BRDM-1
The BRDM-1 ( Russian Бронированная разведывательно-дозорная машина (БРДМ) Reconnaissance and Spähpanzerwagen ) is a fully amphibious Spähpanzer with all-wheel drive . It was developed in the Soviet Union based on the BTR-40 and manufactured between 1957 and 1966. The BRDM-1 was replaced by the BRDM-2 in the 1960s . In the National People's Army of the GDR, the wheeled armored vehicle was used as the 40P armored personnel carrier , or SPW-40P for short . a. and was part of the standard equipment of the motorized rifle troops .
Development and dissemination
In view of the limited suitability of the BTR-40 for reconnaissance tasks, the OKB Dedkow of the Gorkowski Avtomobilny Sawod (GAZ) began in 1954 with the development of a vehicle specially created for the reconnaissance troops . At the same time, the BTR-60 was developed in the same design office , with which the vehicle, later called BRDM, shares some components. For the new design, the Soviet Army demanded better cross-country mobility and swimming ability. The development work led by WK Rubzow led to the first prototype in 1956. In 1957, after several tests, the vehicle was put into series production as the BRDM, which produced around 10,000 copies by 1966. In the Soviet Army, the vehicles were mainly used in the reconnaissance departments of the tank and motorized rifle divisions (twelve vehicles each) and the reconnaissance companies of the tank and motorized rifle regiments (seven vehicles each). 1,500 vehicles were exported to the allies in the Warsaw Pact , but also to Algeria, Yugoslavia, Congo, Cuba, Morocco, Mozambique, Sudan and Zambia.
description
The BTR-40, based on the GAZ-63 , served as the basis of the BRDM , but various components were changed. The vehicle had, among other things, a modified drive and transmission complex as well as modified power transmission and axles. In addition, the tub was designed so that it was floatable without preparation. To do this, a large surge board had to be set up under the bow of the vehicle and the bilge pump switched on. The project, called GAZ-40P (for plawajuschtschij, dt .: buoyant) in the factory, also had a water jet drive for movement in water at up to 9 km / h and a central tire pressure control system that allowed the driver to set the tire pressure between 0.5 and 3 kg / cm² and thus adapt to the soil conditions. The off-road mobility of the vehicle, which is excellent for a 4 × 4 design, was also achieved by four retractable auxiliary wheels located between the main wheels. These were driven by a chain drive and gave the vehicle a great ability to cross over and additional traction, which was particularly helpful when leaving water hazards. The wheels with a diameter of 700 mm and a width of 250 mm came from aircraft production.
The armament of the BRDM-1 consisted of a single trunnion mounted 7.62 mm MG SGMB above the driver's compartment, which was openly mounted and offered the shooter no protection from fire. Later vehicles were given a 12.7 mm MG DSchK and two side pivot mounts 7.62 mm MG SGMB. Later it was converted to the 7.62 mm MG PK . Because a turret would have disturbed the balance of the vehicle when swimming, such a turret could not be retrofitted, so that the vehicle design had to be completely changed for the later BRDM-2.
The rear fighting compartment of the BRDM-1 was completely closed and could be entered through a two-part hatch that opened on both sides and through two large rear-opening hatches above the fighting compartment. The commander, on the right of the vehicle, and the driver, on the left of the vehicle, were able to observe through two large, upward-opening viewing hatches, or, if these were closed, through viewing blocks set into the hatches. In addition, a side viewing block was available to them. From the fighting area behind them, which accommodated two to three shooters, handguns could be fired through two loopholes on each side and two more in the two doors of the stern hatch. The radio equipment of the BRDM consisted of a mobile radio station of the type R-113 (later R-123M ), in addition a TNA-2 navigation device was installed as standard. The vehicles had NBC protection and were equipped with a portable C-detector VPKhR-54 and a radiation meter DP-3B. Since the first series vehicles did not yet have night vision equipment, this was retrofitted in the form of the later standard FG-125 headlight and an IR searchlight. The vehicle was not protected against NBC weapons.
Technical specifications
| BRDM-1 | |
|---|---|
| Technical specifications | |
| crew | 5 (commander, driver, 3 shooters) |
| length | 5.7 m |
| width | 2.25 m |
| height | 1.9 m, 2.25 m (above MG) |
| Weight | 5.6 tons |
| Armor | 12 mm front and side |
| Armament | 1 × 7.62 mm MG SGMB (1,250 rounds) |
| engine | 6-cylinder gasoline engine GAZ-40P |
| power | 90 hp |
| Top speed | 90 km / h |
| Power to weight ratio | 16.1 hp / ton |
| Ground clearance | 31.5 cm |
| Gauge | 1.66 m |
| wheelbase | 2.8 m (without auxiliary wheels) |
| Tank capacity | 150 l |
| Range | 500 km |
| Trench crossing ability | 1.2 m |
| Climbing ability | 40 cm |
| Max. pitch | 30 ° |
| Max. Bank | 25 ° |
Versions
BRDM (1957)
The first series vehicles still had an open combat area with a trunnion-mounted 7.62 mm MG SGM. Very few vehicles were produced in this version.
2P27 rocket tank destroyer
The version of a rocket tank destroyer with a triple starter for 2K15 Schmel (NATO designation: AT-1 Snapper) was developed from 1958 and received the designation 2P27 when it was introduced in 1960. Production ended in 1963 and the vehicles produced were only used by the Soviet Army, but there until the 1970s. The triple starter was covered in the driving position by a two-part hatch that opened on both sides and had to be extended before firing. The starter could only be reloaded from the outside, which limited the combat value of the vehicle. The vehicles were used in batteries for three trains with three vehicles each. The trains were usually deployed in close cooperation with conventional anti-tank guns , as targets could only be attacked from a distance of about 500 m.
2P32 missile tank destroyer
The 2P32 missile tank destroyer used the 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) guided missile and had a launcher with four ready -to-launch missiles. In the driving position, the starter is covered by a hatch that opens to the rear and two hatches that open to the side. The system introduced in 1962 offered greater range and penetration performance, but was otherwise used like the 2P27 and often alongside it. The 2P32 was also exported.
9P110 missile tank destroyer
The rocket tank destroyer 9P110 represents the final stage of development of this vehicle type based on the BRDM-1. The vehicle was introduced in a hurry in 1963, although production of the BRDM-2 began a little later. In contrast to its predecessors, the 9P110 has a six-fold launcher for anti-tank guided missiles 9M14 Maljutka (AT-3 Sagger). Eight reserve missiles can be carried and reloaded under armor protection. The cover of the rockets in the driving position is raised with the starter, so it remains above the rockets in the launch position. The 9P110 was produced in larger numbers than its two predecessors and was used in the Warsaw Pact. The crew consisted of two men, the pilot gunner and the driver. The 9M14 missiles could be launched and controlled from the vehicle or externally from the 9S415 control unit.
Command tank BRDM-U
The BRDM-U largely corresponded to the standard version BRDM-1. In addition, however, he carried extended communication and reconnaissance equipment in the fighting area. The vehicles are easy to recognize by the two side antennas and two at the rear.
ABC reconnaissance vehicle BRDM-RCh
The BRDM-RCh ABC reconnaissance vehicle was converted from standard BRDM-1 vehicles in 1966, which were subsequently equipped with extensive equipment for clearing up ABC contamination. These included radiation meters DP-3 and DP-5A, a B-weapon detection kit KPO-1 and nerve gas detectors GSP-1M and GSP-11. With a marking system, contaminated terrain could be marked with 20 signal flags. In addition, light and noise-generating signal ammunition were carried. Four vehicles were available in each tank and motorized rifle regiment, four more in the reconnaissance battalion and nine in the division's ABC reconnaissance battalion.
literature
- James Kinnear: Russian Armored Cars 1930-2000. Darlington 2000.
Web links
- BRDM-1 at www.fas.org (English)