More importantly, though, this isn't really a tank game. Far more common are BTRs and battle-taxis -- which are likely shot full of .50 holes over and over, welded up, and still going -- and still for the most part a grave threat to any player.
Like, oh, the BTR-60s which had, IIRC, two gearboxes because Russian tech couldn't figure out how to get them to run on one ... and both gearboxes had to be changed into the appropriate gear for the vehicle to run. AND they were not all that much more reliable than the WW2 T-34 gearboxes, AIUI.
Wouldn't count on a lot of them being available. Maybe the -70's were different, dunno ... but I don't think that Russian APCs or IFVs were notably more reliable, maintenance wise and in general, than Russian MBTs.
AIUI even Cold War era Russian Trucks and Light Vehicles were far more unreliable than western equivalents requiring more frequent servicing and subject to more frequent breakdowns.
This really should be represented in the game, but, as it stands, the resemblance between the rules and reality seem tenuous at best,
Phil McGregor
The specification for the BTR-60 called for the use of gasoline engines. The two GAZ-49 were also used on BRDM scout car - it was developed from the WW2 3/4 Dodge truck. Diesel engines at the time were not widely available. Each engine drove one side of the vehicle. This solution was inexpensive, but difficult to service and one engine down means the vehicle is immobile. The Soviets needed a cheap way of motorising all those infantry divisions. Production was 1960 to 1976.
BTR-70 was in production from 1972. BTR-70 had two diesel engines. The right engine powers the first and third road wheel, the left engine does the second and fourth. Engine production was still a problem, in any case BMP production was higher priority.
BTR-80 finally has a single diesel engine. A factory fire stopped engine production in 1993, leading the BTR-80A with a replacement diesel engine and 30mm cannon. Check out the link below on movement after tire and axle damage.
The BTR-90 was first shown in 1994, but did not go into production. This a totally new design.
Quotes from Isby:
"Compared with tracked APCs, wheeled APCs have 45-60% less production cost, 60-80% better fuel consumption, three times the lifespan, 3-5 times the interval between repairs and greatly reduced maintenance requirements."
"Soviet tanks generally require a major overhaul every 1600 km, and factory refolding every 7000 km. T-55 and T-62 engines have a life of 500-1200 running hours, about a quarter the comparable US figure..... Soviet tanks are normally limited to about 250 hours running per year, giving them a peacetime life of about 20 years."
Sources
Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945 to Present
Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army
https://thesovietarmourblog.blogspot.co ... tr-80.html