Plastun-SN – Russians are preparing for the mud season with this crawler tractor

military vehicles
Plastun-SN – Russians are preparing for the mud season with this crawler tractor

Small tracked vehicles are intended to ensure the supply of troops even during the muddy season. The Russian military has received the first delivery of Plastun-SN transporters, and Kiev has already received older Bandvagn 206 transporters from Germany.

The muddy period paralyzes all military movements in Ukraine. Many vehicles, including tanks, sink off paved roads. In rural areas, the majority of roads do not have a solid surface.

The military’s “normal” all-wheel drive transporters and heavy tracked vehicles become unusable. Because of the high ground pressure, they sink into the mud until the bottom pan floats and the chains or tires spin.

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One solution is to use chain transporters that are as light as possible. Russia now had Plastun off-road vehicles converted for the military. The Plastun transporters were built for difficult ground conditions. The civilian version is very light and equipped with wide tracks. It can conquer snow and mud, and the model is probably also capable of swimming. Thanks to the wide tracks, the light vehicle has low ground pressure. Such constructions make progress even in bottomless morass, then they float above the mud. The vehicle was developed by the company “Russian All-Terrain Vehicles Plastun”. The civilian version does not use metal chains, but plastic tracks. CEO Eric Sagymbayev pointed out that the van essentially uses parts from UAZ and GAZ vehicles. It is powered by a 1.6 liter petrol engine with just 106 hp.

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Does not provide effective protection

The military variant was given the designation SN and light armor. This means she can transport supplies and the wounded. The transporter should even be able to carry an 82mm mortar. The pick-up design facilitates quick loading and unloading in the combat zone. The whole construction is similar to the Bren Gun Carrier from World War II. The armor is more symbolic. The Russian protection classes Br3 and Br4 resist assault rifles and pistols. Even a heavy sniper rifle can break through the armor. The vehicle is open at the top, so it offers no protection from splinters or drones.

Since the new generations of kamikaze drones can destroy even heavily armored vehicles like the Leopard 2, it would probably be pointless to try to better protect the small vehicle. The Plastun-SN can transport eight people, the medical version can carry two stretchers for four people. The weight has increased, but is only 3.8 tons. It can reach 50 km/h and in continuous operation it is 30 km/h.

Swedish transporter

Ukraine is making similar efforts to… To ensure transport during the mud season. Bandvagn 206 were delivered from Germany. The Bandvagn comes from Sweden and is also powered by caterpillars. It consists of two segments, the front and the rear, with the coupling between them increasing off-road mobility. The vehicle is also used for civil purposes. There is even a Russian variant of it, the GAZ-3351. Putin likes to pose with this vehicle during his trips to Siberia.

Rain and fog protect against drones

With the small transporters it is possible to supply bases away from paved roads. They can glide over the mud even when infantrymen sink. If the weather allows drones to be launched, the use of the small transporters becomes dangerous. The number and danger of drones in the combat zone have increased significantly compared to 2022. But rain and fog make the use of drones difficult or impossible, then the transporters can drive.