Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4 ARV

Source: Arslom Xudosi

     Early on in the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Russian Federation forces were utilizing elderly equipment and this is evidenced here. Photographed on March 31, 2022, an abandoned Russian BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV) fell into Ukrainian hands, a soldier posing with the trophy. BTS stands for Bronetankoviy Tyagach Sredniy which translates as Medium Armored Tractor and the BTS line of ARVs started with the BTS-1 which was simply a T-54 tank with the turret replaced with a cargo platform. The BTS-2 appeared in service in 1955 and was essentially the BTS-1 but with a collapsible 3-ton capacity jib-crane and a rear mounted winch added to the hull.

     However, this particular vehicle, in some reporting, is said to be a BTS-4A when, in fact, it is not. It is a BTS-4 which does not use the T-54 chassis but instead, uses older T-44 chassis. The BTS-4A, like the BTS-1 and BTS-2, uses the T-54 chassis. The differences are very subtle as the final T-44 modernization, the T-44M, used a lot of components from the T-54 to include the tracks and running gear (idler, bogie wheels, and drive sprocket). From this left side view, the main indicator it is a BTS-4 and not a BTS-4A is the curved dip in the plate behind the front mudguard. On a BTS-4A, it would be flush with the rest of the fender. Another possible indicator of a BTS-4 is the reinforcement on the rear spade's edge. The BTS-4 entered Soviet service in 1965. As mentioned, the BTS-4 is built using the chassis of T-44 medium tanks. The T-44, whose design started in 1943, entered Soviet Army service in November 1944 though it did not participate in World War Two. The T-44 had a brief frontline service life with the T-54 entering service in 1948 and quickly replacing the older tank by the early 1950s. The last major model, the T-44M, appeared in 1961.

     The 31-ton BTS-4 is powered by a V-54-E diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower and this provides for a maximum road speed of 31 miles per hour. In first gear, the top speed is 4.3 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried (261 gallons worth) to give the BTS-4 an operational range of no more than 310 miles but if towing a tank, the range drops significantly to a maximum of 124 miles.

     Like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 is fitted with a collapsible jib-crane. In the photograph, the column portion of the crane is seen laying between the commander's cupola and the cargo platform. The column fits into a base on the right side of the vehicle and the assembled jib-crane has a traverse of 230 degrees. The boom arm is stored on the right side of the vehicle, along the hull side. Operation of the crane is completely manual. The total load capacity of the crane is 3.3 tons. At maximum extension (9.8 feet), the crane could hook lift a maximum of 2.8 tons while at minimum extension, it could manage 4.6 tons. Also like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 has a rear mounted winch (in the photograph, the apparatus between the open radiator grill and the spade) which has a maximum traction force of 25 tons. The winch is mechanically driven, being connected to the engine via a gearbox. By using block and tackle, the traction force can be increased to 50 or even 75 tons depending on the method used. Total length of the winch cable is 656 feet. Again like the BTS-2, a cargo platform is situated almost in the center of the BTS-4. It has fold-down sides (missing in the photograph) and has a maximum capacity of 4.4 tons. Usually, spare parts, additional tools, and other equipment would be carried. Other common equipment carried is four tow cables and at least two rigid tow bars. Finally, both the BTS-2 and BTS-4 have a rear mounted spade (sometimes referred to as a coulter in some sources). The spade, which is manually winched up or down, is used primarily to give the BTS-4 traction when conducting winching operations. Other equipment seen on the BTS-4 is night vision devices for the crew, a GPK-48 gyroscopic compass, a R-113 radio, and a wooden unditching beam (which, curiously, is secured to the snorkel in the photograph rather than the right hull side of the vehicle).

     Unlike the BTS-2, the BTS-4 added one new piece of equipment. This would be the long “chimney” snorkel which, here, is in traveling position. When in use, the snorkel would be hinged forward and secured to the raised commander's cupola. Without the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade through no more than 4.3 feet deep water. But, with the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade into as much as 16 feet deep water that permits it to cross water obstacles but also recover disabled vehicles from deeper depths.

     The BTS-4 has a crew of two, consisting of the commander (who doubles as the radio operator and crane/winch operator) and the driver (who is also a mechanic). As the hull is that of a T-44, the crew enjoys 90mm of frontal rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) with the upper glacis having a 60 degree slope angle and the lower glacis having a 45 degree slope. The hull sides have 75mm thick armor but lack any sloping. The rear of the hull supports between 30mm to 45mm of armor with the hull top having 20mm of armor and the hull bottom having only 15mm thick armor. The BTS-4 has no defensive armament and relies solely on small arms and any grenades carried by the crew.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4M Armored Recovery Vehicle

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-4 used T-44 chassis, the BTS-4A utilized 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 or other very minor differences. 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.