BRDM-2

BRDM-2

BRDM-2 on a military parade, 1 March 1983.
Type Amphibious Armoured Scout Car
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1962–present
Used by See Operators
Wars See Service History
Production history
Designer V. K. Rubtsov
Manufacturer Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ) in Nizhny Novgorod
Produced 1962–1989[1]
Number built 7,200[1]
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 7 tonnes (7.7 short tons; 6.9 long tons)[2]
Length 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
Width 2.37 m (7 ft 9 in)[3]
Height 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
Crew 4 (driver, co-driver, commander, gunner)
Armor Welded steel
10 mm turret front[4]
7 mm turret sides, rear and top[2]
14 mm hull nose plate[2]
5 mm hull, upper front[2]
7 mm hull lower front, sides, rear and top[2]
2 mm hull front floor[2]
3 mm hull rear floor[2]
Main
armament
 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (500 rounds)[2]
Secondary
armament
 7.62 mm PKT coaxial general-purpose machine gun (2,000 rounds)[2]
Engine GAZ-41 gasoline V-8
140 hp (104 kW) at 3,400 rpm[1]
Power/weight 18.2 hp/tonne (13.5 kW/tonne)
Suspension Wheeled 4x4 (+ 4 auxiliary wheels), leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers
Ground clearance 430 mm (17 in)[2]
Fuel capacity 290 l (64 imp gal; 77 US gal)[2]
Operational
range
 750 km (470 mi)
Speed 100 km/h (62 mph) (road)
10 km/h (6.2 mph) (water)[2]

The BRDM-2 (Boyevaya Razvedyvatelnaya Dozornaya Mashina, Боевая Разведывательная Дозорная Машина, literally "Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle"[5]) is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under the designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08. This vehicle, like many other Soviet designs, has been exported extensively and is in use in at least 38 countries. It was intended to replace the earlier BRDM-1, compared to which it had improved amphibious capabilities and better armament.

History

After a few years of use by the Soviet Army, the limitations and drawbacks of the BRDM-1 became obvious. The vehicle had no turret and to operate the armament the gunner had to open a hatch and expose himself to enemy fire. The vehicle was not fitted with an NBC protection system, and had no night vision equipment by default. The vehicle also didn't have any kind of special sights, which undermined its usability as a reconnaissance vehicle. These drawbacks encouraged the design team to create a new vehicle which would suit the modern battlefield.[1]

Construction

Polish BRDM-2 crossing a trench with the use of its belly wheels.
Swimming Polish BRDM-2. Notice the raised trim board in the front of the vehicle and opened air inlets.
Two Polish BRDM-2s on the move. Notice the shutters over the bulletproof windows and opened air inlets.
Crews of three Polish BRDM-2s mounting their vehicles via two hatches over driver's and commander's stations. Notice the triangular water jet on the rear of the vehicle and opened air inlets.
Polish BRDM-2. Notice the opened shutters, an IR spotlight, left hand side firing port, side TNP-A periscopes and a trim board in the front of the vehicle in its traveling position, as well as the small auxiliary wheels in their lowered position. These were intended to prevent the vehicle from becoming "high centered", or hung up on an obstacle, when traversing a trench or earthwork. The chain drive also turned the vehicle into an 8x8 after a fashion when crossing deep mud, providing more traction than the four main wheels alone could.

The BRDM-2 has a crew of four; a driver, a co-driver, a commander, and a gunner. It has two pairs of chain-driven belly wheels lowered by the driver, which allow trench crossing just like its predecessor, and a centralized tire pressure regulation system, which can be used to adjust the tire pressure of all four tires or individual tires while the vehicle is in motion to suit to the ground conditions.[1][2]

Externally, it differs from the BRDM-1 by having a larger, box-like hull. It retains the boat-like bow of the BRDM-1. However, the crew compartment is now further forward and the new GAZ-41 gasoline V-8 engine is in the rear. Thanks to this, the engine is much better protected from enemy fire. The engine compartment is also separated from the crew compartment by an armoured barrier.

The driver's and commander's stations are in the front of the vehicle, with the driver positioned on the left and commander on the right. Both of them sit in front of a bulletproof windscreen, which provides them with their primary view of the battlefield. When in combat, the windscreen can be additionally protected by twin armoured shutters. When the shutters are in their opened position, they protect the driver and commander from being blinded by the sunlight and ensure that the windscreen won't be blurred by rain or snow. The commander and driver have periscopes allowing both of them a more detailed view of the surrounding terrain. The commander has six TNP-A periscopes (five in the front and one on the side of the vehicle), a TPKU-2B day sight and a TKN-1 night sight. The driver has four TNP-A periscopes (all in the front), one of which can be replaced by a TWN-2B night vision device. The gunner is in the turret during combat, but when traveling he is seated inside the hull.

The crew mounts and dismounts the vehicle via two hatches over driver's and commander's stations. On either side of the hull adjacent to the crew position, there is a firing port. Immediately behind the firing port there are three TNP-A periscopes, which protrude from the outside of the hull, giving the crew some vision to the front and rear of the vehicle.[1]

The engine is larger than the BRDM's (it is a 140 hp V-8 instead of a 90 hp 6-cylinder). The BRDM-2 has an IR spotlight and four IR driving lights, as well as an over pressure collective NBC filter system. The IR spotlight is located on top of the commander's periscope. The vehicle also has an R-123 radio and an antenna on the right side of the hull next to the commander's hatch, for communication. There's also a winch mounted internally at the front hull that has a 30 m cable and a 4 tonne capacity. The winch is intended to be used, among others, for self-recovery when stuck in difficult terrain. A spare tire can be mounted on top of the turret. This was most often practiced by Polish crews.[1][2]

Like its predecessor, the BRDM-2 is amphibious. The GAZ-41 gasoline V-8 engine supplies power to the circular water-jet, equipped with a four-bladed propeller at the rear of the vehicle, which is covered with an armoured shutter while on land. This shutter must be removed before entering water. The water-jet allows amphibious travel with a speed of 10 km/h for 17 to 19 hours. A trim board, which is stowed under the nose of the hull when traveling, is erected at the front of the hull before entering the water to improve the vehicle's stability and displacement in the water and to prevent the water from flooding the bow of the BRDM-2. While in its traveling position, it serves as additional armour.

Armament

Polish BRDM-2 aiming its machine guns. Notice the shutters over the bulletproof windows and the trim board in the front of the vehicle in its traveling position.

The armament is the same as the BTR-60PB armoured personnel carrier; a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT general-purpose machine gun as a secondary weapon, both in a small conical BPU-1 turret mounted on the hull in a central position above the belly wheels.[1]

The 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun has a practical rate of fire of 150 rounds per minute and a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute. It has an effective range during daylight operations of 2,000 m. It can penetrate 20 mm of armour at a range of 1,000 m and 30 mm of armour at a range of 500 m. It can also fire at air targets, in which case the tactical range is 1,400 m. It uses the 14.5 mm API-T, 14.5 mm I-T, 14.5 mm HE-T, 14.5 mm and MDZ type ammunition.

The 7.62 mm PKT coaxial general-purpose machine gun has an effective range during day time operations of 1,000 m while the vehicle is stationary and from 400 m to 500 m while the vehicle is on the move. It is fired in 2 to 10 round bursts and has a practical rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute and a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. During daylight operations, the gunner uses the PP-61AM sight, which has a field of view of 23 degrees and x2.6 magnification.[1]

The BPU-1 turret is unusual because it has no top hatch opening. Contrary to the popular belief, the BPU-1 turret was originally designed for the BRDM-2. The turret was later used in the Soviet BTR-60PB, the Polish SKOT-2A and the Czechoslovak OT-64A. The turret allows the armament to be elevated between −5 and +30 degrees. On the left side of the turret, there is an air inlet on the hull top. There are also two air-inlet louvers in the forward part of the engine compartment's roof and four smaller air-inlet louvers to the rear. Both sides have centrally placed vision blocks.

The vehicle armor, which is composed of welded steel, protects it fully against small arms fire and small shell fragments; but doesn't protect it against big artillery fragments or .50-calibre machine gun fire, which can penetrate the BRDM-2's maximum armor of 14 mm. The BRDM-2-series tires are not protected by armour and are particularly vulnerable to puncture from fire of all kinds.[1][2]

There are three different production lots, which have different cooling vents on the engine deck. The late production version has mushroom-type vents. It also has slightly modified turret and can elevate its armament to +60 degrees. Final production BRDM-2s have additional turret periscopes and a TNA-2 navigation apparatus.[1][4]

Variants

BRDM-2 Anti-tank version

BRDM-2 has flaws that are also apparent in other Soviet vehicles. These include the poor ergonomic design, low level of crew protection and high fuel consumption. The ergonomics was addressed in the Polish BRDM-2M-96 modernization and its successors, the BRDM-2M-96i, BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal", BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal Plus", BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B", BRDM-2M-97C "Żbik-P" and BRDM-2M-98 "Żbik-A", which all had the belly wheels removed, thus providing more space for the crew or space for two soldiers. This was also carried out in Morozov's BRDM-2SMD.[1]

The BRDM-2 has a unique flaw. Because the only way in and out of the vehicle is via the front hatches, leaving the vehicle while in combat is almost impossible, as the exiting crew members would instantly enter the line of fire of both the enemy and its own vehicle, as hatches are positioned directly in front of the turret. This shortcoming was addressed in the Polish BRDM-2M-96 modernization and its successors, the BRDM-2M-96i, BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal", BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal Plus", BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B", BRDM-2M-97C "Żbik-P" and BRDM-2M-98 "Żbik-A", all of which have side hatches. This was also done in the Czech LOT-B and OKV-P as well as the Ukrainian BRDM-2SMD. The Polish BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B", BRDM-2M-97C "Żbik-P" and BRDM-2M-98 "Żbik-A" also have a hatch on the top of the turret, giving the crew another way out.

The BRDM-2's predecessor, BRDM-1, didn't have that issue as the BRDM-1 obr. 1957 had no roof and later models had a rear hatch that allowed the crew to exit the vehicle from behind. The fact that the BRDM-2 is missing such a hatch is a consequence of putting the engine in the rear, unlike in BRDM-1 where the engine is in the front.[1]

The BRDM-2 is sometimes confused with the Hungarian D-442 FUG and D-944 PSzH amphibious scout cars, which also have rear-mounted engines. What distinguishes them from the BRDM-2 is that they have twin waterjets, whereas the BRDM-2 has a single triangular water jet.

Service history

Soviet Union and Russia

The BRDM-2 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1962. It was first publicly shown in 1966. It has replaced the BRDM-1 in the Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies. Production started in 1962 and went on until 1989, with 7,200 vehicles produced (mostly for export).

The BRDM-2 became famous for being the vehicle selected to pull Brezhnev's coffin during the funeral ceremony in the Red Square.

Poland

Two BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B" armoured scout cars on a military parade in Kraków, 17 May 2008

Poland bought 450 BRDM-2 armoured scout cars, 418 9P133 "Malyutka" and 9P148 "Konkurs" tank destroyers and 32 BRDM-2RS NBC reconnaissance vehicles in 1965. Later, Poland obtained some 9P31 Surface-to-air missile launchers. In 2004, the Polish Army operated 600 BRDM-2 armoured scout cars and vehicles based on it. Currently, the Polish Army operates 200 BRDM-2s, 120 BRDM-2s modernized to BRDM-2M-96, BRDM-2M-96i, BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B" and BRDM-2M-98 "Żbik-A" level, 12 BRDM-2s modernized to BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal" level, 100 9P133 "Malyutka" and 18 9P148 "Konkurs" tank destroyers, 12 BRDM-2RS NBC reconnaissance vehicles, an unknown number of 9K31 Strela-1 self-propelled surface-to-air missile launchers as well as BRDM-2 R-1A and BRDM-2 R-5 command vehicles.[6] Also one BRDM-2 was modernized to BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal Plus" level.[1] All modernizations, conversions and serious repairs of Polish BRDM-2s are done by WZM in Siemianowice Śląskie. Modernized BRDM-2 armoured scout cars will serve with the Polish Army for at least a couple of years. The 9P133 "Malyutka" and 9P148 "Konkurs" tank destroyers, which are the basic equipment of anti-tank subunits of motorized brigades, are considered obsolete and therefore are to be replaced with ATGM launchers based on lighter vehicles, like the HMMWV, or heavier vehicles like the KTO Ryś APC or KTO Rosomak AMV.[1]

For MSPO 2002, two Polish BRDM-2M-96i were converted into a fire unit and command vehicle with a radar of the German Rheinmetall Defence Electronics ASRAD-R missile air defense system. The system won the "Defender" award at that year's event.[7]

Polish BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal" was shown at the Land Combat Expo 2004.[8]

Two BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B" armoured scout cars took part in a military parade in Kraków on 17 May 2008. Seven BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B" armoured scout cars and six 9P148 "Konkurs" tank destroyers took part in a military parade in Warsaw on the Polish Army Day, 15 August 2008.[9]

BRDM-2, BRDM-2M-96 and BRDM-2M-96i armoured cars were used by Polish units of SFOR. Polish KFOR units also use BRDM-2M-96 armoured scout cars and BRDM-2RS NBC reconnaissance vehicles. Polish Forces in Iraq operated 12 BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal" and 14 BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B".[1] 10 BRDM-2M-96ik were used by Polish forces of ISAF.[10] However, these are now back in Poland, as are the 12 vehicles used in Iraq.

Estonia

Around 10 BRDM-2s were taken over from the Soviet Army in the early 1990s. They were mostly used during infantry training for posing as the enemy armour. Also, the Estonian police used a specially modified BRDM-2 (See the Estonia section in the Variants section). All BRDM-2s have now been withdrawn from both the military and police service.

Other operators

Like all Soviet equipment, the BRDM-2 was also sold to many Arab and African countries. It is used by 38 armies. The BRDM-2's enjoyed popularity on the export market because it was cheap, easy to operate and reliable. These factors made the BRDM-2 a more popular export reconnaissance vehicle than the BRM-1K, which was much more expensive and complicated to operate.[1]

When the soviet forces left Afghanistan, they abandoned many BRDM-2s. These vehicles, together with some derelict ones restored back to working state, are now used by the Afghan National Army. BRDM-2 armoured scout cars were also used against Israeli forces by either Egypt or Syria. During one conflict (it is not clear whether it was the Six-Day War (1967), the War of Attrition (1968–1970) or the Yom Kippur War (1973)), Israel managed to capture a number of BRDM-2 armoured cars and vehicles based on it (like the BRDM-2UM command vehicle and the 9P122 "Malyutka" tank destroyer). The BRDM-2 also saw service with the Iraqi Army during the First Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The Soviet Union began supplying the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) with BRDM-2s shortly after Angolan independence. At least one fell victim to a rebel Panhard AML-90 crewed by South African advisers during Operation Savannah.[11]

BRDM-2 armoured scout cars were used by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) during the Ten-Day War as well as the initial operations in Croatia during the Croatian War of Independence. The BRDM-2 was also used by the Yugoslav Army (VJ) against the KLA during the Kosovo war. BRDM-2 armoured scout cars are used by Polish, Ukrainian and Russian units of the Kosovo Force.

Ukraine

In ongoing Insurgency in Eastern Ukraine BRDM-2 and it's several variants were used by both sides. On the morning of 13 June 2014, during the heavy fighting for retaking Mariupol the Azov Battalion, Dnipro-1 Battalion and National Guard retook the city and key buildings occupied by insurgents killing five militants and destroying an insurgent BRDM-2 armoured vehicle.[12]

Variants

Like the BRDM, the BRDM-2 exists in several versions.

Soviet Union

BRDM-2UM in Yad La-Shiryon Museum, Israel, 2005.
9P122 "Malyutka" in Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
Polish 9P133 at the Centrum Tradycji Polskich Wojsk Pancernych in Żagań, Poland.
9P137 "Flejta" in Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
9P148 "Konkurs" in Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
9P31 Strela-1 in Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.

Afghanistan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani modernised BRDM-2 named ZKDM

Belarus

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cuba

Czech Republic

Czech OKV-P police armoured car in Prague during the visit of US president George W. Bush, June 2007.

Estonia

Main article: BRDM-2 (EST)

East Germany

Iraq

Israel

Hungary

North Korea

Poland

BRDM-2M-96i with removed armament and without the right rear view mirror.
BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal"
Interior of BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal"
BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B", 1999.

Russia

Serbia

Serbian "Kurjak"

Slovakia

Ukraine

United States of America

Operators

Map of BRDM-2 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

Bulgarian rides off the ramp from USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR 313) at Souda Bay, Greece, en route to Bulgaria, after returning from deployment in Iraq. 26 May 2005.
Romanian 9P148 Konkurs launching a missile during a military exercise.
Romanian 9P133 "Malyutka" launching a missile during a military exercise.

Former operators

Russian BRDM-2 converted into a civilian amphibious transport vehicle

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 "Samochód opancerzony BRDM-2", Militarium.net (in Polish), retrieved 21 September 2011
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide". Inetres.com (6 April 2009). Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Notes on the Soviet Ground Forces, 70735, Ministry of Defence, OCLC 506052583
  4. 1 2 3 4 "FAS". "FAS". Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  5. ↑ Archived 11 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. 1 2 2. Militarium.net (18 August 2008). Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  7. 1 2 Newsline 4/2001. (PDF). Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Army Recognition Alain Servaes. "Land Combat Expo 2004 Pictures picture photo image Military Exhibition of latest high military technology Patrick Henry village Heidelberg Germany United States Army salon militaire sur les dernires technologies militaires de l'arme amricaine Heidelberg Allemagne". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. ↑ MON. MON. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  10. 1 2 Altair – R-wto 03/2007 – Kołowa aberracja. Altair.com.pl. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  11. ↑ Steenkamp, Willem (2006) [1985]. Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola. 1975-1980 (3rd ed.). Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing (published 1 March 2006). ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. ↑ First Battle of Mariupol
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 "JED The Military Equipment Directory"(registration required)
  14. ↑ ""Ronaldo" — Azerbaijani modernization BRDM-2". Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  15. ↑ "Azerbaijan's BRDM-2 Upgrade: ZKDM". Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  16. ↑ "Azerbaijan maintains modernization of BTR-70 and BRDM-2". Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  17. ↑ БРДМ-2МБ1 – МОДЕРНИЗАЦИЯ БРДМ-2 – ОАО "140 Ремонтный завод". 140zavod.org (24 February 2011). Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  18. ↑ M1992 – Military-Today.com
  19. ↑ http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8722/irak22rp.jpg
  20. ↑ http://www.arms-expo.ru/049051124051052052050051.html
  21. ↑ "Kurjak" armyrecognition.com
  22. ↑ KMDB – Modernization of the BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicle. Morozov.com.ua. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  23. ↑ Algerian army armyrecognition.com
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Deagel BRDM-2. Deagel.com (10 March 2011). Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  25. ↑ Egyptian army armyrecognition.com
  26. ↑ "Armament of the Georgian Army". Geo-army.ge. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  27. ↑ "Baltijas valstu armijas: Igaunijai 88 bruņutransportieri, Lietuvai 197, Latvijai – 0". nra.lv. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "$52m Czech Deal with Libyan Military". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  29. ↑ Czech firms arrange deal to sell armoured vehicles to Libya
  30. ↑ Malian army land ground armed forces. ArmyRecognition.com. Retrieved on 2013-02-11.
  31. ↑ Армии стран мира : Вооруженные силы иностранных государств на 2001 год : М. Soldiering.ru. Retrieved on 2012-12-19.
  32. ↑ http://www.iss.co.za/Af/profiles/Namibia/SecInfo.html
  33. ↑ Eric Micheletii & Jérôme Palmade, 'L'Autorité Palestinienne et la nouvelle Intifada' in 'Israel-Palestine – L'Appel aux Armes', RAIDS Hors-Serie nº2, Histoire & Collections, Paris 2000, PP. 54–56. (in French)
  34. ↑ IISS Military Balance 2010. Iiss.org. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  35. ↑ Russian Army Equipment. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  36. ↑ BRDM-2. Russian Military Analysis. Retrieved on 26 September 2013.
  37. ↑ 44. Armored-mechanized Battalion. Vojska.net. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.
  38. ↑ Turkmen-Army Equipment. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 21 September 2011.

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