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BMP-2
BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Russia)
KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES
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• Pointed nose with almost horizontal ribbed glacis plate, driver front left, engine compartment louvres in roof to right, turret slightly to rear of vehicle, troop compartment rear with two roof hatches. Vertical hull rear with two bulged doors opening rear. Similar in appearance to BMP1 but with different turret and wider hull
• Turret has long-barrelled 30mm cannon with muzzle brake, three forward-firing smoke dischargers each side of turret, ATGW launcher in centre of turret at rear. Four firing ports in left side of hull and three in right plus one in each rear door
• Suspension each side has six road wheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, track-return rollers covered by skirts with horizontal ribs
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: Armament:
Ammunition:
Length: Width: Height: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:
3+7 1 x 30mm cannon, 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 1 x Spandrel ATGW launcher, 2 x 3 smoke grenade dischargers 500 x 30mm, 2,000 x 7.62mm, 4 x Spandrel ATGW 6.735m 3.15m 2.45m 0.42m 14,300kg 20.30hp/tonne Model UTD-20 6-cylinder diesel developing 300hp at 2,600rpm 65km/hr 7km/hr 600km 462 lit Amphibious 0.7m 2.5m 60% 30% Classified Steel Yes Yes (commander, gunner and driver)
DEVELOPMENT
The BMP-2 IFV is a further development of BMP-1 and was first seen in public during a Moscow parade in 1982. In addition to a more powerful engine BMP-2 has a new two-man turret with different weapons. Driver sits front left with one of the seven infantrymen to his rear, engine compartment to his right. Turret is slightly to rear with troop compartment far rear. Six infantrymen sit three each side back to back, each man with firing port in side of hull and periscope above. Two-man turret has commander on right, gunner on left, new 30mm cannon with powered elevation up to +75° for use against helicopters and slow-flying aircraft, turret traverse 360° and 30mm cannon fully stabilised. 7.62mm MG is mounted coaxial to left of 30mm cannon.
Mounted on turret roof rear is launcher for AT-5 Spandrel ATGW which has maximum range of 4,000m. Some vehicles have launcher for 2500mm AT-4 Spigot instead. Some BMP-2s have applique armour on turrets and hulls. BMP-2 is fully amphibious, propelled by its tracks. Before entering the water a trim vane is erected at front of hull and bilge pumps switched on.
VARIANTS
BMP-2D, late production vehicle with applique armour and provision for fitting mine clearing equipment under nose of vehicle. BMP-2K, command version with additional communications equipment. BVP-2, Czechoslovakian designation for BMP-2. A number of upgrades are available including the Kliver turret and another with standard turret but with new sights and 30mm grenade launcher.
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STATUS
Production complete. In service with Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Kuwait, Russia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
MANUFACTURER
Russian state arsenals. Manufactured under licence in former Czechoslovakia and India. The latter country calls it the Sarath and has developed numerous variants.
Above: BMP-2 (Steven Zaloga) Above: BMP-2
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BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicle (Russia)
KEY RECOGNITION
FEATURES
• Pointed nose with almost horizontal ribbed glacis plate, driver front left, engine compartment louvres in roof to right, turret slightly to rear of vehicle, troop compartment rear with four roof hatches, two each side. Vertical hull rear with two bulged doors opening rear. Similar in appearance to BMP-2 but with different turret with longbarrelled 30mm cannon and wider hull
• Circular turret with well sloped sides has 73mm gun with launcher above for Sagger ATGW (not always installed in peacetime), single gunner's hatch on left side of roof. Four firing ports each side of hull
• Suspension each side has six road wheels, drive sprocket at front, idler rear, and three track-return rollers. Upper part of track covered by skirts
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SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: Armament:
Ammunition:
Length: Width: Height over searchlight: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Weight, empty: Power-to-weight ratio: Ground pressure: Engine:
3+8 1 x 73mm, 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 1 x Sagger ATGW launcher 40 x 73mm, 2,000 x 7.62mm, 1+4 Sagger ATGW 6.74m 2.94m 2.15m 0.39m 13,500kg 12,500kg 22.22hp/tonne O.ekg/cnf Type UTD-20 6-cylinder in-line water-cooled diesel developing 300hp at 2,000rpm 65km/hr 7km/hr 600km 460 lit Amphibious 0.8m 2.2m 60% 30% 33mm (maximum) Steel Yes Yes (infra-red for commander, gunner and driver)
DEVELOPMENT
BMP-1 was developed in the early 1960s to replace BTR-50P series tracked APCs and was first seen in public during 1967. It was replaced in production by BMP-2 ICV (previous entry) which, although similar in appearance, has slightly different layout and new turret and weapon system.
In the BMP-1, driver sits front left with vehicle commander to rear, engine compartment is to right of driver with one-man turret centre and troop compartment rear. Turret powertraverses through 360° and 73mm gun elevates from -4° to +33° and fires HEAT or HE-FRAG rounds. 7.62mm MG is mounted coaxial to right of 73mm gun and mounted over gun is launcher for AT-3 Sagger wire-guided ATGW which has maximum range of 3,000m.
Troop compartment is at rear with eight infantry seated four each side back to back. In each side of troop compartment are four firing ports with periscope above, and in each of two rear doors is a further firing port and periscope.
As BMP-1 was produced for some 20 years there are minor detailed differences between production models.
VARIANTS
BMP-1F, reconnaissance model used by Hungary. BMP-1 K, BMP-1 commander's model. BMP-1K3, BMP-1 commander's model. BMP-IP, BMP-1 with no Sagger and roof-mounted AT-4 ATGW fitted. BMP-1 PK, BMP-IP commander's model. BRM-1K, BRM-1 basic reconnaissance - armoured cavalry.
BREM-1 and BREM-4, recovery vehicles. BMP-IKShM, unarmed command version of BMP-1. BWP, Polish version of BMP-1. Czech BMP-1, many variants including OT-90 (BMP1 with turret of OT-64C(1)). Egyptian BMP-1, have new French diesel engine. BMP-1 can be fitted with mine clearing equipment. BMP-1 has been fitted with 30mm grenade launcher. BRM and BRM-1 reconnaissance vehicles, new two-man turret. PRP-3 Radar, two-man turret in radar in roof. IRM, Amphibious reconnaissance vehicle. BMP-POO, Mobile Training Centre, no turret, raised roof, Iraqi versions include ambulance and basic vehicle with applique armour. BMP-1G, for export, no Sagger, roof-mounted Spandrel ATGW plus 30mm grenade launcher.
STATUS
Production complete. In service with Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Korea (North), Kyrgystan, Libya, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Taijikistan, Turmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam and Yemen.
MANUFACTURER
Former Czechoslovak and Russian state arsenals. China builds a version of BMP-1 designated WZ 501.
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