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First Things First- the BRDM-1
The BRDM-2 was, as its name implies, the second of its kind. The previous BRDM-1 was arguably even more successful. Based on the BTR-40 armoured personnel carrier, itself a development of the wartime BA-64, the BRDM-1 was primarily designed to introduce an amphibious capability to the reconnaissance forces. To accomplish this the BRDM-1 had a boat-shaped hull and a rear waterjet. Its main drive system was copied from the BTR-40, but the BRDM-1 would also introduce two pairs of smaller retractable wheels that would be deployed when crossing soft terrain or climbing an obstacle, and retracted when driving on roads or firm terrain. This means that the BRDM-1 was alternatively a 4x4 or 8x8 vehicle despite its small size.
Production of the vehicle, initially designated the BTR-40P, began in 1957. The Model 1957 was unarmed, but in 1959 the creatively-named Model 1959 was introduced with a pintle mounting for an SGMB medium machine gun. Two more such gun mounts were introduced on the Model 1960, and the Model 1961 replaced the primary gun with the more powerful DShK or KPV.
Production of the BTR-40P continued until 1966 with over 10,000 produced. Several thousand were exported to various nations in the Warsaw Pact and beyond, with Poland being the largest export customer at 800 vehicles. However, the majority of BRDM-1s, so redesignated in 1962, were operated domestically.
The BRDM-1 was found to be excellently mobile, though greatly lacking protection. The vehicle was vulnerable to mines and machine-gun fire due to its thin armour, and the gunners would be completely exposed due to the guns’ external mountings. This also meant that in an NBC environment the BRDM-1 would be completely unarmed.
The BRDM-1 spawned a number of variants. The BRDM-RKh was an NBC reconnaissance vehicle, intended to search for NBC threats and drop flags to mark contaminated areas. The BRDM-1U was a command vehicle with additional radios. The 9P27 carried a folding launcher for a trio of 3M6 Schmel (AT-1 Snapper) ATGMs, this was followed by the 9P32 with a folding launcher for four 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) ATGMs, and finally the 9P110 with a retractable launcher for six 9PM14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) missiles. Various export customers developed their own domestic variants, such as the German 9P111 which was similar in design to the 9P110.
The BRDM-1, with its distinct boat hull
The BRDM-1 was the basis of several ATGM carriers, such as the 2P27 seen here in Polish service
Now the BRDM-2
The BRDM-1 had several issues. It lacked a turret, leaving the gunner exposed and reducing NBC capabilities; its conventional forward engine position hampered amphibious capability; and it lacked NVDs. These flaws were to be addressed with the BTR-40PB, developed starting in 1959. This vehicle was based on the BTR-40P (BRDM-1) and shared many components, particularly the drivetrain. However, the layout of the vehicle was redesigned. The front-mounted GAZ-40 was replaced by the more powerful GAZ-41 (a derated version of the ZMZ-13 used on the GAZ-13 limousine) in the rear of the vehicle. This allowed the upper hull to be enlarged and shifted forward, though the lower hull retained largely the same boat-like shape as the BTR-40P. The BTR-40PB mounted a one-man BPU-1 turret armed with one each KPV and PKT machine guns. This meant that the firepower was slightly lesser than the BTR-40P, though thanks to the fully-enclosed turret the crew were much better protected and the vehicle was able to retain full combat capability in an NBC environment. Interestingly, the initial prototype lacked this turret and was armed similarly to BTR-40P. Like the BTR-40P, the BTR-40PB had drop wheels allowing for either a 4x4 or 8x8 drive, and it additionally could allow the forward axle to spin freely, creating a more fuel-efficient 4x2 drive for road use. The BTR-40PB also introduced power steering, a first for a Soviet vehicle!
The BTR-40PB was accepted into service in 1962 as the BRDM-2, the BTR-40P being retroactively redesignated the BRDM-1. This naming decision was a result of the dramatic differences between the design and role of the BRDM-2 and the BTR-40. Production began in 1962. In 1963 the GAZ-41-08 was introduced, with the BPU-1 turret. In 1967 NBC and NVD systems were introduced on the GAZ-41-10, the definitive production version. The previous versions were quickly brought up to GAZ-41-10 standard, though in service all vehicles were simply called the BRDM-2.
Naturally, the BRDM-2 has seen extensive service with the Soviet Union and Russia, including in Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Ukraine. It has also seen combat with a number of export customers, including North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, Egypt and Syria during the Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, various nations during the Yugoslav Wars, and by several parties during the Syrian and Libyan civil wars.
The prototype BRDM-2 GAZ-41-06
Even the US used the BRDM-2! This example was captured during the invasion of Grenada and pressed into service with, as one might guess, the Marines
Four-Wheeled Family
Or, rather sometimes-four-sometimes-eight-wheeled family. The BRDM-2 variants. You get it.
Just as the BRDM-1 spawned a myriad of subsequent variants, so too did the BRDM-2. The BRDM-2RKh and BRDM-2U filled the same NBC recon and command roles as their BRDM-1 counterparts.
A number of ATGM carriers were based on the BRDM-2.
First, the 9P19 using the experimental “Glaz” ATGM. Because the ATGM never entered production neither did the 9P19.
The 9P122 was the first production ATGM carrier. Similar in design to the 9P110, the 9P122 featured a retractable launcher for six 9M14M ATGMs. This vehicle entered service in 1966 and was widely exported. In 1969 the 9P122 was succeeded by the 9P133, which was similar except for the use of the improved SACLOS 9M14P ATGM as well as redesigned stowage for a larger ammunition capacity.
The 9P124 was similar to the 9P122 and entered service the same year, but was armed with four 9M17M Skorpion-M (AT-2B Swatter-B) ATGMs. This was succeeded in 1969 by the 9P137 with improved 9M17Ps.
Finally, the ultimate and most successful ATGM carrier was the 9P148, with a quintuple launcher for 9M111 and 9M113 ATGMs. This is the most widespread BRDM-2 variant still in service today.
Another notable BRDM-2 variant is the 9K31 Strela-1, a TEL for the 9M31 Strela-1 missile. Alongside the ZSU-23-4 these vehicles formed the backbone of the short-range air defenses of the Warsaw Pact and a number of nations outside it.
The first domestic upgraded reconnasaince version of the BRDM-2 was introduced in 1999, the BRDM-2D with a new 195hp engine. In the early 2000s this was replaced by the BRDM-2M, alternatively BRDM-2A, with a 136hp diesel and common components with the BTR-70 and BTR-80. In 2019 the BRDM-2MS was introduced for the export market, being similar to the BRDM-2M but with modern thermal sights and electronic systems, followed in 2020 by the BRDM-2MB Bekas with add-on armour and improved crew comfort features such as air conditioning.
Foreign operators have also developed modernized BRDM-2 models, notably the Polish BRDM-2M-96 line.
A few other interesting variants:
GAZ-41D: a prototype airborne vehicle with the turret of the BMP-1, rejected from service because of its excessive weight.
ZS-72 and ZS-82: loudspeaker vehicles used for psyops.
ATM-1: unarmed civilian emergency transport vehicle.
PSM-8: unarmed civilian serach-and-rescue vehicle
The basic BRDM-2 variant is a bit unconventional but with vehicles like these it’s shocking we haven’t seen the platform in-game at all!
The BRDM-2MS Bekas is a modern take on the BRDM-2, introduced nearly 60 years after the original model
An unusually common improvised vehicle is the BRDM-2 fitted with a UB-32 rocket pod
