The GMZ-3 (russian: ГМЗ-3, russian: 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 The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...

in 1991, it has seen service in several successor states.

History

The was introduced in the USSR as early as 1968.

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 A TM-57 with a tilt-rod fuze The TM-57 mine is a large, circular Soviet metal-cased blast anti-tank mine. It can either be triggered by a pressure or a tilt-rod fuze. A development of the TM-46 mine, it is found in Africa, the Middle East, and ...

TM-62 The TM-62 is a Soviet anti-tank blast mine made in many variants. It has a central fuze and typically a explosive charge, but the variants vary greatly in detail. The mine can be laid manually or automatically from a mine laying machine includ ...

, TM-62PZ or TM-89 types with

contact Contact may refer to: Interaction Physical interaction * Contact (geology), a common geological feature * Contact lens or contact, a lens placed on the eye * Contact sport, a sport in which players make contact with other players or objects * ...

and

proximity fuse A proximity fuze (or fuse) is a Fuze (munitions), fuze that detonates an Explosive material, explosive device automatically when the distance to the target becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Proximity fuzes are designed for targets such ...

s 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. EngineerExercise2020-20

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 carrier An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world. Acc ...

s. They were first revealed in 2015. 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.

Current operators

Donetsk People's Republic The Donetsk People's Republic ( rus, Донецкая Народная Республика, Donetskaya Narodnaya Respublika, dɐˈnʲetskəjə nɐˈrodnəjə rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə; abbreviated as DPR or DNR, rus, ДНР) is a Territorial ...

- captured from Ukraine * Luhansk People's Republic - captured from Ukraine * * - Several converted to APC *

Former operators

Notes and references

{{Portal, military history, Russia Military vehicles of Russia Military engineering vehicles of the Soviet Union Uraltransmash products Tracked armoured fighting vehicles