GAZ BA-64

     Notes: This light Russian armored car was designed during World War 2, based on the chassis of the GAZ-64 light truck and, to a certain extent, on captured German Sd Kfz 221 armored cars.  It was designed to replace the pre-war BA-20, and in postwar service they served as the basis for the East German Garant SK-1. LRIP did not begin until 1942 and full production not until 1943; bombing of the factory in Moscow didn’t help.

     The BA-64 has a surprising amount of armor protection for its light weight, and a good amount of mobility and maneuverability.  The turret is, however, open-topped. It was not meant to do any major fighting, but instead for reconnaissance, command, and convoy escort duties.  The A model is a bit heavier than the base BA-64, due to an additional radio, but is not otherwise different from the base BA-64. The “D” model brought a wider track (to combat the tendency for the vehicle to tip on rough terrain or in tight turns), and a larger turret with heavier armament and powered traverse, first fitted to the BA-64B.  Based on the GAZ-67B, the engine horsepower was increased to 54 horsepower, though the BA-64 was not otherwise altered except what was required to mate it to the new chassis. Only small amounts of the BA-64B were produced, as the turret was too heavy for reliable rotation, and by 1945, the Red Army had no interest in producing such light armored cars. Most BA-64Bs were also fitted with inferior communications equipment, as they were not large enough to mount the better radios available. The BA-64D included one firing port in either side of the hull, wider-track tires, improved carburetor, sheet metal exhaust shields, an additional air intake for the engine, and an air intake for the driving compartment The BA-64 was noted for its ability to burn almost any sort of gasoline, including very low-octane gas. The engine powering the BA-64 is a GAZ-MM 4-cylinder 50-horsepower engine.

     The BA-64ZhD was an unusual model, produced on a GAZ-67 chassis, and fitted with railroad wheels, enabling it to scout ahead of railway trains. (A very similar vehicle was produced by the Soviet Army in World War 2 through field modifications.) Another rare variant is the BA-64E, which is the BA-64 modified into an APC.  It was rejected as being too small for proper APC use (six passengers is being a bit optimistic; four are a better fit) and did not enter service. It was open-topped. The BA-64 PTRS was a World War 2 field modification, removing the turret and replacing it with a frame for a PTRS-41 antitank rifle.  This frame functions as a soft mount, reducing the recoil of the PTRS-41 to one. The BA-64-126 is a turretless staff car variant, with a lowered roofline and windshields salvaged from captured Volkswagen Schwimmwagens. It seated three and has additional radio equipment, but was rejected as it could not mount the radios the Russians wanted in them due to a lack of space. The BA-64Sh was similar, but has a raised roofline, and had the same space detriments. The BA-64KA was an APC variant for Russian paratroopers, and featured no turret and a very low roofline to save weight. The BA-64E-37 is also turretless and mounted a 37mm antitank gun; the BA-64KA and BA-64E-37 were meant to complement each other.  It too was rejected due to lack of space for ammunition. The BA-64B SG-43 replaced the DT in the turret with an SG-43 medium machinegun; it was produced as a prototype only, though similar field modifications were produced during World War 2. The BA-64Z replaced the rear wheels with tracks and the front wheels with skis, for use in the high Arctic.  It was rejected due to slow road speed and high fuel consumption. The BA-69 was a BA-64 built on a GAZ-69 light truck chassis. Only one prototype was built, as the Russians elected to go with heavier armored cars. The BA-69 has a 65-horsepower engine, but has a heavier chassis.

     By 2000, the BA-64 was used only by Yugoslavia, China, and North Korea, and in China, they were generally used only in small numbers by local police forces instead of by the Army.  The BA-64 was superseded in Russian service by scout versions of the BTR-40 and BRDM-1.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The BA-64 was nicknamed the Bobbie by US, British, and Australian troops that encountered them in North Korean hands during the 1950-53 Korean War; this nickname came back during the Twilight War.

*This vehicle’s movement figure only applies to on-rail driving; off rails, movement is no more than an 11 Travel Move and 3 Combat Move, will triple Maintenance figures, and increase Wear Velue by 1 per period spent off rails.

Dedkov BRDM-1

     Notes: This vehicle replaced earlier vehicles like the BA-64 and a host of small and medium jeep-like vehicles in Russian service for scouting purposes, and was itself replaced in service by most countries by the later BRDM-2 and 4 series vehicles.  The BRDM-1 was based on the BTR-40, with the chassis and drive train being from that vehicle; amphibious capability was added, along with a pair of retractable auxiliary wheels for additional traction in soft terrain. Some 10,000 were built from 1957-1966, and it supplied the Red Army as well as numerous allies in the rest of the world. The BDRM-1 was the first purpose-built scout car produced by the Soviet Union since the BA-64 during World War 2. Long out of the service of most former Pact countries, it is still used in 2000 by Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Cuba, Vietnam, and several African nations.

     The BRDM-1 is a basic armored car with a pintle-mounted weapon (or sometimes up to 3).  The BRDM-1 features a characteristic set of retractable belly wheels to increase mobility over soft ground and makes the BRDM-1 adept at crossing tranches.  It is a highly adaptable vehicle that has been modified into a number of variants.  The initial variant, the BRDM-1 M1957, was open-topped over the rear passenger area, but the M1958 added a roof over the rear with twin hatches over the driver’s and commander’s station and two hatches over the rear area. The driver in on the front left, with the commander on the front right. The vehicle has four IR headlights and an Active IR night vision block for the driver; the IR headlights illuminate the way for the driver, who can see about 100 meters with all IR headlights burning. The commander controls a single WL searchlight. The driver and commander sit behind large windscreens; these can be covered by flip-down armored shutters, with vision slits in them. The BRDM M1958 and 1959 were armed with a single pintle-mounted SGMB machinegun.  The M1960 had mountings for two more SGMBs at the rear deck hatches. M1961s had a DShK or KPVT on the forward pintle while the two SGMBs were retained at the rear hatches.

     The GAZ-40PB V-6 90-horsepower gasoline engine is based on a Dodge truck engine, the plans for which Russia acquired during World War 2 Lend-Lease. The engine is controlled by a manual transmission with four forward and one reverse gear. The driver, in addition to the retractable belly wheels, has controls for tire pressure regulation for use in soft or rough terrain. The BRDM-1 is amphibious, propelled by a waterjet at the rear.  A trim vane much be erected at the front, something the driver can do from his seat. From the M1958, the crew compartment was sealed against NBC threats and topped off with an Overpressure system. The tires are not run-flat or puncture resistant and are a vulnerable area of the suspension. The BRDM-1 has two firing ports in each side of the vehicle and one at the rear.

     The BRDM-RKh is a special variant for NBC reconnaissance; it has chemical sniffers, Geiger counters and two KZO-2 flag dispensers at the rear with 40 flags for planting. The BRDM-RKh has extra communications equipment, including a very long-range radio.

     The 2P27 antitank vehicle is an extensive modification of the BRDM-1.  The rear is rebuilt to house a retractable launcher for three 3M6 Shmel (AT-1 Snapper) ATGM. When the launcher was retracted, the 2P27 looks almost like a standard BRDM-1 from most angles; even the firing ports are retained, though it is impossible to man them due to the size of the launcher. The vehicle must be stationary when the launcher is operating, and the crew must remove the top steel plates to deploy the launcher (moving the plates to the sides of the launcher). The 2P32 antitank vehicle is almost identical, but is armed with 9M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) missiles in a four-launcher cluster. The 9P110 is also similar, but is armed with six 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) missiles.  However, as this launcher is smaller than the 9P27 and 9P32 launchers, the rear machineguns can still be manned and the firing ports are usable.

     The BRDM-1 soldiered on for more than a decade, and still operates in some countries today.  However, the Red Army never liked the BRDM-1, citing its poor armor protection and lack of a turret-mounted armament; machinegun fire could not be returned while the crew was under armor protection. Nonetheless, the BRDM-1 remained in service with the Red Army until the early 1970s. BRDM-1s saw combat in the Middle East and in African brushfire wars, as well as Southeast Asian skirmishes. Of the 10,000 BRDM-1s produced, it is believed that only 200 remain in service worldwide.

GAZ BRDM-2

     Notes: This replacement for the BRDM-1 was first seen in public in 1966. It features a more powerful engine for better speed, a better suspension for improved off-road maneuverability, heavier armament in a fully enclosed turret, a more powerful waterjet for higher amphibious speeds, an NBC system, and improved night vision equipment. Like the BRDM-1, the chassis is very adaptable and has spawned numerous variants. The turret uses manual traverse and elevation and can be a bit slow in a tense situation. The BRDM-2 is or was used in its history by 45 countries and is quite a common sight throughout the world, with thousands still in service.  As of 2022, Poland was still manufacturing the BRDM-2; I have not been able to find out if this production continues today. The BRDM-2 has seen combat service ranging from Vietnam, African brushfire wars, and as of late, service with the Polish and Czech in Iraq and Afghanistan. They continue to fight on in Syria, Ukraine, and Africa.

     The BRDM-2 has a crew of four: commander. gunner, driver, and assistant driver. Layout is in many ways like that of the BRDM-1, with the suspension being largely the same idea, with four drive wheels and a set of two retractable chain-driven belly wheels to increase mobility on soft ground and when crossing trenches. This is complemented by a central tire pressure regulation system. The engine is a much more powerful GAZ-41 V-8 140-horsepower gasoline engine. The transmission is manual. The hull is larger and boxier than the BRDM-1, with larger fuel tanks. The BRDM-2 is much heavier than the BRDM-1, hence the more powerful engine. The suspension is 4x4 and uses leaf spring with hydraulic shock absorbers.

     The commander and driver are in the front of the vehicle, behind large bullet-resistant windshields.  The windshields may be protected further by flip-down shutters with vision slits in them. The driver has four vision blocks to the front, one of which may be replaced with a night vision block. The commander has five vision blocks to the front and one to the right side; one of his frontal blocks is a night vision block. The commander also controls an IR spotlight, and the vehicle has four IR headlights. The BRDM-2 has an NBC Overpressure system to protect the crew, with a collective NBC backup. When stuck in difficult terrain or required to aid another vehicle, the BRDM-2 can use a 4-ton capacity winch in the front hull with 30 meters of cable.  The BRDM-2 is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by a propeller/waterjet at the rear of the vehicle, which is covered by an armored shutter when not swimming. The BRDM-2 is capable of extended swimming stints of 17-19 hours, and is given a swimming speed under Travel Move. A trim board must be erected at the front of the vehicle before swimming, something which can be done from the driver’s position and takes only 20 seconds to deploy or secure from use. The late production BRDM-2 has a TNA-2 navigation system, which combines radio beam navigation and inertial navigation.

     The turret is the same as mounted on the BTR-60PB.  (The BPU-1 turret used was originally first designed for use on the BRDM-1 and not the BTR-60PB.) A spare tire can be mounted on top of the turret; this is most often seen in Polish service. The turret has no actual hatch in the top, merely openings for the gunsight and a vision block in front and in each side. Armament is a heavy and light machinegun. The guns may be elevated for use against aircraft; most have a maximum elevation of +30 and depression of -5 degrees, but some late production lots have a maximum elevation of +60 degrees. The gunner uses a PP-61AM gunsight, which has a field of view of 23 degrees and a 2.6x magnification.

     The BRDM-2 also has well-known flaws, such as lack of space for the crew due to the large belly wheels. The only entrance to the vehicle is by the front driver’s and commander’s hatches, which makes an emergency exit under fire possibly impossible. This was addressed in later Polish, Czech, and Ukrainian production, which removed the belly wheels (which were discovered to be ineffectual) and the mounting of side hatches.

Minor Variants

     In Afghanistan, Russian soldier Alexander Metla improvised a fire support vehicle by bolting a helicopter’s UB-32-57 rocket pod onto the BRDM-2’s roof.  This was a one-off modification by a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan, but it is believed that the Taliban have since carried out similar modifications, and similar such “upgrades” have surfaced in the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, on both sides.  These modified vehicles fire 32 55mm S-5 rockets, usually with HE or HE-FRAG warheads for breaking up infantry in the open or attacking fortified positions. I have designated this the BRDM-2-57 in the stats below, but this is not an official designation in any sense (nor do I think there is an official designation).

     The Belarusian BRDM-2MB1 is equipped with a new D245 30E2 155-horsepower diesel engine. The BRDM-2MB1 has a modified night vision viewer for the driver. (The BRDM-2MB1 is not related to the BRDM-2MB below.)

     Hungarian BRDM-2s deployed as a part of ISAF has rear-view mirrors for the driver added.

     There are perhaps 40 BRDM-2s in the hands of collectors worldwide (some 20 in the US alone), and an unknown number are present in museums and on display in various states of repair.  The US, NATO, and South Korea operate an unknown number of BRDM-2s in the OPFOR role.

Czech Variants

     The Czech LOT-B is an upgraded BRDM-2 powered by a Renault DC! 4C turbocharged diesel with an output of 162 horsepower.  The turret is modified to include up-to-date night vision and fire control equipment in square side lobes off the turret.  The vehicle has side hatches instead of belly wheels and has boxed in exhausts which have the effect of IR Suppression. The LOT-B has an updated NBC Overpressure system with integrated air conditioning and GPS navigation. On each side of the turret are three MB smoke grenade dischargers, and the radio antenna is relocated to the left side of the driver’s hatch.  The turret armament is replaced with an NSVT and PKT combination. There is a command version of this vehicle called the LOT-VR, which has additional radios and a 1kW generator under armor at the expense of passenger space.

     Another Czech modification is the OKV-P, designed for use by police forces in riot control and SWAT-type raids. This variant has no turret and has side hatches instead of belly wheels; the turret is replaced by a simple cupola and hatch for observation. There are armored windows on the sides and larger armored windows in the front and sides of the driver’s and commander’s positions. The OKV-P has a police lighting array, a siren, and a PA system. There are telescopic vision blocks with heads above the passenger compartment and above the commander’s position, along with a thermal imager for the commander. The exhaust is boxed in and gives the effect of IR Suppression. OKV-Ps figure heavily in security arrangements for visiting dignitaries and Czech national leaders, such as in the 2007 visit of George W Bush.

Polish Variants

     Polish BRDM-2M-96s had their belly wheels removed and the space used to transport a 2-man scout dismount team, along with more room for cargo and crew equipment. They have upgraded day/night vision, crash-resistant seats for the crew, a better heater for both the crew and engine, a GPS navigation system, and updated radios and internal communications equipment. The BRDM-2M-96i is the same variant, but powered by an Iveco Aifo 8040 165-horsepower diesel engine, This variant also has revised stowage, a two-circuit power braking system, additional protection for its headlights, and rear-view mirrors for the driver. The BRDM-2M-96ik Szakal, designed for Polish troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, builds on the BRDM-2M-96is, adding air conditioning (mounted on the left side of the hull), updated communications, and a WKM-B (an NSVT chambered for .50 BMG) in place of the KPVT to take advantage of the logistical chain in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some Szakals were fitted with improvised armor skirts on the sides, but these were not a standard feature. A further, prototypical upgrade, the Szakal Plus, adds anti-RPG mesh screens around the entire vehicle, and internal antispalling liners, as well as a strengthened suspension and antilock brakes.  The drawback of the Szakal Plus is the greatly increased weight.

     The Polish BRDM-2M-97 Zbik-B is a BRDM-2M-96i fitted with the Iveco Aifo SRC-21 11 turbocharged diesel engine.  It has the same horsepower as the BRDM-2M-96i’s engine, but has superior torque, and high-altitude and hot weather performance. The Zbik-B is also fitted with an additional fuel tank inside the rear of the (extended) vehicle, a Deugra fire and explosion protection system, a 1kW battery-based APU (provides 8 hours of power, takes 2 hours to fully charge), an air compressor, a GPS/inertial navigation system, a radiation detection system, and a laser warning system. The turret is heavily modified; it is a bit larger and has a hatch in the top of the turret, and is armed with an NSVT or WKM-B heavy machinegun and a PKT coaxial, with a depression of -4.5 degrees and an elevation of +32.5 degrees. The turret also has a mount for a 9P135M launcher, which can fire 9M111 Fagot (AT-4) and 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5) ATGMs. The turret also has a cluster of six smoke grenade launchers on the front above the vision block. The BRDM-2M-97C Zbik-P is a minor variant of the Zbik-B which has footplates over the side vision blocks; it is otherwise identical to Zbik-B. The BRDM-2M-98 Zbik-A is a Scout company command vehicle version of the Zbik-B which has more advanced day/night vision gear including a ground surveillance radar, as well as an extra long-range radio. It does not have the ATGM launcher or missiles.

     Polish command variants of the BRDM-2 include the BDRM-2-R-1A, which is equipped with two medium-range and two long-range radios.  This variant is used by the commanders of antitank missile companies.  The BRDM-2-R-5 is used by the commanders of reconnaissance battalions, and has two long-range radios and two long range receivers for use in obtaining intelligence from drones and reconnaissance aircraft; the receivers are data-capable. The BRDM-2-R-5 may be distinguished by its two sword antennas and its AZI frame antenna.  Another frame antenna may also be mounted on the right side of the top of the hull. Both are equipped with NBC detection gear and laser warning receivers, as well as GPS/inertial navigation systems.

     Polish BRDM-2s, BRDM-2M-96s and BRDM-2M-96is deployed with SFOR had an IR spotlight on the front hull in front of the turret.  BRDM-2M-96s deployed with KFOR had a small IR spotlight above the armament on the turret, as did BRDM-2M-96is deployed with SFOR.

Russian Variants

     BRDM-2M is a designation actually conferred on several Russian variants of the BRDM-2.  All have diesel engines installed instead of the BRDM-2’s gasoline engine, usually a GAZ-562 175-horsepower engine; the rear of the vehicle’s hull roof is raised to accommodate the new engine, and the exhaust is only on the right rear of the vehicle. The turrets are either a standard BRDM-2 turret, a BTR-80-type turret, or the modified turret of the MT-LBM. Six MB smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the rear of the turret. Most are equipped with a GLONASS navigation system, usually with inertial navigation backup. Some have new wheels taken from the BTR-80.

     The BRDM-2MS is an improved BRDM-2M, made for export to Myanmar, Serbia, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Applique armor means the BRDM-2MS is much better protected, and the belly armor and suspension are also improved. The engine used is a 150-horsepower diesel, which saves fuel and still provides respectable speed and agility. A newer fire control system has the armament fully stabilized and a stabilized three-channel sight with improved night vision. Six day/night cameras are mounted on the front corners, rear corners, and sides, and four multifunctional panels are mounted one at each crewmember position. Tight integration of new systems as well as the removal of the belly wheels makes the BRDM-2MS actually lighter than most BRDM-2 variants.

     The BRDM-2MB Bekas is a modified form of the BRDM-2MS.  The applique armor is increased in effectiveness while being more tightly integrated with the base armor and vehicle structure. Air conditioning has been added, and integrated with the vehicle’s NBC Overpressure system. The brake and fuel systems have been improved, with better filters and allowing less debris to get into the systems. Crash resistant seats have been installed.  Like many BRDM-2 upgrades, the belly wheels have been removed from the BRDM-2MB. The gearbox has received synchronization, making gears easier to shift. The BRDM-2 is still amphibious, but the swimming speed is substantially reduced due to unbalancing. The suspension is further upgraded from the BRDM-2MS, and the BRDM-2MB is noted for its smooth ride. There is a sealed bulkhead between the crew compartment and engine compartment, instead of the flat plate bolted on of most other BRDM-2s. This protects the crew in the case of an engine fire, and prevents a problem suffered by many other BRDM-2s: exhaust and fume infiltration into the crew compartment. The BRDM-2MB is heavier than the BRDM-2MS, with a reduction in agility and speed.

Other Variants and Updates

     The BRDM-2-RKh is a BRDM-2 fitted out as an NBC reconnaissance vehicle. In this role, there are two dispensers of 40 pennants at the back corners of the vehicle for marking pennants. The vehicle has an optical chemical sniffer, a Geiger counter, a computerized land navigation system, and extra radios. The BRDM-2RKhb is similar, but also has a biological agent detector and mounts only one pennant dispenser.  The RKhb also has no firing ports and carries two light machineguns instead of the heavy/light machinegun combination.  A Czech upgrade of the RKhb, the BRDM-2ch, carries updated, automatic NBC agent detection devices, a long-range data-capable radio, a KPO Area Marking System and a MK-3 Area Marking System, with two 48-round pennant dispensers. The turret armament is replaced by a single PKT. The Hungarian VS BRDM-2 is similar to the BRDM-2-RKhb, but has only one pennant launcher on the right rear of the vehicle with 50 pennants, and has a small collection and analysis lab inside the vehicle.

     The Polish use the BRDM-2RKhb, but designate it the BRDM-2RS.

     The BRDM-2U is a command version of the BRDM-2, normally found in artillery units and in scout regiments.  The turret is removed, and on the roof is a 1kW generator to power the five radios. The BRDM-2U has inertial positioning for navigation. The BRDM-2U is actually a rather rare variant built primarily for export.

     The Azeri ZKDM is a BRDM-2 extensively upgraded and modified.  Armament is almost completely changed, with the KPVT replaced with a 23mm GSh-23 autocannon; while the PKT is retained, these two weapons are supplemented with a 30mm AGS-17 grenade machinegun and a four-tube 55mm S-5 rocket launcher. On each side of the vehicle are two smoke grenade launchers. The weapons are controlled via a downlinked weapons control station; the turret is also fitted with an advanced fire control system. The weapons have a maximum elevation of +15 degrees and a depression of -30 degrees.  The ZKDM is fitted with an advanced land navigation system based on GLONASS. The belly wheels are removed and side doors are located on either side of the vehicle; two additional roof hatches are located just behind the driver’s and commander’s hatches. The engine is replaced by the same engine as on the BRDM-2MB1 above, a 155-horsepower diesel engine. External armor is replaced with a more advanced armor suite, and the turret is completely replaced with a new one mounting vision blocks twice the normal size, and the front windshield is likewise replaced with a larger one. The lower hull has been modified into a V-hull for antimine resistance.

     The Caiman is a Belarusian variant of the BRDM-2, which entered service with Belarus in 2017 and has been exported to Ivory Coast and Angola.  The turret is replaced with an Adunok RWS mounting a PKT, NSVT or AGS-17 grenade machinegun; by a rear hatch is another PKM. The Caiman also has an enhanced communications suite. The Caiman is powered by the same engine as the BRDM-2MB1.

     The Cuban Black Wasp special forces unit have converted some of their BRDM-2s into mortar fire support vehicles by removing and cutting away the center roof of the vehicle to mount a 120mm mortar and boxes for ammunition.  The front of the fighting compartment mounts a PKM on a pintle mount. (The Black Wasps also use standard BRDM-2s.)

     The Georgian STC Delta-built BRDM-2 replaces the turret with a DWRS-2 RWS developed by Israel’s Elbit, mounting a 2A14 autocannon and PKT combination; this module provides basic stabilization and automatic target tracking. Enhanced armor is mounted to the front, enhanced day/night vision gear, and a folding front-mounted wire cutter to help keep the crew safe. The engine powering the Delta BRDM-2 is an enhanced GAZ-41 developing 160 horsepower. The transmission is manual with 4 forward and one reverse gear. Crew requirements are reduced, though passengers may be carried. Day/night cameras are installed on the right and left rear corners.  On the right and left sides behind the doors are clusters of four smoke grenade launchers. The belly wheels are removed and side doors installed. The base ammunition supply is small, but more is usually carried as cargo.

     The Iraqis have two variants of the BRDM-2, one which was in service before OIF and is now only in service in small numbers, and one currently in main line service with the Iraqi Army.  The first variant has a 23mm GSh-23 autocannon installed in place of the KPVT, and retains the PKT coaxial machinegun.  This was produced as a fire support vehicle.  The second variant is designed as an AAA vehicle; it is armed with ZPU-2 twin KPVT machineguns in place of the turret and the top roof of the vehicle. The first variant I will designate the BRDM-2-23, and the other the BRDM-2-ZPU.  These are not official designations.

     The Serb Kurjak RCV replaces the turret with an RWS, and the crew is reduced to 3. The commander has downlinked viewers for the gunner’s sights. The hulls go through a maintenance process that reduces the hull, engine, and transmission to a “zero miles” condition (Wear Value of 1).

     The Sudanese Amir-2 replaces the BRDM-2’s engine with a 210-horsepower Isuzu 6HH1 diesel engine.  Though offered for export in addition as an upgrade for Sudanese BRDM-2s, no export orders have been forthcoming.

     In 2001, Ukraine announced the development of an updated version of the BRDM-2, the BRDM-2D. Chief among these updates is the replacement of the engine with a slightly more powerful 145-horsepower diesel engine; while this may increase performance somewhat, the fuel savings are enormous.  The engine also has more torque and a one-third longer service life.  The new engine makes the vehicle longer, but armor protection is also slightly improved. The BRDM-2D also has had an automatic transmission added and updated radios. The belly wheels have been removed and side hatches added and the BRDM-2D usually carries passengers.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The BRDM 2M (of all variants) does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, nor does the ZKDM or Caiman.

*The Fire Control and Stabilization mods do not apply to the rocket pod, which is None/None.

**Belly armor for the BRDM-2MS is 6Sp.

***Belly Armor for the BRDM-2MB is 7Sp.

****Belly Armor for the ZKDM is 7Sp, and the hull is a V-hull.

GAZ-39344 Siam

     Notes: This light armored car is in use by Russian police, paramilitary, and KGB units.  It is primarily used for internal security and riot control; the Siam is not used by the Russian Army and is not a replacement for military vehicles like the BRDM-2.  It was not designed with heavy combat in mind, as it is primarily a police vehicle and not a military vehicle. As of 2024, the Siam is still in LRIP.

     On either side of the hull is a large door for crew access; these doors open to the front and there is a step below the door.  Two firing ports are on the right side of the hull, one on either side of the door, and one firing port is on the left side of the hull.  On the roof is the same turret as mounted on the BTR-80, with the addition of a searchlight mounted so that it moves with the weapons’ point of aim.  Like the BTR-80, the Siam’s weapons may be elevated to +60 degrees and depressed to -5 degrees, but turret rotation is manual. All windows are bullet resistant.  The GAZ-39344 has air conditioning, heating, a GLONASS-based land navigation system, a siren, a PA system, a ramming bumper, and a police lighting array.

     The 125-horsepower diesel engine is at the rear of the vehicle.  The suspension is 4x4, switchable to 4x2 for road travel. All windows are bullet resistant.  The Siam has a central tire pressure regulation system. Minimum turning radius is 9.5 meters.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle was never produced.