SKOT

(Stredni Kolowy Obrneni Transporter – Medium Wheeled Armoured Transporter)

In 1955, Czechoslovakia began work on the SKOT transporter, whose design did not deviate from global standards in terms of functionality and armour, but it also had one flaw that was not noticed in time – the wheel track was narrower than that of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles then used 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 developed 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 Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych in Lublin, was adopted by the Polish People's Army, and its public debut was at the parade in 1964.

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 plus 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 As it was withdrawn from service, it was resold to many Arab countries and India.

The drawing was made by Mariusz Felek Foltak.