = {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}}
 | related          = 
 | designer         = 
}}

The '''PTS''' is a [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet]] tracked [[Engineering:Amphibious vehicle|amphibious]] transport. PTS stands for ''Plavayushchij Transportyer - Sryednyj'' or medium amphibious transport vehicle. Its industrial index was '''Ob'yekt 65'''.

Introduced in 1965,<ref name="Hogg309"/> it is large, with a substantial payload of 10 tons, two to four times the capacity of the BAV 485, and better cross-country performance, at the cost of greater somewhat higher purchase costs because it is tracked. The most common model is the improved '''PTS-M''' that is powered by a 350&nbsp;hp diesel engine.

==Description==
The PTS has a boxy, open watertight [[Engineering:Hull (watercraft)|hull]], with six road wheels per side,<ref name="Hogg309"/> front drive sprocket,<ref name="Hogg309"/> rear idler sprocket, and no return rollers. Like the BAV 485, and unlike the DUKW, it has a rear loading ramp. The crew is seated at the front, leaving the rear of the vehicle open for a vehicle, which can be driven (or backed) in, rather than lifted over the side. To aid in facilitating this, the engine is under the floor.<ref name="Hogg309"/>

Propulsion in water is by means of twin [[Engineering:Propeller|propeller]]s, in tunnels to protect them from damage during land operations.<ref name="Hogg309"/>

[[File:PKP trailer attached to the amphibian carrier PTS-2 in Military-historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.jpg|thumb|PKP trailer]]
[[File:PTS-2 - RaceofHeroes-part2-35.jpg|thumb|PTS-2]]

The PTS-M also has a companion vehicle, the '''PKP''', a boat-like amphibious two-wheeled [[Engineering:Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]], with fold-out [[Engineering:Sponson|sponson]]s providing stability on water;<ref name="Hogg309"/> the combination allows the PTS-M to accommodate an [[Engineering:Artillery tractor|artillery tractor]], [[Engineering:Field gun|field gun]] (up to medium caliber),<ref name="Hogg309"/> its crew, and a quantity of ammunition, all in one load.<ref name="Hogg309"/>

==Specification==
*Rear axle clearance:
*Ground clearance:
*Front track:
*Rear track:
*Turning radius:
*Maximum speed (loaded, highway): {{convert|40|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}
*Tyres:
*Fuel tank capacity:
*Fuel consumption:
*Top speed: {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (road)<br /> (water)
*Range: {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}}

==Variants==
*PTS-2
*PTS-3
*PTS-4
In 2014, the Russian Defense Ministry intends to purchase an undetermined number of '''PTS-4'''s, which underwent acceptance trials in 2011. The vehicle will be fitted with a remotely operated {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Engineering:Machine gun|machine gun]] and a multi-fuel engine.<!--how much is "840 Ch"-->  The PTS-4 weighs 33 tons, with a payload of 12 tons on land (18 tons on water). Projected maximum road speed is {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, with an expected maximum speed in water of {{convert|15|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>Technical data of PTS-4 in russian http://www.transmash-omsk.ru/node/241</ref> Unlike its predecessors, it uses [[Engineering:T-80|T-80]] suspension components. The fully enclosed cab offers protection against [[Engineering:Small arms|small arms]] fire and splinter. Production began in 2014.<ref>[http://www.armyrecognition.com/july_2013_news_defence_security_industry_military/russian_defense_ministry_plans_to_buy_new_amphibious_tracked_armoured_vehicle_pts-4_in_2014_2407132.html Russian Defense Ministry to buy new amphibious tracked armoured vehicle PTS-4 in 2014] - Armyrecognition.com, 24 July 2013</ref>

== Users ==
The PTS-M was adopted by the Soviet Army and [[Organization:Warsaw Pact|Warsaw Pact]] forces,<ref name="Hogg309"/> and has been supplied to Egypt,<ref name="Hogg309"/> the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Uruguay, and other nations.
* {{HUN}} - 51 PTS-2
* {{SRB}} - 12 PTSM
* {{CRO}} - 4 PTS-2
*{{flag|Poland}}
*{{flag|Latvia}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}} (Indonesian Marine Corps)
*{{flag|Ukraine}}- 15 PTS-2
*{{flag|Georgia}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
*{{flag|Algeria}}

== Former users ==
* {{USSR}}

* {{YUG}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John.  ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles'', p.&nbsp;309, "PTS Tracked Amphibian". London: Hamblyn Publishing Group Limited, 1980.

==External links==
*[http://www.primeportal.net/transports/carrey/pts-m/ Photos of the PTS-M on Prime Portal]
*[http://mhrfweb.makett.org/MHRF/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=58%3Aptsz-m&Itemid=11&lang=hu Hungarian PTS-M walkarounds]

==See also==
*GAZ 46
*''Landwasserschlepper''
{{PostWWIISovietAFVS|APC}}

[[Category:Military trucks]]

{{Sourceattribution|PTS (vehicle)|1}}