The BMP-1 was first used in combat by the Red Army in Afghanistan in 1979. Three drawbacks of the BMP-1 became immediately apparent: thin side armour, inadequate elevation of the gun, and the cramped internal conditions. The armour was designed to withstand frontal attack from heavy machine-guns under conventional conditions of mechanised combat. In Afghanistan, the BMPs were often ambushed from the side by mujihadeen firing from extremely close range, from where the 16 mm side armour could be penetrated by the 12.7mm DShK heavy machine-gun. This led to a depot rebuild, the BMP-1D, which added a layer of 10 mm spaced armour around the hull side. It protected the BMP-1D from heavy machine-gun fire, but not RPG-7 attack. The cramped conditions continued to plague the BMP through its service in Afghanistan and was actually solved by field improvisations involving the permanent attachment of additional stowage bins and water containers on the upper hull roof, in spite of the obstruction that this created for the gun.
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: (driver, gunner + 9 troops)
Combat weight: 13.9 metric tons
Power to weight ratio: 21.6 hp/t
Hull length: 6740 mm
Width: 2940 mm
Height to turret roof: 1920 mm
Engine: 5D20 300 HP 4-stroke V-6 diesel with direct injection
Transmission: Mechanical, constant mesh with hydraulic/pneumatic main clutch; planetary, two-stage. hydraulic steering
Fuel capacity: 460 litres
Max. road speed: 80 km/h
Max. cross-country speed: 40 km/h
Curising speed: 60 km/h (road)
Max. range: 500 km
Fuel consumption: 90 litres per 100 km
Fording depth: amphibious
Slope: 30° grade, 35° bank
Obstacle: 2 m trench. 0.8 m step
Main gun: 73mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure gun
Muzzle velocity: 400 m/s (initial): 665 m/s (max.)
Effective range: 800m
Stowed gun rounds: 40
Elevation: -4° to +33°
Missile: 9M14M Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger)
Effective range: 3000 m
Stowed missile rounds: 4
Secondary armament: 7.62mm PKT machine co-axial machine gun
KEY
1. Driver’s headlight
2. Swimming deflector in extended position.
3. Driver’s instrument panel
4. Engine/transmission access panel
5. Driver’s hatch
6. Engine air intake
7. 2A28 Grom 73mm low pressure gun
8. 9M14M Malyutka anti-tank missile
9. Gunner’s sight armored head
10. Missile reloading hatch
11. Exhaust port
12. Auxiliary infrared light
13. Gunner’s 1PN22M1 primary sight
14. 73mm Gun breech
15. 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
16. Gun gas extractor blower
17. Hull storage of 9M14M Malyutka missiles
18. Crew compartment air intake
19. Troop roof hatch
20. Rear Seat/fuel stowage compartment
21. Fuel filler cap
22. Fume extractor tube for AKM assault rifle
23. Rear seat/battery stowage compartment
24. Chemical filtration air overpressure tube
25. Socket mount for assault rifle
26. Periscope defroster control
27. Vehicle station light
28. Water flow gates
29. Rear periscope
30. Spare track link
31. Rear access door/fuel cell
32. AKM assault rifle in firing socket
33. Idler wheel
34. Autoloader magazine for 73mm projectiles
35. Roadwheel
36. Rea compartment seat (stowage below)
37. Gunner’s seat
38. Malyutka missile control joystick
39. 7.62mm machine gun ammo stowage rack
40. PKM squad automatic weapon firing port (closed)
41. Cover for chemical/biological radiological filtration system
42. Driver’s seat
43. Steering yoke
44. High-low range gear shift
45. Drive sprocket
One of the more curious features of the BMP-3 is its internal layout. The infantry squad is positioned around the turret, since the floor of the rear compartment contains the engine and is too small to carry seated troops. To disembark, the crew must open both the roof and rear panels, and exit over the engine. (Christopher F. Foss)
There was no immediate solution to the gun elevation problem. In Afghanistan, the elevation of the 73mm Grom gun was inadequate as it could not be brought to bear on targets on high mountain slopes. The Red Army decided to dispatch the newer BMP-2 to Afghanistan in 1982, which already had a high elevation mounting to deal with attack helicopters. The 30mm gun was superior to the 73mm 2A28 Grom in any event, as the threat invariably came from guerilla troops rather than armoured targets. As a result, the BMP-2 (popularly called Yozh, Russian for hedgehog) became the preferred variant in service, largely replacing the BMP-1 by 1987. As in the case of the BMP-1, most BMP-2s in Afghanistan were eventually up-armoured at depot level, becoming designated BMP-2D in this configuration. This depot refit usually included the welcome addition of a large stowage bin on the turret rear. Although not developed for low-intensity guerilla warfare the BMP proved adequate for the job.
The BMP-1 was extensively used by the Iraqi Army during the first Gulf War against Iran in the 1980s. (Iran had also purchased the BMP in 1976, with about 500 delivered.). The most common modification of the BMP-1 in Iraqi service was the removal of the autoloader, which proved difficult to maintain. As was the case with the Egyptian Army in 1973, the Iraqis quickly recognised that the BMP-1 was too cramped to carry a whole rifle squad, and so cut down on the size of the infantry complement in each vehicle. There is little information on the effectiveness of the BMP in Iraqi service, though from Iraqi modification programmes, it is evident that they found the armour too thin. By the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq had about 600 BMPs, mainly BMP-1s, with a small number of BMP-2s and specialised variants. Some of the units known to have used the BMP included the 3rd ‘Saladin’ Armoured Division, 6th Armoured Division, 17th Armoured Division, and all Republican Guard Force Command (RGFC) armoured and mechanised divisions. The standard organisation of a BMP mechanised battalion in Iraqi service was 35 BMP-1s (including eight BMP-1K command vehicles), three BTR-63-1 command vehicles (command versions of the Chinese Type 531 APC) and one MT-LB ambulance. During the war, most units were equipped at levels far below the establishment.
Like most Iraqi equipment, the BMP did not prove to be particularly effective in the 1991 Gulf War. American tankers found the vehicle extremely vulnerable to tank gun fire since the vehicle has so much ammunition and fuel packed in such tight proximity. A penetration into the centre of the vehicle tended to result in a spectacular explosion that utterly destroyed it, and any of the crew who happened to be inside. This is not a problem limited to the BMP, as any contemporary IFV can easily be eliminated by tank gun fire. This does however, seem to be a fault characteristic of Soviet armoured vehicles. Allied tankers reported that during the Gulf War hits on Iraqi T-72 tanks tended to have the same effect. (For further details see New Vanguard 6). The BMP-2 was also used by the Kuwaiti Army during the 1991 Gulf War. These vehicles had been ordered prior to the invasion, and a small number delivered before the Iraqis struck in 1990. These were used mainly by the 35th ‘A1-Shaheed’ (Martyrs) Brigade and the 15th ‘A1-Tahrir’ Motorised Infantry Brigade. The Syrian armoured and mechanised brigade that followed the Egyptian II Corps into Kuwait had three motor rifle battalions of BMP-1s which saw little if any combat.
The first export client for the BMP-3 was Abu Dhabi which received 82 BMP-3s in 1992. These are fitted with an externally mounted Namut thermal imaging sight, manufactured by the French firm, SAT. Abu Dhabi selected this sight due to its use with the French LeClerc MBT, which it is already acquiring. The sight could not be mounted in the usual place in the hull due to the already congested fire control layout. (Christopher F. Foss)
The BRM-1 is a scout version of the BMP-1 with a larger, two-man turret. The initial version, the BRM, lacked a surveillance radar, which was added on the later BRM-1 version. The PSNR-5K radar is also known as the 1RL133-1 (NATO: ‘Tall Mike’). It fits in a special compartment at the rear of the turret, and can be retracted when not in use. (Michael Jerchel)