A ZHUK BR-3 in use with Diamond Dogs in 1984
The ZHUK BR-3 was an Eastern Bloc troop transport vehicle that was in service around 1984. It serves as a basis for the ZHUK RS-Z0.
Background and features[]
Being primarily a troop transport vehicle, it possesses a 30mm autocannon turret for providing fire support to dismounted troops.
History[]
The ZHUK BR-3 was in service since at least 1984, where these IFVs were deployed alongside Soviet troops into Afghanistan.
Phantom Pain Incident[]
- See also: Hospital Escape and Phantom Pain Incident
They would often be seen in Armored Vehicle Units of Soviet forces in Afghanistan when Diamond Dogs operated in Afghanistan in 1984. Diamond Dogs was known to eliminate or capture these types of tanks as side-missions during this time period.
ZHUK BR-3s and ZHUK RS-Z0s often formed the backbone of Soviet Mechanized Forces, and Diamond Dogs was hired by the Afghani Mujihadeen to Eliminate them as part of a wider mission to prevent Soviet armor from being deployed during a raid in 1984. Venom Snake would also frequently encounter them during his missions in Afghanistan while searching for Cipher. A ZHUK BR-3 acted as an escort to a prisoner transfer that was relocating the POW Malak from Lamar Khaate Palace to Yakho Oboo Supply Outpost.
Several ZHUK BR-3s and ZHUK RS-Z0s were commandeered by XOF when they took over OKB Zero in 1984, and a number were used in a futile attempt to stop a hijacked Metal Gear Sahelanthropus.
A number would further be used as part of the Soviet Mechanized Battalion that attacked Quiet and Venom Snake at Lamar Khaate Palace. Several were neutralized by the duo.
Behind the scenes[]
It has multiple variants, which are more prominent in harder missions. They boast heavier armor, and a more powerful gun, powerful enough to one-shot Snake, even through splash damage. The red variant is the most powerful and sturdy, but the black variants are still just as deadly.
In the nuke-free world ending to The Phantom Pain, a ZHUK BR-3 vehicle was among the Diamond Dogs' vehicular supplies atop the R&D Strut in the ending, with the implication being that Diamond Dogs created or at the very least procured the vehicle in order to grow strong enough to ensure their achievement in eliminating all nukes stayed present for as long as possible.
It is based primarily on the Soviet/Russian BTR-80 APC.