SKOT

(Stredni Kolowy Obrneni Transporter – medium wheeled armored personnel carrier)

In 1955, work began in Czechoslovakia on the SKOT transporter, whose design was up to world standards in terms of functionality and armor, but it also had one flaw that was not noticed in time – the wheel track was narrower than that of tanks and combat vehicles used then in the Warsaw Pact, which made it difficult to drive in columns and use mobile bridges.

As was common during the times of real socialism, the prototype was not created until 1961, but due to its high traction properties – 8 independently driven wheels, a central tire inflation system, and a very good Tatra engine – Poland decided to jointly produce and develop the SKOT for the needs of the Polish army. Work accelerated, and in 1963, the transporter, produced at the Truck Factory in Lublin, entered service with the Polish People's Army (LWP), with the 1964 parade marking its public debut.

At this stage, the most popular 2A version was created, armed with a turret featuring a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a co-axial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The SKOT, produced in 4,500 units (2,500 by the Polish side), carried 10 dismounted soldiers + a 2-person crew, had NBC protection, and was amphibious. It became a platform for over 20 different versions and, before the era of the BMP-1, was the backbone of Polish and Czechoslovak mechanized units. As it was withdrawn from service, it was resold to many Arab countries and India.

The drawing was made by Mariusz Felek Foltak.