Source: Sofiia Gatilova (Reuters)
Rolling through a Ukrainian town in Kharkiv Oblast in March 2025 is a upgraded BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV). The BTS-4 is the successor to the earlier BTS-2 that entered service in 1955 and utilized T-54 chassis. The BTS-4, on the other hand, used the chassis of the T-55, T-54, and even older T-44 medium tanks (the latter being surplus). The primary difference between the BTS-2 and the BTS-4 is that the BTS-4 added a large snorkel for deep wading. When not in use, the snorkel folds rearwards, laying across the back of the vehicle. The nomenclature of the BTS-4 is actually more granular when it was used in Soviet Army service. The BTS-4A utilized T-44 or T-54 chassis, the BTS-4B used pre-production T-54-1 and T-54-2 tank chassis, the BTS-4M used T-55 chassis, and the BTS-4V series utilized T-62 chassis. Externally, they look much alike and the only real way to tell the difference without looking inside the vehicle is by the separation distance between the bogie wheels. Typically, in Ukrainian Army service, the granular designation isn't always used. In 2020-2021, the Lviv Armored Plant (a part of Ukroboronprom) conducted an upgrade to BTS-4 vehicles in service with the Ukrainian Army.
The 32-ton BTS-4 (assuming a BTS-4M) is powered by a V-54 diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower. This permits a top road speed of 31 miles per hour though speeds when towing a vehicle are lower with the tow speed being based on the weight of the tank or armored vehicle being towed. Enough onboard fuel is carried to permit a maximum operational range of 310 miles (unloaded). The Ukrainian BTS-4 upgrade increases the weight to 38 tons and replaces the V-54 engine with a more powerful one that develops 580 horsepower but because of the added weight, the maximum speed is reduced to 24 miles per hour. Additional fuel capacity is added in the form of two external fuel drums on the rear but how much additional range this provides isn't stated. The crew of the Ukrainian BTS-4 is three men as opposed to the standard two-man crew of the regular BTS-4.
Because the BTS-4 is based on the T-55 tank, it shares the same cast steel armor profile. The front hull supports 100mm thick armor though with a 60 degree slope angle on the upper glacis and a 55 degree slope on the lower glacis, the effective armor thickness is higher. The hull sides support 80mm thick armor (without much angling) while the rear has between 20mm to 45mm of armor. The hull roof has 15mm thick armor and the hull bottom has 20mm of armor.
As befitting a recovery vehicle, the Lviv Armored Plant upgrade swaps out the original BTS-4's 3-ton capacity crane with a new hydraulic driven crane capable of lifting up to 12 tons. The crane is fitted to the left side of the vehicle, the mounting point/turntable situated near the driver's hatch. When not in use, the crane is swung directly backwards along the top of the hull. On the hull front is a dozer blade which is used to clear obstacles, debris, or even dig out a defensive position. The primary winch, with block and tackle, is capable of pulling up to 100 tons. Total cable length is 656 feet. There is also a smaller, secondary winch that also has the same cable length. In the rear of the BTS-4 is a spade that can be deployed to stabilize the vehicle when conducting recovery tasks with the winch. Situated towards the center of the vehicle is a open cargo platform which is used for spare parts, tool boxes, supplies, and other equipment. There are also multiple storage boxes carried on the hull exterior as well as a unditching beam stored just above the rear spade. To assist in field repairs, there is a arc welding apparatus (including a generator) carried on the BTS-4 as standard equipment. From the Lviv Armored Plant, the upgraded BTS-4 includes the snorkel but in the photograph here, it has been removed. In Ukrainian service, the BTS-4 serves as a more economical supplement to the BREM-1 ARV which is derived from the T-72 chassis.
To date, the Ukrainian Army has lost 19 BTS-4 vehicles with 14 destroyed, 4 damaged, and 1 captured by Russian forces. The Russians, which also utilize the BTS-4, have lost 27 to date with 18 being destroyed, 4 damaged, 4 abandoned, and 1 captured by Ukrainian forces. The Russians have also lost a single, more modern BTS-4V.
