TAB-71
{{Infobox weapon
|name= TAB-71
| image= File:TAB-71M cropped.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= A TAB-71M at the Babadag range
|origin= Romania
|type=Wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier
|is_vehicle=yes
|service= 1970–present
|used_by=See Operators
|wars={{Tree list}}
{{Tree list/end}}
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară (RATMIL)
|production_date=1970–1990
|number=1,878
|variants=See Variants
|spec_label=TAB-71{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/janesarmourartil0000unse|title=Jane's armour and artillery 2011-2012|author=Christopher F Foss|publisher=Jane's|year=2011|pages=618–619|isbn=9780710629609}}
|crew=3 + 8 passengers
|length={{cvt|7.22|m|ft}}
|width={{cvt|2.83|m|ft}}
|height={{cvt|2.7|m|ft}}
|weight={{cvt|11|t|lbs}}
|armour=Steel
|primary_armament=14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)
|secondary_armament=7.62 mm PKT machine gun (2,000 rounds)
|engine=2×SR 255 6-cylinder
|engine_power={{cvt|140|hp|kW}}
|suspension=wheeled 8×8
|clearance={{cvt|0.7|m|ft}}
|fuel_capacity={{cvt|290|L|USgal}}
|speed={{cvt|95|km/h|mph}} on road
{{cvt|10|km/h|mph}} in water
|pw_ratio={{cvt|25.4|hp/t|kW/t}}
|vehicle_range={{cvt|500|km|mi}}
}}
The TAB-71 (Transportorul Amfibiu Blindat model 1971) is the Romanian license-built version of the BTR-60PB. It was produced between 1970 and 1990 by RATMIL (now Romarm). It is the only other license manufacture of the BTR-60PB.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XeM72t6oOZIC&dq=Tab+71&pg=RA1-PP14|title=Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995|date=11 May 1995|publisher=Marine Corps Intelligence Activity|via=Google Books}}
Design and Development
Romania had the construction and manufacturing documentation for the BTR-60P version since 1962. A year later, the TAB-63 prototype was built however, it did not enter production as the Romanian authorities wished to acquire the license to produce the more modern BTR-60PB.{{cite web|url=https://jurnalul.ro/scinteia/special/soarta-lui-nicolae-ceausescu-a-depins-si-de-elicopterele-frantuzesti-506331.html|title=Soarta lui Nicolae Ceaușescu a depins și de elicopterele franțuzești|language=ro|work=Jurnalul.ro|author=Petre Opriș|date=5 May 2009}}{{cite book|title=Autovehiculele în armata română. Tradiție și contemporaneitate|author=Nicolae Spiroiu|publisher=Editura Militară|place=Bucharest|date=1991}}
After the request was granted by the Military Industrial Committee of the Comecon in the late 1960s, production of the TAB-71 began in 1970 by the Romanian Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară factory. The first vehicle was unveiled at a military parade in 1972.
The TAB-71 is similar to the BTR-60PB, the main difference being the more powerful engine, the exhaust pipes were also positioned horizontally. It also had more day-vision periscopes than the BTR-60PB. The TAB also had an improved turret which allowed the guns to fire at a near 90° angle. The new turret also had a land and anti-aircraft (LOTA) sight mounted on the port side.{{cite web|url=https://historia.ro/sectiune/general/tab-urile-din-dotarea-armatei-romane-567188.html|title=TAB-urile din dotarea Armatei Române|work=Historia|author=Alexandra Șerban|access-date=27 February 2023}}
Variants
=TAB-71M=
Compared to the previous version, the TAB-71M mounted two 130 hp Saviem 797-05 engines, locally produced by Roman.{{cite web|url=http://whattruck.ro/istoria-roman-diesel-date-tehnice-complete-modele-saviem-797-05-si-man-d-2156-hmn-8/|title=Istoria Roman Diesel! Date tehnice complete modele Saviem 797-05 si MAN-D 2156 HMN 8|language=ro|website=whattruck.ro|date=12 October 2011}} A small hatch was also added between the second and third axles on either side.
=TAB-71A R-1450 command vehicle=
=TAB-71A R-1451 command vehicle=
The R-1451 has a different turret. Instead of the regular armament, it has a small crane for the removal of batteries. A box for a generator is mounted on the right side of the roof. There are also four antennae on the right side of the hull roof. The signal equipment used are the R-410M and the R-1451.
=TAB-71A R1 1452 command vehicle=
=TAB-71AR=
Mortar carrier version. Instead of the turret, it is fitted with a 82 mm mortar which fires through the roof of the vehicle. Behind the circular mortar hatches, there are two rectangular roof hatches. A PKMS machine gun is mounted in front of the left side hatch. The vehicle can carry 100 mortar bombs.
=TERA-71L=
Operators
=Current=
- {{MLD}} − 161 second-hand TAB-71M delivered between 1992 and 1995
- {{ROM}} − In total 1,878 vehicles manufactured. As of 2022, 211 remain in service{{cite web|title=United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - Romania 2022|url=https://www.unroca.org/romania/report/2022/|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2023-10-01}}
- {{UKR}} − 20 TAB-71M delivered by Romania in 2022 and 2023{{cite web |title=Arms transfer database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/TransferRegister |website=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |access-date=16 March 2024}}
=Former=
- {{YUG}} - A number of 40 vehicles were purchased by Yugoslavia in 1978 and were delivered in 1980 and 1981
- {{CRO}} - Several TAB-71Ms were used during the Croatian War of Independence and later scrapped.{{cite book |title= Croatian Army vehicles 1991 - 1995 |year= 2001 |isbn= 9532190244 |pages= 7, 17, 53 |last1= Gregurić |first1= Boris |last2= Jereb |first2= Vojislav |publisher= Adamić }}