‘BMP-1’

The BMP-1 (Stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoyi – infantry fighting vehicle) is a Soviet-produced first-generation infantry fighting vehicle. The vehicle is intended to provide fire to infantry and motor rifle units, as well as for their mobility and protection. The BMP-1 boasts great mobility and manoeuvrability. Powered by a 300 hp engine, the mass is 13 tons, with a power-to-weight ratio of 23 hp per ton, a maximum speed of 65 km/h forward and 10 km/h backward.

Tactical-technical specifications:

Mass: 13.2 tons

Armour: 6-33 mm

Speed: 65 km/h (road) 45 km/h (off-road) 7-8 km/h (water)

Power/weight: 22.7 hp/ton (17 KW/ton)

Main armament:

73 mm 2A28 ‘Grom’ semi-automatic gun;

9M14 ‘Malyutka’ ATGM

Secondary armament: 7.62 PKT machinegun;

Length: 6.735 m;

Width: 2.94 m

Height: 2.068 m

Crew: 3 (commander, driver, and gunner) + 8 passengers

The steel armour hull on ‘BMP-1’ provides all-around protection against 12.7 mm machine gun rounds and the armour on the sides offers partial protection against 7.62 mm rounds. The armour protection of the vehicle has its strengths and weaknesses: the armour is 33 mm on the housing of the gun, which is its main armament, and it does not provide any protection from tanks and anti-aircraft weapons.

On the other hand, a powerful engine and a light mass of only 13 tons allow for high mobility on any terrain, which enables partially avoiding enemy fire and compensating for the weaknesses in the armour to some extent. They are a rarity in modern all-army combat and the probability of the ‘BMP-1’ survival is very low.