The first armored personnel carriers, which were produced in the Soviet Union, proved to be excellent in the army. Since light armored vehicles had high speed characteristics and could shelter their crew from small arms, they became irreplaceable assistants for reconnaissance and sabotage groups.

The conditions in which the scouts had to act did not allow the use of a standard armored personnel carrier, which was too heavy for this. It was decided to create a new reconnaissance and patrol vehicle that could move freely over difficult terrain, including swampy areas. In addition, the new car had not only to overcome water obstacles, but also to swim confidently even in waves of up to 0.5 meters.

The history of the creation of the BRDM-2

In 1957, the serial production of the first generation armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle began. This armored car was distinguished by its maneuverability and mobility. However, he soon discovered serious shortcomings:

• The engine was not powerful enough. No upgrades to the GAZ-40 engine helped;
• Insufficiently effective weapons. Installation of more serious airborne weapons was impossible due to the weak engine;
• Insufficient amount of auxiliary equipment.

All the disadvantages of the BRDM were in direct proportion to the engine, specifications did not allow for a serious modernization of the combat vehicle, therefore, in the early 1960s, the development of a new model of the reconnaissance and patrol vehicle began.

In 1962, under the leadership of designer Dedkov, the development of the BRDM-2 began, the device of which made it possible to eliminate all the shortcomings of the previous generation combat vehicle. In the same year, the new machine was put into service, and in 1966 it was presented to the public at the Moscow parade. The BRDM-2 turned out to be such a successful model that it was produced from 1965 to 1989. During this time, there have been many modernizations of the BRDM-2, although the main parameters of the combat vehicle remained practically unchanged.

BRDM-2, possessing the same advantages as its predecessor, received many improvements, the installation of which became possible thanks to a more powerful engine:

• Firepower has increased significantly;
• Driving performance has also improved;
• More reliable protection for the crew has appeared;
• The battle tower has appeared.

Communication facilities, electrical equipment and various auxiliary systems have been improved.

General description of the BRDM-2

When creating the BRDM-2, a rear-engined layout scheme was used:

• In the front of the machine hull there was a control compartment;
• A fighting compartment was placed in the middle of the corps;
• The power compartment was located at the rear of the hull.

This arrangement not only increased the visibility of the crew, but also added navigable qualities to the combat vehicle, since a stable trim appeared at the stern.

The shape of the BRDM-2 was streamlined, although this scheme was somewhat violated by cardan drives and drive axles, which were located under the bottom of the combat vehicle. The welded turret, which appeared on the BRDM-2, was unified with the BTR-60PB turret and was armed with a large-caliber machine gun.

The hull of the new reconnaissance and patrol vehicle was completely covered with rolled armor plates, which were connected to each other by welding. The thickest armor was the frontal part of the vehicle, its thickness reached 10 mm. The frontal part of the conical tower, which also had a welded structure, was 6 mm thick. Such a thickness of the hull armor could protect the BRDM-2 crew from bullets, shell fragments and small-caliber mines. Naturally, this machine could not withstand a direct hit from a projectile, since its task was completely different.

Armament and equipment BRDM-2

The main weapon at the disposal of the BRDM-2 crew was a turret-type machine-gun mount of a circular rotation - BPU-1, which had two machine guns:

• 14.5mm heavy machine gun KPVT, which had 500 rounds of ammunition;
• The standard Kalashnikov PKT tank machine gun, 7.62 mm caliber, with an ammunition capacity of 2,000 rounds.

This weapon was paired, and was mounted in a common rigid cradle, in which there were box holders, case links and case collectors. The cradle was equipped with shock absorbers. All weapon guidance systems on the target had a manual drive, and a standard PP-61A sight was provided for the turret gunner.

For the vehicle commander and the driver-mechanic, workplaces were equipped in the front of the hull, and the commander was near the starboard side. For visibility, there were two large windows, which, if necessary, could be closed with special armored dampers.

To observe the terrain, the commander had a TPKU-2B brand periscope, which could magnify the image five times. During night operations, this device was replaced with a TKN-1S night device. The driver used a TVN-2B night vision device at night. In order to exclude the possibility of glare during bright flashes, all night vision devices were equipped with special curtains, which are shielding devices.

Large hatches, which were located above the seats of the driver-mechanic and the commander, allowed them to urgently leave the combat vehicle if necessary, and the embrasures, which were located in the sides of the vehicle, made it possible to fire from personal small arms. These embrasures were able to be sealed with armored flaps.

Parameters of the engine and chassis of the BRDM-2

The performance characteristics of the new engine far exceeded the parameters of the engine of the first generation model. The new car received higher dynamics and speed parameters. Benzie new engine BRDM-2 could accelerate the car to 80 km / h when driving on the highway. At the same time, fuel consumption ranges from 30 to 40 liters per 100 km. The total cruising range of this car was about 750 km.

The new engine, which made it possible to achieve such outstanding performance at that time, was the 8-cylinder V-shaped engine GAZ-41, which was installed on the GAZ-66 ("Shishiga"). This engine developed a power of 140 hp. at 3200 rpm. When installing it, it was decided to place it in the aft part of the BRDM-2, which made it possible to significantly improve the layout inside the combat vehicle.

The chassis of the BRDM-2 practically did not differ from the chassis of the BRDM of the previous model. The only significant difference was the use of telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers instead of lever-piston ones, which were used in the chassis of the BRDM. The undercarriage of the new combat vehicle consisted of the following elements:

• Front and rear axles;
• 4 main wheels;
• 4 additional wheels that are lowered to overcome trenches up to 1.2 meters wide;
• Suspension with shock absorbers.

The front-wheel steering was of an automobile type, with the help of a steering wheel equipped with a hydraulic booster. Like the GAZ-66, from which the engine was taken, the BRDM-2 had a system for automatically regulating the air pressure in the tires, which made it possible to move more efficiently along different types soil. For example, for trips in swampy areas, it was recommended to lower the pressure.

Brakes on a drum-type combat vehicle, equipped with pneumatic boosters and a hydraulic drive. The water jet engine, which allowed the car to float, could, if necessary, work in conjunction with the main drive, which provided the car with phenomenal cross-country ability.

The jet engine itself worked according to the following principle:

• The propeller, which has 4 blades, sucked in water;
• Then the water got into the inlet pipe;
• Then it was forcefully thrown out through the hole that was in the stern.

The car afloat was controlled by water rudders, which worked simultaneously with the main steering gear. If it was necessary to start moving backward (while swimming), then the propeller rotated in the opposite direction. The maximum speed of movement on water was 10 km / h.

As an additional equipment that could help pull your own or someone else's car out of the mud, a winch was installed, which was located in the front.

Radio communication system and additional equipment BRDM-2

The following radio equipment and navigation systems were installed on the combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicle as radio equipment:

• The R-123 radio station, which had a stable communication range at a distance of about 20 km. The efficiency of work with this station was ensured by the functions of search-free entry into the air and unadjustable conduct of radio communication sessions;
• Navigation station TNA-2, which had track and heading sensors;
• Remote Control;
• Transducer and course pointer.

To ensure the safety of the crew, the BRDM-2 was equipped with the following protective systems:

• DP-3B X-ray meter;
• Chemical exploration device VPHR;
• Pressure blower;
• Fire extinguishing system;
• Heater;
• Water pump and life jackets.

The crew of the combat vehicle was insured against many unforeseen situations, although the rather weak armor of the BRDM-2 did not allow it to engage in open combat with armored vehicles of a heavier class.

The participation of the BRDM-2 in modern military conflicts

BRDM-2 proved to be a highly efficient and maneuverable armored vehicle. Compared to the first-generation BRDM, the new vehicle received a more powerful engine, which made it possible to increase not only combat effectiveness, but also to increase cross-country ability. Naturally, a machine with such outstanding characteristics took part in various military conflicts, having managed to prove itself from the best side.

Basically, the BRDM-2 was in service with the headquarters and reconnaissance units of the USSR army. In addition, they were widely used in the following types of troops:

• In the chemical troops;
• In the signal troops;
• In the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• KGB border troops.

In addition, combat vehicles of this type used by the IMF Marine Corps.

The first participation in military conflicts BRDM-2 occurred during the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1973. After that, they were used in Vietnam, as well as in various military clashes in Africa and the Iran-Iraq war. During the Afghan war, BRDM-2 most often did not participate in direct skirmishes, but were used for security and patrol services.

Various modifications of the BRDM-2

In the course of many years of operation, the BRDM-2 underwent various upgrades. For example, a modernized machine-gun turret was installed, which had an increased angle of inclination of the weapon, and a modern sighting system.

Soon a new diesel modification appeared, called the BRDM-2D. This modification was equipped with a more powerful and economical diesel engine YaMZ-534, with which maximum speed combat vehicle increased to 100 km / h. This model received smoke grenade launchers as an additional weapon.

In addition to the diesel modification, on the basis of the BRDM-2, many combat vehicles for various purposes were created, which were launched into small-scale production. They were equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons.

Currently, most of the CIS armies are armed with modified diesel BRDM-2D, which perform security and reconnaissance functions, and also serve to combat various small sabotage groups.

BRDM "Vodnik"

In 2005, the BRDM-2 was replaced by a new development of the GAZ plant - the Vodnik BRDM. These military vehicles are superior to the BRDM-2 in many parameters. For example, their range has been increased to 1,000 km, and the maximum speed is 140 km. Inside "Vodnik" can accommodate up to 10 troops.

Combat vehicles BRDM-2 for many years remained the best vehicles in their class, but now they are already outdated. There are firms that are engaged in the re-equipment of decommissioned military BRDM-2 for wealthy hunters and fishermen. These cars, which can cost in the region of $ 50-100,000, can comfortably get to the most remote corners of the country.

Literature

BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle

Developed on the basis of the BRDM chassis with a change in the layout and improvement of combat and technical characteristics. Developed by the GAZ Design Bureau. Introduced into service in 1962. Serial production was carried out at GAZ from 1963 to 1989.

SERIAL MODIFICATIONS:
BRDM-2 - a closed sealed body welded from rolled armor plates, sealed and equipped with a supercharger. The control compartment is located in the front, the combat compartment is in the middle, the power compartment is in the stern. 1400 hp engine, self-locking differentials, thermosyphon heater, housing heater, winch, TNA-2 navigation equipment, more powerful radio station, new surveillance devices. Above the fighting compartment is a turret borrowed from the BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier. The principle of operation of the undercarriage, which includes, in addition to two main driving axles, two lowering auxiliary axles, is identical to the BRDM.

Fighting vehicle 9P122 (GAZ-41-06, 1969) - PU self-propelled ATGM 9K11. Retractable package of six guides with ATGM 9M14M "Malyutka-M" instead of a machine gun turret. The control system is manual, by wire. Additional transportable ammunition 8 ATGM.

Fighting vehicle 9P133 - PU self-propelled ATGM 9K11P. Retractable package of six guides with ATGM 9M14P "Malyutka-P". Additional transportable ammunition 10 ATGM.

Fighting vehicle 9P148 (GAZ-41-08, 1973) - PU self-propelled ATGM 9K113. Retractable package for five launch containers with ATGM 9M113 "Konkurs" or 9M111 "Fagot". The control system is semi-automatic, by wire. Ammunition - 25 containers in a mechanized ammunition rack.

BRDM-2u - command option. It differed from the base one in the absence of a turret with weapons and the installation of an additional radio station.

BRDM-2rhb - chemical reconnaissance vehicle. Equipped with special means of chemical and radiation reconnaissance: an automatic gas alarm GSA-12, a military chemical reconnaissance device VPKhR, a dose rate meter for radiation contamination DP-5V, a DP-ZB roentgenometer.

BRDM-2 entered the reconnaissance and headquarters units of the Soviet Army, as well as the signal and chemical troops. They were also used in the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the border troops and the navy's marines. Self-propelled ATGMs of all types were in service with anti-tank units of motorized rifle and tank regiments. On the basis of the BRDM-2, the 9P31 launcher of the Strela-1 M anti-aircraft missile system was created, which entered the regimental anti-aircraft missile and artillery batteries. BRDM-2 were used by the Soviet Army during military operations in Afghanistan, mainly for patrol and security purposes. According to Western data, in 1995 the Russian Army had about 2,400 BRDM-2 (apparently, including ATGMs). BRDM-2 and vehicles based on it, including anti-tank systems and air defense systems, were actively exported and in different years were or are in service in Algeria (115 units in 1995), Angola, Afghanistan, Benin (12), Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Hungary (only ATGM and SAM), Vietnam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau (12), East Germany, Egypt, Zambia, Israel (captured Egyptian), Iraq, Yemen, Cape Verde (4), Congo, Latvia (2), Libya (242), Lithuania (10), Madagascar (26), Mali (20), Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua (70), Peru (15), Poland, Romania (121), Seychelles (6), Syria (600), Slovenia, Somalia, Sudan (30), Tanzania (24), Croatia, Central African Republic (4), Equatorial Guinea (6), Estonia (3), Ethiopia, Yugoslavia (ATGM and SAM).

The baptism of fire of the BRDM-2 and vehicles based on it received during the "Yom Kippur War" in 1973, when they were actively used by the Egyptian and Syrian troops. Subsequently, they were used in Vietnam, in the Iran-Iraq war, in numerous local military conflicts, military coups and related internal unrest in Africa and Asia. Apparently, the last delivery of the BRDM-2 abroad took place in 1995, when 45 vehicles of this type were donated by Russia to the newly created Palestinian Authority. BRDM-2 are in service with the armies of all CIS countries and are quite actively used in various "hot spots" on its territory.

TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS BRDM
BATTLE WEIGHT, t: 7.
CREW, pers .: 4.
Overall dimensions, mm:
Length - 4750,
width - 2350,
height - 2310,
base - 3100,
front wheel track / rear wheels – 1840/1790,
ground clearance - 340.
WEAPON: 1 KPVT machine gun of 14.5 mm caliber, 1 PKT machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber.
AMMUNITION: 500 rounds of 14.5 mm, 2000 rounds of 7.62 mm.
AIMING DEVICES: PP-61A periscope sight.
RESERVATION, mm: hull forehead - 6 ... 10, turret forehead - 6.
ENGINE: GAZ-41, 8-cylinder, carburetor, V-shaped, liquid-cooled; power 140 HP at 3200 rpm, working volume 5530 cm3.
TRANSMISSION: dry friction single-plate clutch, four-speed gearbox complete with water jet power take-off, transfer case assembled with power take-offs for additional wheels and a winch, cardan drives, main gears of the front and rear axles, cardan transmission and water jet propeller gearbox, winch cardan transmission, cardan and chain transmission of additional wheels.
CHASSIS: 4x4 wheel arrangement, tire size 13.00-18 ″, tire air pressure adjustable from 2.7 to 0.5 kg / cm2, suspension on four longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, two on each axle, four additional pneumatic wheels (two per side) measuring 750x250 mm.
SPEED MAX., Km / h: on land - 95, afloat - 9 ... 10.
RUNNING RESERVE: on land - 750 km, afloat - 17 ... 19 hours.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES:
ascent angle, deg. - thirty;
ditch width, m - 1.22;
wall height, m ​​- 0.4.
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION: radio station R-123, intercom R-124.

The armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle BRDM-2 has been in service for more than half a century, continuing its combat service today.

The design of the BRDM-2 began in 1959 at the SKB of the design and experimental department of the Gorky Automobile Plant. By this time, considerable experience had already been accumulated here in the creation of light armored vehicles: in the early 1950s. was developed by the BTR-40 (factory index GAZ-40), and a few years later - armored reconnaissance patrol vehicle BRDM (factory index GAZ-40P, letter "P" means - floating). The latter, in accordance with the new operational and tactical views on the methods of warfare, could cross water obstacles and trenches, ditches and trenches on the battlefield without preparation. This was facilitated by a sealed displacement hull and additional retractable rollers.

Since the start of serial production in 1957. The BRDM was actively used by military intelligence units, comparing favorably with the BTR-40 in its operational mobility. However, during operation, its weak sides... First of all - the insufficient thrust-to-weight ratio, which was only 16 hp / t, while the military wanted to have 20 hp / t. But at that time, the designers had only a 90-horsepower 6-cylinder GAZ-40 engine at their disposal, obtained by forcing the engine speed of the GAZ-63, which, in turn, had a pedigree from the pre-war GAZ-11 engine (76 hp). ). It was no longer possible to squeeze more power out of this outdated engine. The design of the BRDM, inherited from the BTR-40, of which it was a direct descendant, was also not entirely successful (the vehicle was originally conceived as a floating version of the BTR-40, as indicated by its factory index - BTR-40P). The arrangement with a front-mounted fire-hazardous carburetor engine made the car easily vulnerable to head-on fire. In addition, to ensure the necessary distribution of displacement along the length of the vehicle, its front part had to be enlarged, which significantly impaired the front view - both for the driver and the entire crew. The armament was also recognized as weak - one 7.62-mm machine gun SGBM; the shooter had to fire from it, half leaning out of the armored cabin.

Attempts to modernize the BRDM by installing a machine-gun turret from an MT-LB transporter-tractor or a PKV large-caliber machine gun on an open turret were not crowned with particular success - opportunities further improving cars, as already mentioned, were limited weak engine and the selected layout.

New opportunities for creating a more advanced BRDM appeared when work on new model truck off-road GAZ-66, later famous "shishige" with a 120 hp engine. Initially, this V-shaped engine was intended for the government "Seagull" (GAZ-13) by "splicing" two 4-cylinder blocks of the "Volgovskiy" GAZ-21 engine, and then a simplified version for the GAZ-66 was created on its basis. So, the designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant had a basis - "heart" - for the creation of a new BRDM. Other components of the "shishigi" - bridges, transmissions, etc., were used in the construction of wheeled armored vehicles. production cars, was a common practice and allowed to significantly reduce the cost of production.

On February 10, 1959, the Main Armored Directorate of the Army (GBTU) issued tactical technical requirements for the development of the BRDM-2, capable of operating in conjunction with the new armored personnel carriers BTR-60, promising tanks and infantry fighting vehicles (BMP). Compared to its predecessor, it should have had more firepower, better driving performance and elevated level security; in addition, be equipped with an anti-nuclear protection system and a radio communication system for transmitting and receiving radio commands and intelligence information.

The project received the factory designation - "product 41", or "GAZ-41". The development team was the same that created the BRDM. The project was managed by the chief designer of GAZ V.A. Dedkov, A.N. Lebedev, issues on ensuring water efficiency were supervised by V.G. Lazarev.

Naturally, the designers used new car a number of design solutions already tested on the BRDM. However, "GAZ-41" received a completely different scheme of the general layout - with a front location of the control compartment and rear location power plant... This scheme made it possible to improve the view of the terrain for both the driver and the commander. The fighting compartment was moved forward, it became more spacious. The navigational qualities of the machine were improved: the installation of the engine in the rear of the hull provided a stable trim to the stern. For self-defense, the vehicle was armed with a KPVT machine gun mounted on an open turret similar to that used on the T-10 heavy tank. The GAZ-41 crew consisted of five people - two crew members and three paratroopers.

Armored hulls for the first two prototypes were manufactured by July 1960, which could not be said about the rest of the units. If the new GAZ-66 engine was available, then the transmission for it was still being tested. In an effort to meet the deadline, the first prototype had to be equipped with the transmission and chassis of the old BRDM. This did not fail to affect during sea trials. The old transmission frankly could not withstand the increased engine power - the clutch burned more than once, the gearbox teeth crumbled.

After modifications, in November of the same year, the prototype was handed over to the military for field tests, which took place at the NIIBT Polygon in Kubina. The military had a lot of comments. First of all, the unsatisfactory operation of the transmission was noted, which did not provide the transfer of the full torque developed by the engine. The use of bridges and suspension assemblies from the GAZ-66 was criticized. On the one hand, the military was interested in unifying the GAZ-41 undercarriage with the BTR-60 armored personnel carrier already produced by the Gorky plant, on the other hand, the narrow track inherited from the Shishiga made it difficult to move along the tank track and created instability on turns and slopes ... Placing weapons on an open turret did not provide sufficient protection for the shooter when firing, moreover, it violated the sealing of the hull and nullified the operation of the anti-nuclear protection system, the presence of which was directly prescribed by the technical specifications. Against this background, the remarks that the commander of the vehicle did not have a circular view (the driver closed the view to the right, and the vehicle body back) and the fact that the crew had to work in very cramped conditions looked already small.

After the next refinements and partial elimination of the identified shortcomings, the reconnaissance vehicle was nevertheless adopted by the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of May 22, 1962, into service with the Soviet Army under the designation BRDM-2. But in mass production, as it usually happened after such a decision was made, the BRDM-2 was not launched. The reason for this was the not fully resolved issue of its armament. The military was categorically not satisfied with the placement of the KP VT machine gun on an open turret, so they tried to equip the BRDM-2 with a tower with a twin KP VT and PKT, which was developed for installation on the next modification of the Gorky armored personnel carrier - BTR-60PB.

The prototype of the rearmed version was prepared by the beginning of 1963. A rather heavy tower installation was placed almost in the middle of the vehicle body. This did not violate its navigable qualities and at the same time had a beneficial effect on the accuracy of firing. Now the shooter could conduct a circular fire while inside the hull, without disrupting the operation of the anti-nuclear protection system. True, due to the reduction in internal volume, the crew had to be reduced to four people.

In general, the customer was satisfied with the car - thanks to a more powerful engine, it demonstrated cross-country ability and navigability parameters that exceeded the BRDM, increased speed and power reserve. The disadvantages included the fact that the designers did not provide conditions for the crew to leave the vehicle hidden from the enemy. Disembarkation-landing was envisaged only through two hatches in the front of the hull roof, and this forced the crew to climb onto the vehicle through its sides.

In April 1963, an experienced BTR-60PB and BRDM-2 with a turret weapon system were demonstrated to the USSR Minister of Defense, Marshal R.Ya. Malinovsky. According to the results of the show, improvements were made to improve the visibility of the BRDM-2 - additional viewing devices were installed on the sides for the scouts.

However, the development of the BRDM-2 was slow and difficult: during this period, all the forces of the plant were thrown into preparation for the serial production of the BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier, and it was possible to finally bring the BRDM-2 only by the end of 1964.

The first five pre-production machines left the assembly shop in December 1964, but the production flywheel was spinning slowly - only 80 BRDM-2s were built for the whole of 1965, and next year, instead of the planned 600 machines, only 440. Despite such a protracted start, BRDM-2, having shown miracles of longevity, held out in production for as long as 25 years - until 1989.

Until 1967, GAZ had to produce in parallel the old BRDM (as a chassis for special vehicles), and since 1982, the production of the BRDM-2 began at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. Over the years, about 9,400 units were built, however, almost half of them served as chassis for specialized vehicles.

The first public demonstration of the BRDM-2 took place in 1966 during a military parade on Red Square in Moscow.

During the production process, various changes were made to the design of the BRDM-2. The most noticeable external difference, according to which the BRDM-2 can be conditionally divided into machines of early, middle and late production series, was the device of air inlets on the roof of the engine compartment. Previously, two of their hatches had a trapezoidal shape and were covered with covers that opened back (like the BTR-60). On medium series machines, the air inlets had a rectangular shape and were covered with blinds. A later version, launched into production in the 1970s, had six convex mushroom-shaped caps over the air vents, similar in design to those installed on the BTR-70. They prevented ricocheting bullets, shrapnel from entering the engine compartment, as well as napalm flow. In addition, these vehicles were equipped with a tower with an observation device in the roof. This version of the BRDM-2 even received a separate designation in the West - BRDM-3, but in the USSR it did not stand out with a special index.

BRDM-2 entered the reconnaissance and headquarters army units, the signal and chemical troops. They were used in the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the border troops and the navy's marines. According to the state, each Soviet motorized rifle or tank division was supposed to have 28 BRDM-2: 12 in a reconnaissance battalion and 4 in each regiment.

This technique was widely supplied to the countries of the Warsaw Pact, about 6 thousand vehicles were sent there. In some countries, their own designations were introduced for them. So, for example, in the German Democratic Republic, the BRDM-2 was referred to as the SPW-40P2, and the BRDM - SPW-40P.

The design of the BRDM-2

Although the BRDM-2 is considered a further development of the BRDM, which is reflected in its designation, they have, perhaps, only the original drive rollers that slide out when overcoming obstacles. BRDM-2 is made according to the layout scheme with the rear location of the power plant compartment, respectively, its control compartment is located in the front of the hull, and the fighting compartment is in the middle.
The control section contains machine controls, observation devices, a radio station, navigation equipment, a heater that blows warm air over the windshields, the commander's and driver's seats, as well as the winch and its drive.
The fighting compartment contains a turret machine-gun mount, ammunition, hydraulic lifters for additional wheels, and two single seats for the crew. In its middle part, on the bottom, there is a transfer case assembled with a gearbox and power take-offs for additional wheels and a winch.
In the power plant compartment there is an engine complete with a clutch, a gearbox and a power take-off for a water jet, water and oil radiators and heat exchangers, a preheater, a water pump, a compressor, a water jet propulsion unit with a gearbox and a propeller shaft of a power take-off, gasoline tanks, a battery and an air balloon. It is isolated from the rest of the body by a sealed partition, on which a filter and ventilation unit is mounted on the left side. There are hinged doors in the bulkhead for access to the engine.

The fully enclosed sealed vehicle body is welded and made of rolled steel armor plates. The thickness of the armor in the frontal part is 6-10 mm, the front part of the welded conical tower is made of armor plates 6 mm thick. The armor protects only against bullets and fragments of artillery shells and small-caliber mines.

The crew of the BRDM-2 includes a commander, a driver-mechanic and two scouts: one of them performs the duties of a machine gunner. The workplaces of the driver-mechanic and the vehicle commander (his place is located at the starboard side) are equipped in the control compartment. Their seats are identical in design and are mounted on brackets welded to the bottom. The seat height can be set and locked by means of a lifting mechanism in three positions: the backrest tilt is adjusted by means of threaded couplings.

Outside the battlefield, the crew conducts observation through large observation windows, which are closed, if necessary, with armored covers. The commander uses a TPKU-2B periscopic observation device with a fivefold magnification and four prism devices (three TNP-B and one TIPO-115). The driver has six prismatic devices (four TNP-B and two TNPO-115), which are located in such a way as to increase the viewing angle forward and to the left. At night, he can have a TVN-2B (TVNO-2B) night vision device, and the commander - a night TKN-1S. The set of night vision devices includes an infrared illuminator OU-ZGA-2M, which is mounted on the commander's observation device panel, and two FG-125 headlights mounted on the inclined frontal plates of the hull.

In the roof of the hull, two large semicircular hatches are mounted - through them, the crew can enter and exit the vehicle. To facilitate opening, the hatch covers are mounted on torsion rollers. In the closed position, the covers are locked with special locks, and in the open position, they are held by stoppers.

Thanks to the power steering and vacuum booster of the brake system, the driver of the BRDM-2 is provided with more comfortable working conditions than on the BRDM. To the left of his seat, at the side of the hull, there are a block of tire valves and an air reducer of the tire air pressure control system, and on the wheel well there are hydraulic valve handles, a water jet damper and a wave deflector, as well as a hydraulic system valve for releasing additional wheels. To the right and left of the seat are the control levers for the gearbox, the power take-off for the jet, the front axle, parking brake and winches. In front of the driver, on the frontal sheet of the body, a control and measuring instrument panel is reinforced.

The fighting compartment has an armored turret of circular rotation with very powerful armament: a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun paired with it. Both are mounted in a rigid welded cradle, on which shock absorbers, box holders, sleeve and sleeve collectors are fixed. The machine gun mount has a PP-61A periscope sight.

The turret rotates in pursuit, the turret rotation and weapon guidance drives are mechanical. Angles of fire: vertical - from -5 ° to + 30 °, horizontal - 180 °. During firing, the machine gunner is placed on a special hanging seat that rotates with the turret. Due to its small size, there is no escape hatch in the turret roof, and the reconnaissance shooter leaves the vehicle through hatches in the hull roof, located above the driver's and commander's seats.

Machine gun KPVT, developed by S.V. Vladimirov during the Great Patriotic War as an anti-tank, has an aiming range of 2000 m, rate of fire - 600 rds / min. At a distance of 500 m, an armor-piercing bullet penetrates vertically mounted armor with a thickness of 32 mm. The 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is designed to defeat enemy personnel. Its sighting range is 1500 m, rate of fire is 650 - 700 rds / min. Both machine guns are tape-powered, the capacity of the cartridge belt for KPVT is 50 rounds, for PKT - 500. Ammunition is 500 and 2000 rounds, respectively.

In the stowed position, two scouts from the crew take places in single semi-rigid seats, the backs of which can recline forward. The seats are located at the sides of the fighting compartment. Here, to improve observation conditions, observation niches are welded on each side, in which three TNP-B prism devices are installed. This greatly increases the horizon visibility. Nearby, in the inclined side armor plates, hatches are made for firing from personal weapons (one on each side), closed by armored covers.

The power plant compartment houses a V-shaped 8-cylinder carburetor engine liquid cooling GAZ-41. At 3200 rpm, it develops a maximum power of 140 hp. To power the engine, gasoline with an octane rating of 76 (A-76) is used, it is also allowed to use gasoline with a lower octane rating, the A-72 brand. Fuel is stored in two tanks with a capacity of 140 liters each, which provides the car with a cruising range on land of 750 km.

The engine cooling system is liquid, closed type, with forced circulation. For access of the air sucked in by the fan into the case, and removing it from the machine after blowing off the radiators and heated units, special hatches are provided in the roof of the case. Two liquid coolers are located in the power compartment behind the engine. Three radiators for oil cooling are attached to the left of them. To create an air flow in the cooling system, a six-blade axial fan is installed behind each radiator in special casings, which are driven from the motor shaft through a belt drive. To ensure the cooling of the engine afloat, tubular heat exchangers are introduced into the system. They have the same design for both coolant and oil.

The heating system is of the thermosyphon type, designed to increase the temperature of the coolant, oil and main engine parts in order to facilitate its start at low temperatures. The liquid circulates in the system under the influence of different densities of the heated and cooled liquid. The oil in the engine sump is heated by the gases of the P-100 heater, which consists of a boiler and an air fan. Hot gases passing through the boiler gas ducts increase the temperature of the liquid in the jackets and are directed through the gas outlet pipe to the engine sump, heating the oil in it.

The transmission of the BRDM-2 is mechanical, in terms of the composition of components and assemblies, it does not fundamentally differ from the transmission of the BRDM. The torque from the engine is transmitted through the gearbox and transfer case to the rear and front drive axles, as well as to the drives of the water jet, winch and additional drive wheels. The water cannon and the drive to the drive wheels, if necessary, can work simultaneously. The clutch control drive is hydraulic. Transmission - mechanical, four-speed; third and fourth gears are equipped with synchronizers. The gearbox control drive is interlocked with the clutch drive in first, second and gear reverse- this greatly facilitates the driver's control of the machine. The self-locking cam differentials of both axles are similar in design to the same units of the GAZ-66 truck.

The undercarriage of the BRDM-2 is, in principle, the same as the undercarriage of the BRDM. It also uses two driving axles, to which, when driving on rough terrain, two pairs of hydraulically lowered wheels can be connected. This provides a very high cross-country ability cars. Telescopic shock absorbers are installed on each bridge.

The machine has a centralized tire pressure control system. You can change the pressure both in the parking lot and while driving. Normal tire pressure is 2.7 atm. On soils with a low bearing capacity or when driving on snow deeper than 0.3 m, the pressure decreases, as a result of which the area of ​​the supporting surface increases. In other conditions, such as when driving on sand, when you need to keep the track of the vehicle in front, the tire pressure can be increased. On a snow cover up to 0.3 m deep, the BRDM-2 can move without reducing the tire pressure - the wheels push the snow to frozen ground and adhere well to it.

For self-pulling, a winch with a pulling force of 3.9 tons and a cable 50 m long is installed in the front part of the hull.

BRDM-2 has high speed characteristics. The maximum speed on the highway is up to 95 - 100 km / h, the specific power is 14.7 kW / t. The machine overcomes a vertical wall up to 0.4 m high and a ditch 1.22 m wide.

The movement of the BRDM-2 on the water is carried out using a jet propulsion unit with hydraulic drives control, damper and wave deflector installed in the stern. A four-bladed propeller sucks in water through a suction pipe located in the bottom, and throws it out through a hole in the rear of the hull. When driving on land, this hole is closed with a special armored flap.

Reversing on water is provided by changing the direction of rotation of the propeller. For turning afloat, water rudders are used, located in the outlet of the jet propulsion unit. The drive to them is interlocked with the wheel drive. Maximum speed afloat - 10 km / h.

The equipment of the BRDM-2 includes the radio station R-123 (later R-123M) with a range of stable radio communication in microtelephone mode up to 20 km, as well as the navigation equipment TNA-2, including sensors. service, security and convoy escort. Unfortunately, in the event of a well-organized attack on the convoy, the vehicles turned out to be the most vulnerable of all Soviet armored vehicles. Although the design of the BRDM-2 was designed for combat use, in practice, the armor did little to save both from various kinds of roadside bombs and anti-side mines. Highly big problem steel and RPGs, cumulative grenades of which pierced the armor of the BRDM-2 through and through. "Dushmans" first immobilized the combat vehicle, and then shot it with all types of small arms.

Numerous cases of the defeat of lightly armored equipment, accompanied by large lotteries of personnel, caused a negative psychological reaction among the soldiers. The paratroopers, even on the march, tried to be not inside, but outside the armored vehicle. It was believed that when mines were exploded or when grenade launchers were fired, the probability of death inside the BRDM-2 is much higher than when placed on the roof, even though in this case there was a high probability of losses from conventional enemy small arms fire.

In the second half of the 1980s. armored vehicles, including the BRDM-2, increasingly began to appear on the streets of Soviet cities. As new ethnic and other conflicts emerged, they tried to use armored vehicles to stabilize the situation, which, however, did not always lead to the desired result. Often, combat vehicles that appeared in the conflict zone inflamed passions even more and were used by the opposing sides for various provocations. The first acute interethnic clash that arose on the territory of the USSR in the 1980s was the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan; then in 1992 - between the Republic of Moldova and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

During the first and second Chechen wars, the BRDM-2 was used by both sides - both by the Russian army and by Chechen militants.

It is well known that the regular units of Dudaev's army were armed with a large number of armored vehicles. Only in Grozny, when Russian troops left the territory of Ichkeria in June 1992, 108 armored vehicles were left, including 30 BRDM-2 and BTR-70.

As part of the foreign armed forces, the BRDM-2 and combat vehicles based on them were most widely used during the Arab-Israeli conflicts in the Middle East. In Egypt and Syria, the BRDM-2 began to arrive after the third Arab-Israeli war in 1967, and in the "War Doomsday”, Which began on October 6, 1973, participated from the very first hours. At 15.00, Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal, in the first wave of assault there were commando battalions landed on a BRDM. They captured and held bridgeheads until the main forces approached, and then, armed with a large number of anti-tank weapons, broke through the defensive lines and set up ambushes in tank-hazardous areas, destroying Israeli tanks and preventing the approach of reinforcements.

Although the Israelis were initially stunned, as soon as the Egyptian infantry began to advance from the canal, they were counterattacked by tanks from the 252nd Division. However, the Israeli tankers launched an offensive in the "best" traditions of the 1967 war - without preliminary reconnaissance, without infantry support, which is called "with a bang." For which they paid. The BRDM-2, armed with the Malyutka ATGM, brought here in time together with the infantry, destroyed from 100 to 200 Israeli tanks by the end of the day.

Soviet anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) "Baby" based on the BRDM-2 were actively used by the Egyptian and Syrian troops throughout the "Yom Kippur War". According to some reports, more than half of the Israeli tanks were disabled with their help; according to other information, 800 Israeli tanks were damaged by the "Baby" missiles (in total, according to Western data, in the 1973 war, Israel lost 2500 of them). The sandy plains of the Middle East proved to be an ideal place for the use of ATGMs, even though the smoke and dustiness made targeting much more difficult. After the end of the Yom Kippur War, the supply of Soviet weapons to Syria continued; according to some reports, Syria received 600 BRDM-2 and combat vehicles based on them.

ATGMs again played a significant role in the hostilities that took place in Lebanon in 1982, especially during the battles in the Bekaa Valley and in the Damascus direction. Here in southern Lebanon, in the Bekaa Valley, in. 1982 for the first time used in combat anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) "Strela-1" based on the BRDM-2. In December 1983, they shot down American-made aircraft A-6E and A-7E.

BRDM were also "noted" in the jungles of South Vietnam, where, at the most opportune time, their high cross-country ability fell. The BRDM-2 was widely used during the war in Angola that lasted more than ten years. They have become popular in Africa due to their low cost and ease of maintenance.

In 1983, the People's Revolutionary Army (NRA) of Grenada confronted the American paratroopers. Of the armored vehicles, she was armed only with the BTR-60PB and several BRDM-2 (most likely transferred by Cuba).

A significant number of BRDM-2 and Strela-1 air defense missile systems were delivered to Iraq. These vehicles were used during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, as well as during the first (1991) and second (2003) "Gulf Wars".

Quite often, the BRDM-2 is used in various UN peacekeeping missions, as was the case, for example, in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. In 1999, 20 modernized BRDM-2M96 received the Polish 18th Airborne Assault Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Roman Polko, who was sent to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. The battalion was based in the American sector in the southeastern part of the province. All vehicles had special designations with elements of quick recognition of NATO troops in Kosovo, so that they could be easily distinguished from identical equipment used by the conflicting parties.

As part of the international peacekeeping mission in Iraq, the BRDM-2 were operated by the Polish and Ukrainian contingents that were stationed here in 2003-2005. The Ukrainians used the standard BRDM-2, and the Poles used the specially upgraded BRDM-2 M96IK Szakal with a diesel engine and air conditioning.

In all military actions, the BRDM-2 turned out to be necessary and in demand for solving urgent combat missions.

Modernization of the BRDM-2

The production of the BRDM-2 was stopped many years ago, but a large number of them remain in service not only with the Russian army, but also with the armies of various countries of the world. Over the decades of service, these machines have demonstrated high reliability and efficiency. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that by now most of the original units and equipment of the BRDM-2 are obsolete and no longer meet modern requirements. However, with appropriate modernization efforts, the BRDM-2 can still, for a certain time, perform both their main functions - reconnaissance patrols, and serve as a base for various specialized combat vehicles.

So, one of the first Russian versions of the modernization of the BRDM-2 was shown at the IV International Exhibition of Military Equipment "Omsk-2001". The main difference between the demonstrated prototype and the original car was the installation of a new diesel engine - a 4-cylinder D-245.9 with 136 hp. with an improved transmission, due to which the maximum speed has increased, the range has increased.

To date, the Russian firm "Muromteplovoz" offers several options for modernizing the vehicle, significantly improving its main characteristics, including increased firepower. The BRDM-2M power plant uses a more efficient diesel engine YaMZ-E534.10 with a capacity of 160 hp. With an insignificant decrease in the maximum speed, it was possible to obtain a cruising range of the machine equal to 1000 km, significantly increase it dynamic characteristics... True, to install the new engine and its units, the roof of the engine compartment had to be slightly raised relative to the previous position.

The system of additional descent wheels was abandoned. As a result, internal volumes were freed up and it became possible to increase the number of paratroopers. For them, two landing doors were made in the sides, opening outward. Now six crew members (on the original car it was four) can leave the car not only through the hatches of the driver and commander, located in front of the hull roof, but also through the side doors.

The modernized BRDM-2M is proposed to be equipped with a new MA1 turret armed with a 14.5 mm KPVB machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun. The maximum elevation angle of the armament was increased to + 60 ° (in the old turret it was only + 30 °). Additionally, a 30-mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher is installed on the outer side of the left side of the tower: it allows aimed fire at a distance of up to 1700 m and is very effective against lightly armored vehicles and motorized infantry operating on foot.

Also offered for installation: tower MA2, equipped with a 23-mm cannon and a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun; MA4 turret with a 23 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Part standard equipment BRDM-2M includes: a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction, a centralized tire inflation system, which allows the driver to adjust the tire pressure while driving, taking into account the nature of the terrain, a winch with a maximum capacity of 4400 kg, mounted in the front of the car.

BRDM-2M retained its amphibious characteristics - the maximum speed of movement on water is 8-10 km / h.

The Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, a manufacturer of armored personnel carriers BTR-80, also offered its own package of proposals for modernization. Its ideology is the maximum unification with the products manufactured today, the use of components and assemblies from the well-proven BTR-80. The modernized machine of the plant - BRDM-2A - receives a new turret and a diesel engine, undercarriage from BTR-80, enhanced armor protection.

The base machine is facilitated by the elimination of additional retractable wheels. Instead of a leaf spring suspension, a suspension from an BTR-80 is installed on the basis of GAZ-66 components and assemblies. Having received a wider track, the car became more stable; If earlier, when cornering at high speeds, the BRDM-2 could tip over - this was its "innate" drawback, but now it has the ability to move both on roads and on rough terrain at much higher speeds.

The GAZ-41 gasoline engine was replaced by the YaMZ-236 diesel engine (a "cut-off" version of the standard YaMZ-238 from the BTR-80), which significantly increases the cruising range and also reduces the fire hazard.

The sides are equipped with trapezoidal (from the BTR-70) hatch doors for crew embarkation and disembarkation.

The changes also affected weapons. BRDM-2A received a new turret, similar to the BTR-80 turret, with an elevation angle of the weapon up to + 60 ° and modern sighting equipment. It can also carry smoke grenade launchers.

In addition, the vehicle has additional passive booking, as well as navigation equipment "Gamma 1" or "Gamma 2", a radio station R-168-35U or R-173, new bulletproof tires, an effective fire extinguishing system, a new water jet propulsion from an armored personnel carrier BTR- 80.

In the past few years, Arzamas machine builders have been modernizing 30-40 BRDM units per year.

1 - wave-reflecting shield; 2 - front hook for afloat towing; 3 - headlight; 4 - rear-view mirror, 5 - night vision device illuminator; 6 - KPVT machine gun; 7 - commander's observation device; 8 - observation niche; 9 - hook; 10 - tower; 11 - saw; 12 - filter and ventilation unit; 13 - reel of the towing cable; 14 - muffler; 15 - rear hook for afloat towing; 16 - damper of the jet propulsion unit; 17-rear hook for overland towing; ^ -additional retractable wheel; 19 - balancer of the additional wheel; 20 - wheel brake drum cover; 21 - spring bracket front wheel; 22 - front hook for towing on land

Placement of observation devices for the vehicle commander:
1 - handle for opening and closing the armored cover of the inspection hatch; 2, 6 - devices TNP-B; 3 - windshield; 4 - device TPKU-2B; 5 - device TNPO-115; 7 - BT-6-26 power supply unit for TVNO-2B

Driver observation devices placement:
1 - devices TNP-B (3 pcs.); 2 - device TNPO-115; 3 - central device TNPO-115, instead of which the device TVNO-2B is installed; 4 - right device TNP-B; 5 - handle for opening and closing the armored cover of the inspection hatch; 6 - windshield in the inspection hatch; 7 - high-voltage cable with a connector in the packing

Turret machine gun mount:
1 - tower stopper;
2 - tower switchboard;
3 - cradle stopper bar;
4 - box holder latch;
5 - sleeve collector;
6 - pin of the stopper rail;
7 - button for electric release of PKT;
8 - flywheel handle of the turret rotation mechanism;
9 - KPVT electric trigger button;
10 - sight PP-61 AM;
11 - brake handle lifting mechanism;
12-handle for reloading KPVT;
13 - handle of the flywheel of the lifting mechanism;
14 - wiper handle;
15 - turret brake handle

S. SHUMILIN

Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

BRDM-2(Armored Reconnaissance and Patrol Vehicle-2) - is a further development of the BDM-1. Serially produced from 1963 to 1989 by the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant (as well as under license in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia). BRDM-2 has low security, armor protects against small arms bullets and shrapnel. The main feature of the car is its very high cross-country ability. In addition to the main all-wheel drive chassis with adjustable tire pressure, there are special additional retractable wheels in the middle part of the body, allowing, in particular, to overcome significant ditches and trenches. Currently, to one degree or another, it is used in intelligence units of more than 50 countries. In the army he has the nickname "Bardak". In the USSR, production was completed in November 1989. Production continues under license in Poland.

History of creation and production

The combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicle was developed at the Gorkovsky design bureau automobile plant... The work was supervised by V.A. Dedkov. On May 22, 1962, the vehicle was put into service. Serial production of the car was organized in 1963 at GAZ, and from 1965 at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant and continued until 1989.

• BRDM-2(GAZ-41-06) - base model... Produced since 1963
• BRDM-2 "Fox"(GAZ-41-10) - basic model. Produced since 1967. With automatic PAZ and additional night vision devices
• BRDM-2A- modernized

Description of construction

BRDM-2 has a layout with the location of the control compartment in the front, the fighting compartment in the middle, and the engine compartment in the rear of the vehicle. The BRDM crew consists of four people: the commander and the driver, located in the control compartment on the right and left, respectively, the gunner, who is in the tower, and the observer, who occupies a place on the left or right side in the fighting compartment.

Armored corps and turret

Department of Management

The control compartment is located in the bow of the hull. The control compartment contains the controls for the machine, as well as the following equipment:

1. Seats for commander and driver;
2. Control and measuring devices;
3. Radio station;
4. Observation devices.

The seats have a position adjustment system. In the niche of the right front wheel there is a bracket for the DP-3B radiometer. The remote unit of the device is fixed in the case on the front bottom sheet.

Fighting compartment

The fighting compartment is located in the middle of the vehicle. In order to access the power plant from the inside of the vehicle, there is a partition in the rear of the fighting compartment, in which special hatches are installed.

The fighting compartment has two places for the crew of the vehicle. A shoulder strap is installed on the roof, on which the machine tower is located. The tower has a hanging seat to accommodate the shooter. In the center on the floor there is a sealed casing, under which the transfer case is located. In addition, there is a special niche in the floor for placing tools. The niche is closed with a hinged lid.

Power plant compartment

In the rear of the hull, there is a compartment for the power plant. The power plant compartment accommodates:

1. Manual engine start drive;
2. Engine;
3. Starting heater fuel tank;
4. Generator set;
5. Filter ventilation unit;
6. Transmission;
7. Air cylinders;
8. Water and oil radiators;
9. Accumulator battery;
10. Water and oil heat exchangers;
11. Cardan drive of the jet propulsion unit;
12. Compressor;
13. Evacuation valve;
14. Starting heater;
15. Drainage electric pump.

Armament

The armament of the BRDM-2 is a twin installation of a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The installation is placed on trunnions in the frontal part of the tower, its guidance in the vertical plane, within −5 ... + 30 °, is carried out manually using a screw mechanism, horizontal guidance is carried out by rotating the tower. The aiming of machine guns at the target is carried out using a periscopic optical sight PP-61 or PP-61AM, having an increase of 2.6 × with a field of view of 23 ° and providing fire from KPVT at a distance of up to 2000 meters and from PKT - up to 1500 meters. KPVT is designed to combat lightly armored and unarmored enemy vehicles and has an ammunition load of 500 rounds in 10 belts, equipped with armor-piercing incendiary bullets B-32 and tracing BZT or armor-piercing incendiary, with a tungsten carbide core, bullets BS-41 and tracing BLS as well as incendiary RFP... The Kalashnikov machine gun is designed to destroy enemy manpower and fire weapons and has an ammunition load of 2000 rounds in 8 bands.

Surveillance and communication equipment

As a means of reconnaissance, the BRDM-2 has a well-developed set of surveillance equipment. The vehicle commander has a binocular periscopic tank panorama TPKU-2B, which provided an increase of 5 × with a field of view of 7.5 °, which allowed observation at a distance of up to 3,000 meters, and gave a circular view. At night, a monocular night vision device was installed in place of TPKU-2B TKN-1S, which had an increase of 2.75 × and a field of view of 10 ° and provided observation at a distance of up to 250-300 meters when illuminated with an infrared illuminator OU-3... In addition to them, the commander has four fixed periscopic devices: one TNPO-115 and three TPN-B providing an overview of the frontal and right side sector. The driver has six periscopic viewing devices: two TNPO-115 and four TPN-B providing an overview of the frontal and left side sector. At night, the central device TNPO-115 is replaced by a binocular fixed night vision device TVNO-2B, providing observation in the 30 ° sector at a distance of 50-60 meters. In non-combat conditions, the commander and driver-mechanic could conduct observation through inspection hatches in the frontal sheet of the hull. The observer at each of his places had three periscopic devices TPN-B providing an overview of the relevant airborne sector. TPN-B and TNPO-115 had a single increase and were distinguished by the presence of electric heating in the latter, which improved visibility through them at low temperatures. The tower shooter, in addition to the sight of the machine gun, which he used as the main means of observation, had a periscope device TNPT-1, installed in the roof of the tower and providing observation of the stern sector at 52 °.

Engine and transmission

Spring suspension with longitudinal semi-elliptical springs.

The BRDM-2 has a four-stroke Gas engine GAZ-41. The engine power is 140 hp. The engine uses a combined lubrication system (pressure and spray). The oil pump is a two-section gear type. Also applied oil filter centrifugal cleaning with a jet drive. The total capacity of the fuel tanks is 280 liters.

Mechanical transmission. Has 4 front and one reverse gear... The clutch is single-disc, damper with an outer diameter of the driven disc of 300 mm.

Chassis

The chassis is wheeled. The camber is 0 ° 45 ′. Tires with adjustable pressure are used on the wheels. Suspension system with longitudinal semi-elliptical springs. The ends of the springs are installed in rubber cushions. Each axle has two telescopic double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers.

To overcome trenches and trenches on the BRDM-2, two pneumatic wheels are installed on each side. The size of the wheels is 700 × 250 mm. Before overcoming obstacles, the wheels are lowered, and after overcoming them, they are raised using four hydraulic lifters with a ball lock. The wheels, as well as the main ones, are leading. Driven by a power take-off via chain drives ..

The jet propulsion unit is installed at the rear of the vehicle. Water is taken from under the bottom. The propellers are equipped with propellers with a diameter of 500 mm. Tractive effort at 900..1100 rpm of the propeller is 700 kgs. The engine is driven by a special power take-off, mounted on the left side of the gearbox.

Modifications

• BRDM-2-23M- Armenian version of modernization. Installed diesel engine SMD-21-08. The KPVT and PKT machine guns were replaced with a 23-mm 2A14 automatic cannon; a ventilation valve was installed on the turret to remove the powder gases.
• BRDM-2M (A)- a modernized version of the BRDM-2. Manufacturer - Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. The machine is lightened - the side wheel mechanisms for increasing the cross-country ability were removed, instead of them, trapezoidal doors from the BTR-70 appeared. The suspension is unified with the BTR-80. Instead of a gasoline engine, a D-245.9 turbodiesel engine with a capacity of 136 hp is installed. The BRDM is equipped with a BPU-1 turret armed with a 14.5-mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun (and the angle of fire of the KPVT is increased to + 60 °) and is equipped with modern radio stations R-163 or R-173.
• BRDM-2LD- Ukrainian modernization of the BRDM-2 (with a Ukrainian-made SMD-21-08 diesel engine), developed under the ROC “Bulb” program in 1999 by the State Enterprise “Nikolaev Mechanical Repair Plant”. 10 pieces. used by the Ukrainian contingent in Kosovo. The production was discontinued due to the bankruptcy of the Hammer and Sickle plant (manufacturer of engines of the SMD series)
• BRDM-2DI "Khazar"- Ukrainian modernization of the BRDM-2, developed in 2005 at the State Enterprise "Nikolaev Mechanical Repair Plant", a diesel engine FPT IVECO Tector with pre-heater, a thermal imager and a new weapon system.
• BRDM-2DP- Ukrainian modernization of the BRDM-2, developed by the Mayak Plant OJSC (Kiev). A lighter modification (the tower and onboard wheel mechanisms for increasing cross-country ability were removed), a side door for the landing was equipped, a diesel engine and a device for overcoming trenches and trenches were installed, the armament was changed (a 12.7-mm DShKM bow machine gun and 2 onboard 7.62-mm machine gun SGMB). Also, the machine can be equipped with removable anti-cumulative nets.
• BRDM-2T- Ukrainian modernization of BRDM-2, developed in 2013 by OOO NPK Techimpex (Kiev). Additional wheels are dismantled. Installed side landing hatches, like the BTR-70, the radio station R-173, a new diesel engine D245.30E2 with a capacity of 155 hp, front and rear marker lights of the BTR-70, new wheels with tubeless tires... The turret was dismantled, a 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun were installed. It is also possible to install combat modules.
• BRDM-2MB1- Belarusian modernization of BRDM-2, produced by JSC "140 repair plant". Water jet propellers and additional wheels were dismantled. Side landing hatches, a radio station R-173, a new diesel engine D245.30E2 with a capacity of 155 hp, an Adunok combat module and a video surveillance system were installed. Armed with a 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun. The crew has been increased to 7 people.
• ZKDM "Nibbler"- a modernized version developed in Azerbaijan. Equipped with reinforced mine protection, a new turret (which has a 23-mm GSh-23 double-barreled cannon, a 7.62-mm machine gun, an AGS-30 30-mm automatic grenade launcher and four 81-mm smoke grenade launchers - two on each side of the turret), a new diesel engine D-245.30E2 with a capacity of 150 hp Water-jet propellers and additional wheels were dismantled. Side landing hatches installed One demo was developed in September 2013, in December 2013 it was sent for testing
• BRDM-2- modernization option offered by STC “Delta”. The water-jet propellers and additional wheels were dismantled, a combat module (with a 23-mm 2A14 automatic cannon and a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun) and two four-barreled smoke grenade launchers were installed on the vehicle. One car was presented on May 24, 2014 at the military parade in Tbilisi in honor of the independence day of Georgia.

• BRDM-KZ- a modernized version, developed in 2013-2014. Kazakhstani companies “Semey Engineering” and “Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering”. The track was widened due to the installation of bridges from the BTR-80, an Iveco diesel engine was installed. In May 2014, at the KADEX-2014 exhibition, one demo sample was presented [
• BRDM-2M-96i- a modernized version, created in 1997 in Poland. The machine is equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine Iveco Aifo 8040, new brakes
• BRDM-2M-96ik "Szakal"- modification developed in 2003 in Poland. The machine is equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine Iveco Aifo 8040SRC, new radio station RRC-9500, air conditioner and anti-cumulative lattice screens. Instead of a 14.5 mm machine gun, a 12.7 mm WKM-B machine gun is installed in the turret.
• BRDM-2M-97 "Żbik-B"- further modernization of the BRDM-2M-96i. Equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine Iveco Aifo 8040 SRC-21.11, new transmission and additional equipment.
• Kurјak- a modernized version of the production of Serbia.
• LOT-B- Czech modernized version.
• LOT-V- commander's version of LOT-B.

Vehicles based on BRDM-2

Chemical reconnaissance vehicle BRDM-2RX

ZS-82 in Afghanistan in the late 1980s.

• 9P19- combat vehicle ATGM "Glaz"
• 9P122- combat vehicle ATGM 9K11M "Malyutka-M"
• 9P124- combat vehicle ATGM 2K8M "Phalanx-M"
• 9P133- combat vehicle ATGM 9K11P "Baby-P"
• 9P137- combat vehicle ATGM 2K8P "Phalanx-P"
• 9P148- combat vehicle ATGM 9K113 "Competition"
• BRDM-2RHB"Dolphin" - chemical reconnaissance vehicles, with automatic gas alarm GSA-12, VPKhR, DP-5V meter, DP-3B roentgenometer
• BRDM-2U- battalion commander's command vehicle. With additional radio station R-123. No tower
• 9A31- combat vehicle SAM 9K31 "Strela-1"
• ZS-72B
• ZS-82- medium power sound broadcasting station
• Alesya-1- Belarusian emergency transport vehicle, crew of 8-10 people
• ATM-1- universal emergency transport vehicle
• TM-1P- Russian floating transport vehicle
• BI-1- Russian armored collector vehicle
• PSM-8- search and rescue vehicle
• UDDS-BRDM- training stand
• GAZ-41D- experienced, 1962-64 Airborne, with a BMP-1 turret. Crew - 2 people. YaMZ engine, diesel
• BRDM-2D- modernization option (1999), with a 195 hp engine, without additional rollers
• BRDM-2M- modernization option (2001), with a YaMZ-3460 diesel engine with a capacity of 160 hp.
• BRDM-2M- modernization option (JSC "Muromteplovoz", 2005), with a four-cylinder diesel engine YaMZ-E534.10 with a capacity of 160 hp. No extra wheels
• BRDM-2M- modernization option. With a turret machine gun MA7 (12.7 mm "Kord"; 7.62 mm PKT)

Operators

Modern

BRDM-2 is in service with the following countries:

• Russia - more than 2000 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Algeria - 26 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Angola - 600 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Afghanistan - a certain number of BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Belarus - a certain amount of BRDM-2
• Benin - 14 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Bulgaria - 24 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Burundi - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Vietnam - 100 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Guinea - 25 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Guinea-Bissau - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Egypt - 300 BRDM-2 (in the Egyptian army it was called Leopard), as of 2010
• Zambia - 70 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, of which about 30 are assessed as combat-ready, as of 2010
• India - 600 units delivered from the USSR between 1977 and 1979
• Indonesia - 21 BRDM-2, as of 2007
• Yemen - 50 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Cape Verde - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Kazakhstan - 140 BRDM-2, as of 2007
• Cambodia - a certain number of BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Kyrgyzstan - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Cote d'Ivoire - 13 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Republic of the Congo - 25 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Cuba - a certain number of BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Libya - 50 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Lithuania - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Mauritius - a certain number of BRDM-2 as of 2010
• Madagascar - about 35 BRDM-2, as of 2010

• Macedonia - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Mali - 55 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Mozambique - 30 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Mongolia - 120 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Namibia - 12 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Nicaragua - 20 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Palestinian National Authority - 45 units supplied from Russia between 1995 and 1996, 25 units supplied from Russia in 2007
• Peru - 30 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Poland - 376 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Transnistria - a certain amount, incl. to the dowry of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Seychelles - 6 BRDM-2, assessed as non-combatant, as of 2010
• Serbia - 46 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Syria - 590 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Somalia - a certain number of BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Slovakia - 129 BRDM-2, as of 2007
• Slovenia - 8 BRDM-2, as of 2007
• Sudan - 60 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• USA - 7 BRDM-2 units delivered from Germany in 1991
• Tanzania - 10 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Turkmenistan - 170 BRDM-1 and BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Uzbekistan - 13 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Ukraine - more than 600 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Croatia - 2 BRDM-2, as of 2011
• CAR - 1 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Chad - about 100 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Equatorial Guinea - 6 BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Eritrea - 40 BRDM-1 / BRDM-2, as of 2010
• Ethiopia - 120 units were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1977 to 1982, 60 units were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1985 to 1988, as of 2007 there are some in service.

Former

• USSR - passed to the states formed after the collapse
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - removed from service
• Hungary - 350 BRDM-2 units were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1969 to 1975, according to other sources, they were supplied only in versions 9P122 / 133 and MANPADS carriers
• GDR - 1,579 units were delivered from the USSR between 1975 and 1976, used under the designation SPW-40P2, transferred to Germany
• Germany - removed from service
• Israel - captured Egyptian, removed from service
• Latvia - 2 BRDM-2, decommissioned
• Iraq - 250 BRDM-2 units were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1967 to 1973
• Romania - 121 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in the period from 1975 to 1978, removed from service
• North Yemen - 50 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1980
• Uganda - 100 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1975
• Czechoslovakia - 100 BRDM-2 units were delivered from the USSR in the period from 1975 to 1976
• Estonia - removed from service
• Yugoslavia - 50 BRDM-2 units delivered from the USSR in 1970
• NDR Yemen - 100 BRDM-2 units were delivered from the USSR in 1972

It is a logical continuation of the line of machines of the first model. The brainchild of the Gorky Automobile Plant was nicknamed "Bardak" in wide military circles.

A little about the technical characteristics of the BRDM-2

Armor plates installed on this car, will only protect against small-caliber small arms or various fragments. The thickness of the sheets ranges from 3 to 14 millimeters, depending on the place of booking.

The main thing technical advantage such a machine - its very high cross-country ability. It has an extra pair of wheels that slide out. This engineering feature allows the armored vehicle to cross obstacles such as wide ditches and ditches.

After curtailing the production of such a machine in the Soviet Union, its production continues, but already in Poland. The operation of the armored car is carried out by a crew of four. It should be noted that more than fifty countries of the world successfully use it for various purposes.

Description BRDM-2

Over the years, various modifications of it were released, in which additional measuring or observation equipment was installed for specific reconnaissance tasks.

In addition to land obstacles, the car also overcomes water obstacles well.

The heavily lifted front of the vehicle contributes to a more even redistribution of the shock wave in the event of a mine explosion, which increases the protection of the crew, the viable characteristics of the BRDM-2 armored vehicle, and also reduces the drag when moving through the water.

Moving

For efficient and fast movement on water, a water engine is provided in the design of the machine, working on the principle of a water cannon. A powerful jet of water is thrown against the direction of the movement of the car, forcing it to float forward.

The fuel tanks of the car can hold up to 280 liters of fuel, which allows it, moving along the highway, to drive up to 750 kilometers without refueling. In this case, the maximum speed of movement can be 100 km per hour.

The heart of the car is the 140-horsepower GAZ-41 gasoline engine. Similar power unit can be found in cars of the "Chaika" brand and some other cars. An equally important technical characteristic is the BRDM-2 fuel consumption, which ranges from 22 to 38 liters per 100 km.

Vehicle armament

To control the situation on the battlefield and conduct fire, a turret with a 360-degree rotation angle is provided. A twin Vladimirov system with a caliber of 14.5 mm is installed in the turret. A very formidable weapon. There is also a 7.62 mm machine gun. It has less destructive power, but is effective against infantry.

The Vladimirov machine gun is one of the most powerful in the world. The energy of the bullet fired from this weapon surpasses the energy of the projectile of the German aircraft twenty-millimeter gun "Shvak" during the Second World War.

Ammunition from such weapons is capable of hitting an armored barrier 3 cm thick at a distance of 0.5 km. The firing range of such a machine gun is two kilometers. Used to deal with lightly armored enemy targets. The high rate of fire plus the destructive power of the anti-tank rifle make the vehicle's armament a formidable weapon on the battlefield and increase the characteristics of the BRDM-2.

A smaller machine gun (7.62 mm) is used to cut off enemy infantry. The ammunition load of the combat vehicle is 10 belts of 50 rounds for the large-caliber Vladimirov and 8 belts of 250 ammunition for a standard machine gun. The set of ammunition can consist of both conventional and armor-piercing bullets.

The aiming of the machine gun is carried out by turning the turret, as well as at a small horizontal angle directly by the shooter. Appearance and brief technical characteristics of the BRDM-2 in the photo below can also be seen.

Observation tools

The crew commander has the opportunity to observe the battlefield through a binocular tank panorama. This optical device has a five-fold zoom and allows you to see at a distance of up to three kilometers. At night, observation is carried out through a thermal imager or night vision device. In addition to the basic tools, there are six more static observation devices on board the vehicle, allowing you to have an all-round view around the combat unit.

At low temperatures the environment observation through the optical system is difficult due to the presence of condensation or its freezing. Therefore, the designers provided for electric heating of parts of optical observation systems, which allows using the technical characteristics of the BRDM-2 to the maximum.

Outside of a military setting, observation could be conducted through an open hatch in the machine-gun turret.

Modifications and characteristics of the armored vehicle BRDM 2 in the photo below are spelled out in detail.

Power department

The designers took the front of the car under the power compartment. It housed a 140-horsepower engine, a 5-speed gearbox and a differential. The gearbox is designed in such a way that the engagement and disengagement of the rear drive are carried out independently of the clutch. Additionally, an emergency evacuation winch was installed in the department. A compressor is provided to regulate the pressure in the tire chambers. This technical characteristic of the BRDM-2 shows its increased survival rate.

Use in armed conflicts

• Operation invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968.
• Yom Kippur War in October 1973. During it, the Egyptian troops, having at their disposal armored vehicles BRDM-2, equipped with anti-tank defenses, were able to repel the offensive and defeat the division near the Suez Canal. In total, more than 150 tanks were burned. During this operation, the Israelis suffered heavy combat losses. The use of armored vehicles with anti-tank missiles on board fully met all expectations.
• The armored vehicle was widely used in the war in Afghanistan. The troops of the USSR often used it as a convenient vehicle in the conditions of mountainous terrain and dry and hot climates.
• Was spotted in the Chechen campaign. It was actively used by both sides of the conflict. Increased survivability and unpretentious operation made it an irreplaceable military vehicle.
• During the conflict in South Ossetia. Also applied by all parties. From the side Russian Federation only three combat units were lost.
• According to unverified reports, during a coup d'etat in Russia called "Black October". In the course of this conflict, the current government was overthrown and a presidential rule was established.

Conclusion

Remarkable is the fact that the BRDM-2 armored vehicle is in high demand not only among military professionals, but also among civilians. At the moment, on various popular trading platforms for buying or selling, you can find many advertisements for the purchase of one or another spare part for this car.

Many enthusiasts, who are well provided for financially, appreciated the technical characteristics of the BRDM-2 and buy it for the purpose of further modification and tuning. Of course, weapons, surveillance and communications equipment on such a machine will be completely absent. After alteration to the taste of the owner, such cars often participate in various specialized shows and exhibitions.

And for some people it is universal. vehicle, since in addition to excellent off-road driving, you can swim on water on it. Some companies, for example, offer a fascinating excursion in an exclusive armored car around a particular city for a moderate fee. And the most desperate owners arrange races on these types of cars.