The BTR-50P is based on the chassis of the PT-76 light amphibious tank with a new superstructure added to the front of the vehicle. The hull of the BTR-50P is made of all-welded steel with the crew compartment at the front, open-topped troop compartment in the centre and the engine compartment at the rear.

The torsion bar suspension consists of six rubber-tired road wheels with the drive sprocket at the rear and the idler at the front. There are no track-return rollers. The first and last road wheel stations have a hydraulic shock absorber and the steel tracks each have 96 links when new.

The 20 infantrymen sit on bench seats which run across the full width of the vehicle and enter and leave by climbing over the side of the hull.

Armament consists of a pintle-mounted 7.62 mm SGMB machine gun. When the BTR-50P was originally introduced there were ramps at the rear of the hull to enable a 57 mm anti-tank gun M1943 (ZIS-2), 76 mm divisional gun M1943 (ZIS-3) or an 85 mm division gun D-44 to be carried and fired from the rear decking.

The weapon could also be fired when the vehicle was afloat, but only when the water-jets were in operation. The engine used in the BTR-50P is one half of that fitted to the T-54 MBT. The vehicle has three fuel tanks, two in the right forward side of the engine compartment and one at the rear. The BTR-50P is fully amphibious and propelled in the water by two water-jets at the rear of the hull.

The only preparation required before entering the water is to erect the trim vane at the front of the hull and switch on the two electric bilge pumps. There is a manual bilge pump for emergency use. Steering is accomplished by opening and closing the two doors over the rear water-jets: to go left the left water-jet is covered and to turn through 180? the left water-jet sucks in water and the right water-jet pushes it out. The basic BTR-50P has no NBC system.

VARIANTS:

BTR-50PA This model is almost identical to the BTR-50P but does not have the loading ramps at the rear of the hull. It is sometimes armed with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun mounted over the commander's position. BTR-50PK This model has full overhead armor protection and NBC system with the troops entering and leaving the vehicle by two rectangular roof hatches that open either side. In each side of the hull there are two firing ports and in the roof at the front of the hull a single piece hatch cover that opens forwards. Two ventilators are fitted, one at the front of the troop compartment on the right side and one at the rear of the troop compartment on the right side. The BTR-50PK is normally armed with a 7.62 mm SGMB machine gun in an unprotected mount.

BTR-50PU (Command) There are at least two models of the BTR-50PU (Command), designated the models 1 and 2. The model 1 (early model, very rarely seen today) has one projecting bay whereas the model 2 has two. The right bay on the model 2 has three vision devices and no cover. The BTR-50PU has three compartments: engine, commander's and driver's. The last two are fitted with special equipment and a total of 10 seats, four for the commander and his staff, four for the radio operators and two for the vehicle commander and driver. In addition, the staff compartment accommodates a collapsible table for working the maps and documents, a small table for the commander, two hammocks for resting and three ladders. An emergency escape hatch is provided in the floor of the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle has thermal insulation. External equipment includes infra-red searchlight, four whip antennas, an 11 m telescopic mast, battery charger, armored box for a fuel drum and three stowage boxes. Extensive communications equipment is provided including radio, radio relay and wire equipment. This includes an R-112 radio, R-113 radio telephone, R-105U radio telephone, R-403BM two-channel radio relay telephone half set, 10-line field telephone switchboard, four telephone sets and four reels each with 600 m of two-wire cable. A gyro course indicator and course plotter are the basis of the navigation system with the former indicating the vehicle's course and the latter plotting it in a rectangular co-ordinate system.

BTR-50PU R-82, BTR-50PU-11, BTR-50PUM and BTR-50PUR. Different command and control variants with a variety of radio configurations and other communications equipment.

BTR-50PK(B) Amphibious Armored Recovery Vehicle This is a specialized version of the BTR-50PK developed for the recovery of other vehicles at water obstacles. It has a combat weight of 14000 kg and normally has a crew of two: commander and driver, with seats for four auxiliary personnel, and during rescue operations the vehicle can accommodate up to eight rescued personnel. The BTR-50PK(B) is fitted with R 123M and R 124 radio sets, a rear-mounted towing coupling, towing gear and hook and two extra towing cables, two special quick-release shackles, standard shackles and snap hooks, searchlight, two lifebelts, life jackets and four fenders. A set of tools and fire extinguishers are also carried.

MTP Technical Support Vehicle This is based on a BTR-50PK APC and is used for recovery and repair of armored personnel carriers and the BMP ICV. In addition it is used to deliver POL supplies to forward units which are difficult to reach with normal truck-mounted bowsers. A distinctive feature of the MTP is the raised workshop compartment which is high enough to allow the crew to work while standing as well as providing sleeping room for the crew of three.

MTK Mineclearing Vehicle This is a BTR-50PK APC with a special launcher mounted on top of the hull to the rear of the troop compartment. It fires rockets to which are attached flexible tubes containing high explosives which fall to the ground on to the minefield and are then detonated from the vehicle. The former Soviet designation for the rocket system is UR-67. MTR-1 Repair version of BTR-50.