- Yes!
- No!
BVP M-80
Post by YugoSlav and Mahiwew
History and Description
The idea to create a domestic infantry fighting vehicle was born in May 1968, when a group of Yugoslav experts visited a Czechoslovak company in the city of Zvolen, which was preparing for the production of BMP-1 under Soviet license. The BMP-1 vehicle concept was very advanced at the time, as it was the first armored vehicle in the world that was not just an armored personnel carrier but a mobile, well-armored one and an excellent infantry fighting vehicle. Yugoslavia immediately offered them cooperation in the production of this vehicle, but the Czechs were more interested in selling the vehicles than letting someone else get the slice of the cake. Given the impossibility of an agreement and the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia the same year, Yugoslavia decided to produce its own IFV.
At the beginning of 1969, they decided to start building their vehicle, which they gave the name M-980. The project envisioned a tracked, amphibious vehicle with a mass of around 11 tons, which would be able to transport and support 7 infantrymen and would be armed with a 20 mm cannon and AT missiles. It was expected to be powered by a 170 kW FAMOS engine. However, as the domestic engine was inadequate, the first series of IFVs had a French Hispano Suisa HS-115 engine, the same as the one installed in their AMX-10P IFV. This engine had higher RPM, more power, and satisfactory weight and dimensions. In addition to the engine the French offered their transmission, but it was turned down as Yugoslavia developed a domestic alternative. In 1974, prototype tests were completed and it was decided to produce a zero batch of 7 vehicles. The public first saw the vehicle at a military parade in May the following year, where 10 vehicles participated. Due to certain difficulties in production and modifications, the first batch was completed only in 1978, and in 1979 it was adopted into armaments under the name Infantry Fighting Vehicle M-80 (BVP M-80).
The IFV is similar in concept and appearance to BMP but it is not in any way a copy of the Soviet vehicle. The armament, which is mounted in a small central turret, consists of a 20 mm M55 autocannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. These weapons can be used in air defense as well as in the ground role. In addition, two 9M14M Malyutka wire-guided ATGMs are fitted to the rear of the turret on hinged launch rails. Two additional missiles are stored inside the hull. The vehicle has a crew of 3; their positions are the same as for BMP with the driver to the front left, behind him the commander, and the gunner in the turret. Being some 2 feet shorter than BMP there is only room for a section of 6 infantrymen at the back. There are 8 firing ports, 3 on each side and one in each rear door. The vehicle is powered by a 260-hp diesel engine coupled to a five-speed transmission. This gives a top speed of about 60 km/h. In a similar fashion to the BMP, the suspension has torsion bars with top return rollers for the tracks, but only five road wheels. The armor provides protection against nothing larger than heavy machine gun fire or artillery shell fragments. However, NBC protection is good with full collective protection for operations in nuclear or chemical environments.
Specifications
- Essentials
- Length; 6.42 m
- Width; 2.90 m
- Height; 2.20 m
- Mass; 13.850 t
- Crew; 3
- Driver and gunner NVD (second-generation intensifier)
- Protection
- Armor;
- Hull;
- front; lower plate: 25 mm, upper plate: 14 mm
- sides; 14 mm
- rear; 14 mm
- top; 9 mm
- bottom; middle plate: 9 mm, front plate: 9 mm, back plate: 9 mm
- Turret; front: 25 mm , sides: 20 mm,
- Hull;
- APS; N/A
- ERA; N/A
- Smoke; ESS
- Armor;
- Mobility
- Engine; Hispano-Suiza HS 115-2, 191 kW, 260 hp
- Power/weight; 18.8 hp/t
- Top speed; 58 km/h
- Reverse speed; ca. 10 km/h
- Amphibious; Yes
- Amphibious speed; 7.5 kph
- Firepower
- Main; Zastava M55 20x110 mm gun
- Penetration at 1000 m; 38 mm
- Fire rate; 650-730 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 200 rounds
- Ammo in storage 400 rounds
- Stabilizer; No
- Vertical; -5° / +65°
- Gun elevation speed: 50°/s
- Horizontal; 360°
- Turret rotation speed; 80°/s
- Zoom;
- Day; 1.1-5.3x,
- Night; 7.2 x
- Secondary; Zastava M86 7.62 mm gun
- Penetration at 10 m; 10 mm
- Fire rate; 700-800 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 500 rounds
- 2000 rounds in total
- Supplementary; U-10 ATGM launcher
- 4x 9M14M Malyutka (MCLOS)
- 2x ready to fire
- Penetration; 400 mm
- Speed; 120 m/s
- Max firing distance: 3000 m
- 4x 9M14M Malyutka (MCLOS)
- Main; Zastava M55 20x110 mm gun
Gallery
Josip Broz Tito inspecting BVP M-80
BVP M-80 on the 1975 military parade in Belgrade
HS 115-2 engine
Locations of engine and fuel tanks
BVP M-80 in front of Kozara barracks
Video
Finished BVP M-80 leaving FAMOS factory in Sarajevo (2:45)
https://youtu.be/LuvBqY5z1Fw?si=0b6jhhRTQY5Nhysp&t=165
Sources
Borbeno vozilo pesadije M-80
https://www.mycity-military.com/
PALUBA - Index
Book: Oklep an Slovenskem by Iztok Kočevar
BVP M-80 manual: Borbeno vozilo pesadije BVP M80 (opis, rukovanje, osnovno i tehnicko odrzavanje, dopunjeno izdanje), 1988..pdf - Google Drive