The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank designed between 1949 to 1951 and produced from 1953 to 1969. It was the standard Soviet reconnaissance tank until the fall of the Soviet Union, being replaced by BMP-3s and BMD-3s in the Russian Ground Forces. It was widely exported to friendly countries like India, North Korea, Iraq and North Vietnam.
Battlefield Vietnam
The PT-76 travelling through water in Battlefield Vietnam
In Battlefield Vietnam, the PT-76 is the standard light tank for NVA and Viet Cong forces. It features a powerful main cannon with 30 rounds to fire and a co-axial machine gun with 400 rounds in reserve at the driver's disposal and a mounted machine gun for another player with 500 rounds in reserve to aid in spotting or anti-infantry offensives.
A PT-76 during Operation Hastings
Compared to heavy tanks like the T-54, the PT-76 is faster, smaller, has a faster main cannon reload and can travel through water at the cost of a weaker main cannon round and less armor. Its main cannon is very powerful, easily killing infantry in a single shot, but has a small blast radius and a remarkable arch in the rounds trajectory. It can generally destroy other light tanks in 4 rounds, 5 for heavy tanks, 2 for APCs and 1 for light vehicles. Its co-axial machine gun, having small cross hairs, high power, a good rate of fire and no recoil, can kill infantry at a variety of ranges. However, the PT-76s turret can not reach targets at point blank range. In means of a transport, the PT-76 can prove to be a safe way of travelling, combining a good balance in speed and armor, as well as its amphibious ability. It can be considered an equivalent to the American and South Vietnamese M551 Sheridan.
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