In the direction of the front: Syrian infantry fighting vehicles (part 2 final)
Numerous groups in Syria are also armed with the BMP-1, of which the Islamic State is the largest operator of the BMP-1. His supporters, at least 24 machines are captured in Syria and 4 in Iraq. However, the vehicles seized in Iraq were immediately destroyed. The BMP-1 participated in almost all the offensive actions of the Islamic state in the north of Syria, and the two vehicles were filled with explosives and used as mobile explosive devices. During the storming of the helicopter landing site in Mennegha, these vehicles were blown up in order to destroy the defenders remaining there.
Later, the Islamic State was upgraded three BMP-1. One BMP-1 was seen with the 12,7-mm DShK machine gun installed and the corresponding magazine over the main gun, from which it was possible to fire from inside the car. This BMP-1 participated in the battles against the rebels in northern Syria.
The BMP-1, seen in Azaz, had enhanced protection in the form of additional metal tubes, similar to what could be seen on the BMP-1, intended for undermining and used by the Islamic State in Menneghe.
Another modification was noticed in the city of Deir ez-Zor, where this vehicle was captured by national defense forces. The turret of the BMP-1 was removed and an 23-mm anti-aircraft gun ZNU-23 was installed in its place, with additional protection from a metal grid. The machine also has been enhanced protection by installing a combination of lattice screens and metal sheets along the sides and the tower. The back of the BMP-1, where the fuel tanks are located, has also been reinforced with lattice screens. Upgrading complete sandbags on the front armor sheet.
A couple of weeks before, the Ansar al-Haq Battalion battalion armed its BMP-1 with just one 14,5-mm CPV machine gun. This machine took part in the assault and capture of Wadi Deif, where the BMP-1 broke through to the front line, providing cover for the dismounted battalion fighters.
The Ahrar al-Sham group meanwhile "strengthened" the BMP-1 defense by removing whole blocks of dynamic protection (DZ) Contact-1 from two tanks T-72AV and installing them on the body and tower of the machine.
If at first it seems that an effective solution for reinforcing BMP-1 armor as thin as paper, which makes its way from a large-caliber machine-gun fire, would be the installation of a DZ on any BMP-1 or BMP-2, then in fact the opposite effect is obtained. Tests conducted in the USSR showed that the detonation of the DZ Kontakt-1 splits the thin armor of the BMP-1 and can cause severe injuries to those inside the car.
The Ahrar al-Sham modified BMP-1 was destroyed shortly after this shot was taken. Not surprisingly, Contact-1 units did not save the car.
Such an alteration for the first time could be seen in Libya, several rebel groups installed a tower from the BMP-1 on a number of other cars, for example, Toyota Land Cruiser. Since the 73-mm gun 2A28 Thunder has little impact, this makes it an ideal object for such alterations. In one of the rebel groups, one could see a truck with an 2A28 gun mounted on it.
Numerous BREM-2, which is not constructively provided for the installation of weapons, also became the object of several improvements that increased their combat effectiveness in the Civil War. The back of the case was cleared for the platform on which the anti-aircraft gun was installed. At the bottom of the photo on the machine installed 14,5-mm ZPU-4. The car was captured by the Jaish al-Islam group in the 559 battalion, one of the tank vaults of the Syrian Arab army. At the time of capture on the BREM-2 machine guns were installed on.
One more installation of ZPU-4 on BREM-2 could be seen in battles near the town of Mlekh. This BREM-2 had a protective shield around the machine gun that could somehow protect the completely open arrow; A useless faucet was also removed from the car. One of these machines was captured by the United Front of Sham, part of the Free Syrian Army, near Sheikh Miskin. Only two ZPU-4 guns were installed on the machines, but in Syria there is now a great need to install these guns on the national defense force (FNL) equipment.
The BREM-2, armed with one 37-mm M1939 61-K cannon, also participated in the offensive of the Republican Army and the FNL near Mlekh. These anti-aircraft guns were stored until the beginning of the civil war in Syria, but now they are being re-commissioned due to the high demand for such weapons. weapon. This car was later seen after the capture of the city of Mehla during its passage through the city.
On the other hand, Mlekha, the Jaish al-Islam group, converted its only AMB-S car into an armored personnel carrier armed with a single 14,5-mm KPV machine gun.
But at the moment more impressive upgrades are carried out on the BMP-1 of this group. At one time, acting under the name of Liwa al-Islam, this group bought two BMP-1 and two more T-72 tanks from a corrupt officer from the elite 4 armored division, and several more vehicles were simply captured. The use of armored fighting vehicles by the Jaish al-Islam grouping can be considered revolutionary in comparison with other rebel groups, since this grouping uses its armored vehicles and infantry as a real mechanized unit, fully utilizing its potential. Jaish al-Islam has its own armored school and armor repair shop located in Eastern Ghut.
The first modernization could be seen in one of the columns of armored vehicles of the Jaish al-Islam group. Its essence is to install DZ Kontakt-1 around the tower and two new ingenious steel "linings" installed on top of the usual aft doors-fuel tanks. Although the tower at the BMP-1 and has the thickest armor, the installation of DZ blocks on it is simply dangerous. This has already been shown by the example of Ahrar al-Sham.
In another embodiment, you can see a more thoughtful installation of DZ blocks, which allows the BMP-1 turret to rotate almost all 360 degrees. The steel sheet under the DZ blocks reduces the likelihood that Contact-1 will literally tear the tower apart. This machine was also equipped with steel plates, although somewhat different from those that can be seen in the photo above. The machine also has a prepared place for installing additional protection on the side, although at the time of writing this article it was not installed.
A more profoundly upgraded version still has ineffective DZ blocks on the tower, but its protection was enhanced by installing lattice screens in combination with rubber side boards. The wide gap between the lattice screens and the BMP-1 case also allows putting a lot of sandbags there, which increases the likelihood of deformation of the attacking warheads. However, in connection with these modifications it became impossible to shoot through the loopholes in the car body. On the front of the machine is also installed lattice protection and a new mud guard. Also here you can see steel linings over the aft doors.
The most profound modernization of the present, carried out in military conditions, is similar to the previous one, but differs in some minor modifications. First of all, there are no DZ blocks on the tower, but there are lattice screens. The lattice screens on the case are again complemented with sandbags, which are laid a little differently, which reduces the likelihood of "grip" between them grenades from RPGs. Other changes include longer rubber bulwarks and four launchers removed from the T-72 tank. On the stern doors of the car there are also steel linings that do not allow firing from inside the car.
The number of modified Syrian Arab Army BMP-1 is not as large as in the rebel groups, here you can actually talk about only one simple modernization. The machine's protection on the bottom of a photo taken in Damascus during the first days of the civil war was enhanced by the addition of several tires, inside which sand bags were fastened with rope.
A limited number of BMP-2, who lost their false bulletins, also received additional homemade protection. These additional protection is installed directly in the deployment areas of the BMP-2, it is extremely primitive and very different from car to car. At present, a unified program for the modernization of the BMP-2 has not been launched, but in the future it will need to be carried out.
The first upgrade, carried out on the BMP-2, is to install elementary spaced armor filled with bricks. When a grenade hits the first level of protection, the warhead deforms and its flight slows down, the chances of its further passage into the second level of protection (bricks) and, ultimately, the penetration of the BMP-2 armor itself is reduced.
The second upgrade consists of installing even more simple trellis screens. This option is easier to make and install, and therefore it is more common than exploded armor as in the first case.
BMP-1, despite all its many shortcomings, may still be an important element of the civil war in Syria. Upgrading through the installation of anti-aircraft guns and lattice screens turns them into effective fire support vehicles. It depends on the readiness of the Syrian Arab army and the National Defense Forces to implement such modifications, and such a decision will have a great impact on the future of the BMP-1 in Syria.
Due to the fact that the Republican Guard is slowly but surely cleansing what remains after the presence of insurgents in Damascus and its surroundings, it will undoubtedly pay attention to other places of warfare in Syria. The future operations of the Republican Guard outside Damascus are likely to be attended by the BMP-2 vehicles, whose careers in the ranks of the Syrian military are far from complete.
Materials used:
www.spioenkop.blogspot.ru
www.ru.wikipedia.org
- Alex Alexeev Translation
- In the direction of the front: Syrian infantry fighting vehicles (part of 1)
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