Armored car BRDM-2: specifications, description, photo

The armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle BRDM-2 is a logical continuation of the line of machines of the first model. The brainchild of the Gorky Automobile Plant was nicknamed "Bardak" in wide military circles.

A bit about the technical characteristics of BRDM-2

The armored plates installed on this car will be protected only from small-caliber small arms or various fragments. The thickness of the sheets is from 3 to 14 millimeters, depending on the place of booking.

The main technical advantage of such a machine is its very high throughput. It has an extra pair of wheels that extend. This engineering feature allows the armored vehicle to force such obstacles as wide ditches and ditches.

After the production of such a machine is curtailed in the Soviet Union, its release continues, but already in Poland. The armored car is operated by a crew of four. It should be noted that more than fifty countries of the world successfully use it for various purposes.

Description BRDM-2

In different years, various modifications were made, in which additional measuring or observing equipment was installed for specific reconnaissance tasks.

In addition to overland obstacles, the car also overcomes water obstacles.

The heavily wound front part of the machine contributes to a more even redistribution of the shock wave in case of a mine explosion, which increases the crew's security, the viable characteristics of the armored vehicle BRDM-2, and also reduces the drag when traveling on water.

Moving

For effective and rapid movement on the water in the design of the machine provides a water engine, working on the principle of water. A powerful jet of water is thrown out against the motion of the machine, forcing it to sail forward.

The fuel tanks of the car can hold up to 280 liters of fuel, which allows it, driving on the highway, to go without refueling to 750 kilometers. Thus the maximum speed of movement can make 100 km per hour.

The heart of the car is a 140-horsepower gasoline engine GAZ-41. A similar power unit can be found in the cars of the brand "Chaika" and some other cars. No less important technical characteristic is the fuel consumption of BRDM-2, which ranges from 22 to 38 liters per 100 km.

Arming the car

To control the situation on the battlefield and fire, a tower with a 360-degree rotation angle is provided. A twin -caliber machine gun of the Vladimirov system with a caliber of 14.5 millimeters was installed in the turret. A very formidable weapon. Also there is a machine gun with a caliber of 7.62 millimeters. It has less destructive power, but is effective against infantry.

The Vladimir machine-gun is one of the most powerful in the world. The energy of the bullet fired from this weapon exceeds the energy of the projectile of the German twenty-millimeter gun "Shvak" of the Second World War.

Ammunition from such a weapon can hit an armored barrier 3 cm thick at a distance of 0.5 km. The range of fire from this machine gun is two kilometers. Used to combat lightly armored enemy targets. High rate of fire, plus the lethal force of the anti-tank rifle, make the car armament a formidable weapon on the battlefield and increase the characteristics of BRDM-2.

To cut off the infantry of the enemy a machine gun of a smaller caliber (7.62 mm) is used. Ammunition of the combat vehicle is 10 tapes for 50 rounds for the large-caliber Vladimirov and 8 ribbons for 250 munitions for the standard machine gun. A set of ammunition can consist of both conventional shell bullets and bullets with armor-piercing cores.

The aim of the machine gun is to turn the turret, and also to a small horizontal angle directly by the shooter. The appearance and brief technical characteristics of BRDM-2 in the photo below can also be viewed.

Means of observation

The commander of the crew has the opportunity to observe the battlefield through a binocular tank panorama. This optical device has a fivefold zoom and allows you to see at a distance of up to three kilometers. In the dark, the observation is carried out through a thermal imager or a night vision device. In addition to the main tools, there are six static observation instruments on board the machine, which allow to have a circular view around the combat unit.

At low ambient temperatures, it is difficult to observe through the optical system due to the presence of condensation or its freezing. Therefore, the designers provided for the electric heating of the details of optical observation systems, which allows using the technical characteristics of BRDM-2 to the maximum.

Outside the military situation, surveillance could be conducted through an open hatch in a machine gun tower.

Modifications and characteristics of the armored vehicle BRDM 2 on the photo below are detailed.

Power Department

Under the power section, the designers removed the front of the machine. It housed a 140-strong engine, 5-speed gearbox and differential. The gearbox is designed so that the rear drive is switched on and off independently of the clutch. In addition, the emergency winches were placed in the compartment for evacuation. To regulate the pressure in the chambers of the tires, a compressor is provided. This technical specification of BRDM-2 shows its increased survival rate.

Application in armed conflicts

• Operation of the invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968.
• The Yom Kippur War in October 1973. During it, the Egyptian troops, having at their disposal armored cars BRDM-2, equipped with anti-tank defense, managed to repulse the offensive and defeat the Israeli tank division near the Suez Canal. In total, more than 150 tanks were burnt. During this operation, the Israelis suffered heavy fighting losses. The use of armored vehicles with anti-tank missiles on board fully met all expectations.
• Widely used armored car in the war in Afghanistan. The Soviet troops often used it as a convenient vehicle in the conditions of mountain off-road and dry and hot climate.
• Was seen in the Chechen campaign. Actively used by both sides of the conflict. Increased survivability and unpretentiousness in operation made it an indispensable combat vehicle.
• During the conflict in South Ossetia. Also used by all parties. On the part of the Russian Federation, only three combat units were lost.
• According to unverified data, during the coup d'etat in Russia called "Black October". In the course of this conflict, the current government was overthrown and presidential rule was established.

Conclusion

It is noteworthy that the armored car BRDM-2 is in high demand not only among military professionals, but also among civilians. At the moment, on various popular trading platforms for buying or selling, you can find many ads about buying a particular spare part for this car.

Many enthusiasts, who are well-off financially, appreciated the technical characteristics of BRDM-2 and buy it for further modification and tuning. Of course, weapons, a means of observation and communication on such a machine will be completely absent. After an alteration to the owner's taste, often such cars participate in various specialized shows and exhibitions.

And for some people this is a universal vehicle, because in addition to excellent off-road driving, it can be floated on the water. Some companies, for example, offer for a moderate fee to make an exciting excursion on an exclusive armored car for this or that city. And the most desperate owners are racing on these types of cars.