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The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - The BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicles - Jul. 13th, 2004
www.fas.org ^

Posted on 07/13/2004 12:00:10 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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BMP-1




The Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota (BMP-1) was first built in the early 1960s and seen in public in November 1967 at a Red Square parade. It was called the M-1967 and BMP by NATO before its correct designation was known. The BMP represented an important shift from the concept of an armored personnel carrier to an armored infantry combat vehicle, combining high mobility, effective anti-tank weapons, and armored protection for carrying troops. The BMP is significantly smaller than Western APCs and has considerably greater firepower. The BMP-1 was innovative in that it allowed the infantry being carried to fire their personal weapons from within the vehicle whilst remaining protected by armour. To do this firing ports and vision devices were provided for each infantry soldier. Thus the BMP became the first Infantry Combat Vehicle. The BMP-1 carrys a crew of three to eight. The BMP replaced the BTR-50P and complements the BTR-60PB in first-line motorized rifle units.


BMP-1


A combination of effective antitank firepower, high mobility, and adequate protection made the BMP a formidable addition to the inventory of Soviet motorized rifle units. Designed to suit the demands of high-speed offensive in a nuclear war, it carries a 73mm, 2A20 gun with maximum rounds of 40 and maximum range of over 7,000 ft. Its 73-mm main gun fires a rocket-assisted, fin- stabilized HEAT projectile with an effective range of 800 meters medium (capable of successfully engaging tanks at ranges up to 1,300 meters) and is equipped with an automatic loader. The main armament of the BMP1 is unusual, in that it fires the same ammunition as the RPG-7 infantry rocket propelled grenade launcher. A launching rail for the AT-3 Sagger antitank guided missile is located above the gun for longer range antitank capability (up to 3,000 meters).



The BMP is a fully armored amphibious infantry combat vehicle (AICV). Its low silhouette hull has a sharp sloping front with a conspicuously ridged surface. A centrally located, extremely flat, truncated cone turret mounts a 73-mm smoothbore gun and a 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun. A launching rail for SAGGER missiles is attached above the gun. The 290 hp, water-cooled, 6- cylinder diesel engine is located at the right front, while the driver's hatch is at the left front, directly in front of the commander's hatch which mounts an IR searchlight. The gunner's hatch is on the left side of the low turret roof. To the rear of the turret there are four large hatches in the roof of the troop compartment, as well as two large exit doors in the rear. There are four firing ports in each side of the troop compartment and one in the left rear door. The suspension has six unevenly spaced road wheels of the PT-76 type, with three track support rollers and a front drive sprocket.



The BMP is amphibious, propelled through water by its tracks rather than using the waterjet propulsion of the PT-76, and has the range and speed necessary to keep up with the fast-moving tanks it normally follows in offensive formations.

The BMP has a three-man crew, including the vehicle commander, who becomes the squad leader when the infantry passengers dismount through the rear exit doors. However, vision blocks and firing ports in the sides and rear of the troop compartment allow the infantrymen to fire assault rifles (AKM or AK-74) and light machine guns (PKM or RPK-74) from inside the vehicle on the move. The troops also carry the RPG-7 or RPG-16 AT grenade launcher and the SA-7/ GRAIL or SA-14 SAM, either of which can be fired by a passenger standing in a rear hatch. When buttoned up, crew and passengers have NBC protection in the pressurized and filtered hull, which allows them to operate regardless of the outside environment.



The BMP is equipped with an infrared searchlight, periscopes, and sights for night operations and has a capability to make its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust manifold.

Because of the extreme vulnerability demonstrated by the BMP in the 1973 Middle East war, there has been extensive debate in the Soviet Army as to how this vehicle should be used in battle. The BMP has relatively thin armor (maximum thickness 19 mm in the hull, 23 mm in the turret) which provides protection against .50 caliber armor-piercing rounds only over the 60° frontal arc, and the vehicle is extremely vulnerable to ATGM and tank fire. Due to the compactness of the vehicle, critical areas such as the engine compartment and ammunition storage area (on the right side), fuel cells (in the rear doors), and the troop compartment are located in such a manner that penetration anywhere on the vehicle normally will result in a mobility, firepower, or personnel kill.



Because of limited capability to depress the main gun, the BMP is unable to engage tanks and APCs from good hull-down positions, and so is very vulnerable to enemy fire when it exposes itself to engage targets.



Although the turret can traverse 360 degrees, the main gun and coaxial machine gun must be elevated to clear the IR searchlight on the commander's cupola, creating a dead space for both weapons between 10:00 and 11:00 o'clock. This limitation could be a serious problem during an engagement since an automatic cutoff on the electrically operated turret halts movement until the gun is elevated.



The BMP can maintain its top speed (70 km/h) for only short periods of time because of the high amount of vibration and the possibility of transmission failure. Due to the complicated loading mechanism and the lack of stabilization, it is not possible to accurately fire the 73-mm gun or the coaxial machine gun while on the move over rough terrain. The BMP must be stationary when firing and tracking the SAGGER ATGM. The SAGGER is difficult to reload and cannot be reloaded at all under NBC conditions. The land navigation system must be zeroed every 30 minutes.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: armor; bmp1; bmp2; bmp3; freeperfoxhole; ifv; russia; sovietunion; tanks; treadhead; veterans; warsawpact
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To: snippy_about_it
Yes, it sure is.

Folks, I just finished downloading the July set of updates from Microsoft. be sure to visit Windows Update and downolad them if you're running Windows.

61 posted on 07/13/2004 10:26:38 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: Matthew Paul

Thanks for the correction Matt. I have to go by what the website's say. My Russian is non existant. That's why we use BMP in the States. :-)


62 posted on 07/13/2004 10:38:58 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: E.G.C.

Thanks for the heads-up E.G.C.


63 posted on 07/13/2004 10:39:48 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: snippy_about_it

We had plain pancakes and Mrs Butterworth's syrup. Cooked them on the camp stove. With all the convience foods there is practically nothing you can't take with you. Had pudding cups, cookies, candy bars, eggs, bacon, sausage, steak, hot dogs, hamburger, chicken, baked beans, potatoe salad, tomatoes, corn on the cob, OJ, milk, chocolate milk, cheese, ham and biscuits. We have a toaster oven to do the biscuits in. TONS of good eats.


64 posted on 07/13/2004 11:02:02 AM PDT by GailA (hanoi john kerry, I'm for the death penalty, before I impose a moratorium on it.)
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Comment #65 Removed by Moderator

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Landru; jla; FBD

"Drive!!"
(To be sung to Incubus' "Drive")

Sometimes, I feel Left's Fear of...
RATS' Implosion...Then I Cheer!!
And I can't help but ask myself WHY Schmucks...
Would let Left's Fear make their lives soooo queer?!!!

Reject the Medyuh Whore'd!! Willie seemed to have a Faint,
Shallow Mass Appeal!!
But lately I am beginning to find that I...
Should be the one making Slick squeeeeeeal!!

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there...
With well-stocked arms and lidless eyes, yeah!!
Whatever the Lib'rals sing, I'll be there...
RATS, BEWARE!!!!

Oh yes I...decide to waiver my
Chance to Believe the Left's Jive!!
Yes, I'll choose FReedom over whine...
And Fight Left's Whore'd and Drive!! Oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh!!

Right Must Defeat Left's Whore'd!!
Justice seems to be the way...
That Tyranny can be brought down!!
Folks, lately I'm beginning to find that
When we fight to win...Lord's Light Joins OURS!!

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there...
With well-stocked arms and lidless eyes, yeah!!
Whatever the Lib'rals sing, I'll be there...
RATS, BEWARE!!!!

Shouldn't YOU choose more FReedom and less whine?!
RE-IMPEACH RATS' Slime!!

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there...
With well-stocked arms and lidless eyes, yeah!!
Whatever the Lib'rals sing, I'll be there...
RATS, BEWARE!!!!

Doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo...

Mudboy Slim (8/31/2001)...Corralin' the Passions of GenerationNext!!!


66 posted on 07/13/2004 11:50:42 AM PDT by Mudboy Slim (RE-IMPEACH the Butcher of Waco!!)
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: Professional Engineer
Hooogan!
68 posted on 07/13/2004 12:11:22 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it
Happy Treadhead Tuesday to all!

BMP's eh? I used to have nightmares about regiments of those things advancing against us.

69 posted on 07/13/2004 12:14:09 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

Happy TreadHead Tuesday to you, too.


70 posted on 07/13/2004 1:04:29 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Matthew Paul

They offered Russian in High School but I couldn't even figure out their alphabet so I went with German. :-)


71 posted on 07/13/2004 2:09:38 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: Mudboy Slim

Afternoon Mud.


72 posted on 07/13/2004 2:10:22 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: Matthew Paul

Thanks Matt. Is Poland still fielding any of the BMPs?


73 posted on 07/13/2004 2:11:18 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: colorado tanker
Afternoon CT

I used to have nightmares about regiments of those things advancing against us.

The Soviets sure cranked out a lot of them, didn't they?

74 posted on 07/13/2004 2:12:17 PM PDT by SAMWolf (Talk is cheap because Supply exceeds Demand.)
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To: SAMWolf
I was told back in the 80's that if we had to defend against the "breakthrough" tactic, where the Sov's would mass armor, mech infantry and arty in a narrow front, we would face about seven to one odds in armored vehicles/weapons systems. We knew we could destroy their APC's, we just didn't know if he could do it fast enough to cope with those odds! We did take some heart from the fact the Israelis defeated odds like that in the Yom Kippur War.
75 posted on 07/13/2004 2:34:53 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Matthew Paul; SAMWolf
Matt is spot on, and made an observation I debated making earlier today.

As soon as I saw it, I made the assumption that the source had made a mistake.

Matt, the way I was trained to spell out BMP is Boevaya Mashina Pekhoty. The US Army translates that to Infanty Fighting Vehicle. Notice how the nouns and adjectives are rearranged.

Translating from one language to another can be fun, yet tricky...especially if you're translating from a foreign language through your native tongue into another foreign language!! Your skills are very good!

76 posted on 07/13/2004 3:02:17 PM PDT by HiJinx (Be sure to catch the John & John Show on station WDNC!!!)
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To: SAMWolf; colorado tanker
Russia plans to boost spending on domestic arms purchases by a third in 2005 to $6 billion to help the defence sector recover from a post-Soviet slump, industry sources and media reports said on Thursday. But a big player in the industry said the measure may not yield immediate results as the government remained divided over which sectors the money should favour.

The arms industry – the core of the Soviet economy during the Cold War – shrank in the 1990s. The sector started to pick up three years ago but production remains below Soviet levels. Vedomosti newspaper said the 2005 budget would likely allocate about 180 billion roubles ($6.20 billion) to arms purchases – a rise of about 45 billion roubles from 2004.

My comment:
Have some video of their goodies at IDEX,,,
BMP with all the bells and whistles,
It can move..hit multiple times on the move....while its bouncing....and then launch a missile ..and hit.

In an interview on Russia last night..they commented on weapons sales..and Russia's awareness of shortage/upgrading need in machine tooling.
Something to follow news wise on the intel track.

During the interview they commented on the huge cash game going on associated with Chechnya.
Low end weapons for cash..drugs etc.
Putin does want to be rid of the corruption.....better the state make the money than Oligarchs and gangsters.

Meanwhile...with Allanis Morrisette singing in the background,

"Thankyou Emperor Clinton......thankyou Terror!
Thankyou dielectic.... Photonic....Medium"

77 posted on 07/13/2004 3:05:11 PM PDT by Light Speed
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To: Light Speed
LOL! Nice graphic.

I've felt for some time Pooty-Poot's ultimate agenda is to resurrect some version of the Russian Empire. Belarus is ready to rejoin whenever he gives the nod. Ukraine is still in play, but is such a corrupt economic basket case it may someday be forced to rejoin.

78 posted on 07/13/2004 3:35:10 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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Comment #79 Removed by Moderator

To: colorado tanker
Charlie Rose had a thinktank expert interview/roundtable last night on Russia...Pooty and Oligarchs.
alot on Khordakovsky..the Yukos oil Oligarch.
Some Oligarchs have fled Russia allready...
They can stay if they pay taxes and do not go against his admin.

A Forbes Magazine/Fortune 500 type reporter was murdered recently.
Media/T.V. outlets with *attitude are being expunged.

Charlie asked if Russia was a Democracy,
The table rolled their eye's and laughed.
one reply...
"Russia is becoming a Consolidated Authoritarian Regime"
The State owns the oil/gas pipelines..even though Oligarchs have oil fields...Pooty can just close the taps if he wishes.
The banking system is next on Pooty's list of to do's.

80 posted on 07/13/2004 4:27:31 PM PDT by Light Speed
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