BWP-1 (Bojowy Woz Piechoty-1)

History

BWP-1 is the designation for the classic Soviet-era BMP-1 15-ton Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) by the Polish local army. The original vehicle debuted in 1966 and more than 42,000 were built, leading to its worldwide service in Soviet Union countries such as China, India and Czechoslovakia.

Its numerical range and inherent versatility mean that today (2022) it still features prominently in many military inventories around the world.

The BWP-1 retains the same form and function as its Soviet counterpart. It has a very flat front armor plate in the bow and a flat turret in the central part of the vehicle. Using a traditional track and wheel arrangement, there are six rubber tire wheels on each side of the hull.

The drive sprocket is in the front and the chain idler is in the back. Thin armor skirts provide basic ballistic protection on both sides of the hull. A hatch for each crew member is located on the top of the fuselage and usually consists of three people - commander, driver and gunner. The crew compartment can accommodate up to eight passengers, with access via two reinforced hinged doors (opening outwards) at the rear of the vehicle.

Basic armament is a 73mm 2A28 GROM smoothbore semi-automatic short-recoil, slow-speed main gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

The power unit is offset to the right of the driver in the bow and consists of a 300 hp water-cooled 6-cylinder 4-stroke diesel engine. Road speeds reach 40 mph and range is up to 370 miles.

The hull is suspended by a single torsion bar assembly, with hydraulic shock absorbers on the first and sixth wheel mounts.

As expected, the Polish industry has developed its own variants and sub-variants to meet local requirements. Therefore, the designation "BWP-1" includes several model forms with 7.62 mm PK infantry machine guns in different positions.

"BWP-1D" is the Polish designation for the Soviet BMP-1K designation. "BWR-1S" is the Czech BPzV model "Svatava". "BWR-1D" (or "BWR1K") covered the Soviet BRM-1K, while "ZWDSz-2" was a staff command vehicle equipped with additional communications equipment.

The BWP-1M "Puma-1" designation covers the Polish localized modernization of the BWP-1 with improved crew and system protection, increased creature comfort, increased driver night vision, and modern nuclear Biochemical (ABC) protection kit, updated navigation kit and improved engine features. Within this badge are pilot vehicles driving the 25mm Armed Delco Turret, the Israeli 25mm OWS-25 "Overhead" Weapon System, the Joint Defense Turret, the Italian TC-25 "Hitfist" Test Tower, and more.

The BWP-1 "Puma RCWS-30" is another modernization that brings all the changes from the BWP-1M model and adds a 30mm-armed Israeli Samson RCWS-30 Remote Weapon Station (RWS). Likewise, the modern BWP-1 "Puma MW-30" is equipped with a 30mm Bushmaster II Mk.

44-arm MW-30 series turret with a 7.62mm UKM-2000C infantry machine gun and 6 smoke grenade launchers.

The BWP-1S is a modern vehicle equipped with two thermal imaging systems and cameras, a laser rangefinder, a smoke generator, GPS navigation and modern communications. The BWP=1AK brand is a modern product with an improved internal structure, improved protection and modern night vision equipment and communications.

The BWP-40 was a pilot vehicle that debuted in 1993, but its development eventually stalled and production was discontinued. This version includes the CV9040 turret.

The BWP-95 is another prototype with a 23mm automatic cannon, a recoilless rifle that can destroy cover, and a heavy machine gun (HMG).

Specification

BASICS

Year of Service

1967

Origins

Poland

Status

Active.

Crew

3

Production

2,000

Manufacturer

State Factory - Poland

Carrier

Poland; Ukraine

Rolling

Amphibious Assault

Cross open water under your own power with or without preparation.

Anti-Tank/Anti-Tank

Base models or variants can be used to track, engage, and defeat armored enemy elements at long distances.

Infantry Support

Support allied ground forces using weapons, inherent capabilities, and/or shipborne systems.

Recon

Can perform reconnaissance/reconnaissance missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, etc. - usually due to lightweight construction.

Notable Features

Crawler layout

The vehicle uses a track wheel arrangement to provide improved off-road capability.

Main Tower

This vehicle is of modern tank quality and its main armament is housed in a turret.

Remote Weapon Station (RWS)

The vehicle supports remote weapon stations, reducing the risk of crew exposure to external threats.

Drive-through owner weapon

The weapon is located in the traversing module and can counter the enemy threat in all directions.

Increased recoil

The main gun has an integrated recoil mechanism that allows the system to remain in training after firing at the target.

Shoot anytime, anywhere

Airborne systems of modern quality ensure the accuracy of the main weapon and allow firing on the move.

Amphibious

The system can enter and traverse open water sources - rivers, lakes and streams; supports amphibious assault operations.

Cross-country skiing

The design includes features such as a chain linkage system or high ground clearance for better traversing of terrain.

horn armor

Angled armor on critical faces adds inherent ballistic protection to the vehicle.

Panzerrock

Additional protection of the upper track area and running wheels is achieved by additional armored skirts along the sides of the hull.

ABC Protection

Crew are protected (standard or optional) by nuclear biological and chemical agents to improve survivability in contaminated areas.

Smoke shield

The vehicle itself can generate a smoke screen either through fired projectiles or built-in engine function (raw fuel injection).

Night Vision

Night vision equipment is available to the crew to allow operation in low light conditions or at night.

Anti-tank capability

Airborne solutions provide the ability to neutralize armored or hardened targets remotely using missiles or penetrating ballistic weapons.

Anti-Infantry

Vehicles have built-in anti-infantry capabilities for local vehicle defense or general troop suppression.

troop transport vehicle

Vehicles (or variants thereof) have inherent troop transport capabilities and provide protective cover for allies boarding ships in disputed areas.

Remote Weapon Station

The vehicle supports an unmanned weapon station that is remotely controlled while the vehicle is safe.

Versatility

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

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS

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

POWER & PERFORMANCE

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)

ARMAMENT

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.

AMMUNITION

40 x 73mm projectiles. 2,000 x 7. 62mm ammunition. 6 x Smoke Grenades.

VARIANTS

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.