Combat vehicles / Reconnaissance / BRDM-2
BRDM-2
General Facts
- TYPE
Reconnaissance vehicle - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
BTR-40PB (early designation)
BTR-40P-2 (early designation)
GAZ 41-08 (factory designation)
BRDM-3 (false nickname for tank destroyer variants)
SPW-40P2 (East Germany) - DESIGNED
Early 1960s - DESIGNER
V.K. Rubtsov - PRODUCTION
1962 - 1989 (overall)
1969 - 1972 (9P122)
1971 - 1984 (9P133) - PRODUCERS USSR - GAZ
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
About 9.400 produced, including:
580 9P122 tank destroyers - CHARACTERISTICS
Good mobility and amphibious
Limited production costs
Limited level of protection
Larger silhouette than BRDM-1
Introduction
The BRDM-2 is a reconnaissance vehicle of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early 1960s as a more capable alternative to the BRDM-1. Large quantities have been produced and remain in service today. The name BRDM-2 stands for Boyevaya Razvedyvatelnaya Dozornaya Mashina, which translates to combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicle.
Layout
The BRDM-2 is based on the chassis of the BRDM-1, but has the engine in the rear for greater internal volume. Unlike the BRDM-1 a fully enclosed one man turret is fitted. There are no hatches or doors besides the ones in the front roof of the vehicle.
Firepower
The BRDM-2 is armed with a powerful 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun. Both weapons can be fired on the move, but at reduced accuracy since the turret has no stabilization. The BRDM-2 also serves as chassis for various tank destroyer versions launching AT-2, AT-3, AT-4 or AT-5 anti-tank missiles.
Protection
The steel hull and turret protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. The BRDM-2 is vulnerable for all heavier weapons including heavy machine gun fire and road side bombs. The wheels are particularly vulnerable to puncture. An NBC protection system is fitted as standard. Some upgrade packages add smoke grenade dischargers but most vehicles have none.
Mobility
The 4x4 wheeled chassis provides a 100 km/h road speed and good all terrain mobility. Four chain driven belly wheels can be lowered to increase off road performance. A 140 hp gasoline engine provides propulsion. The BRDM-2 is fully amphibious and may achieve speeds of 10 km/h in the water.
Users
The BRDM-2 was widely used by Soviet and Warsaw Pact nations. It was also exported to most nations with good ties to the USSR. Nowadays the BRDM-2 is no longer produced but it remains in active use in reduced numbers. Various local upgrades have been developed.
BRDM-2
BRDM-2: Original reconnaissance model, the most common version.
BRDM-2RKh: NBC reconnaissance model with a variety of detection equipment for chemical and radioactive threats and two boxes with lane markers. Also known as BRDM-2RKhA.
BRDM-2RKhB: Improved NBC reconnaissance model with added ability to detect biological threats. Can be identified by turret with KPVT replaced by second PKT and a single land marker box.
BRDM-2UM: Command version without turret and fitted with generator and additional radios.
- Specifications:
- BRDM-2
| Type | Reconnaissance vehicle |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, radio operator) |
| Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.35 m |
| Height | 2.31 m (overall) |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
| Weight | 7.0 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 13.00 x18 tires, 3.1 m wheelbase, 1.84 m track |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | GAZ-41 V8 petrol, 140 hp at 3.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 20.0 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 100 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 290 L |
| Range | 750 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | 1.25 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 7mm all around |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 14.5mm KPVT in turret 500 rounds, 50 ready to fire -5 to +30° elevation, manual 360° traverse, manual non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun 2.000 rounds, 250 ready to fire traverse and elevation as main armament |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
9P122
The BRDM-2 chassis is also used as the basis for a dedicated tank destroyer. The 9P122 has a wider upper superstructure that houses a raisable launcher for anti-tank missiles that is covered by metal doors when lowered. The launcher holds several wire guided anti-tank missiles which are directed one by one by a large sight mounted on the front right.
9P122: Tank destroyer with raisable launcher for six MCLOS versions of the 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) anti-tank missile.
9P133: Improved tank destroyer with raisable launcher for six SACLOS versions f the 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) anti-tank missile.
| Type | Tank destroyer |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
| Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.35 m |
| Height | 2.04 m (launcher stowed) |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
| Weight | 7.2 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 13.00 x18 tires, 3.1 m wheelbase, 1.84 m track |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | GAZ-41 V8 petrol, 140 hp at 3.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 19.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 95 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 290 L |
| Range | 750 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | 1.2 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 7mm all around |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 9K11M anti-tank missile launcher (6x) |
| Weapon1 | 9K11M 6-round missile launcher 14 missiles, 6 ready to fire -10 to +20° elevation -110 to +110° traverse non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
| Type | Tank destroyer |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
| Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.35 m |
| Height | 2.04 m (launcher stowed) |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
| Weight | 7.2 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 13.00 x18 tires, 3.1 m wheelbase, 1.84 m track |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | GAZ-41 V8 petrol, 140 hp at 3.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 19.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 95 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 290 L |
| Range | 750 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | 1.2 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 7mm all around |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 9K11P anti-tank missile launcher (6x) |
| Weapon1 | 9K11P 6-round missile launcher 16 missiles, 6 ready to fire -10 to +20° elevation -110 to +110° traverse non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
9P124
The BRDM-2 chassis is also used for a dedicated tank destroyer using the 9M17 Skorpion (AT-2 Swatter) anti-tank missile. The overall layout and launcher design is similar to the 9P122. The 9M17 Skorpion missile makes the 9P124 more complex and expensive and production figures were much lower compared to the 9M14 Malyutka models.
9P124: Original model with 4 round launcher firing the MCLOS 9M17M Skorpion-M missile.
9P137: Improved model with 5 round launcher for the SACLOS 9M17P Skorpion-P missile.
- Specifications:
- 9P137
| Type | Tank destroyer |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
| Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.35 m |
| Height | 2.04 m (launcher stowed) |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
| Weight | 7.2 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 13.00 x18 tires, 3.1 m wheelbase, 1.84 m track |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | GAZ-41 V8 petrol, 140 hp at 3.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 19.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 95 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 290 L |
| Range | 750 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | 1.2 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 7mm all around |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 9K8P anti-tank missile launcher (4x) |
| Weapon1 | 9K8P 4-round missile launcher 8 missiles, 4 ready to fire -10 to +20° elevation -110 to +110° traverse non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
9P148
The 9P148 is the latest tank destroyer version of the BRDM-2. It is fitted with an overhead five round launcher for the 9K113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) and 9K111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) anti-tank missiles. Unlike the older tank destroyer versions the launcher cannot be retracted into the vehicle. A maximum of 14 9M113 missiles can be carried or a mix of 10 9M113 and 10 9M111.
- Specifications:
- 9P148
| Type | Tank destroyer |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
| Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.35 m |
| Height | 2.49 m (overall) |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m |
| Weight | 7 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 13.00 x18 tires, 3.1 m wheelbase, 1.84 m track |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | GAZ-41 V8 petrol, 140 hp at 3.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 20.0 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 95 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 290 L |
| Range | 750 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | 1.2 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 7mm all around |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 9M135M anti-tank missile launcher (5x) |
| Weapon1 | 9P135M 5-round missile launcher 15 9M113 or mix of 10 9M111 and 10 9M113, 5 ready to fire -5 to +20° elevation -110 to +110° traverse non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
Media
7.62mm PKT
The 7.62mm PKT machine gun is mounted as a coaxial weapon in the BRDM-2 turret.
BTR-60
The BRDM-2 is fitted with the same turret as the Soviet BTR-60 armored personnel carrier.
9M113 missile
The 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank missile (NATO AT-5 Spandrel) is launched from the 9P148 tank destroyer.
9M111 missile
The 9M111 Fagot anti-tank missile (NATO AT-4 Spigot) is launched from the 9P148 tank destroyer.