Brdm 2 and its civilian versions. Design features and main characteristics of the armored vehicle
BRDM-2 (Armored Reconnaissance and Patrol Vehicle-2) is the result of a modification of the BRDM-1. Serial production lasted from 1963 to 1989 at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. The vehicle was also produced under license in Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The vehicle's armor provides a low level of security, but protects it from shrapnel and small arms bullets. The main advantage of the BRDM-2 is the highest maneuverability. In addition to the all-wheel drive chassis, the tire pressure of which can be adjusted, there are additional retractable wheels located in the middle of the body and making it possible to move through significant trenches and ditches.
1. Photos
2. Video
3. History of creation and production
The development of the BRDM-2 was carried out at the GAZ design bureau. It was put into service in the spring of 1962. It began serial production in 1963, first at this plant, and two years later at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant.
4. Design
The layout of the vehicle is as follows - the engine compartment is located in the stern, the control compartment is in the frontal part, and the combat compartment is in the middle. The crew includes a gunner, commander, observer and driver.
5. Performance characteristics
5.1 Dimensions
- Case length, mm: 5750
- Case width, mm: 2350
- Height, mm: 2395
- Base, mm: 3100
- Track, mm: 1840 front; 1790 rear
- Ground clearance, mm: 330.
5.2 Booking
- Armor type: rolled steel
- Body forehead (top), mm/deg.: 5
- Body forehead (bottom), mm/deg.: 14
- Hull side, mm/deg.: 7
- Hull feed, mm/deg.: 7
- Bottom, mm: 2..3
- Housing roof, mm: 7
- Turret front, mm/deg.: 10
- Tower side, mm/deg.: 7
- Tower feed, mm/deg.: 7
- Tower roof, mm: 7.
5.3 Armament
- Angles VN, degrees: -5..+30
- GN angles, degrees: 360
- Firing range, km: 1.5 (PKT); 1..2 (KPVT)
- Sights: PP-61AM
- Machine guns: 1 x 7.62 mm PKT; 1 x 14.5 mm KPVT.
5.4 Mobility
- Engine type: GAZ-41
- Engine power, l. p.: 140
- Highway speed, km/h: 95..100
- Speed over rough terrain, km/h: 8..10 afloat
- Cruising range on the highway, km: up to 750
- Specific power, l. s./t: 20.0
- Wheel formula: 4×4 (8×8)
- Suspension type: semi-elliptic springs
- Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²: 0.5..2.7
- Climbability, degrees: 30
- Wall to be overcome, m: 0.4
- Ditch to be overcome, m: 1.22.
5.5 Other parameters
- Classification: armored vehicle/combat reconnaissance vehicle
- Combat weight, t: 7.0
- Crew, people: 4.
6. Modifications
- BRDM-2M(A) - modernization of BRDM-2, produced at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. The vehicle gained less weight due to the replacement of wheeled onboard mechanisms for increasing cross-country ability with trapezoidal doors from the BTR-70. The suspension was unified with the BTR-80. The gasoline engine was replaced with a turbodiesel D-245.9 with a power of 136 hp. A BPU-1 turret was installed, equipped with PKT 7.62 mm and KPVT 14.5 mm machine guns and a firing angle increased to +60. The modification was also equipped with radio stations R-173 or R-163
- BRDM-2LD - modernization of BRDM-2, produced in Ukraine, in Nikolaev in 1999. Diesel SMD-21-08 installed. Operated in Kosovo
- BRDM-2DI "Khazar" - modernization of BRDM-2, produced in Ukraine, in Nikolaev in 2005. A thermal imager, an FPT IVECO Tector diesel engine equipped with a pre-heater and a new weapons system were installed
- BRDM-2DP is a modernization of BRDM-2, produced in Ukraine, in Kyiv. The weight was reduced due to the removal of the wheeled onboard mechanisms for increasing cross-country ability and the turret. A device for overcoming trenches and trenches, a diesel engine and a side door for paratroopers were installed. There were changes in the composition of the weapons (two onboard SGMB machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber and a bow DShKM machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber appeared). There is the ability to supplement this modification with removable anti-cumulative nets
- BRDM-2T is a modernized BRDM-2, produced in Ukraine, in Kyiv in 2013. Additional wheels removed. The installation of the R-173 radio station, rear and front side lights of the BTR-70, wheels with tubeless tires, side landing hatches similar to the hatches of the BTR-70 and the D245.30E2 diesel engine with a power of 155 hp were installed. The KPVT machine gun was replaced with an NSVT machine gun, 12.7 mm caliber. There is the ability to complement this modification with other combat modules
- BRDM-2MB1 is a modernized BRDM-2, produced in Belarus. Additional wheels and water-jet propulsors have been removed. An R-173 radio station, a video surveillance system, side landing hatches, an Adunok combat module, and a D245.30E2 diesel engine with a power of 155 hp were installed. and an NSVT machine gun, 12.7 mm caliber. The number of crew has been increased to seven people.
- ZKDM "Zubastic" - modernization made in Azerbaijan in 2013. The installation of side landing hatches, a machine gun, 7.62 mm caliber, a turret (with a 30-mm AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher, 30 mm caliber, four 81-mm smoke grenade launchers and a double-barreled GSh-23 23-mm cannon), and a D-245.30 diesel engine was installed E2 150 hp and advanced mine protection. Additional wheels and jet propulsors removed
- BRDM-KZ - modernization carried out in Kazakhstan in 2013-2014. An Iveco diesel engine has been installed. The track has been expanded thanks to bridges from the BTR-80
- BRDM-2M-96i - modernization made in Poland in 1997. New brakes and a 6-cylinder Iveco Aifo 8040 diesel engine were installed
- BRDM-2M-96ik “Szakal” is a modification produced in Poland in 2003. An air conditioner, a 6-cylinder Iveco Aifo 8040SRC diesel engine, anti-cumulative lattice screens and an RRC-9500 radio station were installed. 14.5 mm machine gun replaced by 12.7 mm WKM-B
- BRDM-2M-97 “Żbik-B” - modernized BRDM-2M-96i. A new transmission, 6-cylinder diesel engine Iveco Aifo 8040 SRC-21.11 and additional equipment were installed.
- Kurjak – modernization made in Serbia
- LOT-B – modernization made in the Czech Republic
- LOT-V – command variant of LOT-B.
7. Vehicles based on BRDM-2
- 9P19 - combat vehicle of the Glaz anti-tank missile system
- 9P122 - combat vehicle of the 9K11M "Malyutka-M" anti-tank missile system
- 9P124 - combat vehicle of the 2K8M "Phalanga-M" anti-tank missile system
- 9P133 - combat vehicle of the 9K11P "Malyutka-P" anti-tank missile system
- 9P137 - combat vehicle of the 2K8P "Phalanga-P" anti-tank missile system
- 9P148 - combat vehicle of the 9K113 “Konkurs” anti-tank missile system
- BRDM-2RKhB is a chemical reconnaissance vehicle equipped with military radiation and chemical reconnaissance devices
- BRDM-2U - KShM
- 9A31 - combat vehicle of the 9K31 "Strela-1" air defense system
- ZS-72B - sound broadcasting station with medium-level power
- ZS-82 - sound broadcasting station with medium-level power
- Alesya-1 - emergency transport vehicle made in Belarus
- ATM-1 - emergency transport vehicle with universal functionality
- TM-1P - transport floating vehicle made in Russia
- BI-1 - armored cash-in-transit vehicle made in Russia
- UDDS-BRDM is a training and operating stand.
8. Combat use
- Operation Danube
- Yom Kippur War. One of the largest battles where BRDM-2 took part took place in the fall of 1973. The reason for it was the crossing of the Suez Canal by the Egyptian army (it was armed with vehicles). It was attacked by over 160 tanks, but in the end they were destroyed. Subsequently, the same fate befell Israeli equipment during the offensive in Syria.
- Afghan War (1979-1989)
- Armed conflict in South Ossetia - according to independent estimates, the Russian Armed Forces lost three BRDM-2.
The BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle was a further development of the BRDM-1. It was developed by the design bureau of the Gorky Automobile Plant OJSC, headed by V.A. Dedkov (leading designer V.K. Rubtsov) and was mass-produced from 1965 to 1989 by the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. The vehicle was put into service in 1966.
BRDM-2 had a general layout with a front-mounted control compartment and a rear-mounted power plant. This layout scheme, in comparison with the layout scheme of the BRDM-1, made it possible to improve visibility of the area from the driver’s workplace and improve the navigability of the vehicle, since installing the engine in the rear part of the hull ensured a stable trim to the stern. At the same time, the drive axles and cardan drives to them were located under the bottom of the hull, thereby disrupting its streamlined shape.
The smallest turning radius of the machine is 9 m, the largest elevation angle that the machine can overcome is 30°, and the largest roll angle is 25°.
The machine had a closed, sealed housing on which all units and mechanisms were attached. It was made of armor plates 10 mm and 6 mm thick, which provided protection from small arms bullets and shrapnel.
The control compartment is located in the bow of the hull. The control compartment houses the vehicle's controls, as well as the commander's and driver's seats, instrumentation, a radio station and surveillance devices. The seats have a position adjustment system. In the niche of the right front wheel there is a bracket for the DP-3B radiometer. The remote unit of the device is fixed in the housing on the front bottom sheet.
The fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the vehicle. In order to access the power plant from inside the vehicle, there is a partition in the rear of the fighting compartment in which special hatches are installed. The fighting compartment has two seats for the vehicle's crew. A shoulder strap is installed on the roof, on which the vehicle's turret is located. The turret has a hanging seat to accommodate the shooter. In the center of the floor there is a sealed casing under which the transfer case is located. In addition, there is a special niche in the floor for placing tools. The niche is closed with a hinged lid.
The power unit compartment is located at the rear of the case. The power unit compartment houses a manual engine start drive, an engine, a fuel tank for a starting heater, a generator set, a filter and fan unit, a gearbox, air cylinders, water and oil radiators, a battery, water and oil heat exchangers, a propeller drive, a compressor, and a valve. pumping, starting heater and water pump.
The weapon used is a BPU-1 installation with coaxial 14.5 mm KPVT and 7.62 mm PKT machine guns, mounted in a rotating conical turret. Guidance in the horizontal plane is possible within 180° and is carried out by rotating the turret; in the vertical plane from -5° to +30° it is carried out manually using a screw mechanism. Aiming of machine guns at the target is carried out using a periscope optical sight PP-61 or PP-61AM, having a magnification of 2.6? with a field of view of 23° and providing fire from the KPVT at a range of up to 2000 meters and from the PKT - up to 1500 meters.
The BRDM-2 ammunition consists of 500 rounds in 10 belts, equipped with B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullets and BZT tracer or armor-piercing incendiary bullets, with a tungsten carbide core, BS-41 bullets and BST tracer, as well as incendiary ZP The Kalashnikov machine gun is designed for defeats enemy personnel and firepower and has an ammunition load of 2000 rounds of ammunition in 8 belts.
The crew of the BRDM-2 consists of four people: the commander and driver, located in the control compartment on the right and left, respectively, the gunner, located in the turret, and the observer, occupying a place on the left or right side in the fighting compartment.
At night, the driver is equipped with a TVNO-2B night vision device, and the vehicle commander, instead of the TPKU-2 daytime surveillance device, is equipped with a TKN-1S night vision device. The radio station R-123 was used as a means of communication.
The car is equipped with a carburetor 8-cylinder GAZ-41V-8 engine with a power of 140 hp. Specific power – 20 hp/t. The engine uses a combined lubrication system (under pressure and by splashing). The oil pump is a two-section gear type. A jet-driven centrifugal oil filter is also used. The total capacity of fuel tanks is 280 liters. Power reserve 750 km.
The transmission is mechanical. All BRDM-2 wheels are driven. The chassis is made according to the 4x4 wheel arrangement. Additional pneumatic wheels are located in the middle part of the hull, two on each side. They were lowered and raised when overcoming trenches up to 1.2 m wide using hydraulic lifts, like an airplane chassis. Additional wheels are driven by mechanical drive from the transmission. The self-locking cam differentials of both axles were identical in design to similar units of the GAZ-66 truck. The front axle can be switched off from the driver's seat. The water jet and the drive to the drive wheels could work simultaneously if necessary.
On the water, the machine moves using a water-jet propulsion unit installed in the stern. A four-bladed propeller with a diameter of 500 mm sucks in water through an inlet pipe located in the bottom and throws it out through a hole in the stern plate of the hull. During movement on land, this hole was closed with a special armored valve. The tractive force at 900..1100 rpm of the propeller is 700 kgf. The propulsion is driven by a special power take-off mounted on the left side of the gearbox. Reverse motion was ensured by changing the direction of rotation of the propeller. To turn afloat, water rudders located in the outlet pipe of the water-jet propulsion system were used. The drive to them is interlocked with the wheel steering drive. Safety of movement on water was ensured by a wave-reflective shield (when driving on land, it is installed in the lower position to improve visibility) and a high-performance water pumping system.
The chassis was not fundamentally different from the BRDM chassis, with the exception of the suspension, which used telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers instead of lever-piston ones. A winch with a traction force on a cable of 4000 kgf was mounted in the front part of the hull. Additional equipment of the vehicle included TNA-2 navigation equipment, a safety system, and a heater.
Modifications of BRDM-2
Upgraded version of BRDM-2. A distinctive feature of the car is the D-245.9 diesel engine with a power of 136 hp, installed instead of a gasoline engine.
Technical characteristics of BRDM-2.
BRDM-2 is (were) in service with the following countries:
- Russia - more than 2000 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Algeria - 26 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Angola - 600 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Afghanistan - some BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Benin - 14 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Bulgaria - 24 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Burundi - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Vietnam - 100 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Guinea - 25 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Guinea-Bissau - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Egypt - 300 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Zambia - 70 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, of which about 30 are assessed as combat-ready, as of 2010
- India - 600 units delivered from the USSR between 1977 and 1979
- Indonesia - 21 BRDM-2, as of 2007
- Yemen - 50 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Cape Verde - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Kazakhstan - 140 BRDM-2, as of 2007
- Cambodia - some BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Kyrgyzstan - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Cote d'Ivoire - 13 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Republic of the Congo - 25 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Cuba - some BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Latvia - 2 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Libya - 50 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Lithuania - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Mauritius - some BRDM-2 as of 2010
- Madagascar - about 35 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Republic of Macedonia - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Mali - 55 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Mozambique - 30 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Mongolia - 120 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Namibia - 12 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Nicaragua - 20 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Palestine - 45 units supplied from Russia between 1995 and 1996, 25 units supplied from Russia in 2007
- Peru - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Poland - 376 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Seychelles - 6 BRDM-2, assessed as not operational, as of 2010
- Serbia - 46 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Syria - 590 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Somalia - some BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Slovakia - 129 BRDM-2, as of 2007
- Slovenia - 8 BRDM-2, as of 2007
- Sudan - 60 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Tanzania - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Turkmenistan - 170 BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Uzbekistan - 13 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Ukraine - more than 600 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Croatia - 1 BRDM-2, as of 2007
- CAR - 1 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Chad - about 100 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Equatorial Guinea - 6 BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Eritrea - 40 BRDM-1/BRDM-2, as of 2010
- Ethiopia - 120 units supplied from the USSR between 1977 and 1982, 60 units supplied from the USSR between 1985 and 1988, as of 2007 there are some in service
- Former USSR - passed to the states formed after the collapse
- Bosnia and Herzegovina - withdrawn from service
- Hungary - 350 BRDM-2 units were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1969 to 1975; according to other sources, they were supplied only in the 9P122/133 variants and MANPADS carriers
- GDR - 1579 units delivered from the USSR between 1975 and 1976, used under the designation SPW-40P2, transferred to Germany
- Germany - withdrawn from service
- Israel - captured Egyptian, withdrawn from service
- Iraq - 250 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR between 1967 and 1973
- Romania - 121 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR between 1975 and 1978, withdrawn from service
- Northern Yemen - 50 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1980
- Serbia and Montenegro - 50 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1970
- Uganda - 100 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1975
- Czechoslovakia - 100 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR between 1975 and 1976
- Estonia - withdrawn from service
- Yugoslavia - passed to the states formed after the collapse
- PDR Yemen - 100 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1972
In our article we learned the history of the creation of the BRDM-2. Now let’s supplement our story with technical details of the design of this combat vehicle.
The location of the BRDM-2 power compartment corresponded to the rear layout. It contained equipment for setting the machine in motion, both on land and on water.
As for the armament of this armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle, it was represented by the BPU-1 installation, equipped with coaxial 14.5 mm KPVT and 7.62 mm PKT machine guns. It was mounted in a rotating conical tower. Guidance in this design was possible within 180° using a mechanized drive, and in the vertical plane from -5° to +30° it was carried out using a screw mechanism.
Machine guns were aimed at the target using the PP-61 or PP-61AM periscope, which ensured reliable destruction of targets when firing from the KPVT at a range of 2,000 meters, and from the PKT up to 1,500 meters.
The KPVT ammunition consists of 500 rounds of ammunition, placed in 10 belts. Some of them contain armor-piercing incendiary bullets B-32, and also, if necessary: armor-piercing incendiary bullets with a tungsten carbide core, BS-41 bullets and tracer charges. In addition, the PKT armored car, which is also in service, has a combat kit of 2000 rounds of ammunition located in 8 belts.
The BRDM-2 crew is designed for four people to control the vehicle and fire. These are the commander and driver in the control compartment, who were located in it on the left and right. The shooter was in the turret, and the observer was located in the fighting compartment on the left or starboard side of the fighting compartment.
The driver used the TVNO-2B night vision device at night, while the BRDM-2 commander could use the TKN-1S thermal imager. The standard means of communication for the crew was the R-123 radio station.
The cruising range of the army's "workhorse" was 750 km. It was armed with an eight-cylinder engine branded GAZ-41V-8, which could produce 140 horsepower. The power unit used a combined lubrication system in its operation, and a gear-type oil pump was also used in it. Two fuel tanks could carry 280 liters of fuel.
BRDM-2 had all drive wheels, while its chassis had a 4x4 wheel arrangement. According to this formula, four wheels were driven, and two pneumatically driven wheels were located in the middle part of the body on the sides. They were used to overcome trenches up to 1.2 m wide.
BRDM-2 is produced and is still used in various modifications, sometimes very significantly different from the prototype. So, in addition to the Russian army, it is in service in Algeria, Kazakhstan, the USA and 79 other countries.
Technical characteristics of BRDM-2:
Classification | combat reconnaissance vehicle/armored vehicle |
Combat weight, | t 7.0 |
Crew, people | 4 |
Story | |
Manufacturer | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
Years of production | from 1963 to 1989 |
Number of issued, pcs. | more than 9400 |
Dimensions | |
Case length, mm | 5750 |
Case width, mm | 2350 |
Height, mm | 2395 |
Base, mm | 3100 |
Track, mm | 1840-front/1790-rear |
Ground clearance, mm | 330 |
Booking | |
Armor type | rolled steel |
Body forehead (top), mm/deg. | 5 |
Body forehead (bottom), mm/deg. | 14 |
Hull side, mm/deg. | 7 |
Hull feed, mm/deg. | 7 |
Bottom, mm | 2..3 |
Housing roof, mm | 7 |
Turret front, mm/deg. | 10 |
Tower side, mm/deg. | 7 |
Tower feed, mm/deg. | 7 |
Tower roof, mm | 7 |
Armament | |
Angles VN, degrees. | -5..+30 |
Angles GN, degrees. | 360 |
Firing range, km | 1..2 (KPVT)/1.5 (PKT) |
Sights | PP-61AM |
Machine guns | 1 x 14.5 mm KPVT/1 x 7.62 mm PKT |
Mobility | |
Engine type | GAZ-41 |
Engine power, l. With. | 140 |
Highway speed, km/h | 95..100 |
Speed over rough terrain, km/h | 8..10 afloat |
Cruising range on the highway, km | up to 750 |
Specific power, l. s./t | 20,0 |
Wheel formula | 4-4 (8-8) |
Suspension type | on semi-elliptic springs |
Specific ground pressure, kg/cm^2 | 0,5..2,7 |
Climbability, degrees. | 30 |
Wall to be overcome, m | 0,4 |
Ditch to be overcome, m | 1,22 |
Fordability, m | floats |
In the video, the presenters of the “Review Machines” channel talked about the BRDM-2, purchased at a price of 500 thousand rubles, from conservation, we will test the condition and try to test military equipment.
Today there are many companies that have established a kind of business - buying back decommissioned military equipment for the purpose of further resale. The cars are given a more civilian look - the armor is removed, windows and doors are cut out, the interior is redesigned, sometimes you can find versions that claim to be luxury.
The prices for such vehicles are steep; for example, the Brdm-2 can cost from a million rubles. But there is another option - buying equipment directly from military units or at official auctions, bypassing intermediaries. Prices can be much more affordable, the same armored vehicle, practically new, can be bought from conservation for 500 thousand, and sometimes even cheaper! By the way, the only all-terrain vehicle you can buy for 500 thousand is now an ATV, and even that is very used, if not Chinese.
The idea for this video was that it was interesting to know what military equipment is like straight from conservation in its original form, what its technical characteristics are. We found such a car from the guys who set it up and started driving it for the first time.
The car is practically new, the mileage is less than 1000 km, the year of manufacture is quite old - 1984, and the car spent almost all this time in conservation. The equipment is completely original, weapons and other military equipment have been dismantled, everything else is stock, including the turret and armor.
First, let's take a look inside. You can get there through one of two hatches on the roof. The layout of the vehicle is as follows: a crew of four people, two seats in front for the driver and commander, a gunner in the middle, and an engine in the rear of the vehicle. Of course, if you haven’t had to deal with a car before, the number of instruments, lights, levers and knobs is overwhelming, but in fact the controls are quite simple, if you’ve even driven a UAZ, you can get the hang of it in a matter of minutes.
On the left is the wheel pressure control unit - an indispensable thing in any serious all-terrain vehicle, everything is on valves, rough, but reliable. Under the hatches in the floor there is access to the transfer case and gearboxes, and there is also a rotating turret with a gunner's turret. In the rear there is room for another crew member, although it seems quite cramped here, and this is also where access to the engine is provided. As you can see, access to the main components is directly from the inside, so you can repair it without leaving the armor, and in some cases, without stopping movement at all.
Let's look at the condition of the main mechanisms of the machine, consider the technical characteristics. Four additional ones are hidden behind the armor. wheels that are lowered down using hydraulics. Made to increase the geometric cross-country ability of the vehicle, in this form it is easy to overcome shafts, trenches and other turbulent terrain. Each of the additional wheels are equipped with their own chain drive! There really isn’t much tread here, but if something happens, four driving wheels will add to the cross-country ability of the all-terrain vehicle! As you can see, despite years of inactivity, everything is working properly. The wheel inflation system also functions perfectly - the pressure is released when needed and inflated accordingly.
At the back, behind a special curtain, there is a water-jet propulsion unit, with the help of which the car develops up to 10 km/h when moving on water, there are even rudders with which you can maneuver in a body of water. This is a breakwater that cuts off the wave so that it does not flood open hatches when launching! Well, you can completely close yourself off from the outside world with the help of armored shields on the windshields. The motor of this all-terrain vehicle deserves special attention, which can be accessed mainly only from the inside through sealed doors.
Gas-41, V-shaped 8-cylinder gasoline engine with a power of 140 hp, such units were installed on the legendary seagulls, with the only difference being that in our case the engine is derated in order to increase reliability, service life and torque.
It's time to try starting the car! The most interesting thing is that the all-terrain vehicle was able to move independently, straight from conservation! The engine smoked, heated, and puffed, but it drove!
I had to play around with the engine quite a bit, setting it up for normal operation, and countless other little things were done. Well, in the end, the all-terrain vehicle is now operating normally in a state of practically new equipment! What are the impressions of car rides? As you can see, it walks across the spring field without the slightest problem, the huge mass pushes the snow to the mainland, providing a reliable grip. All-wheel drive on 8 wheels, central pressure control, locks - all this does its job and as an all-terrain vehicle, the BRDM is an excellent machine, only a lot of weight can let it down. In difficult cases, a winch driven by an engine and a powerful 50-meter cable should help. You experience interesting sensations when you ride inside the armor. The isolation from the outside world is complete, there is absolutely no understanding of what is happening outside, in general, the car is ideal for those who want to isolate themselves as much as possible from external stimuli. True, the driver does not feel comfortable, because... visibility is only through two small front windows, and through several special triplex visors around the perimeter, so for frequent driving around the city, in any case, you will have to buy additional windows. Yes, and it is strongly recommended to wear protection on your head, because... On the off-road, sometimes it shakes quite a bit, and inside there is a huge amount of metal that you can hit hard on, which is exactly what happened to us.
Eight derated boilers of the old Soviet engine are still gas guzzlers. According to the passport alone, consumption per 100 km on the highway is stated to be about 40 liters; accordingly, it is better not to think about how much fuel is consumed off-road. For example, for completely light rides across the field, they burned 20 liters, so huge tanks of 280 liters, with them, the power reserve is 750 km. By the way, the car goes unexpectedly well on the highway, developing a quite comfortable cruising speed of 90 km/h, and the maximum speed is 100 km/h. By the way, the control is not very complicated after you get used to it, the hydraulic booster helps out. True, you need to carefully monitor it, if it suddenly fails - turning the huge wheels by hand is unrealistic. If you ever decide to buy equipment, just be prepared for the brutal ice-stopper effect! Everyone will stare at you, pester you with questions, ask you to take a photo, take your children for a ride, go for a ride yourself, call the police, and show various signs of attention in every possible way.
Reconnaissance and observation of the enemy are a significant component of victory. This allows you to quickly assess enemy forces and plan your actions. Tactical reconnaissance actions are especially important, allowing you to identify hidden enemy fortifications, patrols and ambushes. Before launching an offensive, the command needs to know the location of the enemy’s equipment and manpower, as well as the enemy’s degree of combat readiness.
For these purposes, the BRDM-2 light wheeled armored vehicle was created, which allows for operational reconnaissance in off-road conditions and is capable of fighting enemy infantry. Although the design of the vehicle is more than 50 years old, it is still in service with the armies of a number of countries and is used in local armed conflicts.
History of creation
Armored cars BRDM (the abbreviation stands for Combat Reconnaissance and Patrol Vehicle) are the fruit of the creativity of the designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant. Because of this, the vehicles have a double designation, so to speak, factory and army. Factory, as expected, begins with the letters GAZ (Gorky Automobile Plant), followed by the development number.
BRDM-2 is not the first armored car produced by GAZ. The authors of the project of the previous version of the BRDM-1 took part in the development of the new generation vehicle. Experience helped in the creation of a successor, which got rid of a number of weaknesses of its predecessor, and in the late spring of 1962, the vehicle under the designation BRDM-2 was officially approved for delivery to combat units of the Soviet army.
The customer noted in the acceptance certificate a number of shortcomings of the vehicle, such as poor stability on slopes (due to the narrow gauge), lack of a turret (later corrected), and cramped conditions for the crew.
However, these were only sea trials. The assembly of production cars began in 1963. The car was mass-produced at two factories: GAZ (since 1963) and at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant (since 1982).
In serial production there were two modifications that lasted on the assembly line until 1989. In total, about 9,500 BRDM-2 units were produced. The armored car is still produced in other countries, albeit under different designations.
The 90-horsepower lower-valve 6-cylinder GAZ-40 engine used on its predecessor was replaced by the GAZ-41 V-shaped eight, which had a power of 140 horsepower. The body became completely sealed, which gave the vehicle the ability to overcome water obstacles without special training. Hydraulic power steering and a vacuum brake booster also appeared.
Armored hull and turret
The driver and commander are located in the front of the vehicle, as well as the following equipment and equipment:
- controls;
- two separate seats;
- control devices;
- walkie-talkie;
- periscopes for observation.
Armor protection consists of rolled steel sheets with a thickness of 5 to 10 mm. The armor provides protection at some distance from rifle and machine gun bullets, as well as fragments of grenades and shells. The crew's protection is relative: a large-caliber machine gun penetrates the frontal armor from a distance of 500 meters, and the sides - from 1200 meters.
The tower has the shape of a truncated cone, which essentially rotates on an angular contact bearing with a diameter of 1424 mm. Although the designers call it a ball shoulder strap. The turret is welded from sheets of armored steel with a slot for installing a twin pair: KPVT and PKT.
Combat compartment
The warhead is located in the middle of the vehicle. It housed two crew members. A shoulder strap is installed on the roof to accommodate a gun with a turret.
Inside it there is a suspended seat on which the shooter is placed, performing the functions of both a loader and a gunner.
On the floor under the hinged hood (cover) there is a transfer gearbox and a niche for storing tools and spare parts.
Power department
In the rear part of the hull there is a power compartment, separated from the warhead by a steel bulkhead 5 mm thick. It contains the engine, gearbox, battery, cooling system radiator, as well as various auxiliary equipment.
The BRDM-2 was equipped with an engine with a cylinder capacity of 5.5 liters. The engine is a derated modification of the GAZ-13 power unit, which was used on the legendary Chaika. The engine has a reduced compression ratio, allowing the use of A76 or A-80 gasoline.
It is possible to use high-octane A-92 fuel when adjusting the ignition timing. Average fuel consumption was about 30 liters per 100 km. Two tanks with a total volume of 280 liters provided an average range of 750 km. On flat surfaces the car can accelerate to 100 km/h.
Armament
The first BRDM-2 did not provide for the installation of a turret. Instead, there were hatches for the KPVT machine gun (large-caliber machine gun designed by Vladimirov), which had a caliber of 14.5 mm and a mass of 52 kg. The target firing range was 2000 m. It can also be used to fire at aerial targets.
Later, the BPU-1 turret was designed specifically for BRDM-2 vehicles. It housed a twin installation of the previously mentioned KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT.
The tower could rotate 360 degrees horizontally.
Vertical aiming angles ranged from -5 to 30 degrees. The KPVT machine gun could penetrate the defense of any mock enemy armored vehicle of that time, as well as field defenses located at a distance of 2 kilometers or closer.
Surveillance and communications
The vehicle commander observes the battlefield through the TPKU-2B periscope binocular tank panorama, which has a 5x magnification with a field of view of 7.5 degrees. This helps to monitor up to 2.5...3 kilometers, and at all 360 degrees.
At night, it was possible to install a TKN-1S night vision device. But its viewing range is only up to 300 meters. The commander also had 4 more fixed periscopic devices: one TNPO-115 and three TPN-B. The devices have a one-time magnification, but to compensate, they are equipped with automatic heating, which prevents frost and condensation from covering the glass at low temperatures.
The driver mechanic has 6 instruments, through which he monitors the front and right side. Also, in the dark, one of the devices for frontal viewing could be replaced with the TVNO-2B device, which provides a view of 30 degrees and a range of 50 meters.
In the fighting compartment, in addition to the machine gun sight, the shooter has a TNPT-1 periscope device, which is placed on the roof of the turret and allows observation of the rear of the vehicle in a sector of 52 degrees. The observer has three periscope devices on each side of the side of the hull.
Transmission
During the development of the BRDM-2, the GAZ plant had already launched serial production of the GAZ-66 Shishiga army SUV. To ensure unification, most of the components were borrowed from him.
The gearbox is a manual 4-speed, equipped with reverse speed. The box provides space to accommodate the power take-off gearbox used to drive the winch. The winch is located in the front of the armored vehicle.
All wheels of the armored personnel carrier have all-wheel drive through a 2-stage transfer gearbox. The axles are equipped with self-locking differentials. It was also possible to turn off the front axle for lower fuel consumption.
The wheels have an automatic inflation function, which is a definite plus on the battlefield. It is also possible to adjust the pressure in each wheel. Using this function, you can increase the vehicle's maneuverability on difficult road sections.
Chassis
The camber angle of the wheels is approximately 0°45′. Tires 12.00-18” with central pressure regulation, similar to tires GAZ-66 and ZIL-157, are suitable for installation. In addition to leaf springs, the suspension has telescopic shock absorbers.
Also in the center of the vehicle body there are 4 auxiliary aircraft wheels measuring 750x250 mm. They help prevent the vehicle from sitting on its “belly” when crossing ditches and trenches up to 1.2 meters wide, thereby increasing cross-country ability. The rubber of the wheels is very thick and if hit by a splinter it is unlikely to be punctured. There is no drive for additional wheels.
Swimming
The big advantage of the BRDM-2 was the ability to overcome water obstacles. The armored vehicle is equipped with a sealed casing. Before moving through the water, you must move the water jet damper and lower the wave reflector. On water, the car reaches speeds of up to 10 km/h. If the water jet fails, the vehicle will be able to reach the shore by rotating the drive wheels.
To do this, you need to turn on the engine in 3rd gear. BRDM-2 can move through water in the opposite direction, since the propeller can rotate in the opposite direction. The vehicle is controlled using both wheels and a rudder on a water jet.
Combat use
BRDM-2 entered service with the USSR Army and Navy. Currently, there are at least 2,000 units of this equipment in units and storage bases of the Russian Army.
Thanks to wide supplies, the vehicle is in service with:
- Libya (about 250 units delivered);
- Syria (deliveries amounted to 600 units);
- Algeria (110 cars);
- Angola, Afghanistan, Benin (12 armored vehicles each);
- Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary (4 units each).
As part of the Soviet army, BRDM-2 for the first time took military part in Operation Danube - the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968. The operation took place without significant losses on the part of the USSR, since the 200,000-strong army of Czechoslovakia did not dare to fight back.
After 10 years, the BRDM-2 again had to take part in real combat operations, but this time in Afghanistan. In difficult climatic conditions and high altitude conditions, the gasoline engine lost power, overheated and often stalled. Protection from large-caliber machine guns and, even more so, shells was also insufficient.
The small vertical angle did not make it possible to fire on mountain slopes, where the Mujahideen usually set up an ambush. In practice, the armor showed its vulnerability to RPGs, which pierced right through the equipment.
The enemy first immobilized the vehicle and then finished it off with small arms.
The vehicle was also used during the first and second Chechen wars, by both sides. As a result, three BRDM-2s were lost from the Russian side.
For foreign operators, it first took part in the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6, 1973.
On the very first day, Egyptian special forces, with the help of the BRDM-2, which was installed on it, managed to achieve some success in breaking through the Israeli defense.
They also made their mark in the jungles of Vietnam, where cross-country ability came in handy. BRDM-2s were used quite widely in Angola. There they became popular because of their low cost and reliability.
Modifications
Basically, modifications of the BRDM-2 are in service with the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Polish armies.
Name | Country manufacturer | Year | Basic changes |
---|---|---|---|
Brdm-2LD | Ukraine | 1999 | Installed side doors for landing and diesel engine SMD-21-08 |
BRDM-2DI "Khazar" | Ukraine | 2005 | Side doors for landing were installed, a new FPT IVECO Tector engine of Italian origin was installed, and a new weapons system was also installed. |
MBTS "Cayman" | Belarus | 2015 | The front part of the body is glazed with armored glass. The gearboxes and other chassis were taken from the BTR-60. The engine was replaced with a diesel D 245 with an electronic control system. The car managed to maintain buoyancy. |
BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal" | Poland | 2003 | An IvecoAifo 8040SRC engine, a new RRC-9500 radio station and anti-cumulative grilles were installed. Instead of a 14.5 mm machine gun, a 12.7 mm WKM-B machine gun is installed. |
Decommissioned armored vehicles without weapons and special equipment can be purchased at auctions. The cost will vary from 500 to 1.5 million rubles, depending on the condition.
On the basis of the BRDM-2, folk craftsmen created the U.M.K.A. in the event of a world apocalypse. (Universal Mobile Camper Amphibian), commonly known as a doomsday vehicle. True, you will have to pay a considerable amount for it, which starts from 7 million rubles.
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