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BMP-1
The BMP-1, seen here with the Iraqi Army, was quite a departure from previous infantry carrier designs.
By Staff Writer
The BMP-1 APC replaced the BTR-50 series of APC. It was in production for 20 years before being replaced by the improved BMP-2 series of APC, detailed elsewhere on this site. The BMP-1 can carry a compliment of 8 combat ready soldiers in the rear, seated in two rows of four, back to back and provides the passengers with firing ports and periscopes so infantry can engage targets and protect the vehicle. The BMP-1 APC appeared as a shock to observers in the West, for up to this point APCs were mainly infantry carriers and nothing more. The BMP-1 broke new ground with the addition of a turret mounting a 73mm cannon and an anti-tank wire-guided missile system, effectively retaining the qualities of an APC while introducing aspects more in common with a light tank. The introduction of the BMP series forced NATO nations to take it upon themselves to develop similarly-armed systems.
The BMP-1 weapon system is fully amphibious and propels itself in the water by its tracks. Passenger entry is accomplished through two doors to the rear of the hull. The driver sits front left with the commander behind him while the engine is mounted front and right. The profile of the BMP-1 is low with the turret system not adding much to that. The turret is fully-powered and emergency controls are also provided should power fail. Six road wheels align each side of the tracks and the system as a whole is highly identifiable by the sloping armor at front hull - a distinct design consistent with the series.
Several variants exist with different turret configurations and are used by many former Soviet-friendly nations and states.
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Last Updated: 7/22/2008
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Armored Vehicle Quick Profile |
Image Courtesy of the United States Department of Defense.
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| 1967 |
Designation: BMP-1
Classification Type: Armored Personnel Carrier
Contractor: State Factories
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Number Built: Not Available |
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Operators: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazahkstan, North Korea, Krygyzstan, Libya, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Taijikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam and Yemen.
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| Variants |
BMP-1F - Reconnaissance Vehicle (Hungary)
BMP-1K - Commander's Vehicle
BMP-1K3 - Commander's Vehicle
BMP-1P - No Sagger anti-tank weapon system fitted
BMP-1PK - BMP-1P Variant of Commander's Vehicle
BRM-1K - Basic Reconnaissance Vehicle for Armored Calvary divisions.
BREM-1 - Armored Recovery Vehicle
BREM-4 - Armored Recovery Vehicle
BMP-1KShM - Unarmed Command Vehicle
BWP - Base BMP-1 (Poland)
OT-90 - Base BMP-1 (Czech Republic) with custom turret (OT-64(C)).
BMP-1 - Features updated French-based diesel engine (Egypt).
BMP-1 - Variant fitted with 30mm grenade launcher
BRM - Reconnaissance Vehicle with 2-man turret
BRM-1 - Reconnaissance Vehicle with 2-man turret
PRP-3 - Radar Vehicle (2-man turret and radar system).
IRM - Amphibious Reconnaissance Vehicle
BMP-POO - Training Vehicle with raised roof and no turret.
BMP-1G - Export version with no AT Sagger support in turret. Features 30mm grenade launcher and Spandrel support instead.
Pbv 501 - Base BMP-1 Model (Sweden)
Wz 501 - Chinese-produced Variant (China)
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Dimensions:
