SKOT — case

SKOT phone case

Silicone phone cover.

SKOT

(Stredni Kolowy Obrneni Transporter – Medium Wheeled Armoured Transporter)

In 1955, work began in Czechoslovakia on the SKOT transporter. Its design met global standards in terms of functionality and armour, but it also had one flaw that went unnoticed at the time: its wheel track was narrower than that of the tanks and combat vehicles then used in the Warsaw Pact, which made it difficult to drive in columns and use mobile bridges.

As was common in times of real socialism, the prototype was not created until 1961. However, due to its excellent traction capabilities – 8 independently driven wheels, a central tyre 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 its public debut at the 1964 parade.

At this stage, the most popular version, 2A, was created, armed with a turret featuring a 14.5 mm KPWT heavy machine gun and a co-axial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. SKOT, produced in 4500 units (2500 by the Polish side), carried 10 dismounted soldiers plus 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 BWP-1, was the backbone of Polish and Czechoslovak mechanised units. As it was phased out, it was resold to many Arab countries and India.

The illustration is by Mariusz Felek Foltak.