GMZ-3
{{short description|Soviet minelaying vehicle}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=GMZ-3
|image=GMZ-3 at Engineering Technologies 2012.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption=GMZ-3 Minelayer
|origin=Soviet Union
|type=Minelayer
|is_vehicle=
|service=
|used_by=See operators
|wars=Russo-Ukrainian war
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Uraltransmash Federal State Unitary Enterprise
|production_date=
|variants=
|spec_label=
|crew=3
|armour=
|primary_armament=7.62mm PKT General Purpose Machine Gun
|suspension=torsion bar; seven road wheels, front
mounted drive sprocket, rear idler, four return roller
|clearance=
|speed=60km/h (road)
40km/h (cruising)
25km/h (off-road)
|pw_ratio=Yes, grenade launchers and additional system as part of engine design
|fuel_capacity=
}}
The GMZ-3 ({{langx|ru|ГМЗ-3}}, {{langx|ru|Гусеничный минный заградитель-3|translit=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
The {{ill|GMZ vehicle type|ru|ГМЗ}} was introduced in the USSR as early as 1968.{{cite web |title= GMZ-3 Russia description |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/Russe/vehicules_legers/GMZ-3/GMZ-3_Russia_description.htm |access-date=2022-05-04 }}
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.
Setting up the minefield
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.
File:EngineerExercise2020-20.jpg
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.{{Cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2017/02/a-forgotten-army-transnistrias-btrg-127.html |date=25 February 2017 |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Oryx}} 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.{{cite web | title=Transnistria (2018 at the latest-present) Armored Personnel Transporter – At least 3 converted |url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/btrg-127/ |website= The Online Tank Museum|date=22 December 2021 }}
Operators
=Current=
- {{BLR}}{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Fading Into Oblivion: Belarus Fighting Vehicle List |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/11/fading-into-oblivion-belarus-fighting.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=5 November 2022}}
- {{KAZ}}{{cite web |last1=Nachtrab |first1=Thomas |last2=Mitzer |first2=Stijn |last3=Buschlaid |last4=Kerdijk |first4=Jan |title=Steppe Sentinels: Kazakhstan's Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/08/steppe-sentinels-kazakhstans-fighting.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=21 August 2023}}
- {{MLD}}{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=A Modest Military: Moldova's Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/11/a-modest-military-moldovas-fighting.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=24 November 2022}}
- {{RUS}}{{cite web |last1=Janovsky |first1=Jakub |last2=Naalsio |last3=Aloha |last4=Dan |last5=Kemal |last6=Black |first6=Alexander |title=Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=24 February 2022}}
- {{flag|Transnistria}}
- {{TKM}}{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Friendship Through Arms: Turkmenistan's Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/10/friendship-through-arms-turkmenistans.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=18 October 2022}}
- {{UKR}}{{cite report |last1=Ferguson |first1=Jonathan |last2=Jenzen-Jones |first2=N. R. |title=Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 |date=2014 |publisher=Armament Research Services (ARES) |url=https://armamentresearch.com/ares-research-report-no-3-raising-red-flags-an-examination-of-arms-munitions-in-the-ongoing-conflict-in-ukraine-2014/ |page=79|access-date=30 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118231705/http://armamentresearch.com/Uploads/Research%20Report%20No.%203%20-%20Raising%20Red%20Flags.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Adam |last2=Galouchka |first2=Anastacia |last3=Morgunov |first3=Serhiy |title=To liberate territory, Ukraine must smash fortified Russian defenses|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/02/ukarine-russia-counteroffensive-defenses-fortifications/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230608153524/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/02/ukarine-russia-counteroffensive-defenses-fortifications/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |location=Zaporizhzhia}}
- {{UZB}}{{cite web |last1=Kerdijk |first1=Jan |last2=Mitzer |first2=Stijn |last3=Buschlaid |title=Samarqand Steel: Uzbekistan's Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/09/samarqand-steel-uzbekistans-fighting.html |website=Oryx |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=3 September 2023}}