The MT-LB is an amphibious armored tracked vehicle. It has a low-silhouette, box-like hull made of welded steel plates, and a small turret on the right front that mounts a single 7.62-mm machine gun.

There are four firing ports: one on each side of the vehicle and one in each of the two rear exit doors. The flat hull roof has two forward-opening, troop exit hatches. The flat-track suspension consists of six road wheels with no return rollers.

The hull of the MT-LB is all-welded steel with the crew compartment at the front, engine immediately behind the crew compartment on the left side and the troop compartment at the rear of the hull. The machine gun turret is mounted to the right of the commander's position and is armed with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun.

Both the driver and machine gunner have a windscreen in front of their positions which, when in action, is covered by a flap hinged at the top. There is a vision block in each side of the hull, to the left of the driver's and the right of the machine gunner's position. An aisle provides access from the crew compartment at the front of the vehicle to the personnel compartment at the rear which has inward-facing folding canvas seats for the 10 infantrymen.

Two hatches over the top of the troop compartment open forwards. The infantry enter and leave the vehicle by two doors in the rear of the hull, both of which are provided with a firing port. There is an additional firing port and vision block in each side of the troop compartment. An unditching beam is often carried on the roof or side of the vehicle.

The MT-LB is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its tracks. Standard equipment on all vehicles includes an NBC system.

The MT-LB has air-actuated brakes which can be connected to a trailer. Night vision equipment includes an OU-3GK white/infra-red searchlight with a range of 400 m for the commander and a TVN-2 infra-red periscope for the driver with a range of 40 m. It can also tow a trailer or weapon weighing up to 6500 kg or carry up to 2000 kg of cargo or stores.

1V13 Battery fire direction center vehicle, called 1W13 by Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Called MT-LBO by Bulgaria.

1V14 battery command post vehicle, called 1W14 by Poland, also used by Czechoslovakia and Hungary

1V15 battalion command vehicle, called 1W15 by Poland, also used by Czechoslovakia and Poland

1V16 battalion fire direction center vehicle, called 1W16 by Poland, also used by Czechoslovakia and Hungary

Note: The 1V12 family consists of the 1V13, 1V14, 1V15 and 1V16. These are the original command and control set with the 1V14, 1V15 and 1V16 each having an APK digital data transmission set and the 1V15 and 1V16 also having the 9V59 artillery fire control computer. The 1V12M family consists of the 1V13M, 1V14M, 1V15M and 1V16M, they are modified artillery command and control set with each vehicle giving an APPK artillery data computation and digital transmission computer system. (For full details of these systems see the Artillery Support Vehicles section.)

1V21 Staff command vehicle, called MP-21 by Czechoslovakia, also used by Poland. Has new C3 equipment fitted.

1V22 Air defense management vehicle, called MP-22 by Czechoslovakia, also used by Poland. Has new C3 equipment fitted.

1V23 Command and control vehicle, called MP-23 by Czechoslovakia, also used by Poland. Has new C3 equipment fitted.

1V24 Artillery C3 vehicle, called MP-24 by Czechoslovakia, also used by Poland. Fitted with new C3 equipment.

1V25 Air defense management vehicle, called MP-25 by Czechoslovakia, also used by Poland. Has new C3 equipment installed.

MT-LB 9S743 Bulgarian MT-LB with radio system and generator at hull rear

MT-LB KShM R-80, Bulgarian MT-LB with table and increased headroom

MT-LB KShM R-81 Bulgarian MT-LB with radio equipment

MT-LB TRI Polish engineer reconnaissance vehicle

MT-LB WPT Polish recovery and maintenance vehicle

MT-LB Sova Bulgarian MT-LB with dismountable surveillance radar system Beta EM, Polish communications vehicle.

MT-LBV The MT-LB can also be fitted with 565 mm wide tracks for operation in snow and swampy ground; it is then called the MT-LBV. This version has a ground pressure of 0.28 kg/cm{2}.

MT-LB Artillery Tractor The MT-LBs used as artillery prime movers have been observed with a fully enclosed box mounted over the troop compartment roof containing the gun section equipment.

MT-LBU (Command) This is the command version of the MT-LB and has additional radios, generator, land navigation system and a canvas cover that can be extended to the rear when the vehicle is being used in the static role.

MT-LB M1975 (SNAR-10) This vehicle is an MT-LB fitted with an artillery/mortar-locating radar which has been allocated the NATO reporting name of BIG FRED. When traveling the antenna folds forward onto the top of the large turret which is to the rear of the vehicle. The forward turret-mounted 7.62-mm machine gun is retained. The radar is believed to be of a similar type to the British THORN EMI Cymbeline in that the radar measures the slant range and bearing of two points in the mortar bomb/artillery shell trajectory. The time taken for the bomb/projectile to travel between the two points is also measured and the onboard computer uses this information together with the pre-set elevation angles to determine the position of the enemy mortar or artillery piece. This information is then relayed to the field artillery units and the target is engaged. The radar has a range of about 20 km. Specifications of the MT-LB with BIG FRED are similar to those of the basic MT-LB except for a weight of 11500 kg, height with antenna down of 2.9 m and a crew of four to six.

MTP-LB Repair Vehicle The MTP-LB is designed for field maintenance, repair, and recovery of tanks and other AFVs and is recognizable by its lack of a machine gun turret. Mounted at the front of the vehicle is an A-frame which can lift a maximum load of 1500 kg. Standard equipment includes tools, gas welding and cutting equipment, cable winch with 85 m of cable and a capacity of 6700 kg, jacking device, towing attachment hooks and a crane.

MT-LB (Ambulance) This is an MT-LB used as an armored evacuation vehicle (armored ambulance) with stretchers fitted in the rear compartment.

MT-LB Engineer Vehicle This is similar in appearance to the basic MT-LB but modified to mount a plow blade on the roof. Hydraulic devices at the rear of the vehicle allow manual mounting of the plow blade to the rear only.

MT-LB with Vasilek For use in Afghanistan, a self-propelled version of the towed 2B9 Vasilek 82 mm automatic mortar described and illustrated in the Towed guns and howitzers section was developed. The mortar has had its wheels removed and has been propped up on the upper rear deck on steel ammunition boxes.

9P149 MT-LB with AT-6 SPIRAL ATGM This tank destroyer consists of a modified MT-LB, with a retractable AT-6 SPIRAL launcher, and missile guidance controls. The system is entirely automated, with the launcher assembly protected under armor till used. The autoloader assembly holds 12 missiles and the rate of fire is 3-4 missiles per minute. The radio command guidance system is mounted in the right forward station of the hull superstructure, replacing the small turret with PKT 7.62-mm machine-gun.

MT-LB 120 mm mortar The Bulgarian Army has mounted a 120 mm mortar in the rear of the MT-LB multi-purpose armored vehicle. MT-LB with WAT Turret Poland has fitted an MT-LB with the WAT turret, as installed on the OT-64C(2) (SKOT-2AP) and OT-62C APCs, which is armed with a 14.5 mm and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

SA-13 Gopher SAM system The MT-LB multi-purpose armored vehicle chassis is also used as the basis for the SA-13 Gopher SAM system. Mounted in the center of the hull roof is a turret with an arm, on which is carried a total of four SA-13 missiles in the transport/launch containers, with the operator being seated below and between the missiles. The SA-13 entered service in 1977 and is replacing the SA-9 on a one for one basis. It retains the amphibious capability of the MT-LB and has a range-only radar.

Iraqi 120 mm self-propelled mortar Early in 1989 an MT-LB was shown in Iraq for the first time, with wide tracks modified locally to carry a 120 mm mortar in the rear of the vehicle. The roof hatches have been modified and now open to either side of the hull to allow the 120 mm mortar to fire to the rear. A base plate is carried on the right side of the hull to allow the mortar to be deployed away from the vehicle if required by the tactical situation.

MT-LBus (R-330P) VHF Jamming vehicle This is the MT0-LB-based ACRV chassis fitted with an auxiliary power unit mounted at the rear of the hull. while mounted on the roof is an antenna for the Type R-330P VHF jamming set. When in use the 11 element fan-type antenna is in the vertical position, but it can be lowered into the horizontal position if required.