BRDM-2 4 x 4 SCOUT VEHICLE

The BRDM-2 is a rugged four wheel drive scout vehicle.  It has an all-welded steel hull and is fully amphibious.  In its standard form the BRDM-2 has a turret armed with a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a coaxially mounted 7.62mm PKT machine gun.  The hull armour serves to shield the four man crew from small arms fire and shell fragments and the basic chassis has been used to provide platforms for air defence and tank -destroying systems.

The crew of four sit forward of the rear-mounted GAZ 41 V8 petrol engine 140 bhp.  The driver and commander sit at the front left and right respectively and the gunner and the radio operator sit behind them.  Suspension is by semi-elliptical leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers.  Although this system is crude by modern standards it gives the BRDM-2 good cross-country performance.  The vehicle also carries belly wheels which can be lowered to increase its off-road stability.  Propulsion through water is provided by a single water jet at the back of the hull.

The BRDM-2 saw combat in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Mozambique, the Lebanon, the Iran/Iraq war and the Gulf war.

SPECIFICATIONS

CREW4ARMAMENT
CONFIGURATION4 x 4main1 x 73 mm
COMBAT WEIGHT7000 kgcoaxial1 x 7.62 mm MG
POWER-TO-WEIGHTother1 launcher rail for
     RATIO20 hp/tonneSagger ATGW
LENGTH5.75 mSMOKE LAYING
WIDTH2.35 mEQUIPMENTdiesel fuel injected
HEIGHT OVERALL2.31 minto exhaust
FIRING HEIGHT2.13 mAMMUNITION
GROUND CLEARANCE0.43 mmain40
TRACK1.84 mcoaxial2000
WHEELBASE3.1mother4 + 1 Sagger
MAX SPEEDGUN CONTROL
road100 km/hEQUIPMENT
water10 km/hTurret power controlelectric/manual
FUEL CAPACITY290 litresGun elevation/depression+33 / -4
MAX ROAD RANGE750 kmGun stabiliser
ROAD FUELverticalno
CONSUMPTION0.35-0.45 litre/kmhorizontalno
FORDINGamphibiousARMOUR
GRADIENT60%Hull front upper7 mm at 80
VERTICAL OBSTACLE0.4 mHull front lower19 mm at 57
TRENCH1.2 mHull side upper16 mm at 14
ENGINEGAZ 41 V-8Hull side lower18 mm at 0
water-cooled petrolHull rear upper16 mm at 19
developing 140 hpHull rear lower16 mm at 19
3400 rpm.Hull top6 mm
TRANSMISSIONmanual with 4 forwardHull belly front5 mm
and  1 reverse gears.Hull belly rear7 mm
SUSPENSIONtorsion barTurret front23 mm at 42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 VTurret sides19 mm at 36
Turret rear13 mm at 30
Turret top6 mm
Turret mantlet26-33mm
