Vz. 68-2 Britva [🇺🇳 United Nation, MT-8]
In response to the start of the Spähpanzer program development in West Germany, Czechoslovakia considered a project for a fast medium tank intended for reconnaissance tasks and for supporting medium and heavy tanks in combat. Extensive cooperation with factories and design bureaus from the USSR was planned.
Some components and systems were borrowed from Soviet projects. As its armament, a twin mount of Czechoslovak 50 mm ZK 500 autocannons firing APCR shells was selected. The 5TD engine, suspension elements, fire control systems, radio equipment, and electrical systems were expected to be supplied from the USSR. The initial requirements included amphibious capability for the vehicle, but as the armor protection increased during further development of the project, this requirement was abandoned, although several elements of the tank’s amphibious equipment were retained. In terms of protection, the emphasis was placed on high mobility and a small frontal profile, which was supposed to ensure the vehicle’s survivability on the battlefield. Due to the existence of Soviet domestic projects and the regime of secrecy, Soviet interest in the vehicle quickly faded, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the project.
