After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia joined NATO’s North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992, joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994. But, it was not until 2015 that Armenia was officially certified to take part in NATO ‘peacekeeping’ operations.
Incomplete list of armored ground vehicles.
BMP-1:
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 03APR2020.
BMP-2:
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 24SEP2020.
Armenia Defense Ministry photo, 24SEP2020.
M939, 5-tons truck with armored cab:
Mostly silent U.S. Army video from May 2006, Armenian military Engineers operating out of Camp Delta, Iraq, using armored cab M939s:
Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).
Operation Desert Storm, 17JAN1991–28FEB1991
Just a smattering of armor destruction from Desert Storm:
A shot-up Iraqi Faun Herkules, hauling a ZSU-23-4, failed at trying to escape Kuwait via the Basra-Kuwait Highway. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Holmes, 28JAN1991.
Iraq used a lot of Soviet and Chinese armored ground vehicles, including both the T-55 and Type 69-2. The Chinese Type 69 series is the result of combining hull parts of a T-62 and a T-54, then adding an infrared spotlight and laser range finder over the main gun mantlet, and headlight groups on the both fenders. The Type 69 retained the roof mounted ventilator of the T-54. Early versions of the Type 69 series did not have the turret mounted stowage racks, which were actually a stand-off armor design that doubled as stowage racks. The main gun of the Type 69-1 was a Chinese designed 100mm with smooth-bore (bore evacuators on the guns varied in their position), the Type 69-2 has a 100mm rifled bore. The Type 69-2 had fender skirts, but it seems that most of the Iraqi Type 69s did not use the skirts.
Destroyed Chinese made Iraqi Type 69 (indicated by the T-62 style rear end) inside Kuwait. Photographer unknown, photo dated 01FEB1991.
This shows the squared-off butt of a Soviet built T-55. Photographer unknown, dated 01FEB1991.
This appears to be a T-55 with skirts. No evidence of turret top ventilator, no laser ranger, no stand-off/stowage racks. The Iraqis did modify their vehicles. Photographer unknown, dated 01FEB1991.
A Chinese built Iraqi Type 69-2 (note ventilator on turret roof and remains of stowage rack/stand-off armor, barely visible is evidence of fender mounted light groups), charred by an air strike. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Elliot, 07FEB1991.
The remains of an MTLB(?) on a highway south of Kuwait City. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Kit Thompson, 27FEB1991.
Photo dated 28FEB1991, an Iraqi tank explodes after an attack by the First United Kingdom Armoured Division. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Holmes.
Photo dated 28FEB1991, a Type 69 burns after an attack by the First United Kingdom Armoured Division. Photographer unknown.
One tank was trying to tow the other out of Kuwait, when they were both hit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 28FEB1991.
Same T-55 tanks, different angle. Turret has no roof ventilator, and has the single T-55 headlight group on the front slope. The ‘ring’ sticking out of the ground behind the T-55 is the mount for the 12.7mm heavy machine gun. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 28FEB1991.
Iraqi T-72 in Kuwait. Destroyed or abandoned? U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant J.R. Ruark, 01MAR1991.
Bullet hole to an Iraqi T-55, Jalibah Airfield, Kuwait. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Otero, 02MAR1991.
Type 69 destroyed by the French Sixth Light Armored Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 02MAR1991.
This T-55 died on Al Mutla Pass, north of Kuwait City. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Perry Heimer, 02MAR1991.
Same T-55 still on Al Mutla Pass, more than one month later, covered by graffiti. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.
Stopping to check out a burned-out T-72. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 03MAR1991.
Just outside Kuwait City, a T-55 failed to escape on the Basra-Kuwait Highway. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Bill Mohl, 04MAR1991.
Same tank, different angle. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Bill Mohl, 4MAR1991.
Same tank, different angle. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Bill Mohl, 4MAR1991.
A line of destroyed armor, Euphrates River Valley, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.
A destroyed BMP-1 and what is left of a T-72, Euphrates River Valley, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.
Chinese made YW-531 (Type 63 family) followed by a Soviet made MTLB, Euphrates River Valley. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.
What happened to the main gun? U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 04MAR1991
The rear end indicates this is a Chinese Type 69 flipped on top of a U.S. made Chevy van. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Billings, 06MAR1991.
MTLB, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Billings, 06MAR1991.
Iraqi T-55, indicated by single headlight group on front slope. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 27MAR1991.
A Chinese made Iraqi Type 69 (note laser ranger on the mantlet, turret-top ventilator, but no stand-off armor/stowage racks, has the fender mounted light groups) and a Chinese made YW-701 (Type 63 family) Command Post. The Type 69 was towing the YW-701 when they were both hit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 27MAR1991
T-72 with dozer blade. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 27MAR1991.
Iraqi T-72 near Ali Al Salem Air Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.
A big bullet hole (probably a SABOT) in an Iraqi T-72. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.
Iraqi T-62 near Ali Al Salem Air Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.
Same T-62, from behind. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.
T-72B3 flying the old flag of the U.S.S.R.! Near the village of Rybinskoye. Notice this vehicle is marked with an ‘O’.
Perhaps because of the capture of documents revealing a massive offensive against Russia, Russia is now flooding the Donbas and Kiev Areas of Operations (AO) with more and newer military equipment. What I found interesting is that one of the videos shows Russian BMP-2s carrying old Soviet Union flags!
This ‘V’ marked tank is the latest T-90M.
I think the ‘V’ indicates Kiev AO. Posted 09MAR2022, masses of BMP-2s, T-72B3s, BM-21 Grads, 2S3s:
‘V’ marked T-72B3.
Posted 07MAR2022, ‘V’ marked support vehicles pour into Kiev AO, Ukraine:
Posted on 06MAR2022, ‘V’ marked BMD-2s, T-72s, MTLBs:
‘V’ marked T-90M and BMP-2:
In the Donbas AO, ‘Z’ marked newer military gear is coming in. I think the ‘Z’ is from a new Russo-Ukrainian word ZaНАШИХ, or За НАШИХ (ZaNASHIKH), which means For Ours. This is a way of saying the Donbas area is Russian. It could also mean For Victory, which is Зa ПОБЕДУ, or ZaПОБЕДУ (ZaPOBEDU).
Armored train.
An Armored train was used to evacuate foreign civilians from Kherson Oblast of Ukraine to the city of Armyansk of the Republic of Crimea. The ‘silly-vilians’ are from Turkey, Ukraine, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Sweden, Italy, Brazil, Morocco and India.
BM-27 rocket launcher.
Donbas AO. Posted 08MAR2022, 2S19-M2 Msta-S and 2B26 (‘grad’ rockets on a Kamaz 5350 truck?):
Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).
The MTLB is a direct descendant of the PT-76 amphibious tank, as is the BTR-50, ASU-85, ZSU-23-4, and the 1S91 SURN-2K12 Kub antiaircraft missile system. However, all those other PT-76 relatives are rear engine/rear drive, the MTLB is mid-engine/front drive.
Photo dated March 1983, no other information.
The later MTLBu (also called M1976 by U.S./NATO) artillery command tank (mid-engine/front drive), 2S1 SP gun (front engine/front drive), and UR-77 (2S1 chassis) are based on a stretched MTLB chassis (with seven roadwheels instead of six, per side). The even later BMP-23 is based on the 2S1 chassis.
Photo I took one California National Guard drill weekend on NTC, California, in 1984. There were about a dozen MTLBs working with OpFor.
For some reason, NATO likes to add a dash between MT and LB, I have not found this to be the case with Russian sources. The MTLB comes from the Latinized Russian nomenclature; Mnogotselevoy Tyagach Legky Bronirovanny. In Russian Cyrillic it is Многоцелевой Тягач Легкий Бронированный, МТЛБ which is MTLB. In English it means Multipurpose Tractor Light Armored (MTLA). Light armored is for sure, I’ve checked out the MTLBs on Fort Irwin and the armor is so thin that I would not be surprised if 12.7mm (.50 cal) ball ammo could make Swiss cheese out of it.
Photo my father took of MTLB engineer vehicle at USAF air show in California, Summer 1986.
One of my Cold War era books on Soviet vehicles claims the MTLB was an armored version of the MTL (this claim is currently also being made by a internet ‘encyclopedia’). I haven’t found anything about an MTL, what I found is that the predecessor of the MTLB was the ATP, which has no relation to the PT-76 or MTLB. It’s not the first time NATO/U.S. was wrong about anything Soviet (COLD WAR BOATS: MOSKVA CLASS SUBMARINE HUNTERS, STOP CALLING THEM AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!).
During the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force managed to get their own Soviet MTLB. This one was seen on Bolling Air Force Base (now Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling), Washington DC. Photo by Don S. Montgomery, October 1986.
Photo by Don S. Montgomery, October 1986.
U.S. Army Opposition Forces (OpFor) MTLB on Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), California, 31MAR1988.
Anti-aircraft MTLB Strela from one of the last parades under the Soviet Union, November 1989.
An Iraqi MTLB damaged during the last battle of the Cold War; Desert Storm, March 1991. Photo by Staff Sergeant Dean W. Wagner.
U.S. Marines test drive a captured Iraqi MTLB during Desert Storm. Photo by Chief Warrant Officer-4 J.M. Rodriguez, February 1991.
Since the end of the unofficial Cold War, the MTLB has been continually modified by the many countries that still use it.
Several years after the end of the unofficial Cold War, the U.S. Marine Corps was using MTLBs in wargame Kernel Blitz ’97. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Timothy J. Reynolds, 21JUN1997.
USMC MTLBs, June 1997. USMC photo by Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Mobley.
A USA (U.S. Army) AH-64 Apache versus a USA MTLB armed with Strela antiaircraft missiles (NATO reporting name Gopher missiles) during an All Service Combat Identification Evaluation Test (ASCIET), on Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 1999.
The remains of another Iraqi MTLB, but this time it is 2003, and it is a ZSU-23-2 antiaircraft gun version. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Jennifer A. Krusen, 11APR2003.
An Iraqi MTLB, near that infamous prison, 11MAY2005. Notice the use of wide ‘snow’ tracks. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Ronald Shaw.
Russian Northern Fleet photo of artic MTLB (notice wider snow tracks), dated March 2016.
Pink camo MTLB mortar carrier, during artillery competition in Kazakhstan. Photo dated April 2017.
Convoy of artillery towing Ukrainian MTLB, sometime in 2018.
April 2018, Ukraine shows off its new MTLB ambulances to the public.
Finnish MTLB during wargame Arrow 18, on Pohjankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 18MAY2018. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Averi Coppa.
Polish MTLB, NATO’s Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia, during Operation Reassurance at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, 26JUL2018. Photo via Canadian Armed Forces.
Bulgarian Army MTLB during NATO Exercise Platinum Lion. North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Jamar Marcel Pugh, 02AUG2018.
Video from Kazakhstan, 2021‘s International Army Games-Masters of Artillery Fire competition, showing the Russian team’s MTLB mortar carrier action:
September 2021, Russian Black Sea Fleet MTLB-9A35 launch their 9K35 Strela-10 (NATO reporting name SA-13 Gopher) missiles:
‘Z’ marked MTLB, Donbas AO, end of February 2022.
Russian MTLB in the Donbas Area of Operation, March 2022.
An abandoned/captured Ukrainian specialized MTLB, March 2022.
The 2S1 self propelled artillery gun is based on a stretched MTLB chassis:
Despite Finland being an officially ‘non-aligned’ country, it still allows, and even takes part in, NATO wargames on its soil (which borders Russia).
Suomalaiset Leopardit ja Sisu Pasi ja CV9030 ja MTLB ja 2S1 ja BMP-2 ja AMoS=Finnish Leopard and Sisu Pasi and CV9030 and MTLB and 2S1 and BMP-2 and AMoS.
U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marines watch a demonstration of the Leopard bridgelayer, 07MAY2019. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins.
Finnish German-made Leopard 2L bridge laying tank, demonstrating for U.S. Marines, and U.K. Royal Marines, during NATO’s Exercise Arrow in May 2019.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.
It is a German Leopard 2 chassis with a Finnish designed bridge system. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.
USMC LAVs try out the Finnish bridge. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Scott Jenkins, 07MAY2019.
BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.
Soviet era BMP-2, modernized to BMP-2MD. NATO’s Arrow 19.
BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.
BMP-2MD on the Pojankangas Training Area near Kankaanpaa, Finland, 15MAY2019. USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson.
USA photo by Sergeant LaShic Patterson, 17MAY2019.
Supposedly neutral Finland also takes part in NATO wargames in other countries.
Älvdalen training grounds, Sweden, 27OCT2018. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko.
Washing a Sisu/Patria (Sisu was a Cold War era name for the company now called Patria) Pasi XA-203 prior to the short road-march to neighboring Norway for NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.
Washing off the Sweden, before heading to Norway. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko, 27OCT2018.
Video, painting your Patria Pasi for Winter ops, 2018:
Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 29OCT2018.
Going skiing. A Patria Pasi during NATO’s Trident Juncture, October 2018.
Finnish MTLBs during Arrow 18, in Pohjankangas Training Area, Finland, 18MAY2018. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Averi Coppa.
Soviet era MTLBs during Arrow 18, May 2018.
CV90-30FIN
Video of Swedish made CV9030 FIN, during NATO’s Saber Strike 2017 in Estonia:
USA photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 06MAY2017.
Leopard 2A4, NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.
Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.
Soviet era 2S1 self propelled artillery gun, the Finns call it the 122 PSH 74. They are former East German 2S1s, purchased in 1992 and 1994.
U.S. Army photo by Specialist Elliott Banks, 05MAY2017.
122 PSH 74 (2S1), NATO’s Arrow 17 wargames, May 2017.
Slow-mo video, German-made Leopard 2A4s, one with Israeli made mine-plow, Niinisalo Training Area in 2016:
Photo by Sergeant Tatum Vayavananda, 11JUN2015.
Sisu Pasi, carrying British troops, ‘invades’ Sweden during NATO’s BALTOPS during Summer 2015.
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Armando A. Schwier-Morales, 08JUN2015.
Twin barreled 120mm gunned AMoS (Advanced Mortar System) ‘invades’ Latvia during NATO’s Saber Strike during Summer 2015.
Ukraine Crisis: February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.
Inside of BTR-80. 9th Iraqi Army Division Warrant Officer explains to U.S. troops how it works. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Mary S. Katzenberger, 27SEP2010.
Ukrainian made BTR-94, 2018.
Ukrainian made BTR-94 blocks 14th of July bridge in Baghdad, 15AUG2004. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob N. Bailey.
BTR-4 variants, the BSEM-4K ambulance and BTR-4 armored personnel carriers with 30mm gun turrets.
U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 06FEB2016.
A mystery modified M113 seen at Camp Taji, February 2016. It’s not a ACV or YPR765. A homegrown modification?
U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 06FEB2016.
U.S. Army photo by Specialist William Lockwood, 11FEB2016.
Camp Taji, February 2016.
M113 ACAV, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Kalie Jones Frantz, 07FEB2016.
M113, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant David Strayer, 28APR2011.
M113, Kirkush Military Training Base, April 2011.
Notice the use of wide ‘snow’ tracks. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.
MTLB, May 2005.
Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 06MAY2005.
This one has the standard width tracks. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 06MAY2005.
U.S. Army photo by Specialist Sean Hanson.
March 2007. This tank is a Chinese Type 69 (Iraqi designation for Chinese Type 69 is T-55B), as denoted by the headlights on both fenders and the camera/laser sighting system on the mantlet.
Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.
May 2005, Type 69/T-55B.
Notice the U.S. antenna. Texas Army National Guard photo by Specialist Maria Mengrone, 12MAY2005.
BMP-1, October 2005:
Rebuilt BMP-1s on Camp Taji, 07OCT2005.
BMP-1, January 2007:
BMP-1, Camp Taji. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Cupp, 17JAN2007.
Video Camp Taji boneyard, T-72 turret lift, 2009:
T-62, March 2010:
T-62s in the ‘Bone Yard’. Tennessee Army National Guard photo by First Lieutenant Desiree Pavlick, 17MAR2010.
Graveyard of T-62 and T-72, October 2005:
Camp Taji ‘boneyard’, 10JUL2005.
T-72, Camp Butler/Butler Gunnery Range, February 2006:
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Brent Hunt, 16FEB2006.
Low quality video from February 2006, supposedly it was the first time Iraqis were able to fire their T-72s since the U.S. invasion:
T-72, Forward Operating Base Hammer, October 2008:
U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Evan Loyd, 31OCT2008.
U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Evan Loyd, 31OCT2008.
2008 Besmaya Range gunnery video (by U.S. Army Specialist Neil A. Stanfield):
T-72, Besmaya Range Complex, April 2010:
U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Jared Eastman, 14APR2010.
Checking out a ‘newer’ T-72, apparently donated by NATO-Czech Republic, April 2016:
U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Paul Sale, 05APR2016.
Iraqis began training on U.S. M1A1 Abrams in 2008-09:
Besmaya Range Complex, 31MAR2009. U.S. Army photo by Captain Thomas Avilucea.
According to a U.S. Defense Department news release, between August 2010 and the end of 2011, 140 M1A1M Abrams tanks were delivered to Iraq as part of a 2008 military sales agreement.
According to the the U.S. Army, these were the last of the 140 Abrams delivered to Iraq:
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Edward Daileg, 29AUG2011.
In 2016, BMP-1s were positioned for the Mosul Offensive against so-called Islamic State:
In 2008, U.S. Army officials decided to allow Iraq to refurbish several M109A1s abandoned in the ‘boneyard’ of Camp Taji: “Last fall, our brigade commander was given guidance by the 9th IA commander to pull out of the Taji boneyard roughly a battalion’s worth of M109A1 howitzers.”-Major Matthew DeLoia, Military Transition Team-Pennsylvania National Guard’s 109th Field Artillery Regiment, July 2009
EGYPTIAN ARMOR درع المصري
SOVIET ERA ARMOR USED BY NATO BULGARIA, PLUS THE BULGARIAN BMP-23
Ukrainian made BTR-4, reports say Iraq was not happy with the BTR-4, 
BTR-4 variants, the BSEM-4K ambulance and BTR-4 armored personnel carriers with 30mm gun turrets.
In 2008, U.S. Army officials decided to allow Iraq to refurbish several M109A1s abandoned in the ‘boneyard’ of Camp Taji: “Last fall, our brigade commander was given guidance by the 9th IA commander to pull out of the Taji boneyard roughly a battalion’s worth of M109A1 howitzers.”-Major Matthew DeLoia, Military Transition Team-Pennsylvania National Guard’s 109th Field Artillery Regiment, July 2009