"Soviet & Warpac Naval Infantry in BTR-50 or OT-62?" Topic

I understand the slight differences between these vehicles (hatches in the sides, for the OT-62s, but would like to know if the Naval Infantry for various nations continued using the BTR-50P, or if they upgraded to the BTR-60PK, and OT-62 model with roof armor, once they became available, back in the late 1950s, and early 1960s?

I can see arguments for both sides, e.g. roof armor is good protection against shrapnel from artillery bursts, as well as grenades.

However, when swimming in to the beach, it might increase passenger survivability a bit, if you don't have a roof over your head when your vehicle is hit, or founders in rough water, and you have to swim for it.

I imagine trying to get 20 men out of the hatches if that happens would be difficult, and most, if not all would drown.

Then again, perhaps they count on minimal defenses vs. their landing zones, so are willing to take the risk at the beachheads.

Might as well ask about the BTR-60 as well, I guess, while I'm at it, e.g. same question.

Thoughts?

the russian marines started using the btr 80 in the later 80's as well as the s29, (bmd with 120mm mortar) later on.
the warpact probably continued using the earlier models for a lot longer.

I imagine it varied by country.

The Soviet Naval Infantry Brigades seem to have all converted to BTR-60PK by the 1980s (BTR-70 later). The Polish Marine Division however, soldiered on with TOPAS (as they called the OT-62) – particularly the TOPAS-2AP variant, with high-angle 14.5mm MG turret: