| BMP-1 | BMP-1 Obr. 1970 | BMP-1P | BMP-1D |
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious, tracked infantry fighting vehicle introduced in Wargame: European Escalation. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (Russian: Боевая Машина Пехоты), meaning "Infantry Fighting Vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced IFV.
History
The Soviet mechanized infantry tactics during the 1950s were similar to World War II methods, in which APCs were used as "battle taxis"; they brought their infantry up to the front line, where they then dismounted and fought on foot while the APC retreated to safer areas. The BMP-1 was the first Infantry Fighting Vehicle to enter service. BMP-1 and their counterparts in other countries were designed to fight alongside their infantry passengers and supporting armor.
The BMP went into production with the Soviet Army in 1966. The first series (Object 765 Sp1) was produced until 1969, which was represented by the 15-point BMP-1 in European Escalation. It was replaced by the improved production model, the BMP-1 (Object 765 Sp2), which was produced from 1969 until 1973, represented by the 25-point "BMP-1 Obr. 1970" in European Escalation. This, in turn, was replaced by the Object 765 Sp3, which was a modernized, 200 kg heavier version that was produced from 1973 to 1979, represented by the 15-point BMP-1 in Red Dragon.
A number of improvements were made to the reliability of the chassis, engine and transmission during mass production. The last version of the series was BMP-1P (Object 765 Sp4), which was produced from 1979 to 1983, was armed with a more powerful ATGM launcher 9P135M-1 for the ATGM Konkurs/Fagot. However, a certain kind of downgrading is that the later models of BMP-1 lost its autoloader due to the introduce of OG-15V HE-Frag ammunition.
More than 20,000 BMP-1s and vehicles based on it were built in the USSR. In the Soviet Army, each Tank and Motor Rifle Division has a Motor Rifle Regiment equipped with BMP-1 along with up to a battalion equipped with BMP-1 in each Tank Regiment.
The BMP-1 first saw combat in the 1973 Yom Kippur War with both Egyptian and Syrian forces. It was called the M-1967, BMP and BMP-76PB by NATO before its correct designation was known.
Overview and tactics
European Escalation
- The BMP-1 is a considerably cheap unit, however, its weaponry is not very efficient due to accuracy problems, while it can bring numbers and morale damage due massed ATGMs and cannon fire it will be unlike to see them scoring killing points unless facing very light units.
- The BMP-1s may work decently as screens and meat shields for expensive units, as they are slightly more resilient than BTR-60PAIs and have more speed than other candidates for cannon fodder.
- While cheap when compared to other units BMP-1s are still more expensive than standard infantry and some transports, so, be careful of not wasting them without any real tactical advantage as compensation.
- BMP-1s do not have any anti-air defense, not even machine-guns, so it is important to give them some AA backup as they might get slaughtered in mass by a single copter with an autocannon.
Red Dragon
The main advantages of BMP-1 are Front Armor of 3 and amphibious capabilities, while its armament is unreliable due to its low accuracy and firing rate. Therefore, it is recommended to consider its upgraded models, BMP-1P and BMP-1D, as well as other more advanced models.
Weapons
European Escalation
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | ATGM | Main Gun | No Weapon |
| Name | Malyutka | 2A28 Grom | |
| Caliber | MCLOS | 73mm | |
| Ammo | x 5 missiles | x 25 rounds | |
| Range | Ground = 2450 m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 1925 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
|
| Accuracy | 4 | 2 | |
| AP Power | 11 | 4 | |
| HE Power | 0 | 2 | |
| Rate of fire | 6 r/min | 7 r/min |
AirLand Battle
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | ATGM | Main Gun | No Weapon |
| Name | Malyutka | 2A28 Grom | |
| Caliber | MCLOS [HEAT] [GUID] | 73mm HEAT [HEAT] [AoE] |
|
| Ammo | x 3 | x 25 | |
| Range | Ground = 2450 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 1575 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
|
| Accuracy | 7 | 5 | |
| AP Power | 13 | 12 | |
| HE Power | N/A | 2 | |
| Suppression | 150 | 84 | |
| Rate of fire | 6 r/min | 10 r/min |
Red Dragon
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | ATGM | Main Gun | No Weapon |
| Name | Malyutka | 2A28 Grom | |
| Caliber | MCLOS [HEAT] [GUID] | 73mm HEAT [HEAT] [AoE] |
|
| Ammo | x 4 | x 40 | |
| Range | Ground = 2450 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 1575 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
|
| Accuracy | 35% | 35% | |
| Stabilizer | N/A | 5% | |
| AP Power | 13 | 12 | |
| HE Power | N/A | 2 | |
| Suppression | 150 | 84 | |
| Rate of fire | 10 s r/min | 9 r/min |
Gallery
