Ukrainian Mechanics Turn Trophy T-62 Into APC

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have spotted an armored personnel carrier converted from a trophy Russian T-62M tank.

The video was posted on the Harmata.by Facebook group.

The vehicle’s 115 mm cannon was dismantled and the turret was equipped with anti-drone cage armor. In addition, the armored personnel carrier received a mesh frame around its perimeter to protect it from drones and cluster munitions.

Due to the dismantling of the breech and unnecessary elements, the APC is likely to carry 3-6 infantrymen in the turret instead of the regular commander, gunner and loader.

According to Oryx, Ukraine has captured about 46 T-62 tanks of various modifications since the start of the full-scale war. Due to a shortage of spare parts and ammunition, they are likely to be converted into armored personnel carriers.

The T-62M tank is equipped with a four-stroke V-shaped diesel engine V-55U or V-55UM.

The engine output is 580 horsepower at 2000 rpm. The engine displacement is almost 39 liters. Cooling is liquid. If necessary, the engine can run on gasoline or aviation kerosene. The transmission is manual, with five forward and one reverse gears.

The maximum speed of the T-62M on the highway is up to 50 km/h. The range is up to 450 km, or up to 650 km with additional fuel tanks.

As a reminder, the technicians of the 57th Motorized Brigade “extended the life” of a Msta-S self-propelled howitzer chassis by installing a tank turret from the T-72.

The chassis of this vehicle is deeply unified with Soviet tanks: it adopted the general design from the Leningrad T-80, and the engine and transmission compartment with a B-84 diesel engine from the Tagil T-72. At the same time, the suspension was significantly reinforced to withstand the weight of the turret and the recoil energy of the 152 mm howitzer.

It is impossible to install a tank turret without major structural changes, as the diameters of the turret shoulder do not match: the T-72 has a diameter of 2280 mm, while the Msta has a diameter of 2444 mm.

Theoretically, the tank turret could be installed with its functionality intact, as all the necessary equipment, including the automatic loading device, is located in the under-turret attachment.