View source for Engineering:TAB-71

{{Infobox weapon
|name= TAB-71
| image= File:TAB-71M cropped.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= A TAB-71M at the Babadag range
|origin= [[Place:Socialist Republic of Romania|Socialist Republic of Romania]]
|type=Wheeled [[Social:Amphibious warfare|amphibious]] armored personnel carrier
|is_vehicle=yes
|service= 1970–present
|used_by=See [[Engineering:TAB-71#Operators|Operators]]
|wars=Romanian Revolution<br>Croatian War of Independence<br>2022 Russo-Ukrainian War
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară (RATMIL)
|production_date=1970-1990
|number=1,878 
|variants=See [[Engineering:TAB-71#Variants|Variants]]
<!-- Vehicle specifications -->
|spec_label=TAB-71<ref name="janes">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/janesarmourartil0000unse|title=Jane's armour and artillery 2011-2012|author=Christopher F Foss|publisher=Jane's|year=2011|pages=618–619|isbn=9780710629609}}</ref>
|crew=3 + 8 passengers 
|length={{cvt|7.22|m|ft}}
|width={{cvt|2.83|m|ft}}
|height={{cvt|2.7|m|ft}}
|weight={{cvt|11|t|lbs}}
|armour=Steel
|primary_armament=14.5&nbsp;mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)
|secondary_armament=7.62&nbsp;mm PKT machine gun (2,000 rounds)
|engine=2×SR 255 6-cylinder 
|engine_power={{cvt|140|hp|kW}}
|suspension=wheeled 8×8
|clearance={{cvt|0.7|m|ft}}
|fuel_capacity={{cvt|290|L|USgal}}
|speed={{cvt|95|km/h|mph}} on road<br/> {{cvt|10|km/h|mph}} in water
|pw_ratio={{cvt|25.4|hp/t|kW/t}}
|vehicle_range={{cvt|500|km|mi}}
}}

The '''TAB-71''' (''Transportorul Amfibiu Blindat model 1971'') is the Romanian license-built version of the BTR-60PB. It was produced between 1970 and 1990 by RATMIL (now Romarm). It is the only other license manufacture of the BTR-60PB.<ref name="SovArmor">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XeM72t6oOZIC&dq=Tab+71&pg=RA1-PP14|title=Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995|date=11 May 1995|publisher=Marine Corps Intelligence Activity|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Design and Development==
Romania had the construction and manufacturing documentation for the BTR-60P version since 1962. A year later, the [[Engineering:TAB-63|TAB-63]] prototype was built however, it did not enter production as the Romanian authorities wished to acquire the license to produce the more modern BTR-60PB.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jurnalul.ro/scinteia/special/soarta-lui-nicolae-ceausescu-a-depins-si-de-elicopterele-frantuzesti-506331.html|title=Soarta lui Nicolae Ceaușescu a depins și de elicopterele franțuzești|language=ro|work=Jurnalul.ro|author=Petre Opriș|date=5 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Autovehiculele în armata română. Tradiție și contemporaneitate|author=Nicolae Spiroiu|publisher=Editura Militară|place=[[Place:Bucharest|Bucharest]]|date=1991}}</ref>

After the request was granted by the Military Industrial Committee of the Comecon in the late 1960s, production of the TAB-71 began in 1970 by the Romanian ''Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară'' factory. The first vehicle was unveiled at a military parade in 1972.<ref name="janes"/>

The TAB-71 is similar to the BTR-60PB, the main difference being the more powerful engine, the exhaust pipes were also positioned horizontally. It also had more day-vision periscopes than the BTR-60PB. The TAB also had an improved turret which allowed the guns to fire at a near 90° angle. The new turret also had a land and anti-aircraft (LOTA) sight mounted on the port side.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historia.ro/sectiune/general/tab-urile-din-dotarea-armatei-romane-567188.html|title=TAB-urile din dotarea Armatei Române|work=Historia|author=Alexandra Șerban|access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:TurelaTAB71M.jpg|thumb|TAB-71M turret]]

===TAB-71M===
Compared to the previous version, the TAB-71M mounted two 130&nbsp;hp Saviem 797-05 engines, locally produced by Roman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whattruck.ro/istoria-roman-diesel-date-tehnice-complete-modele-saviem-797-05-si-man-d-2156-hmn-8/|title=Istoria Roman Diesel! Date tehnice complete modele Saviem 797-05 si MAN-D 2156 HMN 8|language=ro|website=whattruck.ro|date=12 October 2011}}</ref> A small hatch was also added between the second and third axles on either side.<ref name="janes"/>

===TAB-71A R-1450 command vehicle===
The R-1450 variant has additional communications equipment and features a second antenna on the left side of the hull.<ref name="janes"/>

===TAB-71A R-1451 command vehicle===
The R-1451 has a different turret. Instead of the regular armament, it has a small crane for the removal of batteries. A box for a generator is mounted on the right side of the roof. There are also four antennae on the right side of the hull roof. The signal equipment used are the R-410M and the R-1451.<ref name="janes"/>

===TAB-71A R1 1452 command vehicle===
Similar to the R-1451 model. It features additional communications equipment.<ref name="janes"/>

===TAB-71AR===
Mortar carrier version. Instead of the turret, it is fitted with a 82&nbsp;mm mortar which fires through the roof of the vehicle. Behind the circular mortar hatches, there are two rectangular roof hatches. A PKMS machine gun is mounted in front of the left side hatch. The vehicle can carry 100 mortar bombs.<ref name="janes"/>

===TERA-71L===
The TERA-71L is modified for maintenance and recovery role. The enclosed troop compartment is located at the front, and an open compartment in the center, the engine compartment is in the rear.<ref name="janes"/>

==Operators==
*{{MLD}} - 161 second-hand TAB-71M delivered between 1992 and 1995<ref name="sipri">{{cite web|url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Trade Registers|work=SIPRI}}</ref>
* {{ROM}} - In total 1,878 vehicles manufactured.<ref name="SovArmor"/> As of 2022, 211 remain in service.<ref name="UNROCA 2022">{{cite web|title=United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - Romania 2022|url=https://www.unroca.org/romania/report/2022/|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2023-10-01}}</ref>
* {{UKR}} - One TAB-71M was spotted in November 2022, south of Kherson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/ukraine_-_russia_conflict_war_2022/ukraine_army_uses_romanian-made_tab-71m_8x8_armored_personnel_carrier.html|title=Ukraine army uses Romanian-made TAB-71M 8x8 armored personnel carrier|work=Army Recognition|date=19 November 2022}}</ref>

===Former Operators===
* {{YUG}} - A number of 40 vehicles were purchased by Yugoslavia in 1978 and were delivered between 1980 and 1981.<ref name="sipri"/>
**{{CRO}} - Several TAB-71Ms were used during the Croatian War of Independence and later scrapped.<ref>{{cite book |title= Croatian Army vehicles 1991 - 1995  |year= 2001 |isbn= 9532190244 |pages= 7, 17, 53 |last1= Gregurić |first1= Boris |last2= Jereb |first2= Vojislav |publisher= Adamić }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}


[[Category:Wheeled armoured personnel carriers]]
[[Category:Eight-wheeled vehicles]]

{{Sourceattribution|TAB-71}}