New Sovietskiy BMD-3RM4 Airborne Combat Vehicle:
The BMP-3 Airborne Combat Vehicle was first introduced in 1989 and became the standard combat vehicle for Russian combat units. At the time of its introduction, it had many new innovations and was a very capable design. It had a hydrophneumatic suspension which allowed ground clearance to be varied between 0.15 meters and 0.53 meters. As well, the vehicle can be dropped fully loaded unlike previous vehicles. The vehicle was also far more capable on the water and can operate in a sea state up to five. The BMD-3 replaced combat vehicles in both airborne units and naval units. Like other designs in the Soviet Arsenal, there was a large number of BMD-3 combat vehicles still remaining when the Communist regained power in Russia towards the end of the second decade of the Twenty-First Century. Due to this, Government leaders decided to refit the old combat vehicles for airborne operations instead of building new designs like Europe and the United States. Many officers was new designs but most Field Marshals, being politically motivated, supported the idea of the old vehicles being simply refitted. Soviet leaders proclaimed that their refitted vehicles were the equal of any Western design even though they really had only a fraction of the capabilities. The only real advantages were that the refitting of the old combat vehicles was much cheaper to build and conversion would be far more rapid than designing and building an all new design. Vehicles simply had their armor refitted and special ammunition replaced the original ammunition. Like other converted designs, the crews never really liked the refitted airborne combat vehicle. Problems were similar to other designs and included maintenance on the old vehicle and the comparative weakness combat to new designs. Due to maintenance problems, many vehicles which were listed as operational were in reality non functional and many vehicles were cannibalized to provide parts to keep others in service. Eventually, new designs replaced the BMD-3 design and few were left in service by the coming of the Rifts. A larger number were in storage but most of these were in poor shape. Some vehicles were also sold to Soviet partners although most considered the design to be too lightly armored. A few of these combat vehicles have been recovered and are operated by mercenaries. Newer designs are usually far better protected and the BMD-3 is not especially popular. It is believed a handful are operated inside of what was the Soviet Union but they are not popular with either the New Sovietskiy or the various Warlords. While many people believe that vehicles have problems holding up to the arctic conditions inside of what was Russia, the reality is that many of the breakdowns cited are simply old designs which simply have been worn out to the point that their usefulness has been exhausted.
The new composite armors added to the BMD-3 are far stronger than any materials existing at the time the vehicles were first introduced but the frame of the tank is aluminum and the vehicle does not compare to new built designs from the time which the vehicles were refitted. Due to the materials, the vehicles break down far more often and require more maintenance. The vehicles retain an improved version of the diesel engine carried originally but the engine has a fraction of the efficiency of the fuel cell systems used in American and European combat vehicles. The fuel cell systems were also far cleaner and pollution was a major problem in the revived Communist Soviet Union. Many of the surviving BMD-3 combat vehicles operating outside of the confines of the old Soviet Union have had their engines replaced by truck engines. Maximum road speed is 70 kilometers per hour on the road and around 45 kilometers per hour off road. The vehicle is fully amphibious and can also operate on the water at about 10 kilometers per hour using two water-jets mounted at the rear of the hull. The vehicle has a crew of two and can carry up to five troops. Up to two additional troops can be carried for short periods of time in the back of the turret with the turret open. Normally, the commander mans the turret with the gunner but he normally dismounts with the troops and as such is not considered part of the crew. Four additional troops sit inside the vehicle with one on either side of the driver and the other two on either side of the turret.
The main gun of the BMD-3 is a 30 mm 2A42 auto-cannon and is quite powerful. Coaxial to the main cannon in the original model was a 7.62 mm machinegun. Above the turret was an anti-tank missile launcher. The launcher was refitted to fire modified medium range missiles but the launcher has to be manually reloaded each time it is fired. As a result, the missile launcher is unpopular with crews. On the left side of the hull is an automatic grenade launcher. This was retained and was considered one of the most effective weapons carried on the vehicle. Originally, a 5.45 light machinegun was mounted on the right side of the hull but the weapon was not considered combat effective and was removed and not replaced with a new weapon system. Finally, the vehicle has a firing port on either side. Like virtually all older vehicles, it is not equipped with energy-clip rechargers. Still, most crews considered the weapons to be too weak. A few Post-Rifts owners have refitted their vehicle with new weapons but most do not consider it cost effective. One of the most common modifications is the replacement of the missile launcher with box style mini-missile or short range missile launcher.
Model Type: BMD-3
Vehicle Type: Airborne Combat Vehicle
Crew: Two (Driver and Gunner).
Troop Carrying Capacity: Five soldiers in full gear (Can carry
two additional in turret opened up)
M.D.C. by Location:
| [1] Tractor Treads (2): | 30 each | |
| Weapons Turret: | 50 | |
| 30-mm 2A42 Automatic Cannon (Turret): | 30 | |
| Anti-Tank Missile Launcher (Turret) | 10 | |
| [2] Co-axial 7.62 mm Machine Gun (Turret, Early Model): | 10 | |
| [2] Co-axial 5-mm Rail-Gun (Replaces Medium Machine-gun): | 25 | |
| [2] Bow Automatic Grenade Launcher (Front of APC): | 20 | |
| Multi-Option Jammers (2): | 25 | |
| [2] Headlights (2): | 10 each | |
| Reinforced Crew / Troop Compartment: | 40 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 160 |
Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until
it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained
crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the
inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is
not under attack.
[2] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the
attacker to make a "called shot," but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[3] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is
completely shut down and is unsalvageable.
Speed:
Ground: Maximum speed on land is 43.5 mph (70 kph) on roads
and 28.0 mph (45 kph) off road maximum. The vehicle is designed to traverse
virtually all terrain and can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a
much slower speed (About 10% of maximum road speed). It can also climb
barriers and ford trenches. The vehicle can also handle side slopes of
up to 30%.
Water Capabilities: Uses water jets to propel tank over the
surface of the water but is not designed for deep water use. Using the
tracks, the BMD-3 can travel on the surface of water at 6.2 mph (10 kph/5.4
knots).
Maximum Range: 310.7 miles (500 km)
Statistical Data:
Height: 7.12 feet (2.17 meters)
Width: 10.28 feet (3.13 meters)
Length: 20.01 feet (6.1 meters)
Weight: 14.55 tons (13.2 metric tons).
Power Source: Conventional, Diesel
Cargo Capacity: Minimal storage space in pilots compartment;
about three feet (0.9 m) in side dimensions for extra clothing, weapons,
and personal items. Two carbines and one hand-held missile launcher with
three each are stored in a compartment in the crew compartment. Without
troops, can carry up to 1.2 tons in troop compartment.
Black Market Cost: 2.4 million credits was the production price
originally; Remaining Armored Vehicle sells for double that (3.2 million
credits). Many of these combat vehicles remain in service with the New
Sovietski and a few are in the hands of Russian Warlords.
Weapon Systems:
Sensors:
[New Navy, New Sovietskiy, and TRIAX are trademarks
owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
Initial Concepts by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright 2003, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
