GMZ-3

GMZ-3
GMZ-3
	War in Donbass
Production history
Manufacturer	Uraltransmash Federal State Unitary Enterprise
Specifications
Mass	28.5 tonnes
Length	8.62m
Width	3.25m
Height	2.70m
Crew	3

The GMZ-3 (

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

The GMZ vehicle type [ru] was introduced in the USSR as early as 1968.^[2]

Description

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

During the establishment of the minefield, cassettes holding four mines of the

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.

Demonstration of mine deployment from the rear of the vehicle

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

BTRG-127 Bumblebee

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]

Current operators

Moldova
Russia
Transnistria - Several converted to APC
Ukraine

Former operators

Soviet Union
Russian Federation (1991–93)
Donetsk People's Republic - vehicle capped from Ukraine. (People's Republic occupied by Russian, 2023)
Luhansk People's Republic - vehicle capped from Ukraine. (People's Republic occupied by Russian, 2023)

Notes and references

^ ^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.
^ Oryx. "A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
^ "Transnistria (2018 at the latest-present) Armored Personnel Transporter – At least 3 converted". The Online Tank Museum.

[Odin-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "GMZ-3 Russian Tracked Minelaying Vehicle". odin.tradoc.army.mil. Retrieved 2022-05-04.

[recognition-2] "GMZ-3 Russia description". Retrieved 2022-05-04.

[3] Oryx. "A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-05-04.

[4] "Transnistria (2018 at the latest-present) Armored Personnel Transporter – At least 3 converted". The Online Tank Museum.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]