Combat vehicles / Infantry fighting vehicles / BMD-1
BMD-1
General Facts
- TYPE
Mechanized infantry combat vehicle - ORIGIN
USSR
- NICKNAMES
M1970 (NATO designation for BMD-1)
BMD M1988/1 (NATO designation for BMD-2) - DESIGNED
1965 - 1969 (BMD-1)
1981 - 1985 (BMD-2) - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
1968 - late 1980's (BMD-1)
1985 - early 1990's (BMD-2) - PRODUCERS
USSR - Volgograd
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Well armed
Air droppable
Good mobility
Amphibious
Limited armor
Little room inside
Introduction
The BMD-1 is a mechanized infantry combat vehicle of Soviet origin. It was specifically designed for use by the Soviet air assault division and has the unique ability to be air dropped from cargo planes. BMD stands for Boevaya Mashina Desantnaya, which is Russian for airborne combat vehicle. The BMD-1 was used alongside the contemporary BMP-1, which was produced in much larger quantities.
Layout
The BMD-1 is operated by a crew of three and carries four infantry inside. The driver is seated in the front in the middle. An infantryman on each side operate the bow machine guns. The two man turret is placed in the middle. The infantry may exit the vehicle through a large hatch behind the turret. The engine is mounted at the rear. The ground clearance is adjustable due to the hydraulic suspension.
Firepower
The BMD-1 is fitted with the same turret as the BMP-1. It is armed with a 73mm 2A28 low pressure cannon, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun and AT-3 missile launcher on top of the cannon. Additionally there are two PKT bow machine guns mounted at the front of the vehicle. The mix of armament allows the BMD-1 to engage both infanty and armored vehicles. In the BMD-1P the AT-3 launch rail is removed and a pintle mounted AT-4 missile launcher is fitted. The improved BMD-2 is fitted with a 2A42 autocannon, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun and pintle mounted AT-5 missile launcher.
Protection
The aluminium armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. Heavy machine gun rounds are likely to penetrate the armor. Early versions had a magnesium compound armor for reduced weight, but this was changed to aluminum as it became apparent that the armor itself was prone to catch fire. An NBC system is fitted, smoke grenade launchers are not.
Mobility
Due to its light weight the BMD-1 has a very good mobility. A 240 hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The limited weight results in a very high power to weight ratio and limited ground pressure. The BMD-1 is fully amphibious and is propelled in the water by two water jets. The BMD-1 may be fitted with parachutes and can be air dropped from low flying transport aircraft.
Users
The main user of the BMD-1 were the Soviet air assault divisions. A small amount was exported. Since the break up of the Soviet Union many nation inherited a small number of BMD's.
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a mechanised infantry combat vehicle developed for the Soviet air assault divisions. It is a low weight, highly mobile, thinly armored and well armed vehicle. The original version mounts a 73mm 2A28 low pressure cannon with launch rail for AT-3 missile and three PKT machine guns. The improved BMD-1P model has the AT-3 launch rail removed from the cannon and a pintle mounted AT-4 missile launcher is installed. The BMD-1K and BMD-1PK models are commando models that feature additional communitications equipment.
Type | Mechanized infantry combat vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 4 (commander, driver, gunner, 4 infantry) |
Length | 5.4 m |
Width | 2.63 m |
Height | 1.97 m |
Ground clearance | 0.10 - 0.45 m, adjustable |
Weight | 7.5 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.57 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear, 2.84 m length, 0.23 m width |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | Type 5D20 V6 diesel, 240 hp |
Power ratio | 32.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 70 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
Fuel | 300 L |
Range | 320 km |
Wall | 0.8 m |
Trench | 1.6 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Aluminum, up to 23 mm |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 73mm 2A28 cannon 7.62mm PKT coaxial MG AT-3 missile launcher 7.62mm PKT bow MG (2x) |
Weapon1 | 73mm 2A28 low pressure cannon in turret 40 rounds -4 to +30° elevation, powered, 360° traverse, powered non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun 2.000 rounds elevation and traverse as main armament |
Weapon3 | AT-3 missile launcher on cannon 3 missiles, 1 ready to fire elevation and traverse as main armament |
Weapon4 | 7.62mm PKT bow machine gun (2x) manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Mechanized infantry combat vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 4 (commander, driver, gunner, 4 infantry) |
Length | 5.4 m |
Width | 2.63 m |
Height | 1.97 m |
Ground clearance | 0.10 - 0.45 m, adjustable |
Weight | 7.5 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.57 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear, 2.84 m length, 0.23 m width |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | Type 5D20 V6 diesel, 240 hp |
Power ratio | 32.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 70 km/h on road, 10 km/h in water |
Fuel | 300 L |
Range | 320 km |
Wall | 0.8 m |
Trench | 1.6 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Aluminum, up to 23 mm |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 73mm 2A28 cannon 7.62mm PKT coaxial MG AT-4 missile launcher 7.62mm PKT bow MG (2x) |
Weapon1 | 73mm 2A28 low pressure cannon in turret 40 rounds -4 to +30° elevation, powered, 360° traverse, powered non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun 2.000 rounds elevation and traverse as main armament |
Weapon3 | AT-4 missile launcher on turret roof 3 missiles, 1 ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | 7.62mm PKT bow machine gun (2x) manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
BMD-2
The BMD-2 is an improved version of the BMD-1. The original BMD-1 turret has been replaced by a taller model that is fitted with a 30mm 2A42 autocannon. A pintle mounted AT-5 missile launcher is mounted on the turret roof. In principle it features the same upgrade as the BMP-2 over the BMP-1. However, the BMD-2 is not fitted with a BMP-2 turret. The BMD-2 turret is much higher and increases the limited space within the vehicle.
- Specifications:
- BMP-2
Type | Mechanized infantry combat vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 7 (commander, driver, gunner, 7 infantry) |
Length | 6.74 m |
Width | 3.15 m |
Height | 2.45 m |
Ground clearance | 0.42 m |
Weight | 14.3 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 3.60 m length, 0.30 m width, 2.55 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | UTD-20 V6 diesel, 300 hp at 2.600 rpm |
Power ratio | 21.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 65 km/h on road, 45 km/h off road, 7 km/h in water |
Fuel | 462 L |
Range | 600 km |
Wall | 0.7 m |
Trench | 2.5 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
Fording | Amphibious |
Armor | Steel |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x3 81mm smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 30mm 2A42 autocannon 7.62mm PKT machine gun AT-5 anti-tank missile |
Weapon1 | 30mm 2A42 autocannon in turret 500 rounds -5 to + 75° elevation, powered 360° traverse, powered stabilized in both axis |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun 2.000 rounds traverse and elevation as main armament |
Weapon3 | AT-5 missile launcher on turret roof 4 missiles, 1 ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |