BMP-23 explained

Is Vehicle:yes
BMP-23
Type:Infantry fighting vehicle
Origin:Bulgaria
Length:7.28 m
Width:3.05 m
Height:2.53 m
Weight:15.2 tonnes
Suspension:torsion bar
Speed:62 km/h (road)
Vehicle Range:550 - 600 km
Primary Armament:23 mm automatic cannon 2A14
9K111 ATGM "Fagot"
Secondary Armament:7.62 mm machine gun (PKT)
Armour:>20 mm
Crew:3 (7-9 passengers)
Engine Power:315 hp
Pw Ratio:20.7 hp/tonne

The BMP-23 (бойна машина на пехотата) is a Bulgarian infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced in the early 1980s. However, it was based on a design from the Bulgarian design bureau from the 1970s, being presented in 1980s. The hull is based on that of the Soviet 2S1 self-propelled howitzer (also produced by Bulgaria) with thicker armour and a more powerful diesel engine, which is itself based on a stretched MT-LB chassis. Since the 2S1 is a larger vehicle, the troop transport compartment is not as cramped as that of the BMP-1. The armour is made of welded rolled steel, capable of withstanding heavy machine gun fire. [1]

The BMP-23 was first seen on a parade in 1984.

Design

Armament

The turret of the BMP-23 is armed with a 23-mm autocannon 2A14 from the air-defence gun ZU-23-2 with 600 rounds, and initially the 9M14 Malyutka ATGM was used however this was later replaced on the BMP-23D modernization with the 9K111 Fagot ATGM. There is also a coaxial PKT machine gun. As the BMP-30 variant uses a turret from the BMP-2 it has no ATGMs and uses the 2A42 autocannon.[2]

Variants

Operators

References

  1. Web site: 2013-01-02 . BMP-23 infantry fighting vehicle (Bulgaria) - Jane's Armour and Artillery . 2023-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130102175419/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/BMP-23-infantry-fighting-vehicle-Bulgaria.html . 2 January 2013 .
  2. Web site: Bulgarian BMP-23 . 2023-01-14 . www.tanks-encyclopedia.com.
  3. Web site: The Bulgarian BMP-23 Infantry Fighting Vehicle . 2023-01-14 . TankNutDave.com . en-US.