Image source: topwar.ru
Romanian TAB-71M armored personnel carriers were spotted in the special operation zone. According to Ukrainian sources, a batch of armored personnel carriers has entered service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A number of Ukrainian resources have published pictures of Romanian TAB-71M armored personnel carriers that appeared in the special operation zone. At the moment, it is known that a batch of armored personnel carriers has entered service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but there is no exact data on the number of armored vehicles, as well as from whom exactly it came, yet. The only thing that is known for sure, previously these armored personnel carriers were not in service with the AFU.
The TAB-71M armored personnel carrier is a licensed version of the Soviet BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier, produced in Romania under license during the years of the Warsaw Pact. The main difference from the Soviet APC is the replacement of the engine, two French Saviem 797-05 are installed. There were several modifications, including a version with an 82 mm M-37M mortar mounted in the troop compartment.
The TAB-71M was produced from the early 70s to the early 90s at the Fabrica de Masini Grele Speciale special heavy machinery plant in Bucharest. The crew is 3 people, the landing party is 8 people, the armament is standard and consists of two machine guns - 14.5 mm KPVT and 7.62 mm PKT.
It is known that TAB-71M were in service with Moldova, as well as the Romanian Armed Forces. In 2017, Bucharest decided to replace them with a more modern model. According to the latest data, Moldova had 110 armored personnel carriers of this model in service, Romania had 247, about 40 more units were manufactured for the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia, but how many remained after the collapse of the country is unknown.
After the start of their war, the former Warsaw Pact countries began to actively transfer the remnants of Soviet equipment to Ukraine, thereby getting rid of it and rearming with Western models. And in Kiev, the supply of any equipment is welcome.
