„PTS“ – the Soviet/ Polish/ Russian/ Lituanian floating armored transporter

PTS (Russian: ПТС - Плавающий транспортер средний - medium floating transporter) - USSR since the 20th century. A tracked floating transporter for military and civil purposes, manufactured in the 60s. Produced in several versions: PTS from 1961, PTS-M from 1965, PTS-2 from 1973, PTS-3 from 1988. Several PTS - M version transporters were used and are now used by the Lithuanian Army, at least 2 units were used by the Šilutė Firefighting Rescue Service. Now only in Lietuvos Kariuomenė is left of them. The transporter PTS USSR was built in 1961 at the Kriukovo Wagon Factory in the city of Kremenchug. Its design was led by I. Lencius and this vehicle was intended to replace the morally outdated tracked transporter K - 61. In addition, the PTS could carry a larger load. ATS - 59 artillery tractor and T - 54 tank units were used in the construction. The overall design scheme is close to K - 61; the conveyor motor is mounted in the middle. It drives tracks and two 3-bladed 65 cm diameter propellers, mounted in tunnels under the rear of the machine. The cargo platform, located behind the closed crew cabin, is open and is accessed via a movable ramp, located at the rear of the transporter. The machine, powered by a high-compression 257.6 kW (350 h. p.) engine, reaches a speed of 42 km/h on land and 10.6 km/h in water. The transporter itself weighs 17 tons, can transport 5 tons of cargo on land, and 10 tons in water. The cargo platform is 7.1x 2.6 m (18.5 m²). Soon, in 1965, KVG began to produce a modernized version of this machine - PTS - M. Without changing the engine power and lifting capacity, the cargo platform was increased to 7.9x 2.6 m (20.54 m²). Filtering - ventilation equipment and heating are installed in the crew cabin. They could be equipped with equipment, that allowed the PTS to sail at sea. It consisted of an awning, placed on a prefabricated tubular frame, protecting against splashes and rain. The equipment was also improved (a new radio station, installed searchlight-seeker, night vision devices. all this increased the weight of the empty transporter to 17,800 kg. PTS - 2 began to be produced in 1973. Unlike the previous ones, it was constructed in Lugansk and the work was directed by S. Filonov and V. Koldoba. The transporter's dimensions, empty weight (up to 24.2 t) and lifting capacity (up to 12 t) have increased. It is equipped with a twice as powerful 552.5 kW (750 h. p.) engine. How much has the silhouette of the transporter changed, instead of 6 larger diameter supports wheels used a chassis with 7 smaller wheels, which were supplemented with support wheels. Filtered and ventilated cabin gained light armor. Propellers increased to 70 cm diameter and have 4 blades each. Cargo platform has the following dimensions: 8.225 x 2.87 m (23.6 m² ).The maximum speed on land increased to 60 km/h, on water - up to 12.9 km/h. In 1988, a new version of the transporter - PTS - 3 was constructed at the Lugansktieplovoz factory under the leadership of L. Pozdniakov. Its cargo capacity during sailing increased to 16 tons, and the speed in the water - up to 15 km/h (fully loaded) due to the fact, that the propellers in the tunnels were replaced by 75 cm diameter propellers, placed in circular enclosures and mounted behind the conveyor and driven by flexible shafts. In the land transport position, these propellers are raised and secured under the rear ramp, with which they are lowered during loading. The shape of the cabin armor has been improved, the dimensions of the cargo platform have been slightly increased - up to 8.285x 2.89 (24 m²). Transporters of this type are used during floods in Pamarys (Lithuania). Previously, PTS-M was used by the Šilute firefighting rescue service, currently only the Lithuanian army has them.

A complex, well-designed and sufficiently detailed model without interior detailing. Anyway, the model is large and consists of many small details, but working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, it can be perfectly assembled by a modeler with less experience. When converting the model to the one, used by the Lithuanian Army, only small tactical signs and number plates should be changed. The whole transporter needs to be repainted in a bright red color, when converting it into a vehicle of the Šilute Firefighting and Rescue Service. Antique publication.