BRM-1

At the end of the 1960s, the Soviet Army started looking for a reconnaissance vehicle suited to the modern battlefield which could be fitted with extensive electronic reconnaissance equipment. Existing reconnaissance vehicles in the Soviet Army, such as the PT-76 amphibious light tank and the BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car, were only equipped with standard vision devices. The BMP-1 was chosen as the platform for the new reconnaissance vehicle because it had an amphibious capability, good maneuverability, a powerful armament, a spacious hull and a NBC protection system.

The BRM-1 was fitted with an extra-wide, low-profile, two-man turret which was moved to the rear of the hull and without the M3 autoloader and the 9S428 (SAGGER) ATGM launcher (although some vehicles did have the ATGM launcher). There were also two small roof hatches, instead of four in the rear part of the hull.

A PSNR-5K (1RL-133-1) "Tall Mike" ground surveillance radar which can be extended over the roof of the turret from a rearward-opening hatch in the roof of the turret, a 1D8 laser rangefinder, a TNA-1 or TNA-3 gyroscopic navigation device with coordinates recorder and additional R-123M, R-130M, R-148 and R-014D radios are all fitted. Radio range is up to 50 km with the use of a standard 4 m whip antenna and up to 300 km with the use of the radio mast transported on the rear of the hull.

The PSNR-5K "Tall Mike" radar, which is operated by the commander, has two modes - terrain survey and target tracking. It can detect vehicles up to 7000 meters and personnel up to 2000 meters away and can be retracted into the turret when not in use. The doppler radar for range calculations was installed from 1993 onwards.

The crew was increased from 3 to 6 (commander and gunner who occupy the turret, driver and navigator who occupy the nose section of the hull and two observers who occupy the rear part of the hull).

One BRM-1 and three standard BMP-1 was assigned to each reconnaissance company of a Motorized Rifle Regiment or Tank Regiment. Three BRM-1 were assigned to the reconnaissance battalion of a MRD or TD.

Info from wikipedia BMP-1 variants and FM 100-2-3 "The Soviet Army - Troops, Organisation and Equipment"

THE MODEL

This BRM-1 comes from MMS models (which I understand are about as rare as hen's teeth) is rather heavy and in my opinion is a great looking beast! I may need to find another one of these just for fun!

PAINTING

Nothing new to report here - painted exactly the same way as I paint all my Soviet armour.

Here's a couple of pics of the finished model.



You can see in both of these how far back, and how large, the turret is.



This one shows the two rear hatches well, the radio mast on the back of the BRM-1 below the log and the hatch on the turret where the "Tall Mike" radar can be raised.

No youtube clips this week - found nothing on the BRM-1.

Have fun

Richard