Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1497523
IFVS When it comes to infantry fighting vehicles, Ukraine platforms as such in high numbers. 200 BMP-1 vehicles had remained in active service before the war broke out. One shall remember, however, that more vehicles as such are kept in reserve. The reintroduction of these may be a challenge, depen- ding on their technical condition. Before the war broke out, Ukraine also had 800-900 BMP-2s in active service, along with an unknown number kept in reserve, in an unknown technical condition. Ukraine also inherited 4 BMP-3 IFVs from the USSR. Apart from that, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also operated 45 BMD-1s, and 60 BMD-2 vehicles, used by the airborne units. Let us have a closer look at the most popular of the Ukrainian IFVs - the BMP- 2. It is a relatively simple infantry fighting vehicle, derived from the BMP-1. The BMP-2 crew includes the commander, the gunner, and the driver. The commander's station features the TKN-3B observation system similar in design to the TKN-3 system that can be found on the T-64 and T-72 main bat- tle tanks. TKN-3B has fixed 5x zoom for the daytime channel, and 3x zoom for the night tract. The night vision channel uses the OU-3GA2 IR illuminator, with 110 W power output. Everything is installed within the commander's ob- servation cupola that can rotate within a range of 360 degrees. Furthermore, the commander also has the 1PZ-3 anti-aircraft sight at his disposal, along with a redundant turret/armament control system. The 1PZ-3 anti-aircraft sight provides the commander with a 1.2x and 4x zoom. No night channel is available for this optic. The commander is also responsible for handling the radio, while the vehicle can use the obsolete R-123M radio, or the more modern R-173 system. The gunner, meanwhile, uses the BPK-1-42 daytime/night sight, with 5.6x magnification for the daytime channel, and 5x zoom for the night channel. The night channel may require the crew to use the OU-5G IR illuminator. The sight is stabilized vertically, and the same applies to the primary gun. Instead of the BPK-1-42 sight, the more modern BPK-2-42 sight may be used, in which the daytime and night channels have been enhanced. The daytime channel offers 6x magnification, and 5.5x magnification is available for the night channel. Reticle for the daytime channel has also been enhanced. 2E36 stabilizer stabilizes the turret and the primary armament. The scope of movement is -4° – +30° in the elevation plane when the stabilizer works in the automatic setting. In the semi-automatic mode, elevations of up to +75 degrees may be reached, but that may be done solely by the commander with the use of his anti-aircraft sight. This is why the semi-automatic mode is used mainly in anti-aircraft engagements. Should the stabilizer, or the electric turret motors be damaged, an emergency manual control system (cranks) can be used. BMP-2 uses a 30 mm gas-ope- rated 2A42 automatic cannon, with dual feed, and open bolt firing, as the main armament. Five hundred 30x165 mm rounds are stored onboard, 160 AP, and 340 HE-I rounds. The cannon is coupled with a 7.62 mm PKTM ma- chine gun, that has 2,000 7.62x54R rounds in belts, 250 rounds per belt box. The vehicle also features the 9P56M launcher coupled with a 9Sh119M1 tar- geting system that offers 9.5x magnification. The launcher can launch the 9M113 Konkurs or 9M111 Fagot ATGMs, and it is controlled via the 9S474 crank system, independent of the turret. In practical terms we are dealing with +/- 30 degrees turning range left or right, and -5/+15 degrees vertically. The launcher can be reloaded with the crew being protected by the armor, but the gunner needs to rotate the launcher so that its rear part is turned to- wards the hatch. Then the missile rail is raised, so that the launch container can be replaced through the gunner's hatch. WHEN IT COMES TO ARMOR, the BMP-2 has been made out of BT-70Sh steel (ca. 534 BHN). That steel compensates for the greater weight, when compared to BMP-1, by reducing the thickness of the side hull panels and keeping the protection levels unchanged. The front armor can protect the BMP-2 from 23 mm and 12.7 mm AP ro- unds at a distance of up to 500 meters. The sides offer protection from the 7.62 mm rounds. Interestingly, the engine cover has been made out of aluminum alloy desi- gnated ABT-101. The very same alloy is used to create the BMD-1 and BMD-2 turrets. The BMP-1 and BMP-3 USE THE UTD-20 DIESEL ENGINE, generating ca. 300HP of power output. That engine makes it possible for the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 65 kph on a hardened surface. The range is 600 km on the hardened surface, and 500 km when in rough terrain. BMP-3 is a far more advanced and complicated platform. The prototype, de- signated Object 688, was based on the Object 685 light tank. Initially, the Object 688 platform was to be fitted with a typical IFV armament - a 30 mm automatic cannon, and coupled 7.62 mm machine gun, along with an ATGM launcher, all housed within a low-profile turret. Ultimately, armament as such was considered insufficient. It was decided that a new Arkad Shipuov turret would be used. The turret, designed at the www.fragoutmag.com