The TAB-71 (''Transportorul Amfibiu Blindat model 1971'') is the Romanian license-built version of the

BTR-60PB The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs). It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen in public for the first time in 1961. BTR stands for ''bronet ...

. It was produced between 1970 and 1990 by RATMIL (now

Romarm ROMARM is a Romanian state-owned defense company and Romania's main supplier for defense technique and services. The company owns 15 factories and a research institute. Subsidiaries Arsenal Reșița Arsenal Reșița was founded in 1972 in order ...

). It is the only other license manufacture of the BTR-60PB.

Design and Development

Romania had the construction and manufacturing documentation for the BTR-60P version since 1962. A year later, the

TAB-63 TAB-63 ( Romanian: ''Transportor Amfibiu Blindat model 1963'', Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier model 1963) was an experimental Romanian prototype of an armoured personnel carrier. Basically, the Romanian engineers used the hull of a Soviet ...

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. After the request was granted by the Military Industrial Committee of the

Comecon The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, often abbreviated as Comecon ( ) or CMEA, was an economic organization from 1949 to 1991 under the leadership of the Soviet Union that comprised the countries of the Eastern Bloc#List of states, Easter ...

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 A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position. In its simplest form, it consists of an outer case with ...

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.

Variants

TAB-71M

Compared to the previous version, the TAB-71M mounted two 130 hp Saviem 797-05 engines, locally produced by

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

. A small hatch was also added between the second and third axles on either side.

TAB-71A R-1450 command vehicle

The R-1450 variant has additional communications equipment and features a second antenna on the left side of the hull.

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

Similar to the R-1451 model. It features additional communications equipment.

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

The TERA-71L is modified for maintenance and recovery role. The enclosed troop compartment is located at the front, and an open compartment in the center, the engine compartment is in the rear.

Operators

Current

* − 161 second-hand TAB-71M delivered between 1992 and 1995 * − In total 1,878 vehicles manufactured. As of 2022, 211 remain in service * − 20 TAB-71M delivered by Romania in 2022 and 2023

Former

* - A number of 40 vehicles were purchased by Yugoslavia in 1978 and were delivered in 1980 and 1981 ** - Several TAB-71Ms were used during the Croatian War of Independence and later scrapped.

References

{{Modern IFV and APC Wheeled armoured personnel carriers Armoured personnel carriers of Romania Eight-wheeled vehicles Wheeled amphibious armoured fighting vehicles Armoured personnel carriers of the Cold War