Land Systems / Battlefield

BWP-1 (Bojowy Woz Piechoty-1)

Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) [ 1967 ]

The BWP-1 is the local Polish Army designation for the classic, multi-faceted Soviet-era BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/13/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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BWP-1 is the local Polish Army designation of the classic Soviet-era 15-ton BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The original vehicle first appeared in 1966 and was manufactured through over 42,000 examples, leading to its global use with Soviet-aligned powers like China, India, and Czechoslovakia. Its numerical reach, and inherent versatility, has led it to still being featured prominently in many army inventories of the world today (2022).

The BWP-1 retains the same form-and-function of its Soviet counterpart. It sports a very shallow glacis plate at the bow and low profile turret over the mid-section of the vehicle. A conventional track-and-wheel arrangement is used in which six rubber-tired roadwheels are featured to each hull side. The drive sprocket is at front with the track idler at rear. A thin armored skirt provides basic ballistics protection along the sides of the hull. Hatches are positioned over the hull roof for each of the crewmembers which typically numbers three - commander, driver, and gunner. Up to eight passengers can be carried in the troop compartment and exit/entry is through a pair of hinged, reinforced doors (opening outwards) at the rear of the vehicle. The base armament is a 73mm 2A28 GROM smoothbore, short-recoil low-velocity semi-automatic main gun with 7.62mm co-axial machine gun.

The powerpack is offset to right of the driver in the bow and consists of a 6-cylinder, 4-stroke water-cooled diesel-fueled engine of 300 horsepower. Road speeds reach 40 miles-per-hour and operational range is out to 370 miles. The hull is suspended through an individual torsion bar arrangement with hydraulic shock absorbers located at the 1st and 6th road wheel mountings.

As can be expected, Polish industry went ahead in developing their own variants and sub-variants to suit local requirements. As such, the "BWP-1" designation covers several model forms with differing placement of the 7.62mm PK anti-infantry machine gun.

The "BWP-1D" is the Polish designation covering the Soviet BMP-1K mark. "BWR-1S" is the Czech BPzV "Svatava" model. "BWR-1D" (alternatively the "BWR1K") covered the Soviet BRM-1K and "ZWDSz-2" were staff command vehicles outfitted with extra communications equipment.

The BWP-1M "Puma-1" designation covers a localized Polish modernization of the BWP-1 which enhances crew and systems protection, creature comforts, adds night vision for the driver, modern Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) protection suite, updated navigation suite, and improved engine function. Within this mark were pilot vehicles to trial a 25mm-armed Delco turret, an Israeli 25mm OWS-25 "Overhead" weapon system, a United Defense turret, an Italian TC-25 "Hitfist" turret, and so on.

The BWP-1 "Puma RCWS-30" is another modernization, bringing along all changes featured in the BWP-1M models and adding the 30mm-armed Israeli Samson RCWS-30 Remote Weapons Station (RWS). Similarly, the modern BWP-1 "Puma MW-30" has a 30mm Bushmaster II Mk.44 armed MW-30 series turret emplacement with 7.62mm UKM-2000C anti-infantry machine gun and 6 x Smoke grenade launchers.

BWP-1S are modernized vehicles with a pair of thermal imaging systems and cameras, a laser range-finder, smoke screen generator, GPS navigation, and modern comms. BWP=1AK marks are modern offerings with reworked internals, improved protection, and modern night vision equipment and comms.

The BWP-40 was a pilot vehicle debuting in the 1993 but its development eventually stalled and cancelled. This version featured the CV9040 turret. The BWP-95 was another prototype attempt armed with a 23mm automatic cannon, a bunker-busting recoilless rifle, and Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).

April 2022 - Examples of the BWP-1 are part of the armored delivery Poland has made to neighboring Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Specifications

Service Year

1967

Origin

Poland

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

3
CREWMEN

Production

2,000
UNITS

State Factories - Poland

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

Poland; Ukraine

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Amphibious Assault
Traverse bodies of open water under own power with / without preparation.

✓ Anti-Tank / Anti-Armor
Base model or variant can be used to track, engage, and defeat armored enemy elements at range.

✓ Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.

✓ Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.

Track-and-Wheel Arrangement

Vehicle utilizes a track-and-wheel arrangement to provide enhanced cross-country travel capability.

Primary Turret

A modern tank quality, this vehicle sports its main armament in a single turret.

Remote Weapon Station (RWS)

Vehicle supports a remote-operated weapons station, reducing crew exposure to outside dangers.

Traversable Main Armament

Armament is situated in a traversing component, allowing for all-around engagement of enemy threats.

Recoil Enhancement

Main weapon has an integral recoil mechanism, allowing the system to remain trained-on-target after firing.

Firing On-the-Move

A modern quality, onboard systems provide accuracy to primary armament allowing for firing on-the-move.

Amphibious

System can enter and traverse open water sources - either rivers, lakes, and streams; Amphibious Assault operation support.

Cross-Country Capability

Design includes such features as a track-link system or high ground clearance to better traverse offroad.

Angled Armor

Angled armor at key facings adds inherent ballistics protection to the vehicle.

Armored Skirt

Additional protection to the upper track reaches and roadwheels is achieved by way of addon armored skirts along the sides of the hull.

NBC Protection

Crew is provided (either as standard or optional) protection against Nuclear-Biological-Chemical agents for enhanced survivability in contaminated zones.

Smoke Screening

Vehicle has capability to self-generate a smoke screen, either through launched grenades or built-in engine funtion (raw fuel injection).

Nightvision

Crew has access to night-vision equipment, allowing for low-light or night time operations.

Anti-Tank Capable

Onboard solution provides ability to neutralize armored or fortified targets at range through missile or penetrating ballistic weapons.

Anti-Infantry

Vehicle features an in-built anti-infantry capability for local defense of the vehicle or general troop suppression.

Troop Carrier

Vehicle (or its variants) has an inherent troop-carrying capability, providing protected cover for embarked allies in contested areas.

Remote Weapons Station

Vehicle supports an unmanned weapons station controlled remotely from within the safety of the vehicle.

Versatility

Vehicle's proven running gear and overall makeup lends itself well to fulfill other battlefield roles by way of specialized designs.

Length

22.1 ft
6.74 m

Width

9.7 ft
2.95 m

Height

6.8 ft
2.07 m

Weight

29,101 lb
13,200 kg

Tonnage

14.6 tons
LIGHT

(Showcased structural values pertain to the BMP-1 (Soviet) production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x UTD-20 6-cylinder, 4-stroke water-cooled, diesel-fueled engine developing 300 horsepower at 2,600rpm driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement.

Speed

40.4 mph
(65.0 kph)

Range

372.8 mi
(600.0 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the BMP-1 (Soviet) production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

1 x 73mm 2A28 GROM smoothbore main gun in front turret face.
1 x 7.62mm PKT machine gun in co-axial mounting in front turret face.
6 x Smoke grenade dischargers.

Supported Types

Graphical image of a tank cannon armament

Graphical image of a tank medium machine gun

Graphical image of tank /armored vehicle smoke grenade dischargers

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

40 x 73mm projectiles.

2,000 x 7.62mm ammunition.

6 x Smoke Grenades.

BWP-1 - Base Series Designation.

BWP-1M "Puma-1" - Modernization with improvements to battlefield survivability, crew comfort, and performance; various turret fittings trialed.

BWP-1 "Puma-E-8" - Modernized BWP-1 with 13 x Smoke grenade launchers installed; 30mm turret armament.

BWP-1 "Puma RCWS-30 - 30mm autocannon in Remote Weapon Station (RWS); Israeli RAFAEL 7.62mm anti-infantry machine gun.

BWP-1D - Soviet BMP-1K variant.

BWR-1S - Czech BpzV "Svatava" model.

BWR-1D / BWR-1K - Soviet BRM-1K .

ZWDSz-2 - Staff command vehicle with enhanced comms suite.

BWP-1S - Modernized variant with 2 x Thermal imaging devices, 2 x TV cameras, laser range-finder, GPS navigation; self-smoke-screen generator; modern fire control system.

BMP-1AK - Modernized variant with enhanced crew / systems protection; modernized night vision support and new radio comms.

BWP-40 - Pilot vehicle of 1993; CV9040 turret and armament.

BWP-95 - Pilot vehicle with 23mm main gun, recoilless rifle, and Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) fitted.