Soviet/Russian APCs/IFVs

[Chops]

Chaps,

A question that came up over a few swifties the other night- BTRs and BMPs and namely location of the fuel cells. Now I remember from long ago in a galaxy far away that the BMP1 and I think BMP2 featured fuel bladders in the rear doors. What's the story on the BMP3? Likewise BTRs- it was felt that theirs was on the right hand rear quadrant? Is that correct?

cheers

Chops

[Chops]

Bump

Seriously no one knows about fuel systems on latter Soviet armour???

[TR1]

Bump

Seriously no one knows about fuel systems on latter Soviet armour???
The BMP-3 I know has a much better fuel protection system than the earlier variants. give me a bit of time, I'll post detailed info later.

[Hydro]

That was one thing I heard about the BMP1/2, that a rear hit almost completely guaranteed a kill with the added effect of incinerating the crew and dismounts. Can't say I've taken out many BMP's in my life though, so can't say much...

[GazB]

That was one thing I heard about the BMP1/2, that a rear hit almost completely guaranteed a kill with the added effect of incinerating the crew and dismounts.

If the enemy are firing at your rear then an RPG that sets fire to your fuel is not that much much different to an RPG that incinerates the guys in the rear of the vehicle now is it?
No matter where it is it can be targetted, whether it is in the roof (ie molotov cocktails), in the floor (landmines), or in the front (RPG). The original Soviet BMPs had a mechanism to pop the doors off if they caught fire. Don't know if that feature was exported but even if it was after the RPG sets the rear doors on fire machinegun fire into the rear of the vehicle could then kill the crew and passengers anyway so I doubt they retained that feature anyway.