NVA and VC Land Vehicles

CheltNAM NVA Vehicle Recognition Guide

Penetration Chance

This is a basic overview and summary. Some of these vehicles have not been encountered ‘in-theatre’ at this time, but they are roughly era correct and possible to be encountered. The technical details have been omitted and just a brief summary given.

PT-76- Light tank, amphibious. Armed with a low pressure cannon and a machinegun. Relatively fast for a tank and needing an AT weapon to damage it. Sides or rear of the main body are best targeted.

T-34/76- WW2 vintage tank. Armour is still proof against small arms, although 40mm HE/DP has a chance of tracking it or getting some penetration from the rear. Dedicated AT weapon required from front and most side arcs. Hull mounted MMG along with slow-firing 76mm gun that has a large blast HE round.

T-54- Medium tank and one of the heaviest tanks we’ll come across. Main gun is long range, but not accurate on the move. Has a co-axial machinegun and a pintel mounted machinegun. AT weapon needed and you will need to go for sides, rear or top of engine deck.

T-55- An upgraded T-54, faster firing main gun, better optics.

ZSU-57-2- Dual 57mm AAA gun turret. Open topped. 40mm grenades or above to pierce armour unless you get a line of sight into the open-topped turret. Driver will still be alive and able to maneuver it.

MT-LB- Known as a motor tractor. This wide, low, lightly armed and armoured APC is little more than a battlefield taxi. However, it can be modified to carry heavier weapons. Light armour vulnerable to 7.62mm and above, especially from side and rear.

BTR-50- Heavier, larger and more ‘modern’ MT-LB. Can still be penetrated from sides by 7.62mm but you should try and use something heavier. The most common tracked APC we’ve come across. Often carrying a larger squad of regular NVA. Can mount various weapon systems including RCL, Rocket Pod and HMG.

BMP-1- This is an Infantry FIghting Vehicle (IFV) rather than APC. Think of it as a cross between a light tank and a BTR-50 with less capacity for carrying infantry. It needs an AT weapon or autocannon to destroy.

BDM-2 (Often referred to as a BRDM-2 or BDSM)- Light armoured scout vehicle. SOmetimes shown with or without 4 belly wheels. Has a turret with a HMG inside. Without 40mm or AT you could try taking out a wheel or two to immobilise, but this may take so much time it will have spotted you and engaged with the HMG.

Tuk-Tuk- Civilian transport, often modified with a rear dancing MG and/or often with an explosive device that will be on a timer or triggered if vehicle is disabled/destroyed.

BTR-40- Open-topped, general purpose vehicle. The BTR-40 is often armed with 12.7mm, quad-AAA, mortar and MMG or RCL. Armour is mainly proof against small arms. You are able to shoot through vision slits or from above. NOTE: There is a Medical version of this often with a subdued medical cross on the side. Do not engage this variant.

BRDM-1- Armoured car, scout vehicle. Pintel mounted MMG, not open topped. Amphibious. Harder to disable than a BTR-40.

BTR-60- Armoured and enclosed, wheeled APC. Can carry a squad of infantry. Armed with a turret mounted HMG. 40mm HEDP or above needed to destroy. .50cal can penetrate sections. Due to 8 wheel configuration it is very hard to immobilise without heavy weaponry.