MLI-84

     Notes: The MLI-84 is a version of the BMP-1, so far used only by Romania.  For the most part, the MLI-84 is a stock BMP-1, but the MLI-84 is lengthened by the addition of one roadwheel and almost a meter of length; this allows for the carriage of a larger infantry squad or more supplies in addition to a normal-sized squad.  The MLI-84 has the standard BMP-1 turret, along with the same armament, except for the use of the Yugoslavian Maljutka ATGM instead of the AT-3 Sagger.  In addition, the MLI-84 is further armed with a DShK machinegun at the left rear of the passenger compartment.  There is a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers on each side of the front hull. The passenger compartment has the customary double rear doors with the fuel tanks in them. The MLI-84 began production in 1985, with production ending in 2000; 175 were produced, and many were later upgraded.

     Following the BMP-1 design, the MLI-84 has a driver’s hatch on the front right hull, and commander’s and ginner’s positions in the turret; the turret has one hatch for the commander.  All three have night vision equipment. Unlike the BMP-1, the MLI-84 has only three roof hatches in the passenger compartment; large rectangular roof hatches are on either side of the deck of the passenger compartment at about the center, while the third hatch is a small circular hatch that allows manning of the DShK machinegun.  (The position of this hatch makes use of the left rear passenger door impossible while the gun is being manned.) There are three firing ports on each side of the passenger compartment, and another is in the right rear door.  The MLI-84 has a new engine, the Perkins CV-8V-1240 DTS supercharged diesel developing 355 horsepower; this is larger and heavier, but is more powerful than standard BMP-1 engine.  The fitting of its engine and the associated automatic transmission required rebuilding and enlarging of the engine compartment.  The increase in the length of the hull also allowed small fuel tanks to be incorporated into the walls, increasing the fuel capacity.  The gaps between the roadwheels are also wider. Unfortunately, the suspension is still of the conventional torsion bar type with shock absorbers only on the first and last roadwheels on each side, so the ride can be even rougher than that of the BMP-1.  The heavier weight of the MLI-84 also reduced its amphibious capability; it is slow in the water, and freeboard is greatly reduced.  The crew and passenger are protected by a fire detection and extinguishing system, and the commander also has access to a Geiger counter and chemical agent detector.

     After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Romanians had access to Western developments in vehicle design.  This allowed the development of the MLI-84M Jderul in 1997.  The MLI-84M has a dramatic change in the turret in vehicle armament; it uses an Israeli OWS-25R OHWS, armed with an autocannon and coaxial machinegun, as well as a launcher on each side of the turret that is able to fire any variant of the AT-3 Sagger or the Maljutka.  This upgrading of the MLI-84M has further increased the weight, so much that amphibious operations require not only the erection of a trim vane and the turning on of bilge pumps; the crew must also raise a floatation screen and attach rubber floats, and this can take as much as 30 minutes.  The latest version of the MLI-84M has these modifications, but are armed with Israeli-made Spike ATGMs instead of AT-3-series missiles, and the gunner has better night vision equipment.  In both cases, the smoke grenade launchers have been moved to the sides of the turret.  Because of the additional weight, the Romanians have upgraded the engine as well; the CV-8T-400 supercharged diesel develops 396 horsepower.

     The ABAL is called by the Romanians an "Armored Vehicle for Combat Supply."  Based on the MLI-84, the ABAL has been reworked into an armored logistics vehicle, designed primarily for the transport of supplies (particularly ammunition) into combat areas.  The ABAL has a hull which is externally almost identical to that of the MLI-84, but the sides of the vehicle have large armored stowage bins attached to them.  These are meant primarily to allow troops to quickly off-load much-needed ammunition, but can also carry other supplies. These bins can carry up to 12 rounds of 125mm ammunition, 16 rounds of 100mm ammunition, or 26 rounds of 73mm ammunition, of that weight equivalent (about 400 kilograms of the total cargo capacity).  The customary BMP-1-type turret is deleted, though there is a small commander’s cupola with a pintle-mounted weapon.

     The interior of the ABAL is largely open, and the floor includes rollers, lock-down, and tie-down points for cargo and containerized supplies.  The walls also have some lockers for smaller supplies.  The ABAL has a large powered ramp at the rear instead of the customary double rear doors of a BMP clone, though the fuel tanks are still located in the rear inside that ramp.  Off-loading and loading of supplies is also helped by a large double hatch atop the rear compartment. The rear area does not have any seats, not even any fold-up seats or canvas sling-type seats; its primary role is not the transport of personnel.  Unlike most such vehicles, the ABAL is equipped with a long-range radio as well as a short-range radio, and also has a Geiger counter, chemical agent detector, and a fire detection and suppression system for the rear area as well as the crew compartments and engine compartment, and more hand-held fire-extinguishing bottles than normal; the fire suppression system is a concession to the possibly dangerous cargo it may be carrying (such as large-caliber gun ammunition). Being a version of the MLI-84, the ABAL is powered by a CV-8V-1240 DTS supercharged diesel developing 355 horsepower and an automatic transmission.

     The MLI-84M PCB (Puncta de Comanda Batalion) is, as the name suggests, a command variant of the MLI-94M converted into a command vehicle for use at battalion command level and above.  The turret is deleted; instead, the MLI-84M PCB has a large raised superstructure.  This allows the staff personnel inside to stand up while working.  It has the standard fit (for game purposes) for such vehicles of two long-range, two medium-range, and one short-range radio, with one of the long-range vehicles being data-capable.  A hand-held image intensifier, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder is provided for the staff, and a ruggedized laptop computer is also onboard. The MLI-84M PCB has a large mapboard on one wall, and lockers and drawers for plotting, office, and other such supplies.  Seats are provided for the working staff, and a small folding table and chairs are also carried. An external outlet is provided to allow a generator to be hooked up to the vehicle.

     The MLI-84M VEM (Vehicul de Evacuare Medicală) is an armored ambulance; it is based on the same hull as the MLI-84M PCB, but carries space for four stretcher patients or two stretcher patients and four seated patients.  The interior has a small refrigerator for perishable medical supplies, a defibrillator, two sets of oxygen administration gear, and the equivalent of two doctor’s medical bags and 20 personal medical kits.  This version is unarmed.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Only the original version of the MLI-84 and the ABAL exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*Belly and deck armor is 3.

**See Notes for capacity.

MLVM Mountaineers’ Combat Vehicle

     Notes:  This vehicle was designed for operations in Romania's rugged mountains.  It is used as both a personnel carrier and a logistical support vehicle, and is designed to carry either a small squad of troops or supplies and ammunition.  Currently, the Romanian Army has 73 MLVMs remaining in service. Production of the MLVM ceased in the late 1990s.

     Construction is largely of steel, but armor is relatively light.  The hull layout is almost like a scaled-down BMP-1, having the same general shape, though the MLVM is not related to the BMP series.  The driver is on the front left and has three vision blocks to the front, the center of which can be replaced by a night vision block.  To his rear is the commander’s hatch; he commander has a hatch two wide-angle vision blocks to his sides and a periscope/vision block which can be raised and rotated to allow the commander to view the area around the vehicle from under armor.  The turret is normally manned by the squad leader; he has a large telescopic day sight mounted behind a protective cage, but no night vision.  The rather cramped passenger compartment has three firing ports in each side and two in the rear door.  The passenger compartment is accessible by a pair of rectangular roof hatches and a large door in the rear.  Like the BMP series, the rear doors carry some of the vehicle’s fuel supply. The MLVM is powered by a 154-horsepower Model 798-05M2 supercharged diesel engine. The MLVM is amphibious with a minimum of preparation; a trim vane must be erected at the front and bilge pumps turned on, taking no more than 5 minutes.

     In the same way that the MLI-84 was upgraded for the modern battlefield, an upgrade program has begun for the MLVM.  The largest change is, like the MLI-84M, the use of the Israeli-designed OWS-25R OHWS.  In addition, the upgraded MLVM is to be fitted with a laser warning system, linked to the smoke grenade launchers on the vehicle.  The system also provides target information (distance, range, and estimated time of weapon impact if applicable).  The MLVM differs in that it has clusters of three smoke grenades on the upper front hull. The gunner is provided with excellent day and night vision, and the commander’s periscope is fitted with an image intensifier.  A major upgrade will also be in the powerpack – the MLVM will receive a giant power upgrade by installation of a compact 340-horsepower Mercedes-Benz supercharged diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission, as well as an associated suspension upgrade.  The vehicle will be further protected by an automatic fire detection and suppression system, one for the crew/passenger compartment and one for the engine.  Radios are to be upgraded with up-to-date British-made Thales frequency-hopping types that are NATO-compatible.  The easy amphibious operation is retained; water speed is actually increased due to the increase in engine power.

     A package of appliqué armor has been devised for the MLVM, consisting of bolt-on spaced steel plates.  The extra weight is a problem for the basic MLVM, but for the upgraded model, the extra engine power makes the appliqué armor package less detrimental to performance.

     A small amount of armored ambulance versions of the MLVM have been built.  These look sort of like a smaller version of the ABAL and can carry 2 stretcher-borne patients and three seated patients.  They have the same sort of equipment as the MLI-84M VEM above. These vehicles have no turrets and no armament.  They can use the same appliqué armor package.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Upgraded MVLM is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*See Notes above for capacity.