BTR-50P
(
Object 750
) is an armored personnel carrier based on the chassis of the PT-76 light amphibious tank.

It has a high capacity of 20 paratroopers. It is also capable of transporting up to 2 tons of cargo on the roof, afloat, for example a mortar or an 85-mm gun, and it can be fired from it while afloat.

Story

The BTR-50P was developed by the design bureau of Zh. Ya. Kotin in 1952 (during the development work - “Object 750”, the chief designer of the development was N. F. Shashmurin).

The armored personnel carrier was adopted for service in 1954.

The BTR-50P was produced from 1952 to 1954.

Since 1954, the BTR-50PA armored personnel carrier was produced, which was distinguished by the installation of a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun, from which it was possible to fire at an elevation angle of +85° and a decrease of −3°.

In 1955, the following were developed on the BTR-50P chassis: the serial BTR-50P2 with the ZTPU-2 anti-aircraft gun and the experimental BTR-50P4 with the ZTPU-4 anti-aircraft gun.

In 1958, the BTR-50PK armored personnel carrier was put into service, and since 1959, the BTR-50PK was mass-produced at the Volgograd Tractor Plant. The BTR-50PK had an armored roof for the troop compartment and was armed with a 7.62 mm SGMB machine gun.

The BTR-50, called TOPAS OT-62C, has also been produced since 1958 in Czechoslovakia in Detva. In a large series in 1962-1972. Also, the BTR-50P under the name Type 66 (WZ-511) was produced in China.

Defense and weapons

The BMP-1's armament includes a 73-mm 2A28 "Grom" smooth-bore gun, a 7.62-mm PKT coaxial machine gun and a 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM; the 9K32 "Strela-2" man-portable anti-aircraft missile system can also be attached and transported in the troop compartment.

The armored hull of the BMP-1 is welded from high-hardness rolled steel armor. In the upper frontal part there is a large hatch, closed with a folding ribbed armor plate made of aluminum alloy, providing access to the engine. Conical tower. To protect against penetrating radiation from a nuclear explosion, an anti-radiation lining is used.

Due to the small elevation angle of the barrel, the crews of the vehicles in Afghanistan themselves mounted the AGS-17 “Flame” on the turret, which improved the combat properties of the vehicle in mountain conditions.

BMP-1 turret. Additional fuel tanks are located in the rear hatches of the BMP-1.

Modernization

• Option for modernizing the BTR-50 (OT-62 “Topaz”) by the plant named after. Malyshev in 2010[4]. The modernization scheme for these vehicles provides for the installation of one of two variants of a combat module consisting of a 30-mm ZTM1 or 2A72 automatic cannon, a 7.62-mm KT-7.62 or PKT machine gun, a Konkurs anti-tank missile system and an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher. The power plant with the V-6 engine is replaced by a power plant with the UTD-20 engine with a power of 300 hp. or a multi-fuel diesel engine ZTD-2 with a power of 350 hp. complete with a five-speed gearbox with planetary rotation mechanisms and modification of the chassis components. As a result, the speed on the highway increased to 60 km/h.

• Option for modernizing the BTR-50 OJSC "Muromteplovoz". The modernization scheme provides for the installation of an MB2-03 combat module, with a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon, a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun and an AG-17 automatic grenade launcher. A new 4-stroke diesel YaMZ-7601 with turbocharging with a power of 300 hp is installed, with a mechanical transmission with a hydrostatic steering control mechanism. As a result, highway speed increased to 63.1 km/h. The weight increased to 15,670 kg.

• BTR-50PKM is a Belarusian modernization project for armored personnel carriers of the BTR-50 family (BTR-50P, BTR-50PU, BTR-50PK, PT-76, PT-76B) and vehicles with the same type of chassis (OT-62 Topaz). A new high-power diesel engine and transmission combined into a power unit were installed. At the same time, the maximum speed has increased to 60 km/h, and the range has increased to 450 km. Ergonomic characteristics have also been improved.

• BTR-50S (2005) - Serbian modernization of the BTR-50PK, intended for export only. The vehicle is equipped with an M91E turret from the M80 infantry fighting vehicle, with a 30 mm automatic cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, two 9M14M Malyutka ATGM launchers, and four smoke grenade launchers.

• BTR-50PM - Indonesian modernization. The car has a new engine with a power of 270 hp. As a result, the highway speed has increased to 50 km/h, and the range is 400 km. Crew 3 people, landing party 14 people.

• PAL-AFV - Indonesian modernization of the BTR-50PM. The car has a new engine with a power of 300 hp. The nose and mechanical parts have been changed. As a result, the highway speed has increased to 60 km/h, and the range is 480 km. The weight increased to 14,700 kg. Crew 3 people, landing party 14 people.

Performance characteristics of the BTR-50

Crew, people: 2 Troops, people: 20 Layout: rear-engine Years of production: 1954—1970 Number of produced, pcs.: up to 6500

Weight of BTR-50

— 14.2 tons

Dimensions of BTR-50

— Body length, mm: 7070 — Body width, mm: 3140 — Height, mm: 2030 — Ground clearance, mm: 270

Armor BTR-50

— Armor type: rolled homogeneous steel of high hardness — Hull front, mm/deg.: 10–13 — Hull side, mm/deg.: 8–10 — Hull rear, mm/deg.: 6

Armament of the BTR-50

— Machine guns: 1 × 7.62 mm SGMB machine gun (later PKMB)

Engine BTR-50

— Engine type: V-6PVG — Engine power, l. p.: 240

Speed ​​BTR-50

— Highway speed, km/h: 44.6 — Cross-country speed, km/h: 10.2 (afloat)

— Cruising range on the highway, km: 380–420 — Cruising range over rough terrain, km: 80–140 (afloat) — Specific power, l. s./t: 16.7 — Suspension type: individual torsion bar — Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²: 0.5 — Climbable grade, degrees: 38° — Climbable wall, m: 1.1 — Climbable ditch, m : 2.8 — Fordability, m: floats

Vehicles based

• BTR-50PU
  - command and staff vehicle;
• Penguin (object 209)
  - Antarctic all-terrain vehicle;
• object 210
  - an all-terrain vehicle based on the BTR-50P for personnel of the Northern Fleet (1958);
• object 211
  is an experimental one, with a gas turbine engine-350 with a power of 350 hp. (1963-1964);
• UR-67
  - self-propelled mine clearing unit;
• MTP-1
  - technical assistance vehicle;
• MTP-50M
  - Belarusian technical assistance vehicle, produced by Minotor-Service;
• MTP-300T
  is a Belarusian technical assistance vehicle produced by Minotor-Service.

Design

To successfully overcome water obstacles, the BMP-1 was equipped with hollow metal rollers that increase buoyancy. The vehicle did not have a water cannon, so to increase speed afloat, special grates were installed on the rear wings, above the tracks, to redirect the flow of water from the tracks not upward, but backward. And in front, the shape of the hull directed the flow of water downwards, which raised the nose of the car above the water.

The BMP-1 received a fundamentally new track design, in which the moving parts did not overlap each other, as in a tank, which increased the service life of the metal and rubber seals to 8000 km.

The propulsion system was created on the basis of the very successful 12-cylinder V-2 diesel engine, which was the base unit for many civilian and military products of the USSR. The head of the engine design bureau and the author of many inventions for the BMP-1 engine was V.D. Chudakov. The chief designer was P.P. Isakov.

Operators

Modern

• Vietnam Vietnam - 1100 BTR-50/BTR-40/BTR-152/BTR-60, as of 2020[5]
• Guinea Guinea - 10 BTR-50, as of 2020[6]
• Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo - 3 BTR-50, as of 2020[7]
• Egypt Egypt - 500 BTR-50P/OT-62, as of 2016[8]
• Indonesia Indonesia: Indonesian National Army - 34 BTR-50PK, as of 2020[9]
• Indonesian Marine Corps - 100 BTR-50P, as of 2016[10]

Former

• Algeria Algeria - 110 BTR-50P/OT-62, as of 2007[19]
• Angola Angola - 92 BTR-50 units delivered from the USSR in 1975[20]
• Afghanistan Afghanistan - 100 BTR-50 units were supplied from the USSR between 1965 and 1966[20]
• Bulgaria Bulgaria - 700 BTR-50 units were supplied from the USSR between 1960 and 1963[20]
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1 BTR-50, as of 2010[21]
• Hungary Hungary - 150 BTR-50 units were delivered from the USSR in 1960[20]
• GDR GDR - 200 units of BTR-50 were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1959 to 1962, used by the GDR under the designations SPW-50P and SPW-50PK[20]
• Israel Israel - a number of BTR-50P, as of 2001[22], withdrawn from service
• India India - 200 BTR-50 units were supplied from the USSR between 1978 and 1979[20]
• Iraq Iraq - a number of BTR-50, as of 2002[23], withdrawn from service
• Cyprus Cyprus - 17 BTR-50P, as of 1990[24]
• Libya Libya - a number of BTR-50s, as of 2012[25]
• Nicaragua Nicaragua - 1 BTR-50PU delivered from the USSR in 1982[20]
• Peru Peru - 10 BTR-50 units delivered from the USSR in 1976[20]
• Poland Poland - 200 BTR-50 units were supplied from the USSR between 1959 and 1962[20]
• Russia Russia - about 1000 BTR-50P, as of 2007[26]
• Slovenia Slovenia - 2 BTR-50PU, as of 2007[27]
• Somalia Somalia - a number of BTR-50s, as of 2012[28]
• Yugoslavia Yugoslavia - 120 BTR-50 units delivered from the USSR in 1965[20]
• Finland Finland - 186 BMP-1TJ and BTR-50 YV1, as of 2010[29]
• PDR Yemen PDR Yemen - 100 units of BTR-50 were delivered from the USSR in 1973[20]

Modifications

• The BMP-3K is a command infantry fighting vehicle, developed on the basis of the BMP-3 and intended for operations as part of a unit, battle control, communication with other units and with higher command levels. The main tactical and technical characteristics and weapons are similar to the BMP-3. The vehicle is equipped with navigation equipment, two radio stations, a receiver, intercom equipment for seven subscribers, an autonomous generator and a radar transponder. Radio station R-173, communication range up to 40 km.
• BMP-3F is a combat vehicle of the Marine Corps, created on the basis of the BMP-3 and is intended for combat operations by Marine Corps units, border and coastal troops in the coastal zone, on the coast and during amphibious landings. It differs from the BMP-3 in the increased buoyancy and stability of the vehicle, the equipment for self-entrenchment has been eliminated, a telescopic air intake pipe and a lightweight water-reflecting flap have been installed, and water-reflecting flaps have been introduced on the turret. It has high maneuverability afloat, can move and fire with the required accuracy in water waves of up to 3 and 2 points, respectively. With the engine running, it can stay in the water for up to 7 hours and move at speeds of up to 10 km/h. Capable of going ashore in breaking waves and towing a similar product. The vehicle is equipped with a new main sight "SOZH" with a built-in laser rangefinder and an ATGM control channel.
• BMP-3M is an improved modification of the BMP-3. It surpasses the basic version in mobility and firepower thanks to the installation of a new turbocharged engine UTD-32T with a power of 660 hp. and an improved fire control system, which allows you to recognize targets and conduct targeted shooting at long ranges and speeds. It is distinguished by increased security due to the installation of additional armor screens and the Arena-E active protection complex, which protects the vehicle from enemy guided and unguided anti-tank missiles and grenades. The fire control system allows you to automatically recognize, track and attack targets in motion. The recognition range for a tank-type target is 4,500 m. Installed side screens protect against damage from armor-piercing bullets of 12.7 mm caliber, and also reduce the impact of a cumulative jet. The landing of soldiers is carried out through the aft hatch, which is somewhat complicated by the need to crawl through the engine.

• BMP-3 with KOEP "Shtora-1" - provides effective protection of the vehicle against ATGMs with semi-automatic and automatic guidance systems. Its high efficiency was confirmed after the IDEX-2003 exhibition at the Makatra training ground. When firing at it with various ATGMs from a range of 3000 m, none of the missiles reached the target.
• BMP-3 with Cactus remote sensing system - demonstrated at an exhibition in Omsk in 2001. DZ blocks are located on the side and frontal parts of the hull and turret together with rubber-fabric and lattice screens. Additional protection significantly increases the survivability of infantry fighting vehicles in conditions of the use of light anti-tank weapons with cumulative warheads. The weapons complex, fire control system, internal layout, and logistics are similar to the base model. Due to the increase in mass, the infantry fighting vehicle cannot float. When additional protection is removed, this ability returns, since the water-jet engines are preserved. The machine has large dimensions in terms of width (up to 3.97 m) and body length (up to 7.16 m).
• BMP-3 with the Bakhcha-U combat module is distinguished by a modern fire control system and a unified loading mechanism for a new ammunition load of guided and unguided 100-mm rounds. The 9M117M1 "Arkan" guided missile ensures the destruction of modern tanks with dynamic protection at a range of up to 5500 m. The ZUBK23-3 round with an ATGM has a mass of 21.5 kg and a length of 1185 mm. The new 100-mm high-explosive fragmentation round ZUOF19 has a firing range of 7000 m and, compared with a standard projectile, its effectiveness and dispersion are 2.5-3 and 2 times better, respectively. The use of the new 30-mm Kerner armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile significantly increases the effectiveness of firing at lightly armored targets.

Notes

1. [all-tanks.ru/content/bronetransporter-btr-50 Armored personnel carrier BTR-50]. Armored vehicles of the world
   .
2. [www.army-guide.com/rus/product2734.html BTR-50]. Army Guide
   .
3. [web.archive.org/web/20120711213358/cris9.narod.ru/infanteri_btr50p.htm Armored personnel carrier BTR-50P]
4. [vpk.name/news/42465_bronya_dlya_egipta.html “ARMOR” for Egypt]
5. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 297.
6. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 449.
7. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 441.
8. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 324.
9. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 257.
10. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 258.
11. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 328.
12. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 265.
13. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 393.
14. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 191.
15. [www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=7762 Announced sales of specific items] // official website of the Serbian Ministry of Defense dated January 27, 2015
16. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 354.
17. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 471.
18. The Military Balance 2020. - P. 84.
19. The Military Balance 2007. - P. 218.
20. ↑ 1234567891011
    [armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – Arms Transfers Database]
21. The Military Balance 2010. - P. 179.
22. [www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/army-equipment.htm Israel Army Equipment]. GlobalSecurity.org
    .
23. [www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/ground-equipment.htm Iraqi Ground Forces Equipment]. GlobalSecurity.org
    .
24. [www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/cy-army-equipment.htm Cyprus National Guard Equipment]. GlobalSecurity.org
    .
25. The Military Balance 2012. - P. 337.
26. The Military Balance 2007. - P. 196.
27. The Military Balance 2007. - P. 141.
28. The Military Balance 2012. - P. 452.
29. The Military Balance 2010. - P. 182.

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  ATGM combat vehicles 2P27 "Bumblebee" · 2P32 "Phalanx" · 9P19 "Eye" · 9P110 "Malyutka" · 9P122 "Malyutka-M" · 9P124 "Phalanga-M" · 9P133 "Malyutka-P" · 9P137 "Flute" · 9P148 "Konkurs" · 9P149 "Sturm-S" · 9P157 "Chrysanthemum-S" · 9P161 "Kornet-S" · 9P162 "Kornet-T" Combat reconnaissance vehicles BRDM-1 Object 760 (“hover tank”) · BRDM-VPK · BRDM-VPS · Object 8M-906 · BRDM-2 · BRDM-3 · BRM-1K · BRM-2 · BRM-3K · BKM Airborne Forces "Vydra" · Patrol-A Flamethrower combat vehicles BMO-1 · BMO-T Armored personnel carriers K-75 · BTR-40 · BTR-112 · K-78 · BTR-152 · ZIS-153 · BTR-50 · BTR-E152V · ZIL-153 · GT-L · GT-LB · Object 1015 · BTR-60 · MT- D · BTR-70 · BTR-80 · BMM-80 · BTR-82 · BTR-90 · BTR-T · BTR-MD “Rakushka” · BMM-D “ Boomerang " DT -3PB " Krymsk Armored vehicles Ural-4320-09-31 Ural-E4320D-31 Ural-E5323D GAZ-39344 · "Warrior" · "Bear" · Ural-6320 · "Typhoon" · ("Typhoon-U" · Ural-63099 · "Typhoon-K" · KAMAZ-63969 ) · "Vodnik" · "Shot" · "Tiger" · "Wolf" · "Scorpion LTA" · "Bulat" · "Highlander-K" · "Federal-M" ("Stargazer") · "Scorpion LSA-B"
  ASU-76 · K-73 · SU-100P · SU-100M · ASU-57 · BSU-11-57F · Object 574 · ASU-85 · SU-152 "Taran" · 2S14 "Sting-S" · 2S15 "Norov" · " Hermes" · 2S25 "Sprut-SD" · 2S28 "Sprut-K" [/td] Anti-tank Self-propelled howitzers and mortars SU-152G · 2A3 "Kondensator-2P" · 2B1 "Oka" · Self-propelled guns with D-80 · Self-propelled guns with D-80S · Self-propelled guns with D-80-2 · 2С1 "Gvozdika" · 2С2 "Violet" · 2С3 "Acacia" · 2С4 " Tulip" · 2S5 "Gyacinth-S" · 2S7 "Peony" · 2S8 "Astra" · 2S9 "Nona-S" · 2S11 "Gyacinth-SK" · 2S12B "Tundzha-Sani"* · 2S17 "Nona-SV" · 2S17 -2 "Nona-SV" · 2S18 "Pat-S" · Object 327 · 2S19 "Msta-S" · 2S21 "Msta-K" · 2S22 "Flask-3" · "Compartment" · 2S23 "Nona-SVK" · 2S24 "Virgo" · 2S26 "Pat-K" · 2S27 "Reef" · "Crimping" · 2S30 "Iset" · 2S31 "Vena" · 2S33 "Msta-SM" · 2S34 "Khosta" · 2S35 "Coalition-SV" · Koalitsiya-SV-KSh 2S36 "Zauralets-D" Coastal A-222 "Bereg"
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  BM air defense systems and air defense systems	Strela-10 BM 9A35 SAM 9K35 "Strela-10-SV" Pine BM SAM "Sosna" Wasp BM 9A33B SAM 9K33 “Osa” Thor BM 9A330 SAM 9K330 “Tor” Cube SURN 1S91 SAM 2K12 "Kub" · SPU 2P25 SAM 2K12 "Kub" · SOU 9A38 SAM 2K12M4 "Kub-M4" Beech KP 9S470 SAM 9K37 "Buk" · SOC 9S18 SAM 9K37 "Buk" · SOU 9A310 SAM 9K37 "Buk" · PZU 9A39 SAM 9K37 "Buk" · RPN 9S36 SAM 9K317 "Buk-M2" Circle SOC 1S12 SAM 2K11 "Krug" · SNR 1S32 SAM 2K11 "Krug" · SPU 2P24 SAM 2K11 "Krug" S-300V KP 9S457 air defense system 9K81 "Antey-300" · radar 9S15 air defense system 9K81 "Antey-300" · radar 9S19 air defense system 9K81 "Antey-300" · MSNR 9С32 air defense system 9K81 "Antey-300" · PU 9А82 air defense system 9K81 "Antey-300" · PU 9A83 ZRS 9K81 "Antey-300" · ROM 9A84 ZRS 9K81 "Antey-300" · ROM 9A85 ZRS 9K81 "Antey-300"
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  PRP and PPU PRP-3 "Val" · PRP-4 "Nard" · PRP-4M "Deuterium" · PPRU-1 "Gadfly-M-SV" · 9S482 (PU-12) · 9S482М6 (PU-12М6) · 9S737 "Rank" · 9S737M "Rangir-M" · 15Y56 (MBP) · "Palantin-P" KSAUO 1B13 1B14 1B15 1B16 Object 940 · 1В18 "Klen-1" · 1В19 "Klen-2" · 1В117 · 1В118 · 1В119 "Rheostat" · 1В152 · 1В157 · 1В21 · 1В22 · 1В23 · 1В24 · 1В25 · 1В31 Radar 1RL232 “Leopard” · SNAR-15 "Selenite" · 1RL239 “Lynx” · 1Л219 “Zoo” electronic warfare 1L21 (SPR-1) 1L29 (SPR-2)
  1K11 "Stiletto" · “Sanguine” · 1K17 “Compression”
  * - produced only for export; italics Promising, experimental, or samples that did not go into mass production were identified

An excerpt characterizing the BTR-50

Petya came out of the entryway, looked around in the darkness and approached the wagons. Someone was snoring under the wagons, and saddled horses stood around them, chewing oats. In the darkness, Petya recognized his horse, which he called Karabakh, although it was a Little Russian horse, and approached it. “Well, Karabakh, we’ll serve tomorrow,” he said, smelling her nostrils and kissing her. - What, master, aren’t you sleeping? - said the Cossack sitting under the truck. - No; and... Likhachev, I think your name is? After all, I just arrived. We went to the French. - And Petya told the Cossack in detail not only his trip, but also why he went and why he believes that it is better to risk his life than to make Lazar at random. “Well, they should have slept,” said the Cossack. “No, I’m used to it,” answered Petya. - What, you don’t have flints in your pistols? I brought it with me. Isn't it necessary? You take it. The Cossack leaned out from under the truck to take a closer look at Petya. “Because I’m used to doing everything carefully,” said Petya. “Some people just don’t get ready, and then they regret it.” I don't like it that way. “That’s for sure,” said the Cossack. “And one more thing, please, my dear, sharpen my saber; dull it... (but Petya was afraid to lie) it was never sharpened. Can this be done? - Why, it’s possible. Likhachev stood up, rummaged through his packs, and Petya soon heard the warlike sound of steel on a block. He climbed onto the truck and sat on the edge of it. The Cossack was sharpening his saber under the truck. - Well, are the fellows sleeping? - said Petya. - Some are sleeping, and some are like this. - Well, what about the boy? - Is it spring? He collapsed there in the entryway. He sleeps with fear. I was really glad. For a long time after this, Petya was silent, listening to the sounds. Footsteps were heard in the darkness and a black figure appeared. -What are you sharpening? – the man asked, approaching the truck. - But sharpen the master’s saber. “Good job,” said the man who seemed to Petya to be a hussar. - Do you still have a cup? - And over there by the wheel. The hussar took the cup. “It’ll probably be light soon,” he said, yawning, and walked off somewhere. Petya should have known that he was in the forest, in Denisov’s party, a mile from the road, that he was sitting on a wagon captured from the French, around which the horses were tied, that the Cossack Likhachev was sitting under him and sharpening his saber, that there was a big black spot to the right is a guardhouse, and a bright red spot below to the left is a dying fire, that the man who came for a cup is a hussar who was thirsty; but he knew nothing and did not want to know it. He was in a magical kingdom in which there was nothing like reality. A large black spot, perhaps there was definitely a guardhouse, or perhaps there was a cave that led into the very depths of the earth. The red spot might have been fire, or maybe the eye of a huge monster. Maybe he is definitely sitting on a wagon now, but it may very well be that he is sitting not on a wagon, but on a terribly high tower, from which if he fell, he would fly to the ground for a whole day, a whole month - keep flying and never reach it . It may be that just a Cossack Likhachev is sitting under the truck, but it may very well be that this is the kindest, bravest, most wonderful, most excellent person in the world, whom no one knows. Maybe it was just a hussar passing for water and going into the ravine, or maybe he just disappeared from sight and completely disappeared, and he was not there. Whatever Petya saw now, nothing would surprise him. He was in a magical kingdom where everything was possible. He looked at the sky. And the sky was as magical as the earth. The sky was clearing, and clouds were moving quickly over the tops of the trees, as if revealing the stars. Sometimes it seemed that the sky cleared and a black, clear sky appeared. Sometimes it seemed that these black spots were clouds. Sometimes it seemed as if the sky was rising high, high above your head; sometimes the sky dropped completely, so that you could reach it with your hand. Petya began to close his eyes and sway. Drops fell. There was a quiet conversation. The horses neighed and fought. Someone was snoring. “Ozhig, zhig, zhig, zhig...” the saber being sharpened whistled. And suddenly Petya heard a harmonious choir of music playing some unknown, solemnly sweet hymn. Petya was musical, just like Natasha, and more than Nikolai, but he had never studied music, did not think about music, and therefore the motives that unexpectedly came to his mind were especially new and attractive to him. The music played louder and louder. The melody grew, moving from one instrument to another. What was called a fugue was happening, although Petya had not the slightest idea what a fugue was. Each instrument, sometimes similar to a violin, sometimes like trumpets - but better and cleaner than violins and trumpets - each instrument played its own and, not yet finishing the tune, merged with another, which started almost the same, and with the third, and with the fourth , and they all merged into one and scattered again, and again merged, now into the solemn church, now into the brightly brilliant and victorious. “Oh, yes, it’s me in a dream,” Petya said to himself, swaying forward. - It's in my ears. Or maybe it's my music. Well, again. Go ahead my music! Well!..” He closed his eyes. And from different sides, as if from afar, sounds began to tremble, began to harmonize, scatter, merge, and again everything united into the same sweet and solemn hymn. “Oh, what a delight this is! As much as I want and how I want,” Petya said to himself. He tried to lead this huge choir of instruments. “Well, hush, hush, freeze now. – And the sounds obeyed him. - Well, now it’s fuller, more fun. More, even more joyful. – And from an unknown depth arose intensifying, solemn sounds. “Well, voices, pester!” - Petya ordered. And first, male voices were heard from afar, then female voices. The voices grew, grew in uniform, solemn effort. Petya was scared and joyful to listen to their extraordinary beauty. The song merged with the solemn victory march, and drops fell, and burn, burn, burn... the saber whistled, and again the horses fought and neighed, not breaking the choir, but entering into it. Petya didn’t know how long this lasted: he enjoyed himself, was constantly surprised by his pleasure and regretted that there was no one to tell it to. He was awakened by Likhachev's gentle voice. - Ready, your honor, you will split the guard in two. Petya woke up. - It’s already dawn, really, it’s dawning! - he screamed. The previously invisible horses became visible up to their tails, and a watery light was visible through the bare branches. Petya shook himself, jumped up, took a ruble from his pocket and gave it to Likhachev, waved, tried the saber and put it in the sheath. The Cossacks untied the horses and tightened the girths. “Here is the commander,” said Likhachev. Denisov came out of the guardhouse and, calling out to Petya, ordered them to get ready. Quickly in the semi-darkness they dismantled the horses, tightened the girths and sorted out the teams. Denisov stood at the guardhouse, giving the last orders. The party's infantry, slapping a hundred feet, marched forward along the road and quickly disappeared between the trees in the predawn fog. Esaul ordered something to the Cossacks. Petya held his horse on the reins, impatiently awaiting the order to mount. Washed with cold water, his face, especially his eyes, burned with fire, a chill ran down his back, and something in his whole body trembled quickly and evenly. - Well, is everything ready for you? - Denisov said. - Give us the horses. The horses were brought in. Denisov became angry with the Cossack because the girths were weak, and, scolding him, sat down. Petya took hold of the stirrup. The horse, out of habit, wanted to bite his leg, but Petya, not feeling his weight, quickly jumped into the saddle and, looking back at the hussars who were moving behind in the darkness, rode up to Denisov. - Vasily Fedorovich, will you entrust me with something? Please... for God's sake... - he said. Denisov seemed to have forgotten about Petya’s existence. He looked back at him. “I ask you about one thing,” he said sternly, “to obey me and not interfere anywhere.” During the entire journey, Denisov did not speak a word to Petya and rode in silence. When we arrived at the edge of the forest, the field was noticeably getting lighter. Denisov spoke in a whisper with the esaul, and the Cossacks began to drive past Petya and Denisov. When they had all passed, Denisov started his horse and rode downhill. Sitting on their hindquarters and sliding, the horses descended with their riders into the ravine. Petya rode next to Denisov. The trembling throughout his body intensified. It became lighter and lighter, only the fog hid distant objects. Moving down and looking back, Denisov nodded his head to the Cossack standing next to him. - Signal! - he said. The Cossack raised his hand and a shot rang out. And at the same instant, the tramp of galloping horses was heard in front, screams from different sides and more shots. At the same instant as the first sounds of stomping and screaming were heard, Petya, hitting his horse and releasing the reins, not listening to Denisov, who was shouting at him, galloped forward. It seemed to Petya that it suddenly dawned as brightly as the middle of the day at that moment when the shot was heard. He galloped towards the bridge. Cossacks galloped along the road ahead. On the bridge he encountered a lagging Cossack and rode on. Some people ahead - they must have been French - were running from the right side of the road to the left. One fell into the mud under the feet of Petya's horse. Cossacks crowded around one hut, doing something. A terrible scream was heard from the middle of the crowd. Petya galloped up to this crowd, and the first thing he saw was the pale face of a Frenchman with a shaking lower jaw, holding onto the shaft of a lance pointed at him. “Hurray!.. Guys... ours...” Petya shouted and, giving the reins to the overheated horse, galloped forward down the street. Shots were heard ahead. Cossacks, hussars and ragged Russian prisoners, running from both sides of the road, were all shouting something loudly and awkwardly. A handsome Frenchman, without a hat, with a red, frowning face, in a blue overcoat, fought off the hussars with a bayonet. When Petya galloped up, the Frenchman had already fallen. I was late again, Petya flashed in his head, and he galloped to where frequent shots were heard. Shots rang out in the courtyard of the manor house where he was with Dolokhov last night. The French sat down there behind a fence in a dense garden overgrown with bushes and fired at the Cossacks crowded at the gate. Approaching the gate, Petya, in the powder smoke, saw Dolokhov with a pale, greenish face, shouting something to the people. “Take a detour! Wait for the infantry!” - he shouted, while Petya drove up to him. “Wait?.. Hurray!..” Petya shouted and, without hesitating a single minute, galloped to the place from where the shots were heard and where the powder smoke was thicker. A volley was heard, empty bullets squealed and hit something. The Cossacks and Dolokhov galloped after Petya through the gates of the house. The French, in the swaying thick smoke, some threw down their weapons and ran out of the bushes to meet the Cossacks, others ran downhill to the pond. Petya galloped on his horse along the manor's yard and, instead of holding the reins, strangely and quickly waved both arms and fell further and further out of the saddle to one side. The horse, running into the fire smoldering in the morning light, rested, and Petya fell heavily onto the wet ground. The Cossacks saw how quickly his arms and legs twitched, despite the fact that his head did not move. The bullet pierced his head. After talking with the senior French officer, who came out to him from behind the house with a scarf on his sword and announced that they were surrendering, Dolokhov got off his horse and approached Petya, who was lying motionless, with his arms outstretched. “Ready,” he said, frowning, and went through the gate to meet Denisov, who was coming towards him. - Killed?! - Denisov cried out, seeing from afar the familiar, undoubtedly lifeless position in which Petya’s body lay. “Ready,” Dolokhov repeated, as if pronouncing this word gave him pleasure, and quickly went to the prisoners, who were surrounded by dismounted Cossacks. - We won’t take it! – he shouted to Denisov. Denisov did not answer; he rode up to Petya, got off his horse and with trembling hands turned Petya’s already pale face, stained with blood and dirt, towards him.

History of creation

The BMP-3 was developed by the design bureau of Kurganmashzavod OJSC under the leadership of chief designer A. Nikonov, taking into account the main trends in the development and use of combat vehicles in modern combined arms combat, as well as a number of requirements for weight-dimensional characteristics, unification, etc.

The weapon system for the BMP-3 was developed by the State Unitary Enterprise "KBP" (Tula). Adopted into service in 1987. Serially produced by the Kurgan Machine-Building Plant. For the first time on wide display it was presented at the parade in honor of the 45th anniversary of the Victory on May 9, 1990.

Purpose

The BMP-3 is designed to equip motorized rifle and infantry units in order to increase their mobility, protection and firepower in modern combined arms combat, as well as their fire support when operating on foot. Ensures joint actions with other types and branches of the military.

Layout and design features

In front of the vehicle body there is a driver and 2 paratroopers (on either side of him), equipped with 7.62 mm machine guns and the necessary surveillance devices. To protect against mines, the bottom of the compartment is made double, the seats are fixed on the sides and racks.

The comparatively thick sheets provided a strong, rigid and hermetically sealed hull structure with some weight savings compared to a steel structure of the same durability.

The central part of the BMP hull is occupied by a two-man turret with a fighting compartment, in which the commander and operator-gunner are located, located on the right and left in the direction of travel, respectively. The main armament complex is also located here - a 100-mm gun-launcher, a 30-mm automatic cannon and a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun.

Behind the tower there is a troop compartment for 5 paratroopers with personal weapons. Additionally, the compartment can accommodate 2 more people on additional seats, which are located in front of the engine partition and are used as footrests. The compartment is equipped with side embrasures with 3 ball supports (one each in the sides and in the left door) and viewing devices for firing. In case of airborne landing, the seats are folded, which allows you to place 4 trays. The landing party exits the compartment through 2 passages above the power block and 2 aft doors.

In the rear part of the hull there is an engine and transmission compartment (MTO) with a total volume of about 3 cubic meters. with a transverse engine, which distinguishes the BMP-3 from many similar vehicles. The low height of the engine and the placement of the cooling system in the side compartments make it possible for paratroopers to dismount through the aft double-leaf hatch, and its small volume provides favorable conditions for assembling combat and landing equipment.

The hatches for the commander, gunner and two gunners in the front compartment open forward and provide additional protection when dismounting and boarding the vehicle. The driver's hatch has 4 periscopes, is raised and opens to the rear, which provides him with visibility while driving with the seat raised.

The main dimensions of the BMP-3: total length with a gun - 7200 mm, width - 3150 mm, height on the turret roof - 2450 mm, maximum (working, minimum) ground clearance - 510 (450, 190) mm.

Mobility

The vehicle is floating and air transportable and can be dropped by parachute and from surface ships.

The BMP-3 is equipped with a UTD-29 diesel V-engine with a power of 500 hp. (specific power 25 hp/t) with liquid cooling, combined with a hydromechanical transmission into a single power unit.

The BMP-3 chassis with independent torsion bar suspension consists of six pairs of dual rubber-coated road wheels, rubber-metal tracks with a guide ridge, two rear (front) drive (guide) wheels and six (2x3) support rollers. Wider road wheels and tracks with a larger total mass provide approximately the same specific ground pressure as that of the BMP-1 and BMP-2. The rubber-coated tracks are covered with a steel screen on top. Ground clearance can vary within 510-450-190 mm.

For movement on water, 2 single-stage axial auger-type water-jet propulsors with a circulation radius of 6-7 m are installed. Reverse movement can be carried out at a speed of 2.5 km/h due to the reverse of the water-jet propulsion. The mobility of the infantry fighting vehicle on water is facilitated by the design of a steel water-reflecting shield, which in working position is 480 mm in front of the hull and 20-30 mm above the waterline.

A fuel reserve of 700 liters provides a range of up to 600 km. Driving on paved roads (on water) can be carried out at a maximum speed of up to 70 (up to 10) km/h and up to 20 km/h in reverse. The machine is capable of overcoming a ditch 2.5 m wide and an incline of 30 degrees. with a roll of 30 degrees.

Security

The hull and turret of the BMP-3 are made of armored aluminum alloys with steel armor linings on the frontal projection. Protective functions are performed by a steel water deflector shield and a blade of self-digment equipment.

The armor provides all-round protection for personnel and equipment from bullets and shrapnel, and the frontal parts of the hull and turret, within safe maneuvering angles, from a 30-mm cannon caliber armor-piercing projectile from a range of 300 m.

To increase protection, the BMP-3 is coated with protective paint, equipped with a unified “Tucha” smoke screen system (6 launchers) and thermal smoke equipment.

Protection of the crew and equipment inside the vehicle from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons (WMD) is carried out by a collective protection system (CPS), including an armored hull and turret structure with absorbent materials (lining), a system for sealing the habitable compartments and supplying them with purified air, and detection devices and radiation and chemical hazard indication, control and communication. On the latest production machines, the option of equipping them with dynamic protection has been worked out.

Equipment

To prevent fire and explosion, the fuel tanks are located in the bow of the hull, equipped with partitions to increase rigidity, and the internal space is filled with porous material.

The fire-fighting equipment of the vehicle includes 2 independent automatic systems - in the habitable and in the engine-transmission compartments, as well as manual fire extinguishers. The systems can also be activated manually.

A filter-ventilation unit (FVU) is used to supply air to the vehicle, clean it from dust, radioactive and biologically active and toxic substances, heat it in cold weather, create excess pressure inside the BMP and ventilate the inhabited compartments. Detection and signaling of radioactive and chemical hazards is provided by the GO-27 (PRHR) device.

For external communication, the BMP-3 is equipped with a tank radio station R-173 with a receiving device R-173P, for internal communication it is equipped with a telephone-type tank intercom and light displays.

Armament

The main armament of the BMP-3 includes:

• rifled 100-mm gun-launcher 2A70 low ballistics with a semi-automatic loading mechanism, a rotating conveyor for 22 shots under the floor of the fighting compartment and an ejection mechanism on the rear of the turret roof. Provides firing of high-explosive fragmentation artillery projectiles with an initial speed of 250 m/s;
• 30-mm automatic cannon 2A72 with two separate belt feeds, with electromechanical (manual) reloading, coaxial with the 2A70 gun;
• 7.62-mm PKT machine gun with a separate power supply system that provides placement of the cartridge belt, its supply to the machine gun, removal and collection of spent cartridges and machine gun belts, as well as belt links of the 2A72 gun. The elevation and declination angles of the cannon with a machine gun in the front (rear) firing sector are 60 (64) and 6 (2) degrees, respectively;
• two autonomous course 7.62-mm PKT machine guns, when placed on the travel stopper, can be used for firing by the driver.

For paratroopers, the BMP-3 can have an RPG-7 (RPG-16) hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher, up to 5 RPG-18 (RPG-22) rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades, 2 Igla-type man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems, and up to 15 F-1 grenades.

On the experimental model of the BMP (object “688”) in 1981, the following were installed: a 30-mm automatic cannon, a 30-mm AG-17 grenade launcher and a Konkurs ATGM, combined in an installation above a small turret.

Fire control is carried out by a developed automated system with a laser range finder, an electronic ballistic computer, a two-plane weapon stabilizer, a stabilized gunner's sight 1K13-2, and duplicated commander and gunner control panels. The measured range of the 1D16 laser rangefinder is 500-4000 m, the measurement accuracy is 10 m. For firing from 2 autonomous machine guns of Kuros machine guns, TNP3VE01-01 prism devices with a fiber-optic mark image system are used.

To fire a 100-mm ATGM gun, the BMP-3 is equipped with the second-generation 9K116 “Bastion” system, which requires the gunner to only hold the target in the sight eyepiece. The projectile is aimed at the beam of a laser target designator placed above the gun along the axis of the turret.

The standard ammunition of the vehicle is: 22 rounds with various shells for the 100 mm 2A70 gun in the loading mechanism conveyor; 8 ATGMs for the 2A70 gun (3 on the floor of the fighting compartment, 5 stowed in a niche on the left side); 500 cartridges for the 2A72 cannon in cannon supply stores; 2000 rounds of ammunition for each 7.62 mm machine gun. In a non-mechanized stowage under the central seats of the paratroopers, 18 rounds for the 2A70 gun or 250 rounds for the 2A72 gun can be located. The time for loading the entire ammunition load by the combat crew does not exceed 45 minutes.