BMP-1

BMP-1
BMP-1 at Bolling Air Force Base, 1 January 1986.
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1966 - present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	See Service history and Combat history
Production history
Designer	P. P. Isakov (design bureau of ChTZ)
Designed	1961 - 1965
Manufacturer	Kurgan Engineering Works (KMZ) (USSR) ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom (Czechoslovakia) Military Motorization Works No. 5 (Poland) See also Production history section for details.
Produced	1966 - 1983 (in USSR)
No. built	More than 20,000 of all variants (USSR) About 2,100 (PRC) About 1,994 (Czechoslovakia) 1,680 (Poland) 800 (India)
Variants	BMP-1, BMP-2, MLI-84, Boragh, see also BMP-1 variants.
Specifications (Ob'yekt 765Sp3)
Mass	13.2 tonnes
Length	6.735 m (22.1 ft)
Width	2.94 m (9.65 ft)
Height	2.068 m (1.881 m to a turret top)
Crew	3 (commander, driver and gunner) (+ 8 troopers)
Armor	Welded rolled steel 26-33 mm gun mantlet 23 mm at 42° turret front 19 mm at 36° turret side 13 mm at 30° turret rear 6 mm turret top 7 mm at 80° upper hull front 19 mm at 57° hull lower front 16 mm at 14° hull upper side 18 mm at 0° hull lower side 16 mm at 19° hull rear 6 mm hull top 7 mm hull belly rear
Main armament	73 mm 2A28 "Grom" low pressure smoothbore short-recoil semi-automatic gun (40 rounds) 9S428 ATGM launcher (4 + 1 rounds)
Secondary armament	7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun (2,000 rounds)
Engine	UTD-20, 6-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water cooled multifuel 15.8 litre diesel 300 hp (224 kW) at 2,600 rpm
Power/weight	22.7 hp/tonne (17.0 kW/tonne)
Suspension	individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers of 1st and 6th road wheels
Ground clearance	370 mm
Fuel capacity	122 gal (462 l)
Operational range	600 km (road) 500 km (off-road)
Maximum speed	65 km/h (40 mph) (road) 45 km/h (28 mph) (off-road) 7-8 km/h (4.4-5 mph) (on water)

BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally "Combat Vehicle of Infantry") . The BMP-1 is the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle. It was called the M-1967 and BMP by NATO before its correct designation was known.

It was a revolutionary design, combining properties of an armoured personnel carrier and a light tank. The Soviet military leadership saw any future wars as being conducted with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Unprotected infantry in such a conflict would soon be either killed or incapacitated by radiation or chemical and biological agents. A vehicle like the BMP would allow infantry to operate from the relative safety of its armoured radiation shielded interior in contaminated areas and to fight alongside it in uncontaminated areas, while at the same time increasing the fire support, the mobility of infantry squad and the ability to fight alongside main battle tanks.

The BMP-1 was first tested in combat in the 1973 Yom Kippur War where it was used by Egyptian and Syrian forces. Based on lessons learned from this conflict and early experiences in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, a version with improved fighting qualities, the BMP-2 was developed. It was accepted into service in August 1980.

In 1987, the BMP-3, a radically redesigned vehicle with a completely new weapon system, entered service in limited numbers with the Soviet Army.

Development

Genesis

In late 1950s it became apparent that the armament of a typical APC wasn't strong enough for the modern battlefield. One of the standard Soviet APCs of 1950s, the wheeled BTR-152, could be armed with three 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine guns (one in the front and two on the sides), the most common armament was only one 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun, nevertheless. The tracked BTR-50 APC could be armed armed with a 7.62 mm SGMB medium machine gun or 7.62 mm PKB general purpose machine gun (BTR-50P and BTR-50PK) or 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun (BTR-50PA). Also, the armour of Soviet APCs was rather weak and couldn't withstand fire from .50 cal heavy machine guns which were used by NATO units. Both APCs (BTR-152 and BTR-50) had open troop compartment and were unable to operate under conditions of nuclear warfare.

It was decided that a completely new vehicle for transporting infantry and operating together with tanks was needed. It was supposed to be tracked, equipped with NBC protection system, armed with much more powerful armament than the BTR-50PA APC and able to destroy enemy main battle tanks of the time.

Requirements for the BMP were first drawn up in the late 1950s. The requirements stressed speed, maneuverability, operational range, armament, weight, amphibious capability, protection of troopers and the ability for all squad members to fire from within the vehicle. BMP should have the maneuverability, the off-road speed and the operational range similar to tanks which closely interacted with infantry during battles. The armament was supposed to provide direct support for dismounted infantry in attack and defense and was supposed to be able to easily destroy enemy armoured vehicles.

The armour was required to protect to the crew and passengers from .50 cal armour-piercing bullets and 20-23 mm caliber autocannons across the frontal arc as well as from light shell fragments at a distance from 500 m to 800 m (the distance of infantrymen dismounting onto the battlefield during an attack of the first line of enemy defense). Side armour should withstood 7.62 mm armour-piercing bullets from distance of 75 m. The requirements also included an NBC protection system, observation devices similar to those used in main battle tanks and radio set capable of communicating with unit commanders as well as tanks.

One of the primary inspirations for the design was the German HS.30 armoured personnel carrier, which was armed with a 20 mm autocannon. The original specification called for the vehicle to be armed with a 23 mm autocannon, however this was not seen as powerful enough against main battle tanks. Instead a combination of the 73 mm 2A28 "Grom" low pressure smoothbore semi-automatic gun firing rocket-assisted projectiles and the newly developed 9S428 ATGM launcher for the 9M14 "Malyutka" (AT-3 Sagger) ATGMs were chosen. The gun was intended to engage enemy armoured vehicles and firing points out to a range of 1,300 meters while the missile was intended to be used against targets that were further away (from 500 m to 3,000 m). The smoothbore gun and the ATGM launching system were to be mounted in a compact one-man turret from Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau (KBP).

Prototypes

The requirements were issued to the various design bureaus between 1959 and 1960. There was a question as to whether the BMP should be tracked or wheeled, so a number of experimental configurations were explored including hybrid wheeled/tracked designs. The prototypes (designated as "objects" according to Soviet classification) were:

• Ob'yekt 1200 from Bryansk Automobile Works (BAZ), 1964 - An 8 wheeled design, similar to the BTR-60PB APC. Like the said APC, Ob'yekt 1200 prototype had a rear engine design which counted against it. It was eliminated because its cross-country ability (especially in snow and deep mud) was similarly mediocre to the said APC due to the overweight of 8 x 8 chassis.
• Ob'yekt 911 from Volgograd Tractor Works (VTZ), chief designer I. V. Gavalov, 1964 - A hybrid tracked design, with 4 additional retractable wheels for high speed road travel. The complex hybrid design was felt to offer no advantages.
• Ob'yekt 914 from Volgograd Tractor Works (VTZ), chief designer I. V. Gavalov, 1964 - A tracked design. Based on PT-76 amphibious light tank chassis with the similar armament as other BMP prototypes (but Ob'yekt 914 was also armed with two 7.62 mm PKT tank machine guns mounted in the hull on both sides of the driver). It weighed 14.4 tonnes. It had a crew of two and could transport up to eight fully equipped soldiers (two of whom operated the mentioned PKT machine guns). The rear engine design counted against it, forcing infantry to mount and dismount through the single door in the rear of the right hand side of the vehicle and roof hatches. Also it was felt that the Ob'yekt 764 had a better layout.
• Ob'yekt 19 from Altai Tractor Works in Rubtsovsk, 1965 - A 4 x 4 wheeled design with additional retractable tracks between the wheel axles for crossing rough ground. Once again the very complicated hybrid design was felt to offer no clear advantages over a tracked design.
• Ob'yekt 764 from Chelyabinsk Tractor Works (ChTZ), chief designer P. P. Isakov, 1964-1965 - The main prototype of BMP-1 equipped with a waterjet for swimming which was removed later on to safe the space inside of the vehicle. After it passed the trials, it was improved and became the eventual BMP-1 (Ob'yekt 765).

Ob'yekt 765

Three view BMP-1 (Ob'yekt 765Sp1) graphic.

The tracked Ob'yekt 764 was chosen after a few improvements because its front engine design provided convenient and fast way of mounting and dismounting the infantry through two rear doors and four roof hatches. Thanks to its rather weak armor, the BMP weighed very little for the vehicle of its size and had the capability of amphibious travel with almost no preparation. Also Ob'yekt 764 had a new type of tracks similar to those developed for the T-64 main battle tank and steering column which provided good maneuverability at high speeds.

The original production prototype made in 1965 was designated BMP (BMP-76PB by NATO). Small scale production began in 1966 at Chelyabinsk to permit field trials, a new assemble center for IFVs in Kurgan was built that time. A number of defects were corrected between 1966 and 1970 resulting in four slightly different production design variants of the first models (Ob'yekt 765Sp1 and Ob'yekt 765Sp2). The key changes made to the design were:

• The suspension was strengthened to cope with high speeds.
• A new chemical filter system was fitted on the left hand side of a turret in addition to the already existing radiological protection system.
• Openly mounted air filtration system was moved from the left hand side of a hull to a separate compartment inside the vehicle behind the commander's station.
• The fume extractors for the firing ports were moved to eject the fumes to the rear of the vehicle.
• The trim board was modified.
• The new air intake was fitted with a low snorkel to prevent water from flooding the vehicle while swimming.
• Fender profile was modified.
• Detachable hatch cover over the engine compartment was replaced with the hinget cover.
• Commander's hatch was fitted with torsion bar, troop hatches were fitted with key locks.
• Tool stowage boxes on the fenders were removed.
• Firing ports (one on each side) were provided for squad's PKM general purpose machine gun.
• 9S428 ATGM launcher was improved to fire 9M14M "Malyutka-M" (AT-3B Sagger B) ATGMs.
• The nose section of the hull was modified and extended by 250 mm to shift the center of gravity to prevent the nose section from being too heavy which often could cause "submarining" in water. The height of the hull was slightly increased for the same purpose.

The further improvements included a new 1PN22M2 sight, OG-15V HE-Frag rounds for the 73 mm 2A28 "Grom" low pressure smoothbore short-recoil semi-automatic gun, traffic signalization system (six marker lights and one stop light), removal of an autoloader and many small details (for example, mount of a trim vane on six hinges instead of two, improved hermetic sealing of commander's hatch, new construction of gunner's seat, etc.). All those changes resulted in the combat weight increasing from 13.0 tonnes to 13.2 tonnes. The series production of the final production model, the Ob'yekt 765Sp3 (NATO: BMP-1 Model 1970), began at the Kurgan Engineering Works in 1973.

Description

BMP-1 at 1^st Armoured Division museum, Baumholder, Germany.

Overview

The BMP-1 is a fully amphibious tracked vehicle, with a chassis developed especially for it, a welded steel hull with a sharp, sloping front with a conspicuously ridged surface as well as with side pockets, an engine compartment at the front, centrally located, extremely flat, truncated cone turret and a troop compartment at the rear. It was designed to assist the infantry and main battle tanks in rapid maneuvers during an assault.

Two Bulgarian Army soldiers man the driver's and gunner's stations while a U.S. Army soldier mans the commander's station of a Bulgarian BMP-1 IFV during military operations in urban terrain training at the Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria, 19 August 2006. Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are visible in the background.

Driver's station

The driver sits on the left side of the front of the hull. The driver has a single piece hatch opening to the right with three TNPO-170 periscope vision blocks around it to provide vision when the hatch is closed. The periscope vision blocks have a hydropneumatic cleaning system. The driver's center periscope vision block can be replaced with a TVNO-2 active night binocular vision device for use in night and bad visibility conditions or with a TNPO-350B extended periscope for swimming with the trim vane erected. The driver operates with a dash board, T-shaped steering wheel, three pedals, two levers on the steering tube and other controls. Hydraulic system helps the driver to handle the transmission and there is an emergency pneumatic system if the hydraulic fails. There are two headlights mounted on the front corners of the hull, the right one of which is the FG-125 infra-red lamp.

Commander's station

The commander's station is located behind the driver's station and is provided with a hatch cover which can be rotated through full 360°. It is fitted with a manually removable OU-3GA2 infrared searchlight controlled from inside of the vehicle, a dual mode (day/night) TKN-3B 5x/4.2x magnification binocular vision device coupled with the infrared searchlight and two periscope vision blocks with a hydropneumatic cleaning system. All the mentioned vision devices are rotated along with the commander's hatch cover. The commander's station is equipped with a R-123M radio set for communication with other BMPs, infantry, unit commanders and main battle tanks. When the squad dismounts, the commander of the vehicle leads the dismounted squad. That is why some sources say that the crew of BMP-1 consists of 2 men and the vehicle can carry 9 troopers. The commander's vision devices are located very low and the turret is blocking part of his rear view to the right, so the trooper siting next to the right rear door informs the commander via intercom about combat situation in this sector.

Gunner's station

Gunner's station of a BMP-1 training turret at Parola Tank Museum, Finland, 14 July 2006. Notice the ammunition stowage.

The gunner's station is located inside and under the turret, on the left side of the main gun. The gunner has a single piece hatch that opens forwards on the left hand side of the top of the turret, a dual mode (day/night) 1PN22M1 6x/6.7x magnification image intensifying monocular periscope sight in front of the hatch (it was replaced by the 1PN22M2 sight with additional OG scale for the OG-15V HE-Frag rounds in the Ob'yekt 765Sp3 produced from July 1974), four day periscope vision blocks, an optical rangefinder and a small removable infrared or white-light searchlight on top of the turret on the right hand side of the hatch coupled with the main gun. The 1PN22M1 sight has a maximum of 400 m (900 m with the use of active night vision device) at night. The gunner measures the range to the target by checking the height of the target indicated by the optical rangefinder (the scale used by it is a 2.7 m tall target).

Turret

BMP-1 training turret at Parola Tank Museum, Finland, 14 July 2006.

BMP-1 has a truncated cone cast turret of a "reversed frying pan" shape with a welded roof located to the commander's right rear. The turret is equipped with a semiconductor electric drive and emergency manual control is also provided if the power should fail. The main gun has a dead-zone over the commander's hatch (between the 10:00 and 11:00 o'clock positions), where the gun must be elevated over the infra-red searchlight to avoid crushing it. There is an automatic power cut-off that halts the movement of the turret when it reaches the border of the dead zone and makes sure that the turret will not move in that direction until the gun is fully elevated. The infra-red searchlight can be removed before combat to avoid such problems, though rotating the gun into the dead-zone prevents the commander's hatch from opening. Also when the gun is facing backwards it prevents hatches on top of the troop compartment from opening, it is prohibited to face the gun backwards during swimming to avoid crushing the retractable engine snorkel. The low profile of the turret means that the barrel of the gun is less than six feet off the ground, so it cannot be fired over the heads of advancing infantry. On the other hand, the low profile of the turret makes it a difficult target for enemy fire. It is an identical turret as the one used in BMD-1.

Armament

Detail view of the BMP-1's turret on display at Bolling Air Force Base, 1 October 1986

The main armament of the BMP-1 is the 73 mm 2A28 "Grom" low pressure smoothbore semi-automatic gun with wedge breechblock. It is fed from a 40 round mechanized conveyor double-row magazine located around the turret ring. The rounds are vertically stored. Such solution allows the single man (gunner) inside the turret to operate the gun. The gun is moved in horizontal and vertical planes by an electromechanical system with pulse regulation of direction rate, there is also a duplicate manual mechanical system for moving the gun if the electromechanical system was to fail. The maximal horizontal and vertical direction rate with the use of electromechanical system is correspondingly 20 °/s and 6 °/s. The minimal horizontal and vertical direction rate is correspondingly 0.1 °/s and 0.07 °/s. The gun can be depressed or elevated between –4° and +33° (aimed fire is possible up to +15°) and has a 360° degree traverse. The insignificant gun depression angle is determined by the low turret and shape of the front part of the hull, but elevation angle is comparable with similar foreign light AFVs (for example, Swedish CV90 IFV or British FV101 Scorpion light tank). The maximal cyclic rate of fire is between 8 and 10 rounds per minute, with the gun returning to an elevation of +3°30' to reload after each shot if the autoloader is used. The gun is reloaded by the M3 electromechanical autoloader with ammunition conveyor but can be reloaded by hand if necessary. The autoloader is not without flaws: it was not reliable (broken quite often because of vibration while the vehicle is moving at high speeds over rough ground) and it was quite dangerous to the gunner as it could damage his fingers if the gunner is not careful. The autoloader also has a low maximum rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute while the skilled gunner could easily get a rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute. Because of these drawbacks the autoloader was removed in ob'yekt 765Sp3 and Finnish BMP-1 IFVs. Also some army units removed the autoloader immediately when new BMP-1 IFVs were delivered from the manufacturer (mechanized conveyor ammunition magazine was preserved).

The gun fires the same projectiles as the SPG-9 infantry light recoilless gun but with smaller propellent charge. 2A28 "Grom" smoothbore gun can fire two types of ammunition: the PG-15V HEAT fixed fin-stabilized rocket-assisted round (3,47 kg with 0.322 kg of RDX charge in PG-9 grenade) and OG-15V HE-Frag fixed fin-stabilized rocket-assisted round (4.57 kg with 0.73 kg of TNT charge in OG-9 grenade). The muzzle velocity is 290 m/s for OG-9 and 400 m/s for PG-9, after the projectile has left the barrel, a rocket motor initiates, taking the projectile to around 700 m/s. The 73 mm HEAT-FS projectile fired by the gun can penetrate from 280 mm to 350 mm of steel armour (the front armor of NATO main battle tanks of 1970s like the US M60A1, British Chieftain or German Leopard 1). The gun of the BMP-1 is unable to destroy the front armour of modern NATO main battle tanks such as US M1A1 Abrams, British Challenger or German Leopard 2 but it can penetrate side armour of these tanks in some areas. However the projectile with quite low flight speed tends to "shuttlecock" in high winds and thus is unreliable in such conditions. OG-15V HE-Frag rounds were introduced in July 1974 (Ob'yekt 765Sp3) to increase the firepower against enemy unarmored or lightly armoured vehicles as well as infantry and firing points. They should be loaded by hand as the autoloader was removed in Ob'yekt 765Sp3. The maximum effective range of the 2A28 "Grom" gun with the use of OG-15V HE-Frag round is 4,500 meters. On proving grounds the gun averaged 765 meters while firing a PG-15V HEAT-FS round to a 2 meter tall target while the vehicle facing strait towards it and it was able to destroy enemy tanks at a maximum effective range of 1,300 meters (400 meters in night conditions).

Detail view of the Czech BPzV-1's turret, 2 July 2005. Note the ATGM launcher for 9M14M "Malyutka-M" ATGM

On the right hand side of the main gun is a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT tank machine gun for which the BMP-1 carries 2,000 rounds in belts in ten boxes located inside the hull under and behind the turret. The machine gun has a rate of fire around 200-250 rounds/min.

The 2A28 "Grom" gun and PKT coaxial machine gun cannot be accurately fired while the vehicle is on the move over rough ground due to the complicated gun loading mechanism and the lack of stabilization. This makes the BMP-1's main armament less capable than stabilized autocannons which can be fired accurately while the vehicle is on the move. Because of the limited gun depression, the BMP-1 is unable to engage tanks and APCs using 2A28 "Grom" gun from all hull-down positions on rough ground and so the vehicle is quite vulnerable to enemy fire when it exposes itself to engage enemy armored targets. But it should be noted that low profile of BMP-1's hull and turret makes its detection and destruction during such kind of engagements harder. The elevation angle of 2A28 "Grom" gun, its firepower and accuracy of fire against point targets at ranges between 500 m to 700 m were not sufficient for battles in the mountains which was shown during the Soviet War in Afghanistan.

Mounted on the movable gun mantlet is the 9S428 ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M14 "Malyutka" (NATO: AT-3 Sagger) and 9M14M "Malyutka-M" (NATO: AT-3B Sagger B) ATGMs intended to be used against enemy main battle tanks and other AFVs at distances from 500 m to 3000 m. The said ATGMs can penetrate up to 560 mm of steel armour (NATO standard at the time). The ATGM launcher consists of a bracket, a removable launching rail and a control equipment. BMP-1 carries 5 ATGMs (one on the launching rail, two inside the turret and two inside the hull). The weight of 9M14M "Malyutka-M" ATGM is 10.9 kg. The launching rail with the ATGM is located in ammunition stowage inside the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, and the gunner mounts the launching rail on the external bracket before entering combat. The gunner uses special small hatch to reload the ATGM launcher from within the vehicle which takes about 50 seconds. He guides the launched ATGM by wire using control console with a joystick. The control console for the 9M14/9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM is normally kept under the gunner's seat and is released by pulling a handle when needed. The ATGM launching is possible during day conditions only because of an absence of corresponding night sight. Besides such advantages as interference immunity and simple control equipment, wire-guided ATGM also has significant disadvantages: limitation of a flight speed, response delay, impossibility to load a new ATGM until the previous one reaches the target and a very long minimal range of 500 m. Also successful usage of 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM while the vehicle is on the move requires a very skilled gunner. BMP-1 IFVs that are not modernized to BMP-1P level now in Russian service use improved 9M14P "Malyutka-P" (NATO: AT-3C Sagger C) ATGMs with semi-automatic control, but much more modern 9M14-2 "Malyutka-2" (NATO: AT-3D Sagger D) ATGMs (developed in 1995) with tandem shape-charge or high-explosive thermobaric warhead can also be used.

The BMP-1 was a threat to NATO APCs, light AFVs and even main battle tanks of its time by using the PG-15V HEAT-FS rocket-assisted projectiles and the 9M14M "Malyutka-M" ATGMs. Nevertheless, it should be noted that strong anti-tank trend of BMP-1 armament didn't provide sufficient firepower against enemy unarmored vehicles, infantry, firing points and light fortified positions, especially during mountain battles. Also the BMP-1 lacked any kind of weapons that could be used to defend itself against strike fighters and helicopters (not all BMP-1 IFVs were equipped with MANPADS carried inside the troop compartment which are mentioned in the Equipment section). Only appearance of the BMP-2 armed with the 30 mm 2A42 all-purpose autocannon with two-belt loading system and very high elevation angle solved this drawback to some degree.

Troop compartment

An exterior view of the troop compartment of the BMP-1 IFV in Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel, Latrun, 2005.

Iraqi Republican Guard BMP-1 damaged during Operation Desert Storm, 28 February 1991. Notice the visible interior of the troop compartment.

The troop compartment located at the rear of the vehicle can carry up to eight troopers. There are four firing ports on each side of the vehicle and a single firing port in the left rear door. Soldiers sit on two benches along the center line of the vehicle and are facing to sides. Electric batteries, electric equipment and the main fuel tank are located between the benches. There are 4 large D-shaped hatches in the back of the roof of the hull which are opened from the troop compartment. The airtight closed rear doors of troop compartment actually contain addition fuel tanks with 60 liters of fuel in the left door and 70 liters in the right, but the Soviet/Russian regulations say that door fuel tanks must be pumped over and filled with sand as additional protection of troopers before entering combat zones. There are eight TNPO-170 periscopic prismatic vision blocks (four on each side). The firing ports are covered with additional drop-shaped covers that allow the troopers to fire assault rifles (AK-47 or AKM) from inside of the vehicle while on the move, two out of the eight side firing ports allow to fire light and general purpose machine guns (RPK/RPK-74 or PK/PKM). Each firing port is equipped with a fume exhaust fan and a small shield to protect the neighboring trooper from empty cartridge cases. The trooper siting next to the right rear door doesn't have a firing port in the door, he is the troop commander and communicates with the BMP commander via the intercom system.

Maneuverability

The 300 horsepower (224 kW) UTD-20 6-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water cooled diesel engine sits along with the transmission and engine cooling system, in the heat- and sound-proof compartment on the right of the front of the hull, next to the ammunition storage area around the turret. The fact that the vehicle has a single engine-transmission unit makes it easier to replace it during repairs. The diesel is multifuel and can use DL diesel fuel (summer) or DZ diesel fuel (winter) or TS-1 kerosene. The engine drives a manual gearbox with five forward gears and one reverse gear. The transmission also consists of a multi-plate main clutch of metal contact, two planetary double-reduction steering gears and two planetary single-reduction final drive groups. The BMP-1 has a maximum speed of 65 km/h on road, 45 km/h off-road and 7-8 km/h while swimming. However, early production models could maintain top road speed only for relatively short periods of time because of the high level of vibration and the possibility of transmission failure, those problems were later solved to some degree. It can cross 0.7 meter high vertical obstacles, 2.5 meter wide trenches, 25° side slopes and climb 35° gradients. The track is driven at the front and passes over six unevenly spaced rubber tired road wheels, which resemble the ones used in PT-76 amphibious light tank, suspended on independent torsion bars. Each first and last road wheel has a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber. There is an idler wheel at the rear, a front drive sprocket with detachable sprocket rings (lantern-wheel gear) and three rubber tired aluminum return rollers. The steel track itself is a double-pin type with rubber-metal joints. The track is 300 millimeters wide and has 84 links. There is a special snow/mud remover in front of each idler wheel. BMP-1 has a low ground pressure (0.6 kg/sq.cm) and is able to cross snow-covered and boggy terrain. It has the range, off-road speed and cross-country ability necessary to keep up with the fast-moving main battle tanks it normally follows in offensive formations.

Amphibious ability

Two US marines lower the trim vane on the front of an Iraqi BMP-1 IFV captured during Operation Desert Storm, 17 March 1991

The BMP-1 is amphibious, propelling itself in the water using hydrodynamic fairings of track upper side covers to convert track momentum into water jets. The top swimming speed is 7-8 km/h while the reverse speed is 2 km/h. Turns are performed by change of wind speed of one of the tracks. The shape of the hull and some elements (hollow road wheels and road wheel arms with air chambers) improve the displacement in water. The BMP-1 can overcome water barriers with current speed up to 1.2 m/s and waves up to 0.25 m high. More challenging conditions require engineer support. Before entering the water a trim vane at the front of the hull must be erected with the help of pneumatic drive to improve the vehicle's stability and displacement in water as well as to prevent the water from flooding the bow of the BMP-1. While in its traveling position it serves as additional front armor. The pneumatic drive also erects the engine snorkel behind the turret. The engine valve of dust extraction is closed simultaneously with erection of the trim vane and the snorkel. The driver's center periscope must be swapped for a TNPO-350B special periscope that enables the driver to see over the trim vane, the driver can use GPK-59 gyrocompass in conditions of landmark absence. The rear doors of troop compartment must be closed airtight using bolt bar mechanism. Engine and troop compartments are equipped with three bilge pumps which are recommended to switch on before entering the water. Instructions for a crew require that in case of loss of engine power while on the water the driver should run the engine ones more but only if the water entry protection automatic mechanism of engine valves works properly, otherwise he must inform the unit commander using the radio set and ask for amphibious tractor because the vehicle can be carried away by strong currents since the BMP-1 lacks an anchor.

Armour protection

The vehicle's armor is welded rolled steel varying in line of sight thickness between 6 mm on the top of the hull and the turret at 0°, 7 mm on the bottom of the hull's rear at 0° and on upper front of the hull at 80°, 13 mm on the rear of the turret at 30°, 16 mm on the upper side of the hull at 14° and on rear of the hull at 19°, 18 mm on the lower side of the hull at 0°, 19 mm on the lower front of the hull at 57° and the turret side at 36°, 23 mm on front of the turret at 42° and 26-33 mm on the mantlet of the main gun. The original requirements called for protection against 23 mm armor-piercing rounds across the frontal arc from a range of between 500 m and 800 m and for protection against 7.62 mm armor-piercing bullets across the side and rear arcs from a range of 75 m. Its steeply-sloped front armor was proof against small artillery shell fragments, small arms fire and the existing .50 caliber (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun fire over the 60° of the frontal arc. The very high angle of front armor slope increased the probability of bound shots, trim vane in traveling position serves as additional front armor. On most examples the front armor is immune to 20 mm Oerlikon autocannon fire from the distances longer than 100 m, but armor quality varies quite significantly with nationality of a factory. Examples where the dent marks of factory certification firings are recognizable on all the major armor plates are usually better protected. The side, rear and top armor do not protect the BMP-1 against heavy machine gun fire from close distances and bigger artillery shell fragments (even though the side, rear and top armor protects the BMP-1 against 7.62 mm small arms fire, 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun fire with the use of armor-piercing bullets can sometimes penetrate hatches from close distances which was demonstrated in Afghanistan and Chechnya). During the First Persian Gulf War armor protection of BMP vehicles proved vulnerable to armor-piercing rounds of US M2/M3 Bradley's 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocannon. During the intense fighting in Chechnya, no penetrations of BMP-1/BMD-1 turret front armour were noticed because the turret made for a small target and had relatively thick front armour in comparison with other parts of the vehicle.

Equipment

BMP-1 has a capability to make its own smoke screen by injecting vaporized diesel fuel into the exhaust manifold (TDA engine smoke generating system). Late production models of BMP-1 were additionally fitted with six 81 mm 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers on the rear of the turret.

The vehicle is equipped with navigational equipment (GPK-59 gyrocompass) which is recommended to redirect hourly to hold the right course; R-123M radio set; R-124 intercom; automatic engine compartment fire protection system (there is also the OU-2 portable fire extinguisher in the troop compartment); three bulge pomps; exhaust ventilation and heating systems of habitable compartments and NBC automatic protection system including radiation and chemical agent survey meter, sealing devices and air filtration unit.

When the NBC protection system is buttoned-up, the crew and the passengers are protected from chemical weapons, biological agents and nuclear fallout by an air filtration and over-pressure system. This allows the vehicle to operate in contaminated environments. In the event of a nuclear explosion or chemical attack, the system automatically detects the radiation or chemical agents and seals the vehicle, it is also possible to operate it manually from the driver's station.

Many BMP-1 IFVs were provided with one RPG-7/RPG-7V shoulder-launched anti-tank rocket propelled grenade weapon (for which it carried five PG-7 grenades) or one 9K32 Strela-2/9K38 Igla man-portable anti-aircraft missile launcher (for which it carried two missiles). RPG-7/RPG-7V or 9K32 "Strela-2"/9K38 "Igla" can be used by a trooper staying in one of the four opened hatches on the rear of the hull roof even while the vehicle is on the move. Ammunition stowage for BMP-1 crewmembers includes two AKM assault rifles, ten F-1 hand grenades and signaling pistol with twelve rockets.

Modernizations

File:BMP-1P.gif

BMP-1P (Ob'yekt765Sp4).

In the mid 1970s, after analysis of the use of light AFVs during the Yom Kippur War, Angolan Civil War and Vietnam War, a modernization program was made resulting in the BMP-1P (Ob'yekt 765Sp4) with increased fire power against enemy AFVs. The main changes were the replacement of the 9S428 ATGM launcher for 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM with a more reliable, more long-range and more powerful 9P135M or 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher. It was mounted on a special pintle mount on top of the turret's roof and could fire the SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" ATGMs which increased armor penetration ability up to 670 mm and extended weapon range up to 4,000 m. The 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher was also capable of firing 9M111 "Fagot" and 9M111-2 "Fagot" ATGMs. The "Malyutka" loading hatch was usually welded shut and the mounting bracket was removed. The new missiles were somewhat difficult to use since the gunner had to actually stand out in his open hatch on top of the turret to use the weapons, exposing himself to hostile fire. It is possible to remove 9P135M(1) ATGM launcher from the turret and to use it from the ground also. BMP-1P was equipped with a neutron weapon protection covering and a new fire-extinguishing system for protection against napalm. Later BMP-1P IFVs were fitted an array of six 902V "Tucha" 81 millimeter calibre smoke grenade launchers in the rear of the turret, some vehicles were equipped with track-width KMT-10 mine plow. The BMP-1P replaced the BMP-1 in production in 1979 and many BMP-1 IFVs were upgraded to the standard during the 1980s.

The BMP-1PG model was additionally armed with 30 mm AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher on the left hand side of the top of the turret for which it carries 290 grenades. Some BMP-1 IFVs were additionally armed with 30 mm AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher during preventive and major repairs (Ob'yekt 765Sp8).

Non-amphibious BMP-1D (so called "Afghan" variant) was made in 1982 for Soviet assault units in Afghanistan. It had 5 mm thick appliqué steel armour plates on the hull sides with holes for side firing ports as well as armor plate under commander's and driver's seats for protection against mines. It also had large steel armour sideskirts fitted to the sides of the hull covering the suspension. Firing ports were added into the top hatches of the troop compartment and a stowage box was placed on the roof of the rear of the hull (some vehicles didn't have it). 9S428 ATGM launcher was often removed and replaced by 30 mm AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher in field conditions.

Owing to experiences in Afghanistan, a new version with enhanced fighting capabilities, the BMP-2, was introduced in 1980. It had a new two-man turret armed with a 30 mm 2A42 multipurpose autocannon and 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" as well as 9M111 "Fagot" and 9M111-2 "Fagot" ATGMs.

File:BMP-1 with Kliver turret.jpg

BMP-1M fitted with TKB-799 "Kliver" one-man weapons station.

Later modernization plans included mounting the turret of the BMD-2 IFV on BMP-1 IFVs but such vehicle never left the design phase. Modern modernizations of BMP-1 IFVs include mounting the new types of turrets armed with a 25 mm or 30 mm autocannon or TKB-799 "Kliver" one-man weapons station with a computerized fire control system, armed with a missile pod (which can be armed with either four 9M133 "Kornet" (AT-14 Spriggan) or 9M133F "Kornet" ATGMs or 9K38 "Igla" (SA-18 Grouse) SAMs), a 30 mm 2A72 multipurpose autocannon (which can be used against both ground targets and air targets) and a 7.62 mm PKTM coaxial tank machine gun (BMP-1M).

Models

Characteristics of the main models of BMP series

	BMP-1 ob'yekt 765Sp1	BMP-1 ob'yekt 765Sp2	BMP-1 ob'yekt 765Sp3	BMP-1P ob'yekt 765Sp4/5	BMP-2	BMP-3
Weight	12.6 tonnes	13.0 tonnes	13.2 tonnes	13.4 tonnes	14.0 tonnes	18.7 tonnes
Crew	3+8	3+8	3+8	3+8	3+7	3+7
Main gun	73 mm 2A28 "Grom" low pressure smoothbore semi-automatic gun				30 mm 2A42 autocannon	100 mm 2A70 rifled automatic gun/missile-launcher 30 mm 2A72 autocannon
Machine gun(s)	7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun					7.62 mm PKT coaxial general purpose machine gun 2x7.62 mm PKT bow mounted tank machine guns
ATGM	9M14 "Malyutka" or 9M14M "Malyutka" (AT-3 Sagger) or (AT-3B Sagger B)			9M113 "Konkurs" or 9M111 "Fagot" (AT-4 Spigot) or (AT-5 Spandrel)		9M117 "Bastion" (AT-10 Stabber)
Engine	UTD-20 6-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water cooled diesel developing 300 hp (224 kW) at 2,600 rpm				UTD-20S1 diesel developing 300 hp (224 kW) at 2,600 rpm	UTD-29M 10-cylinder diesel developing 500 hp (375 kW) at 2,600 rpm
Power to weight ratio	23.8 hp/tonne (17.8 kW/tonne)	23.1 hp/tonne (17.2 kW/tonne)	22.7 hp/tonne (17.0 kW/tonne)	22.4 hp/tonne (16.7 kW/tonne)	21.4 hp/tonne (16 kW/tonne)	26.7 hp/tonne (20 kW/tonne)

Protection issues

BMP-1 had a significant shortcoming in its protection scheme, which only became obvious during the Soviet War in Afghanistan. The one-man turret infantry fighting vehicle seats its driver and commander in a tandem layout, on the left hand side of the front of the hull alongside the diesel engine which is located on the right hand side of the front of the hull. When an antitank landmine hit BMP-1's left track, the explosion usually destroyed one to three left hand side roadwheels, penetrated the bottom and heavily wounded or killed the driver and the commander which cause painful losses of specialist personnel in the Soviet Army. Drivers laid sandbags on the bottom of the driver's station to protect themselves against possible mine explosions. The same kind of explosion under the right hand side track caused much less dramatic consequences for the driver and the commander who remained relatively safe. Also when a BMP-1 hit a tilt-rod antitank landmine, its steeply-sloped lower front glacis armour plate allowed the mine's arming rod to tilt with little resistance until the maximum deflection was reached with the mine already well under the chassis. When it eventually detonated, the blast usually heavily wounded or killed both the driver and the commander. Soviet 40th army in Afghanistan began to receive improved BMP-1D (so called "Afghan" variant) from 1982 onward which among other improvements included an additional armoured plate under driver's and commander's stations. This shortcoming was addressed in the later BMP-2 design, where the tank commander shares the two-man turret with the gunner. The driver's and engine compartments could be equipped with an additional bottom armour for guaranteed protection against landmines filled with up to 2.5 kg of explosives.

There is also a protection issue concerning the reloading of the 9M14 "Malyutka" and 9M14M "Malyutka-M" ATGMs in NBC conditions because doing it through the small hatch from inside the vehicle would destroy whatever value the fighting compartment's NBC protection suite had so it would impossible for the crew to repeatedly fire the ATGM launcher in NBC conditions. This continued and got worse in the BMP-1P and BMP-2 as they required the gunner to stand in his opened turret hatch while fixing of a new container with the 9M113 "Konkurs" ATGMs (the 9M111 "Fagot" ATGMs can be reload through the turret gunner's hatch from inside the vehicle although it would still be lethal in NBC conditions). This was so because Soviet designers came into conclusion that because the probability of nuclear warfare has significantly decreased in the beginning of 1970s, the further development of BMP-1 IFVs should be focused more on increasing the firepower of the vehicle rather than on improving the NBC protection suit or accommodating other parts of the vehicle to it (nevertheless, BMP-1P was equipped with a neutron weapon protection covering unlike the earlier models of BMP-1). It should be also noted that ATGM reloading system of the majority of foreign IFVs also requires to make contact with outer environment.

Iraqi BMP-1 IFV sits in a field after being hit several times and burnt during Operation Desert Storm, 1 February 1991.

Due to the compactness of the vehicle which most of the time is an advantage on a battlefield, critical areas such as the engine compartment and ammunition storage area, fuel cells and the troop compartment are located in such a manner (which became standard for many IFVs and APCs, nevertheless) that penetration anywhere on the said areas often will result in a mobility and/or firepower decrease and/or disabling of the personnel. The hull of BMP-1 also has quite many holes and hatches with covers (hatches over the engine compartment, holes for mounting of radiators, crew's hatches, hatches over the troop compartment, firing ports, large two-part door in the rear). Such technical solution decreases the armour protection in some degree but only in places which have a low probability of getting hit by enemy projectile. On the other hand, such solution decreases the armour weight and simplifies the technical maintenance of the vehicle (all panels can be removed by one man).

Two Iraqi BMP-1 IFVs destroyed in the Euphrates River Valley during Operation Desert Storm, 4 March 1991. The cause was most probably, the explosion of ammunition after the enemy projectiles hit their marks.

Rear view of Finnish BMP-1, showing the rear doors with the fuel tanks inside them. A T-72 main battle tank can be seen in the background.

BMP-1 and BMP-2 series of IFVs share a major drawback with many of the Soviet tanks. Because the ammunition is stored in storages near or even inside the fighting compartment which makes it more likely for them to be hit by an anti-tank shell or a missile across the side arc. When that happens, the ammo often explodes killing everyone and completely destroying the vehicle. During the intense fighting in Afghanistan and Chechnya, hits done by anti-tank rocket propelled grenades in 95% cases penetrated the BMP-1's armour which often resulted in vehicle burning until the flames caused the ammo to explode. Due to this limitation, Soviet/Russian soldiers customary rode outside the BMP-1, sitting on top of the hull while in combat zones. This tactic was also adopted by their American counterparts during the Vietnam war, who found their own M113 APCs vulnerable to the rocket propelled grenades. This limits the chance that a single RPG round killing or injuring all troopers being transported, but it has an obvious downside on the likelihood of passenger survivability in a war-zone. The bullet-proof armour of BMP-1 IFVs is also insufficient to deal with AP cannon rounds - a thick enough armour would considerably increase the weight of the BMP-1 and jeopardize the amphibious ability (which happen to the non-amphibious BMP-1D with additional side and bottom armour developed for Afghan theater of operations). Some military analysts support the idea to return back to the concept of open-topped APCs as the armour of light AFVs can not protect the crew from anti-tank weapons and modern APCs are used in local conflicts instead of hypothetical large-scale wars with the use of NBC weapons.

The problem most often cited by western analysts is the design of the main fuel tank. Due to the low profile of the vehicle the designers had to place the fuel tank between the two rows of outward-facing trooper seats, meaning that the infantrymen sit very close to the bulk of the vehicle fuel storage, with extra fuel carried in the hollow armoured rear doors. So hit with an incendiary round can send burning diesel fuel into the crew compartment, resulting in injuries or death of the infantrymen (if they have no possibility to leave the vehicle through four roof hatches because of intense enemy fire) and a possible explosion of the vehicle. However the rear door tanks are almost always empty when the BMP goes into combat as they are meant to increase the range of road travel of the vehicle. In intense war areas where the BMP sees action relatively often and relatively near to its base of operation, it is recommended to detach rear door tanks from the fuel system, fill them with sand as additional protection of troop compartment and add fuel to the internal main fuel tank from other sources if the need arises. Nonetheless, the inner fuel tank is more vulnerable than that of many modern IFVs - the thin side armour means powerful shots (like RPGs in Afghanistan and Chechnya) can pierce both the outside vehicle armour and the inner fuel tank.

Another question which is sometimes described at the moment as possible flaw of the BMP-1 is its troop seating scheme. In order to allow the infantrymen to use their assault rifles and machine guns while on the move to increase the firepower of the squad on the battlefield, firing ports were installed in the hull and soldiers are seated on two back-to-back benches, mounted along the center line of the troop compartment. In case the BMP rolled over a more advanced type of magnetic anti-tank land mine, the resulting explosion could kill the entire complement of infantrymen. In many other troop carriers, soldiers are seated on separate benches against the hull sides. Although this layout prohibits the use of infantry weapons from inside the troop compartment, in most cases of mine explosion the loss of life is significantly reduced, although loss of lower limbs is still frequent. It should be also noted that in practice, most conscript soldiers did not receive much training in firing from the vehicle while on the move. Even in case of professional soldiers, the unstabilized firing port periscopes made it difficult to conduct aimed fire while on the move at high speed over the rough terrain. Nevertheless, the capability of troopers to use their weapons from inside the vehicle is of extremelly importance during city combats and, especially, during repulsing of enemy ambush attacks.

Because the BMP-1 has no air conditioning or air cooling system, its crewmembers and troopers transported inside of it suffer a lot in hot climates as BMP-1's air filtration system and exhaust-ventilation fans of habitable compartments can't provide any comfort at high temperatures. During the Yom Kippur War crews kept some of the roof hatches open to avoid overheating which meant that they could be disabled by machine gun fire from infantry on higher ground shooting into open hatches. Only a few modern modernizations of BMP-1 which were originally intended to be exported to countries with hot climate (for example, Belorussia-Czech COBRA-S) are equipped with an air conditioning system. Meanwhile the cooling system for the engine is better, also thanks to its additional forced air cooling system of engine compartment and radiator. Ejector of exhaust system helps to remove exhaust gases together with hot air from the engine compartment through the grille located on the right-hand side of the hull roof in front of the turret, this also decreases the temperature of exhaust gases.

Production history

The BMP-1 went into production and service with the Soviet Army in 1966. The BMP-1 of the first series (ob'yekt 765Sp1) was produced until 1969 and was replaced by the slightly improved production model, the BMP-1 (ob'yekt 765Sp2) which was produced from 1969 until 1973. It was replaced by ob'yekt 765Sp3 which was a modernized and 200 kg heavier version. This model was produced from 1973 to 1979. A number of improvements were made to the reliability of the chassis, the engine and the transmission during mass production. The last produced version of the BMP-1 IFV (BMP-1P, ob'yekt 765Sp4), armed with a more powerful ATGM launcher 9P135M-1 for ATGM "Konkurs"/"Fagot", was produced from 1979 to 1983. The main manufacturer of BMP-1 IFV and its different variants was Kurgan Engineering Works (KMZ) but PRP-3 artillery reconnaissance vehicles were produced by Chelyabinsk Tractor Works (ChTZ) and PRP-4/PRP-4M artillery reconnaissance vehicles were produced by Rubtsovsk Engineering Works (RMZ). Upgradings and reequipments of BMP-1 IFVs were performed besides KMZ by tank repair works of the Ministry of Defence during scheduled and major overhauls.

BMP-1 IFVs were produced under license by Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania (MLI-84) and India. The People's Republic of China got few examples of Soviet-manufactured BMP-1 from Egypt and produced since 1975 its own unlicensed copy of the BMP-1 IFV called the Type 86 (WZ 501). It is still is in service with People's Liberation Army. From 1997, Iran produces its own modification of BMP-1, Boragh, which bears a lot of resemblance to Chinese WZ 503.

Czechoslovakian BVP-1 IFVs were produced by ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom.

Polish BWP-1 IFVs (ob'yekt 765Sp2) were produced by Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne Nr. 5 (WZM Nr. 5) (Military Motorization Works No. 5) in Poznań. It still produces spare parts for BWP-1 IFVs and spare parts for UTD-20 diesel engines. Its design bureau works on a modernization package for the BWP-1. It made several prototypes with different modern turrets including unmanned ones. There is also one prototype with the original turret.

Service history

Former USSR

The BMP-1 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1966. It was first seen by the West on the 7 November 1967 military parade in Moscow when a significant amount of those vehicles already served in the mechanized units of the Soviet Army. In the Soviet Army, BMP-1 IFVs were typically issued to the motor rifle units and the tank units where they replaced the BTR-152 APCs, BTR-50P APCs and some of the BTR-60P APCs in the front line service.

There was a considerable debate among Soviet tank specialists about the utility of BMP at the time: The BMP-1 had weak armor and not very powerful armament in comparison with main battle tanks, and it was far more expensive than wheeled APCs. Because the probability of nuclear warfare decreased significantly in the beginning of 1970s, the new tactics for usage of IFVs during conventional warfare should be developed. Those tactics should include a large number of anti-tank weapons on the battlefield. It was finally decided that a BMP-1 with troopers inside could be used successfully during breakthrough operations or pursuit of retreating enemy forces. However when faced against strong enemy defense, the infantry should be dismounted and should follow 200 meters behind main battle tanks while IFVs should follow not further than 300 to 400 meters behind the infantry and support it with their firepower. After enemy anti-tank sites were neutralized, the infantry should mount the IFVs.

File:SovietBMP-1Afghanistan1988.jpg

A column of three Soviet BMP-1 IFVs move through Afghanistan, 26 August 1988.

BMP-1 also actively took part in Soviet War in Afghanistan. A new up-armoured variant of BMP-1, BMP-1D was made in 1982 for assault units of the Soviet Army that participated in fights in Afghanistan. There were also field modifications of BMP-1 with additional AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher or 2B9 "Vasilek" 82 mm automatic gun-mortar. A few BMP-1 IFVs used in Afghanistan for support of airborne combat teams on battlefield had RPG-16 airborne shoulder-launched anti-tank rocket propelled grenade weapon taken from BMD-1. Many BMP-1 and BMP-1P IFVs fell victim to Mujahideen attacks and, especially, antitank landmines (see Protection Issues section for details) like quite many Soviet light AFVs sent there. A number also fell into the hands of the Afghan Mujahideen. Soviet Army lost 1317 APCs and IFVs of all types during 9 years of the war in Afghanistan .

In a Soviet motor rifle division of the Central Group of Forces in Czechoslovakia (18^th Insterburg Guard motor rifle division, 30^th Irkutsk-Pinsk Guard motor rifle division, 48^th motor rifle division in 1968-1990), one motor rifle regiment was equipped with 31 T-72 main battle tanks and 130 BMP-1/2 IFVs while the other two were often equipped with wheeled BTR-60PB or BTR-70 APCs instead of IFVs. Tank regiment of the motor rifle division had 3 BMP-1/2 IFVs in addition to its 94 T-72 main battle tanks and independent tank battalion was equipped with 6 T-72 main battle tanks, 3 BRM-1 recon tracked armoured vehicles, 12 BRDM-2 recon wheeled armoured vehicles and 12 BMP-1/2 IFVs. So the amount of BMP IFVs in each aforementioned motor rifle division was around 145. A Soviet tank division of the Central Group of Forces (15^th Mazyr Guard tank division, 31^st Vistula tank division in 1968-1990) consisted of two or three tank regiments (94 T-72 main battle tanks and 43 BMP-1/2 IFVs in each) and one motorized rifle regiment (31 T-72 main battle tanks and 90 BMP-1/2 IFVs), also division's reconnaissance battalion was equipped with BMP IFvs also (12 BMP-1/2 in addition to 3 BRM-1 recon armoured vehicles). So the amount of BMP IFVs in each aforementioned tank division was around 231.

Soviet Northern Group of Forces in Poland included the following units equipped with BMP-1 vehicles (data for the end of 1990): 6^th Vitebsk doubly Red Banner Guard motor rifle division (one of its three motor rifle regiments had IFVs and two others used APCs - 139 BMP-1, 5 BMP-1KSh, 14 BRM-1K, 13 PRP-3, 3 PRP-4, 1 IRM) and 20^th Zvenigorod Red Banner tank division (111 BMP-1, 6 BMP-1KSh, 15 BRM-1K, 10 PRP-3, 1 IRM).

Soviet motor rifle divisions of South Group of Forces were represented from 1965 to the end of 1980s by 93^rd Kharkov Guard motor rifle division (stayed in Kecskemét, Hungary) and 254^th Cherkassy motor rifle division (stayed in Székesfehérvár, Hungary). 93^rd Guard motor rifle Kharkov division had 60 BMP-2, 64 BMP-1 and 15 BRM-1K in Hungary on 19 November 1990, 42 BMPs were withdrawn to Kiev military district already.

Russia

As of now BMP-1 and vehicles based on it are used by the following units of Russian Army or are stationed in following bases (not complete list): 232^nd reserve base at Chernaya Rechka which is a part of the Leningrad Military District (35 BMP-1), 268^th artillery brigade from Pushkin (St Petersburg) which is a part of the Leningrad Military District (5 PRP-4), 380^th MLRS regiment from Pushkin (St Petersburg) which is a part of the Leningrad Military District (1 PRP-4), 12^th tank regiment at Naro-Fominsk which is a part of the 4^th guards Kantemirovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (44 BMP-1 and 4 BRM-1K), 13^th tank regiment at Naro-Fominsk which is a part of the 4^th guards Kantemirovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (5 BRM-1K and 6 BMP-1KSh), 14^th tank regiment at Naro-Fominsk which is a part of the 4^th guards Kantemirovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (44 BMP-1, 3 BRM-1K and 1 BMP-1KShM "Potok-2"), 423^rd motorized regiment at Naro-Fominsk which is a part of the 4^th guards Kantemirovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (5 BRM-1K and 8 BMP-1KSh), 137^th independent intelligence battalion at Naro-Fominsk which is a part of the 4^th guards Kantemirovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (21 BMP), 61^st tank regiment from Boguchar (Voronezh) which is a part of the 10^th guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (41 BMP-1, 5 BRM-1K and 5 BMP-1KShM "Potok-2"), 62^nd tank regiment from Boguchar (Voronezh) which is a part of the 10^th guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (5 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K and 2 BMP-1KSh), 112^th independent intelligence battalion from Boguchar (Voronezh) which is a part of the 10^th guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya tank division which is a part of the Moscow Military District (11 BRM-1K), 81^st independent motorized regiment from Samara which is a part of the Volga-Ural Military District (126 BMP-1), 5967^th storage from Markovo (Perm') which is part of the Volga-Ural Military District (127 BMP-1, 27 BRM-1K and 25 BMP-1KShM "Potok-2"), 163^rd tank repair plant at Kuschevskaya (Krasnodar) (65 BMP-1 and 21 BREM-Ch), 90^th motorized regiment from 12^th military base at Khelvachauri, Georgia which is a part of the North Caucasus Military District (44 BMP-1), 409^th motorized regiment from 62^nd military base at Akhalkalaki, Georgia which is a part of the North Caucasus Military District (21 BMP-1), 123^rd motorized regiment from 102^nd military base at Erevan, Armenia which is a part of the North Caucasus Military District (23 BMP-1) and storage base at 102^nd military base at Gyumri, Armenia which is a part of the North Caucasus Military District (47 BMP-1).

The monument to BMP-1 crews lost in battles in Afghanistan and Chechnya, 33^rd brigade of internal security troops located in Lebyazhye settlement (Leningrad Oblast), 29 July 2007.

Besides the Russian Army units, BMP-1 IFVs are also in service with internal security troops of Ministry of Home Affairs of Russian Federation, which use these vehicles during counterterrorism and patrol operations in Chechnya. The following units of Russian internal security troops use BMP-1 as of now (not complete list): 33^rd brigade from Lebyazhye and Lomonosov which is a part of North-West District (34 BMP), 1^st separate division of special purpose from Balashikha which is a part of Moscow District (46 BMP-1), 21^st brigade of special purpose from Sofrino which is a part of Moscow District (36 BMP), 2^nd division of special purpose from Krasnodar-451 which is a part of North Caucasian District (34 BMP), 99^th division of special purpose from Rostov and Persianovka which is a part of North Caucasian District (33 BMP), 100^th division of special purpose from Novocherkassk which is a part of North Caucasian District (103 BMP), 8^th brigade of special purpose from Nalchik which is a part of North Caucasian District (33 BMP),22^nd brigade of special purpose from Kalach which is a part of North Caucasian District (27 BMP), 22^nd brigade of special purpose from Kalach which is a part of North Caucasian District (27 BMP), 49^th brigade of special purpose from Vladikavkaz which is a part of North Caucasian District (12 BMP), brigades of special purpose from Labinsk (34 BMP), Zelenokumsk (34 BMP) and Mozdok (34 BMP) which are a part of North Caucasian District, 54^th division from Gaiva, Perm which is a part of Volga District (15 BMP), 34^th brigade from Shumilovo, Bogorodsk, Nizhegorodskaya which is a part of Volga District (30 BMP), brigade from Saratov (4 BMP) which is a part of Volga District

File:Stalingrad tank.jpg

BMP-1 at a museum-panorama "Battle of Stalingrad" in Volgograd, 18 July 2005.

The 81^st independent motorized regiment was originally stationed in East Germany and was moved from it along with 90^th tank division. It later took part in First Chechen war. During the assault on Grozny 1,2 bns were captured and the unit received huge losses (150 KIA/MIA). It was put into reserve at Severnyy airport in February 1994. In April 1995 it was moved from Chechnya.

Some written-off BMP-1 IFVs are converted into civil tracked vehicles for far north and east regions or given to the different military historical museums like the one in a museum-panorama "Battle of Stalingrad" in Volgograd, some amount of morally obsolete BMP-1 IFVs have been scrapped already. But thoroughly repaired and modernized BMP-1 and BMP-2 IFVs are the main IFVs of the Russian Army and internal security troops of Ministry of Home Affairs of Russian Federation up to date. They'll probably be replaced by BMP-3 and BMP-4 in the future.

Foreign service

Even with all of its drawbacks the BMP-1 is still in service with about 48 armies.

The BMP-1 was exported to many countries. BMP-1 was in service with all of Warsaw Pact member's armies. It must be noted however that Albania bought their BMP-1 IFVs after the Warsaw Pact got dissolved. Proliferation varied greatly among the rest of the Warsaw Pact nations. For example, at least some East German motor-rifle divisions were recorded to have all three motor-rifle regiments with BMP-1 IFVs, ranging down to the Romanian and Bulgarian Armies, some of whose divisions had no BMP-series vehicles at all.

Poland

Polish BWP-1 and BRDM-2 during military exercises, 1980s.

Camouflaged Polish BWP-1 of 4^th SBKPanc from Orzysz during military exercises, 2000s.

Ludowe Wojsko Polskie received its first BWP-1 IFVs (BMP-1 (Ob'yekt 765Sp2)) in 1973 and today it still plays a role of a basic infantry fighting vehicle. As such it is used by many units of Polish Army including 4^th armoured cavalry brigade (SBKPanc) from Orzysz and 7^th Coast Defense Brigade from Słupsk. Polish BWP-1 IFVs are also used by Polish unit of KFOR. Six BWP-1 IFVs took part in a military parade in Warsaw on Polish Army Day, 15 August 2007. Poland also bought 22 BWR-1K reconnaissance vehicles in 1987 from USSR and 16 BWR-1S reconnaissance vehicles from Czech Republic in early 1990s. The BWR-1S reconnaissance vehicles are used by 18^th Reconnaissance Battalion of 16^th Mechanized Division in Elbląg and 2^nd Reconnaissance Regiment from Hrubieszów.

Germany

On 3 October 1990 when German reunification took place, 1,112 functional BMP-1 IFVs became a property of the Federal Republic of Germany's Bundeswehr. The original plan was to be retain them in service for a limited amount of time, until the new, German made Marder IFVs will became available in large numbers. They were brought up to NATO safety standards and received a designation BMP-1A1 Ost (See Germany section for details). Between 1993 and 1994, 501 BMP-1A1 IFVs were sold to Greece. Later 350 BMP-1A1 IFVs were sold to Sweden where they received a designation Pbv 501.

Sweden

Sweden upgraded all of its Pbv 501 IFVs to Pbv 501A standard and few were upgraded further to serve as command vehicles. All upgradings were done from 1996 onward. Although they were withdrawn from service, they are still in possession of Swedish military. 250 vehicles are in mint condition and have done less than 120 km. Currently Sweden is offering to sell their Pbv 501A IFVs as well as spare parts and training equipment for them to other countries. Although the original plan is to sell them to a single sovereign customer (state), there's also a possibility of selling them in batches consisting of more than 50 vehicles per batch. The potential customers are to express their interest before 16 June 2008 and submit their bids before 15 August 2008. Before any transaction can be made, it must be accepted by Swedish authorities. Also because Sweden holds the German end user certificate, the transfer of the end user certificate has to be accepted by German authorities. The other option that Swedish military is considering is scrapping the vehicles which would be done in Sweden according to Swedish regulations.

Yom Kippur War

Two damaged BMP-1 IFVs in an Israeli military base, 1 May 1974. They were captured from Syrians or Egyptians during the Yom Kippur War.

BMP-1 was tested in real combat for the first time on 8 October 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. Egypt has received its first batch of 80 brand new (at the time) BMP-1 IFVs between July and August 1973. A second batch of 150 vehicles was delivered between August and September. Egyptian Army used BMP-1 IFVs in mechanized infantry battalions of tank and mechanized infantry divisions (32-40 BMP-1 IFVs per battalion). Syria had received between 150 and 170 BMP-1 by the start of the war, of which about 100 were committed to the front line and used by mechanized infantry battalions during the conflict (the rest was used by the Guard of president Hafez al-Assad). Syrians used their BMP-1 IFVs on 8 October 1973 at Golan Heights to consolidate their gains as around 600 Syrian tanks dented Israeli defenses at Quneitra. But the first battle debut of the BMP-1 was unfortunate for Syrians: many vehicles were lost because of technical failures and inexperience of Syrian crews.. Insufficiently trained Syrian mechanized infantry couldn't fire accurately from inside the IFVs so they were used, in the same manner as usual APCs were to transport infantrymen towards Israeli trench lines where Syrians dismounted and took casualties from small arms fire. Nevertheless, Israelis noticed that the BMP-1's "Malyutka" ATGMs were deadly against their tanks (Sho't, M48A3 and M60A1). Syrians weren't satisfied with BMP-1 IFVs - they praised it for its speed and maneuverability but they found the 2A28 "Grom" gun effective against enemy tanks only at ranges lower than 500 m and 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM hard to aim from inside the vehicle while on the move. After the war Syrians came into a conclusion: "BMP was like a Mercedes but what we needed was just a simple Ford".

The low profile of the vehicle made it hard or even impossible to support the dismounted advancing infantry. Basing on this, new tactics for BMP-1 usage were created after the Yom Kippur War and used ever since during Soviet military maneuvers. They included 50 meter long intervals between the advancing infantry squads to allow BMP-1 IFVs to support the infantry with their firepower. On the positive side, the vehicle was praised for being fast and agile. Its low ground pressure enabled it to navigate the northern Kantara salt marshes where Israeli and Egyptian tanks would have bogged down, those characteristics of the BMP-1 amazed the Israeli military. Its ability to swim proved useful as it was used in the first wave of Suez Canal crossing by the Egyptians. Egyptian tankmen of 4th armoured division who used BMP-1 IFVs for fire support of 2^nd and 18^th infantry divisions at Kantara valued BMP-1 as a very good vehicle with high speed and maneuverability but noted its bad ventilation of the habitable compartments (Egyptian crewmembers and troopers suffered a lot from heat and to compensate for this drawback they kept some of the vehicle's hatches open even in combat zones). Also the Egyptians found the troop compartment too cramped for eight fully equipped infantrymen to effectively fire from inside the BMP-1 as well as quickly mount/dismount the vehicle. Therefore the Egyptian BMP-1 IFVs usually took only six troopers instead of eight.

Israeli tank brigades suffered very high losses during Syrian offensive but they were able to destroy or capture (besides tanks and other vehicles and equipment) 40-60 Egyptian BMP-1 IFVs and 50-60 Syrian BMP-1 IFVs out of a total of more than 200 destroyed or captured Arab APCs and IFVs. Around half of lost Syrian BMP-1 IFVs were abandoned because of technical failures and inability of inexperienced crews (who received BMP-1 IFVs just before the beginning of the war) to carry out maintenance of a new type of vehicles. During the Yom Kippur War the armor of BMP-1 IFVs proved vulnerable to 106 mm light recoilless guns. Also during fighting at Vadi Mabuk south channel sector on 13 October Israeli soldiers found the rear armour of the BMP's turret vulnerable to armor-piercing bullets of the .50 caliber heavy machine guns. One of the first captured BMP-1 was transported to Ben-Gurion for detailed investigation by Israeli and American specialists.

The amount of BMP-1 IFVs used by Arab forces was too small to influence the Yom Kippur War but the innovation they brought to war tactics drew attention of many world's military specialists to the new type of AFVs. Nevertheless, Yom Kippur War didn't confirm for sure that tactics of IFVs was viable.

Several Soviet technical teams from General Armoured Directorate (GBTU) were sent to Syria in the wake of the war to gather information about the usage of the new vehicle (at the same time U.S. specialists were gathering the same information). These lessons combined with observations of western military tactics development and use of light AFVs in a number of other military conflicts resulted in a beginning of a modernization program for the BMP-1 in 1974. A few updates were introduced in Ob'yect 765Sp3 model to increase the firepower against small unarmored targets (infantry, firing points, unarmored vehicles etc.) but the conclusions about vehicle's vulnerability to infantry anti-tank weapons weren't taken into consideration until the Soviet War in Afghanistan.

South African modernization of BMP-1 fitted with the IST Dynamics UMWP, Ysterplaat Airshow, Cape Town, 23 September 2006.

Angolan Civil War

Three years after the Yom Kippur War, BMP-1 IFVs were used by Angolan and Cuban units against South African forces during the Angolan Civil War. USSR delivered more than 300 light AFVs (BTR-152, BTR-60PB, BMP-1 and BRDM-2) to Angola between October 1975 and April 1976. During fights in Angola, the BMP-1 proved to be a reliable vehicle with a decent firepower. 9 BMP-1 IFVs were destroyed and 6 BMP-1 were captured by South Africans during a very intense combats during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in October-November 1987. Captured vehicles were evaluated and recently used to develop a modernization package for the BMP-1 which included the IST Dynamics Unmanned Multi-Weapon Platform (See South Africa section for details). A BMP-1 fitted with a dummy of the UMWP was shown at Ysterplaat Airshow in Cape Town on 23 September 2006.

Syrian Army used BMP-1 IFVs against Israeli Army during the third phase of Lebanese Civil War. Libyan BMP-1 IFVs were used in Chad and Indian BMP-1 IFVs participated in operations against Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka.

Three Afghan BMP-1 IFVs and three BMP-1 based SPAAGs, 2005

Soviet War in Afghanistan

During the Soviet War in Afghanistan a number of BMP-1 IFVs fell into the hands of Afghan Mujahideen who used them against their former owners. Some were converted by the Afghans into SPAAGs/fire support vehicles armed with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin autocannon. They were used for fire support during fights in Afghanistan mountains. Many BMP-1 IFVs were abandoned by retreating Soviet Forces. Those vehicles as well as derelict ones restored back up to working state are now used Afghan National Army. Afghan army also uses the mentioned SPAAGs.

Iraq

U.S. military policemen of 1^st Armored Division inspect a BMP-1 IFV of the Iraqi Republican Guard damaged during Operation Desert Storm, 28 February 1991.

Seven captured during Operation Iraq Freedom Iraqi BMP-1 IFVs and a MT-LB based ambulance at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), 7 May 2003.

In 1990 BMP-1 was used by the Iraqi Army during First Persian Gulf War when it was put together with BMP-2 against their US counterpart, M2 Bradley. The Bradley being much more advanced vehicle had a clear technological advantage over the both BMP-1 and BMP-2. Iraqi army used Ob'yekt 765sp3, BMP-1D and Saddam II IFVs, not the BMP-1P. Besides that Iraqi Army had about 1000 BMP-1 and 800 BMP-2 IFVs while US invasion forces had 2200 M2 IFVs and M3 AFV (418 of which were A0, 726 were A1 and 1056 were A2 but it must be said that most A0 vehicles were left for spare parts at repair bases, only 24^th and 3^rd tank divisions used them in combat). During the battle at Medin's Ridge, an M2A2 commanded by sergeant Charles Peters took part in a 60 seconds long firefight during which it destroyed two Iraqi Republican Guard BMP vehicles using about nine armor piercing rounds of his Bradley's 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocanon (three of which destroyed the first BMP) and a T-72M main battle tank using the TOW ATGM. During Operation Desert Storm Iraqi BMP vehicles also faced US M1 Abrams main battle tanks. For that operation US Ground Forces used 1178 M1A1 and 1223 M1A1HA main battle tanks ready for action and 538 M1A1 and M1A1HA in reserve. On the third day of fighting on land (26 February 1991) the American VII corp engaged Iraqi 2^nd and 3^rd Republican Guard Divisions, 12^th Mechanized Division and 12^th Tank Division in northwest Kuwait around 16:20. It resulted in the destruction of 13 Iraqi T-72 main battle tanks and 13 Iraqi BMP vehicles. On the same day and in the same area at around 18:30 another group of M1 Abrams main battle tanks destroyed nine T-72 main battle tanks and four BMP vehicles. The last battle of that conflict in which Iraq BMP vehicles were used took place on 2 March 1991 when part of Iraqi Republican Guard Division "Hammurabi" tried to break out from the pocket which was closed by 24^th Tank Division. When Iraqis opened fire on M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles the Americans called on AH-64 Apache attack helicopters which destroyed 32 T-72 main battle tanks, 49 BMP vehicles, 2 ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs and 48 other vehicles. It is unknown how many Iraqi BMP vehicles survived the First Persian Gulf War but the ones that did survive were used for a second time during 2003 invasion of Iraq with similar results.

BMP-1 used in the OPFOR role at the US 177^th Armored Brigade motor pool in Fort Irwin, 9 February 1987.

USA

USA has captured its first BMP-1 IFV before 1 October 1986. Later they also captured a number of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles from Iraq during First Persian Gulf War and 2003 invasion of Iraq. The captured vehicles were tested on proving grounds and three were given to museums including one in the U.S. National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning which was captured by 24th Mechanized Infantry Division in Euphrates River Valley of Iraq during First Persian Gulf War. 177th Armored Brigade used a few captured BMP-1 IFVs in the OPFOR role during exercises at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA

Wars of former USSR states

BMP-1 IFVs were used by opposing forces during almost all military conflicts on the territory of former USSR. During the Nagorno-Karabakh War Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians captured 49 BMP-1 IFVs which belonged to Russian 366^th motorized rifle regiment which was being withdrawn from Stepanakert at the time (March 1992). Between 1992 and 1994 Azerbaijan lost 38 BMP-1 IFVs and Armenia lost from 51 to 53 BMP-1 IFVs in battles. For that conflict Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians made an interesting field modification which included fitting additional six 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGMs on an elevatable mount from 9P122 tank destroyer on the rear of top of the turret.

Combat history

• 1973 Yom Kippur War
• 1975 - 2002 Angolan Civil War
• 1979 - 1988 Soviet War in Afghanistan
• 1980 - 1988 Iran-Iraq War
• 1982 - 1983 Lebanese Civil War, Phase III
• 1983 - Sri Lankan Civil War
• 1978 – 1987 Chadian-Libyan conflict
  • 1986 - 1987 Toyota War
• 1988 - 1993 Georgian Civil War
• 1988 - 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh War
• 1990 - 1991 First Persian Gulf War
• 1992 - 1997 Civil War in Tajikistan
• 1994 Civil War in Yemen
• 1994 - 1996 First Chechen War
• 1999 - Second Chechen War
• 2001 - United States War in Afghanistan
• 2003 - Second Persian Gulf War
  • 2003 Invasion of Iraq

Operators

Four Afghan BMP-1 IFVs, 2005

Hungarian BMP-1 IFV.

New Iraqi Army BMP-1 at Coalition checkpoint in Tarmiya, Iraq.

New Iraqi Army BMP-1 on the move.

Chinese WZ-501 (Type 86).

BWP-1 on a military parade in Warsaw on Polish Army Day, 15 August 2007.

Slovakian BVP-1, 26 March 2007.

BMP-1 at the Great Patriotic War museum in Kiev, Ukraine, 1 October 2006.

• Abkhazia - 80 BMP-1 and BMP-2.
• Afghanistan - 120, some were delivered from USSR in 1970s, some were captured vehicles from the war with the Soviet Union, some were abandoned and derelict vehicles left behind after Soviet troop withdrawal. Afghan Army had 550 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in 1992, 60-80 BMP-1 and BMP-2 were delivered from Russia after 2002.
• Albania - 17+ (Acquired from East German stock in 1995)
• Algeria - 684 in 1995 and 1996. Originally 700 were bought. Algeria signed a contract with Russia for modernization of 400 BMP-1 IFVs in 2006.
• Angola - in service from 1975. 219 BMP-1 were delivered in 1993-1994 (31 from Russia in 1993, 29 from Bulgaria in 1993, 21 from Belorussia in 1993 and 138 from Russia in 1994). 65 were delivered from Russia in 1998 as well as 7 from Belarus in 1999..
• Armenia - 240 in 1994, 221 in 1996, 187 in 1999, 187 in 2006 (including combat reconnaissance vehicles BRM-1).
• Azerbaijan - 115 in 1992, 184 in 1993, 178 in 1995, 118 in 1999, 82 in 2006 (including combat reconnaissance vehicles BRM-1).
• Belarus - 109 as of 2003 and 2005, 98 in 1995. Originally 938 were inherited from former USSR in 1991.
• Bulgaria - 280 including 100 delivered by Russia in 1996. 80 BMP-1 IFVs remain in service.
• Cambodia - 10
• Cuba - 400
• Czech Republic - 207 BVP-1 IFVs (most in reserve - getting replaced by APCs), 76 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles and 29 OT-90 APCs (in the process of being withdrawn from service and replaced by more modern vehicles) as of 1 January 2008. Previously, 257 BVP-1 IFVs were in service with Czech armed forces. 600 BVP-1 IFVs were in service as 1996 and 605 in 1995. 623 BVP-1 and BVP-1KS IFVs, 145 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles and 413 OT-90 APCs were inherited from former Czechoslovakia in 1992. 16 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles were sold to Poland in early 1990s.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo - 20
• Egypt - First batch of 80 BMP-1 IFVs was delivered between July and August 1973 and a second batch of 150 vehicles between August and September 1973. Egypt received a number of BMP-1 IFVs after the Yom Kippur War, and operated 200 of them in 1995 and 1996. Those 200 were fitted with French diesel engines and received the designation BMP-1S (See Egypt section for details).
• Eritrea - Received a number from Ethiopia.
• Ethiopia - 20 in 1995, originally 50 were bought.
• Georgia - 40 in 2007. Originally 667 were inherited from former USSR in 1991.
• Greece - Originally 501 BMP-1A1 Ost IFVs were bought from Germany between 1993 and 1994. 32 of them were later given to the New Iraqi Army. As of now there are 381 BMP-1A1 Ost IFVs in service. Greece is interested in Russian and Ukrainian programs to modernize all its BMP-1 IFVs to modern standards.
• Hungary - 560 were delivered, 502 in 1995, 500 in 1996, mostly in stock.
• Iran - About 210 as of 2005, 350 in 2002, 300 in 2000, 200 in 1995 and more than 150 in 1990. Iran also had 40 Boragh APCs in 2000 and 2002 and about 140 Boragh APCs as of 2005.
• Iraq - 363 including 32 BMP-1A1 Ost from Greece (64 more planned). The Iraqi Regular Army operated about 1000 BMP-1 and 800 BMP-2 in 1994 (mostly bought from the USSR during the 1970s and 1980s).
• Israel - Captured some BMP-1 units during the Yom Kippur War. Some of them have been converted into mortar carriers (See Israel section for details).
• Kazakhstan - 208, about 210 as of 2005, 350 in 2002, 300 in 2000 and 1995 and more than 150 in 1990. Kazakhstan also had 40 Boragh APCs in 2000 and 2002 and about 140 Boragh APCs as of 2005.
• Kyrgyzstan - 120 BMP-1 IFVs, 274 BMP-1 IFVs in 2000 and 2005 and 349 BMP-1 IFVs in 1995. There was also 113 BRM reconnaissance vehicles as of 2005 and 2000 and 28 BRM reconnaissance vehicles as of 1995.
• Libya - 750 in 1996, 740 in 1995, originally about 1,000 were bought.
• Mongolia - 310 in 2003, 400 in 1996, originally 420 were delivered.
• Morocco - 50
• Member of the Order of Liberty - 210 (BMP-1 and BMP-2) in 1994
• Mozambique - 40 in 2003
• Myanmar - More than 50.
• North Korea - 200 BMP-1 and Type 86 IFVs.
• People's Republic of China - 1,000 Type 86 as of 2003 and 2005.
• Poland - 1,680 BWP-1 IFVs produced since 1973. That number was still kept in 1995. As of now there are 1,298 BWP-1, 16 BWR-1S and 22 BWR-1K in service with Polish Land Forces.
• Romania - Apart from their own variant of BMP-1, MLI-84, Romania also operates Soviet made PRP-4 "Nard" artillery reconnaissance vehicles.
• Russia - 1,543 in active service and more than 9,057 in reserve.
• Slovakia - 308 BVP-1 and BVP-1KS IFVs, 71 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles and 205 OT-90 APCs. 300 BVP-1 IFVs in 1996 and 311 in 1995. Originally 383 BVP-1 and BVP-1KS, 120 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles and 207 OT-90 APCs were inherited from former Czechoslovakia in 1992.
• Sri Lanka - 12
• Sudan - 24
• Syria - Syria received between 150 and 170 BMP-1 IFVs before October 1973 Yom Kippur War. There were 2,300 BMP-1 IFVs in service from 1990 to 2001; 2,600 BMP-1 IFVs in service as of 2003 and 2,100 BMP-1 IFVs in service as of 2005. There are 2,450 BMP-1 IFVs in service as of now.
• Tajikistan - 40 were inherited from former USSR in 1991. 9 in service as of 2000 and 2005. There are 11 as of now in service.
• Turkmenistan - 930 BMP-1 and BMP-2 IFVs and 12 BRM reconnaissance vehicles. 589 BMP-1 and BMP-2 IFVs were inherited from former USSR in 1991. Some sources say that there are 156 BMP-1 IFV vehicles in service with Turkmenistan's army
• Ukraine - 1,325 BMP-1 IFVs were originally inherited from the USSR in 1991 (World Defence Almanac says that Ukraine had about 2525 BMP-1 IFVs in 1994). There were 1,011 BMP-1 IFVs in service as of 2000, 1,008 BMP-1 IFVs in service as of 2005. As of now there are 1,009 BMP-1 IFVs in service.
• Uruguay - 10 received from Czech Republic in 1996.
• Uzbekistan - 180 BMP-1 IFVs and 6 BRM reconnaissance vehicles (97 were inherited from the former USSR in 1991).
• Vietnam - 400 in 1995
• Western Sahara -
• Yemen - There were 150 BMP-1 IFVs in Yemenite Army in 1995 and 1996.

Former operators

Soviet-manufactured Finnish BMP-1 IFV, displayed at Parola Tank Museum, 14 July 2006

BMP-1 IFV in museum in N.Y.C.

BMP-1 IFV in the U.S. National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning

• Czechoslovakia - 1,006 BVP-1 and BVP-1KS, 265 BPzV "Svatava" reconnaissance vehicles and 620 OT-90 APCs right before the breakup of Czechoslovakia, passed on to successor states. Czechoslovakia also produced 151 BMP-1P/c for East Germany.
• Finland - 195, bought in three batches. The first one which consisted of BMP-1 IFVs was delivered in June 1981 by the Soviet Union. The second one which consisted of BMP-1 and BMP-1K IFVs was delivered in summer of 1982 by the Soviet Union. A total of 85 BMP-1 and BMP-1K IFVs was delivered by the USSR. The third one which consisted of 110 different variants of BMP-1/BMP-1P was delivered in 1990 by Germany from ex-East German stocks (all were modernized in 1994-1997 by Patria Vammas Oy). There were 40 BMP-1 (+ native produced BMP-1TJ "Tuya" artillery reconnaissance vehicles) in service with the Finnish Army in 1995 and 1996. The BMP-1 IFVs were withdrawn from Finnish Army service and scrapped in 2004.
• East Germany - 1,112, passed on to Germany after German reunification, 961 of which were produced in USSR and 151 BMP-1P/c were produced in Czechoslovakia.
• West Germany/Germany - 1,112, taken from East Germany's Army. After the reunification, the West-German Bundeswehr modified more than 851 vehicles (mainly BMP-1P model) and brought them to NATO safety standards and received a designation BMP-1A1 Ost. There were 764 BMP-1A1 Ost vehicles in 1994 and 450 in 1996. Eventually all were scrapped or sold to other countries. 110 different variants of BMP-1/BMP-1P were sold to Finland in 1990 (these weren't modified). 501 BMP-1A1 Ost IFVs were sold to Greece in 1993-1994 and 350 BMP-1A1 Ost IFVs were sold to Sweden in the beginning of 1990s.
• India - 800 produced, about 600 were in service as of 1995, 350 were in service in 2000, more than 350 in 2002 and more than 50 as of 2005. They are phased out of service in favor of BMP-2.
• Sweden - Purchased 350 BMP-1A1 IFVs from Germany (including 12 in 1996) and designated them Pbv 501. All upgraded to Pbv 501A standard. As of now all are withdrawn from service and up for sale.
• Soviet Union - About 14,353 BMP-1 IFVs and vehicles based on it right before the breakup of USSR, passed on to successor states. There were more than 14,473 before war in Afghanistan.There more than 20,000 BMP-1 IFVs and vehicles based on it build in USSR.
• North Yemen - 150
• South Yemen - 120

Evaluation only operators

• South Africa - Captured 6 BMP-1 IFVs during Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.
• United States - Captured 4 during a number of conflicts. The captured vehicles were evaluated and used in the OPFOR role. They late found their way to museums.

Variants

Main article: BMP-1 variants

A large number of variants of the BMP-1 were produced. The most notable IFV variants based on BMP-1 were:

• BMP-1
  • BMP-2
  • MLI-84
  • Boragh

See also

• BMD-1 - related family of Soviet airborne fighting vehicles.
• BMP-3
• Marder (IFV), a comparable German vehicle.
• M2 Bradley, a comparable US vehicle.
• Combat Vehicle 90
• Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle

References

• Tsouras, P.G. (1994). Changing Orders: The evolution of the World's Armies, 1945 to the Present. Facts On File, Inc. ISBN 0-8160-3122-3.
• Zaloga S (1995). BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicle, 1967-94. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1855324336.
• Hull/Markov/Zaloga (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
• Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006.
• Боевая машина пехоты БМП-1. Памятка экипажу по эксплуатации (Infantry Fighting Vehicle BMP-1. Service Instruction for a Crew). The Ministry of Defence of USSR. 1974.
• Боевая машина пехоты БМП-1. Техническое описание и инструкция по эксплуатации (Infantry Fighting Vehicle BMP-1. Technical Description and Service Instruction). The Ministry of Defence of USSR. 1979.
• Karpenko A.V. (1996). Обозрение отечественной бронетанковой техники (1905-1995 г.г.) (Overview of Native Armoured Vehicles, 1905-1995). Nevskiy Bastion.
• Fedoseev S.L. (2001). Иллюстрированный справочник. Боевые машины пехоты (Illustrated Guide. Infantry Fighting Vehicles). Astrel', AST. ISBN 5-17-008788-8.
• Holyavskiy G.L. (2001). Энциклопедия бронетехники. Гусеничные боевые машины (Encyclopedia of Armoured Vehicles. Tracked Fighting Vehicles). Harvest. ISBN 985-13-0035-7.
• Malyshev S. (2002). Боевая машина пехоты БМП-1 (1964-2000) (Infantry Fighting Vehicle BMP-1, 1964-2000). Russian Motor Books. ISBN 5-09-873406-4. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
• Witkowski, Igor (1993). Lekkie i średnie opancerzone wozy bojowe. WiS. ISBN 83-86028-02-5.
• Szulc, Tomasz (January 2000). "Modernizacje bojowego wozu piechoty BMP-1 cz.I". Nowa Technika Wojskowa. ISSN 1230-1655. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

• Grau, Lester W. Russian-Manufactured Armored Vehicle Vulnerability in Urban Combat: The Chechnya Experience — the article originally appeared in Red Thrust Star January 1997 (source not verified)

External links

• RUSSIAN BMP-1 Mechanised Infantry Combat Vehicle – Walk around photos
• Warsaw Pact OOB as of June 1989
• Information in French, a lot of photos incliding BMP-1 in Soviet Army service
• General information, photos
• in Russian, general information
• in Russian, photos (including BMP-1 on water) and specifications
• in Russian, information about development
• in Russian, quite detailed article with correct information and good photos
• in Russian, list of BMP variants with short information about them

• • Video about BMP-1 (in Russian)