The Indonesian Marines are not going to abandon the rare BRDM-1

BRDM-1s continue to be operated in the Indonesian Marine Corps. These armored four-wheel drive reconnaissance and patrol vehicles, which also had the designation BTR-40P (floating), were delivered in the early 60s.

At that time, they were one of the most modern examples of equipment of this class - serial production was established at the Gorky Automobile Plant in 1956.

The peculiarity of amphibians is the presence of a water-jet installation and additional four wheels that descend to the ground when there is a need to overcome trenches that get in the way.

The combat weight reaches 5600 kg. As on the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier, a 90-horsepower gasoline engine installed in the front of the hull is used. Specific power - more than 16 hp per ton of weight.

The maximum speed on the highway is 90 km/h. Over rough terrain - 30 km/h. Afloat - 9 km/h. The fuel reserve is 600 km. Reservation: up to 12 mm in the frontal part and 7 mm in the side projections.

The crew consists of two people. Three more servicemen are placed inside.

The first-generation BRDM is a relatively compact machine: its length is 5700 mm, width - 2250 mm, height - 1900 mm.

The 7.62 mm SGMB machine gun with 1250 rounds of ammunition was initially used as an armament, later a 7.62 mm PKT appeared instead.

These armored all-terrain vehicles became the base for self-propelled launchers of anti-tank guided weapons complexes "Bumblebee", "Phalanx", "Baby". A variant for radiation and chemical reconnaissance was also created.

It is known that BRDM-1s were widely exported. More than two dozen states received different amounts. Currently, most of them have been written off or are in non-working condition. The Indonesian Marines, despite the presence of more modern technology, are not going to abandon these well-floating combat vehicles yet.

Alexey Moiseev