SKOT

(Stredni Kolowy Obrneni Transporter – Medium Wheeled Armored Transporter)

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

As was common in the times of real socialism, the prototype was only created in 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 on joint production and development of 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, and the parade in 1964 was its public debut.

At this stage, the most popular 2A version was created, armed with a turret with 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 infantry soldiers + a 2-person crew, had protection against the effects of ABC weapons, 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 phased out, it was resold to many Arab countries and India.

The drawing was made by Mariusz Felek Foltak.