Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1281650
prone to enemy attacks. In the past, the first generation APCs and IFVs used to be relatively cheap. Their main added value stemmed from the fact that they were offering CRBN/fragmentation protection for the troops. The vehicle losses have not been a significant matter, in the cost-effect domain. At the moment the situation is somewhat exactly reversed. Professional infantry is expensive. IFV with an MBT-like FCS has a price-tag of the MBT. Its value and the value of the troops onboard require solid protection, as any losses would be significant, qualitatively, and replacement of the personnel and the vehicles would be very challenging. MEANWHILE IN POLAND... The matter of domestically used IFV turrets in Poland is limited to four designs: the BWP-1 turret, the one of the formerly used BMP-2 platform, the Hitfist-30P, and the prototype unmanned ZSSW-30. The BWP-1 turret should be a subject of historical publications. It is not going to be discussed here, as the armament and capabilities of the aforesaid platform are simply not up to the challenges present on the modern battlefield. BMP-2 was a brief episode in the Polish military. The introduction of this platform began in 1989 after a relevant contract had been concluded by and between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Only 62 vehicles were acquired, completely lacking compatibility with the remaining equipment of Polish military. The 30 mm ammunition not offered by any of the domestic manufacturers became the real problem here. In 1994 the vehicles were withdrawn from service. The attempt made to trade them for the Belorussian BMP-1 has not been successful, as Belarus demanded a 1:1 trade - this was an absurd condition, as the BMP-2 price was, at the time, 70% higher than the BMP-1. 42 vehicles were ultimately sold to Angola in September 1994. Another 20 were sold to Togo a few years later. Opinions about the BMP-2 platform were positive, especially when it comes to its firepower and ammunition quantity available. The 2A42 cannon firepower was also praised, along with its broad elevation range and its 2E36-4 stabilizer, adjustable burst length, and rate of fire. The available quantity of ammunition - 160 BT rounds (AP-T) and 340 OFZ rounds (FRAG-HEI). In the case of the latter, the fragmentation was spread within a space ranging from 2.4 to 4 cubic meters. The tendency of the ammunition belts to create malfunctions has been a major disadvantage though. BMP- 2, when introduced into service, was a relatively recent design with a couple of interesting features, and its firepower was an example to follow, at least for some time. Rosomak with the Hitfist-30P turret is currently the best IFV used by the Polish military - but it is a wheeled platform disguised as an APC. Unfortunately, the role as such has been assigned to Rosomak by accident, due to the long-term planning deficiencies in the Polish military. The vehicle that was originally to be procured for a single brigade to serve during the expeditionary operations, in a quantity of up to 216 vehicles (120 APCs) was received by 8 battalions. Almost 1,000 Rosomak vehicles are operated now - 570 were delivered until 2014, including 370 IFV with the Hitfist-30P turrets. Originally, simple and cheap designs were demanded by the defined requirements. Another problematic matter stemmed from the fact that the vehicle was expected to be transported by the C-130H airlifters. This limited the height of the platform. The amphibious capacity requirement limited its weight. The quite-well protected legacy Finnish AMV vehicle was thus degraded to the protection levels on par with the BMP-2D - all of that was done to introduce weight savings. These assumptions are visible in the turret design. The Hitfist-30P structure is welded and made out of turned aluminum with thickness ranging from 25 to 17 mm. As a result of the above, the armor inclined at +/– 60° only protects the vehicle from the 14.5 mm rounds, and 7.62 mm rounds when the angles are different. The www.fragoutmag.com