GMZ-3
| GMZ-3 | |
|---|---|
 GMZ-3 Minelayer | |
| Type | Minelayer |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars | Russo-Ukrainian war |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Uraltransmash Federal State Unitary Enterprise[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 28.5 tonnes[1] |
| Length | 8.62m[1] |
| Width | 3.25m[1] |
| Height | 2.70m[1] |
| Crew | 3 |
The GMZ-3 (Russian: ГМЗ-3, Russian: Гусеничный минный заградитель-3, romanized: Gusenichnyi minnyi zagraditel-3 or "Tracked Minelayer-3") is an armoured minelaying vehicle developed for the Engineering Forces of the Soviet Armed Forces. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, it has seen service in several successor states.
History
[edit]The GMZ vehicle type was introduced in the USSR as early as 1968.[2]
Description
[edit]The GMZ-3 is a tracked minelayer on a GM chassis. The third model was adopted by the USSR Armed Forces in 1984, and is designed for mechanized anti-tank mining during battle. The placement of mines is carried out on the surface of the ground without camouflage or in the ground with camouflage. It has a payload capacity of 208 mines.[2]
Setting up the minefield
[edit]During the establishment of the minefield, cassettes holding four mines of the TM-52, TM-57, TM-62, TM-62PZ or TM-89 types with contact and proximity fuses are fed to the issuing mechanism and further on a release conveyor with a mechanism for transferring mines to a firing position. The plow device with reversed discharges makes it possible to bury and mask mines.
The GMZ-3 provides for the advance installation of minefields in danger zones for tanks, as well as defending against attacks from tanks and mechanized units.
Sub variant
[edit]BTRG-127 Bumblebee
[edit]In Transnistria at least eight GMZ-3 were inherited from the Soviet army. As there was no need for a minelayer several of these vehicles were converted into armoured personnel carriers. They were first revealed in 2015.[3] The minelaying equipment was removed and infantry seating installed, and an additional weapon station were added to the roof. The weapon station is normally fitted with a Afanasev A-12.7 12.7 mm aircraft machine gun. It is believed to have room for 8-10 soldiers.[4]
Operators
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Current
[edit]
Belarus[5]
Kazakhstan[6]
Moldova[7]
Russia[8]
Transnistria[3]
Turkmenistan[9]
Ukraine[10][11]
Uzbekistan[12]
Former
[edit]
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "GMZ-3 Russian Tracked Minelaying Vehicle". odin.tradoc.army.mil. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ a b "GMZ-3 Russia description". Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ a b Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (25 February 2017). "A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs". Oryx. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Transnistria (2018 at the latest-present) Armored Personnel Transporter – At least 3 converted". The Online Tank Museum. 22 December 2021.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (5 November 2022). "Fading Into Oblivion: Belarus Fighting Vehicle List". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Nachtrab, Thomas; Mitzer, Stijn; Buschlaid; Kerdijk, Jan (21 August 2023). "Steppe Sentinels: Kazakhstan's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (24 November 2022). "A Modest Military: Moldova's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Janovsky, Jakub; Naalsio; Aloha; Dan; Kemal; Black, Alexander (24 February 2022). "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (18 October 2022). "Friendship Through Arms: Turkmenistan's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N. R. (2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 (PDF) (Report). Armament Research Services (ARES). p. 79. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Adam; Galouchka, Anastacia; Morgunov, Serhiy (2 June 2023). "To liberate territory, Ukraine must smash fortified Russian defenses". The Washington Post. Zaporizhzhia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Kerdijk, Jan; Mitzer, Stijn; Buschlaid (3 September 2023). "Samarqand Steel: Uzbekistan's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
