Combat vehicles / Reconnaissance / BRDM-1
BRDM-1
General Facts
- TYPE
Reconnaissance vehicle - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
BTR-40P (early Soviet designation)
SPW-40A (East German service) - DESIGNED
1954 - 1957 - DESIGNER
Dedkov OKB - PRODUCTION
1957 - 1966 - PRODUCERS
USSR - GAZ - QUANTITY
About 10.000 produced - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Amphibious
Good cross country mobility
Low profile
Crew exposed while operating armament
No NBC system
No night visions systems
Introduction
The BRDM-1 is an early Cold War era reconnaissance vehicle of Soviet origin. It was developed in the late 1950's to provide Soviet forces with an armored and amphibious reconnaissance vehicle. It was used in large numbers until it was supplemented and eventually replaced by the improved BRDM-2.
Layout
The BRDM-1 is a 4x4 vehicle with large wheels and a front mounted engine. The chassis and automotive parts are derived from the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier. The cabin is located in the middle and there is a crew compartment at the rear. Fout retractable bogey wheels are located between the axles for improved cross country mobility. Early versions had an open roof but a closed roof with large hatches is most common. Dedicated tank destroyer versions have a retractable launcher located in the crew compartment.
Firepower
Most BRDM-1 were fitted with a single 7.62mm SGMB machine gun. Sometimes a 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun was mounted instead. Dedicated tank-destroyer versions used either three 3M6 Shmel (AT-1 Snapper), 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) or 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) guided anti-tank missiles.
Protection
The steel armor provides protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. When operating the armament the crew is exposed. No NBC system was fitted, forcing the crew to rely on personal NBC equipment.
Mobility
The BRDM-1 enjoys good cross country capability due to its large wheels and retractable bogey wheels. The 90 hp petrol engine allows for a maximum speed of 80 km/h on roads. It is amphibious with speeds up to 9 km/h in water.
Users
The BRDM-1 was used in large quantities with Soviet forces. Large numbers were exported to Soviet allies in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The BRDM-1 was supplemented and eventually replaced by the more capable BRDM-2. Small numbers remain in service in third world nations.
BRDM-1
BRDM-1 obr. 1957: Original unarmed version with open roof.
BRDM-1 obr. 1958: Unarmed version with closed roof with two large hatches.
BRDM-1 obr. 1959: Armed version with single pintle mount.
BRDM-1 obr. 1960: Armed version with three pintle mounts.
BRDM-U: Command version with additional radios.
BRDM-RKh: NBC reconnaissance version.
- Specifications:
- BRDM-1
Type | Reconnaissance vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 2+3 (commander, driver, 3 scouts) |
Length | 5.7 m |
Width | 2.25 m |
Height | 1.9 m (roofline) |
Ground clearance | 0.315 m |
Weight | 5.6 t empty |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.80 m wheelbase, 1.66 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | GAZ-40P 6-cylinder water cooled petrol, 90 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.1 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road, 9 km/h in water |
Fuel | 150 L |
Range | 500 km on road |
Wall | 0.4 m |
Trench | 1.22 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Steel, between 4 and 10 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 7.62mm SGMB machine gun 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun (optional) |
Weapon1 | 7.62mm SGMB machine gun on pintle mount 250 rounds ready to fire 360° manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun on pintle mount (optional) 100 rounds ready to fire 360° manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
BRDM-1 tank destroyer
2P27: First tank destroyer variant, introduced in 1958. Armed with retractable tripple rail 2K16 launcher for 3M6 Shmel (AT-1 Snapper) MCLOS guided missile. Minimum range of 500 meter and maximum range of 2.300 meter.
2P32: Improved tank destroyer version with more capable missiles. Introduced in 1962. Fitted with quad rail 2K8 launcher for 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Snapper) anti-tank missile. Minimum range 400 meter and maximum range 2.500 meter.
9P110: Final tank destroyer model based on the BRDM-1. Introduced in 1963. Uses the 9K14M six rail launcher for the 9K11 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) missile. Minimum range 500 meter and maximum range of 3.000 meter.
9P111: East German version of 9P110 with minor changes.
Type | Tank destroyer |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (driver, gunner) |
Length | 5.6 m |
Width | 2.25 m |
Height | 1.9 m (roofline), 2.65 m (firign position) |
Ground clearance | 0.315 m |
Weight | 5.3 t empty, 5.8 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.80 m wheelbase, 1.66 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | GAZ-40P 6-cylinder water cooled petrol, 90 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road, 9 km/h in water |
Fuel | 150 L |
Range | 500 km on road |
Wall | 0.4 m |
Trench | 1.22 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Steel, between 4 and 10 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 3M6 Shmel (AT-1 Snapper) launcher (3x) |
Weapon1 | 2K16 tripple rail launcher 6 missiles, 3 ready to fire -3 to +18° elevation -12 to +12° traverse non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Tank destroyer |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (driver, gunner) |
Length | 5.6 m |
Width | 2.25 m |
Height | 1.9 m (roofline) |
Ground clearance | 0.315 m |
Weight | 5.3 t empty, 5.8 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.80 m wheelbase, 1.66 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | GAZ-40P 6-cylinder water cooled petrol, 90 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road, 9 km/h in water |
Fuel | 150 L |
Range | 500 km on road |
Wall | 0.4 m |
Trench | 1.22 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Steel, between 4 and 10 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) launcher (4x) |
Weapon1 | 2K8 quad rail launcher 4 missiles ready to fire |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Tank destroyer |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (driver, gunner) |
Length | 5.6 m |
Width | 2.25 m |
Height | 1.9 m (roofline) |
Ground clearance | 0.315 m |
Weight | 5.3 t empty, 5.8 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.80 m wheelbase, 1.66 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | GAZ-40P 6-cylinder water cooled petrol, 90 hp at 3.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 80 km/h on road, 9 km/h in water |
Fuel | 150 L |
Range | 500 km on road |
Wall | 0.4 m |
Trench | 1.22 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Steel, between 4 and 10 mm |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) launcher (6x) |
Weapon1 | 9K14M sextuple rail launcher 6 missiles ready to fire |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |