Its more like an APC istn it? And looks like a Russian design! it thought as well but i saw one of a similar design on the back of a low loader in the area of otterburn last year!
It looks like a varient of the Soviet MT-LB which was used as an APC and formed the basis for a complete range of Ambulance, Command Post, FDC, Missile launcher, signals and other variants. I saw loads of 'dead' ones all over the place in Iraq. As for seeing one on a low loader near Otterburn, no real surprise there. The Polosh, Czechs and many other armies travel to the UK to use our Trg Areas so you could quite possibly see all sorts of unusual kit on route to or from Otterburn, Ludlow, Salsbury Plain or other well trodden training areas of the UK.
As for seeing one on a low loader near Otterburn, no real surprise there. The Polosh, Czechs and many other armies travel to the UK to use our Trg Areas so you could quite possibly see all sorts of unusual kit on route to or from Otterburn, Ludlow, Salsbury Plain or other well trodden training areas of the UK. This one had a radar dish.
This one had a radar dish. The MT-LB is used as a launcher for AD missiles and as a carrier for the relevent air detection radar. It is very possible that some 'cloud punchers' from a visiting east european army were practicing tracking aircraft while they were using Otterburn ranges. It is also possible that they were visiting artillery using the ranges and you saw a mortar locating radar mounted on an MT-LB. MT-LBs are also used by some armies as gun tractors for their towed artillery. Mortar locating radar is normally associated with artillery. All I was saying was that there are very very many variants of the MT-LB series and they are used for all sorts of rolls in many armies. A bit like the 432 chassis is usead as a base for all sorts of British vehicles, APC, command posts, specialist signals vehicles, recovery vehicles, ambulance, mortar locating radar, swingfire launcher, mortar carrier, FDC, and many many more. The MT-LB is everywhere and used for practically everything. The ones in the pictures from Finland look like a form of signals or command post vehicles. An HQ on the move?
It is also possible that they were visiting artillery using the ranges and you saw a mortar locating radar mounted on an MT-LB Thats what i was trying to think of! Tried a google image search but could not find anything like it!
Okay, that's an MT-LB fitted with an SNAR 10 Mortar Locating Radar which in the god old bad old days was given the NATO code name 'BIG FRED'.
Okay, that's an MT-LB fitted with an SNAR 10 Mortar Locating Radar which in the god old bad old days was given the NATO code name 'BIG FRED'. Thanks for that!
