Once again about BMPT
First Deputy Minister of Defense Vladimir Popovkin said that, along with some other models, the combat support vehicle, which had been created for several years, was not included in the state defense order program tanks - BMPT. At the same time, the “procurement chief” expressed bewilderment about why such a machine was designed and built, because, they say, the tanks are self-sufficient on the battlefield, and they do not need any support. Leaving aside the question of the self-sufficiency of tanks on the modern battlefield, I would also like to make a number of criticisms about the weapons system installed on the BMPT.
GUNS AND GUNS
A distinctive feature of the BMPT is the presence of a special combat module - a forward-delivered armament complex mounted on a full-circle armored compartment. In the bulletproof container, on the U-shaped supports with ribbon drivers inside and there are two automatic 30-2 X-mm guns.
The 2А42 cannons themselves and the PKT machine gun are reliable and well-proven. weapon, tested in hostilities and complaints not causing. However, rendered weapons make it difficult to maintain and load the ammunition, and in combat, the crew must leave the machine to perform these jobs, which can potentially lead to unreasonably high losses among the crew. The angle of elevation of the main weapon unit (+ 45 degrees) is not sufficient for such a machine, as the experience of battles in Afghanistan and the North Caucasus has shown. Yes, and one PKT machine gun is clearly not enough.
In addition, the combat module has anti-bullet reservation, which in itself dramatically reduces its protection from weapons of defeat - the swinging part will be rather easily incapacitated with 12,7 and 14,5 mm caliber bullets, it will simply be wedged. Thus, despite the fact that the crew of the vehicle is reasonably well protected, you cannot say the same about the weapon, although the BMPT should perform the functions of a “bodyguard” of the tank and operate under the direct fire influence of the enemy.
UNPROTECTED ATGN
The BMPT's primary means of combating tanks and other highly protected enemy targets are the 9K120 Ataka-T ATGM system with a firing range of up to 6 km. Given that ATGMs can have different types of warheads, the range of targets for the BMPT will range from armored vehicles and manpower to low-flying helicopters. At the same time, ATGMs can be equipped with a tandem cumulative warhead with armor penetration of at least 800 mm, as well as high-explosive fragmentation and thermobaric warheads. Missiles have a caliber of 130 mm, are distinguished by increased protection of the guidance channel with variable radiation modulation and are installed openly in standard TPKs.
It would seem that the supersonic speed of a rocket in combination with a semi-automatic control system in an information laser beam leaves no chance for the enemy to take any countermeasures after its launch on the target. However, four ATGMs for such a machine as BMPT are clearly not enough, although with the existing layout of the machine, an increase in their number is hardly possible. In addition, PUs are absolutely not protected from the means of destruction, which is generally not acceptable - during the battle, the anti-tank systems will be disabled in the first minutes. Another drawback, not noticeable to the ordinary man in the street. This ATGM is used in the Ground Forces in a limited way, therefore it is inevitable that the technical support staff and, accordingly, the availability of control and test equipment, should be brought to the staff of the unit. This will entail additional material costs, and due to the large mass-dimensional characteristics of the ATGM, it will be necessary to allocate additional transport for their storage and transportation to the units.
GRANATOMETARY COMPLEX
Two 30-millimeter AG-17D automatic grenade launchers are installed in the body of the machine, each is fired independently of each other, and the control is carried out by two operators remotely. According to the developers, AG-17D provide for hitting targets in the near zone - at a distance of up to 1700 meters, and the possibility of firing along a hinged trajectory makes it possible to hit the enemy behind natural and artificial shelters. But here, too, was not without flaws.
Until now, the experience of the Second World War, which has not lost relevance in many areas of military science, has shown that the use of course weapons in combat conditions is ineffective and leads only to increased consumption of ammunition. In the post-war period, this method of placing weapons was practically not used, except on the Soviet T-54 tank and the American M-24 light tank, and today only the BMP-3 and BMD-4 can be cited as examples. Further, despite the fact that in the grenade launcher of the BMPT, a stabilizer is applied in the vertical guidance plane, the pointing angles in the horizontal plane remain limited, which leads to the appearance of large “dead” zones. This deficiency can be eliminated only by making a maneuver of the machine left or right, which will lead to the fact that the enemy will be substituted for a less protected board. And in combat conditions such a maneuver is not always possible, for example, overcoming a minefield or other obstacles and obstacles, moving in the mountains, canyons, gorges, etc. Moreover, in combat use in defense, when the machine is in a trench, the firing capabilities of the AG-17 become even smaller, since the shelling zones are reduced, and the “dead” zones, on the contrary, are increasing.
In addition, it should be noted that the AG-17D is isolated from the gunner, therefore, to load and troubleshoot, it needs to go beyond the armor corps and stop the main unit of the weapon, which in combat will result in losses among the crew and reduce the firing capabilities of the vehicle. And if this problem can somehow be solved in defense, there is practically no offensive: stopping the BMPT to eliminate malfunctions during the offensive will instantly lead to the loss of the vehicle itself and its crew. And finally, the introduction of two gunners to the crew creates a problem with their preparation - these are additional material costs and time allocated for the preparation itself. And in general, is it advisable to have three gunners in the BMPT crew?
HOW TO MANAGE A MACHINE?
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the effective use of even such an individual weapon complex requires the development of a training program for BMPT crews for training in training centers, as well as determining which military schools will train officers for units and units armed with BMPT. All this is connected with the difficulties that will inevitably arise in the troops when organizing combat training.
For example, if there are four BMPTs in a tank company, how do you organize classes with the crews of these vehicles? There are no problems with mechanics-drivers, as the basic machine is one, and they will be engaged in one training program, but there is a problem with the preparation of gunners and machine commanders, since the armament of the tank and BMPT are completely different. In addition, who will conduct such classes and for what program? After all, today there are no exercises for BMPT in fire preparation and nothing is said about this in the shooting course. In addition, there is no director for the BMPT - you must either create a new one, either adapt the director of the BMP-2 or use the tank director of the tank.
I would also like to point out that the BMPT in its current form does not have a set of OPVT for underwater driving and is not able to overcome water obstacles along the bottom. And this eliminates the possibility of forcing BMPT along with water obstacle tanks along the bottom and simultaneous engagement on the opposite bank.
AND WHAT IN RETURN?
What needs to be done to eliminate the above disadvantages?
It seems that as a base for creating BMPT, T-72 or T-90 tanks should be used by replacing the main armament located in the tank turret with the following:
- 30-millimeter six-barreled automatic machine AO-18, adapted for installation in the fighting compartment of the tank and provided with dual-band power;
- installation of two PKT machine guns and two AG-17 grenade launchers, one PKT + AG-17 unit, to the left and right of the 30-mm machine gun;
- place nine ATGMs in the stern of the fighting compartment, and place the launcher for them in the center of the fighting compartment, somewhat shifting it to the stern of the tower;
- The ammunition for the 30-millimeter machine gun, machine guns and grenade launchers to be placed on the bottom of the crew compartment in place of a rotating conveyor.
In this case, the angle of guidance of weapons will be 360 degrees horizontally, from –5 to + 75 degrees vertically, and the crew consists of only three people (commander, gunner, and driver).
This set of weapons allows you to perform the following tasks:
- on the distance to 2000 meters, the 30-mm machine gun, which has a firing rate of about 4000 – 5000 rpm, can destroy any armored vehicle, including a tank;
- effectively combat low-flying subsonic air targets at ranges up to 4000 meters and altitudes up to 2000 meters;
- hit vehicles and fire weapons, enemy manpower at ranges up to 5000 meters;
- reliably hit armored vehicles with ATGMs at a distance of 5000 meters.
As you can see, BMPT, in general, can be brought to mind. There would be a desire.
Information