M2A1
Unofficial
names/slang: BFV
Function:
Light Tracked Combat Vehicle
Contractor:
United Defense
Unit cost:
approx. $3,200,000
Length:
21' - 3"
Width:
10' - 6"
Height:
9' - 9"
Speed: 41
mph (land), 4.5 mph (water)
Weight
(Combat Loaded): 50,261 lbs / (Air
Transportable): 40,775 lbs
Max. Grade:
60%
Slope (side):
40%
Trench
Crossing: 100"
Vertical
Obstacle: 36"
Fording
Depth: 36" - 48"
Ground
Pressure (Combat Loaded): 7.7 PSI
Ground
Clearance: 18"
Min. Turning
Radius: Pivot
Crew: 5
Range:
approx. 300 mi
Engine:
Cummins
VTA-903T 8 cylinder super-charged diesel: 500 hp @
2600 RPM
Armament:
M-242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun, M-240 7.62mm
machine gun, TOW missile launcher (2 tubes)
Ammunition:
25mm (300 ready, 600 stowed), 7.62mm for M-240 (660
ready, 1540 stowed), 7.62mm for M-60 (2200 stowed),
5.56mm for M-16 (2520 stowed), TOW missiles (2 in
launcher), TOW/Dragon missiles (5 stowed) |
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Description: A
tracked vehicle with light armor and armament.
Features: The BFVS is a lightly armored, fully
tracked fighting vehicle that provides cross-country
mobility, mounted firepower and protection from artillery
and small-arms fire. It is used in mechanized infantry and
armored cavalry combat. Infantry can fight from inside the
vehicle by using modified M-16 rifles mounted in firing
ports or may dismount from the M-2 version to fight on foot.
The M-3 version is also used by armored cavalry units. The
vehicle is armed with a 25mm cannon, effective against most
armored targets, and with the TOW missile, effective against
lightly armored targets out to its maximum range of 3,750
meters (2.3 miles).
Mobility: The BFV
has excellent acceleration, agility, and cross-country speed
of 48 kilometers per hour, with a cruising range of 483
kilometers. The BFV's mobility provides an ability to move
quickly on the battlefield and work in concert with the M1
main battle tank.
Armor protection:
Through the use of special armorplate materials, surface
slope, and a unique laminate armor system, the BFV has
excellent armor protection for its weight. Even though the
BFV's armor does not compare to that of a tank, the BFV can
withstand 14.5-mm projectiles on all sides; the M2A2 Bradley
can withstand projectiles up to 30-mm.
Mounted weapons:
The vehicle's main armament is a 25-mm fully automatic,
externally powered gun. The BFV's armament also includes a
two-tube antitank missile launcher (TOW), a 7.62-mm
coaxially mounted machine gun, and 5.56-mm firing port
weapons. The all-electric, fully stabilized turret permits
accurate fire even when the vehicle is moving over rough
terrain. The turret can also be operated manually.
M242 25-mm gun:
The 25-mm gun has three rates of fire--single shot, low
rate, and high rate. It accurately delivers both
armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. The 25-mm gun
using APDS-T rounds can destroy lightly armored vehicles
(BMP, BTR, BRDM). Using HEI-T rounds, it can destroy
unarmored vehicles (trucks, jeeps) and suppress enemy troops
in the open, in built-up areas, or in dug-in positions.
- (a) The 25-mm APDS-T
round can penetrate lightly armored vehicles. Flank
shots increase the probability of penetration. Maximum
effective range/tracer burnout is about 1,700 meters,
but effective fire using sabot rounds can be achieved by
using burst-on-target techniques if impact of the round
can be observed.
- The 25-mm APFSDS-T is a
fixed-type, percussion primed round. It consists of a
sabot encapsulated projectile crimped to a steel
cartridge case. Basic operation of this kinetic energy
round is the same as APDS-T with an increase in velocity
to about 1,420 meters per second. This round has
increased penetration capabilities as well as tracer
burn time, which allows engagement of targets at longer
ranges and with greater potential to defeat a BMP-2.
- The HEI-T is excellent
for suppressing antitank guided missile crews and
crew-served weapons out to 3,000 meters. Tracer burnout
is 2,000 meters, but effective fire can be placed on
targets at further ranges if impact of the round can be
observed. HEI-T has a 5-meter bursting radius that
enables this ammunition to be used in both point and
area target engagements.
- The BFV can carry
onboard 900 rounds of 25-mm ammunition; only 300 can be
loaded in the 25-mm ammunition cans. Uploading the
weapons system for the 25-mm takes about 15 minutes. All
leaders and gunners must be aware of the operational
impact of using all of the ammunition in the ammunition
cans. As ammunition is fired, 15-round belts can be
linked and loaded in the two ammunition cans in just
minutes. If all ammunition is used, reloading takes 12
minutes because the new ammunition must be fed directly
into the gun. This is difficult to do while the vehicle
is moving.
TOW launcher: The
TOW missile is an accurate antitank weapon from 65 to 3,750
meters. Two TOW missiles are loaded in the turret-mounted
launcher. There is internal space for stowing five missiles,
either TOW missiles or Dragons or a mix. The TOW is best
fired at the flank or rear of tanks at ranges between 1,500
and 2,500 meters to reduce the flight time of the missile
and provide the best attack profile of the vehicle. Frontal
shots should be avoided against tanks. Against lightly
armored vehicles, the range and the target aspect are not as
critical (Table B-2).
The TOW missile can
destroy targets at a minimum range of 65 meters up to a
maximum range of 3,750 meters.
- I-TOW, an improved TOW
missile (BGM-71C), has a 5-inch warhead that includes an
extended probe to provide detonation at a greater
standoff distance from the target, which increases
penetration.
- TOW 2 (BGM-71D) has a
6-inch full-caliber warhead that also includes an
extensible probe to enhance penetration, including
applique armor.
- TOW 2A (BGM-71E) has
all the capabilities of the TOW 2 missile; however, it
contains an explosive charge in the tip of the probe to
defeat reactive armor to allow main warhead penetration.
- TOW 2B (BGM-71F)
provides a flyover shoot-down (top attack) capability
that attacks the most vulnerable part of an armored
vehicle.
- The basic TOW, practice
(BTM-71A), has an inert warhead and is the standard
training round.
M240C 7.62-mm coaxial
machine gun: The 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun is an
accurate and reliable weapon. The main use of this weapon is
against dismounted forces. It can also be used to suppress
crew-served weapons and engage unarmored vehicles and
aircraft out to 900 meters (tracer burnout). The BFV can
carry 2,200 rounds of 7.62-mm coax ammunition--1,400 stowed
and 800 ready.
M231 5.56-mm firing
port weapons: The basic BFV and M2A1 have six M231
5.56-mm FPWs--two on each side, two in the ramp. (Figure
B-2.) The M2A2 has only the two ramp FPWs. These weapons
provide close-in protection and suppression out to 300
meters. The M2A1 carries 4,200 rounds of ammunition for the
FPWs; the M2A2 carries 2,520 rounds.
Dismounted Weapons:
The weapons for the two squads are two Dragons, six M249
machine guns, six grenade launchers, six rifles (one M24
sniper weapon can be provided by the company), one AT4,
grenades, and mines. The vehicle has stowage space for 2,520
rounds of 5.56-mm ammunition for the rifles and machine
guns. This figure does not include the ammunition the
soldiers may carry in the LBE. |
Communications:
The BFV's communication system provides for control of
mounted and dismounted operations. Tables B-5 and B-6 and
Figures B-3 through B-5, depict the arrangement of
communication equipment and the radio net configuration
within the platoon. As units update their communication
system, they will have the single-channel ground/airborne
radio system (SINCGARS)
Water crossing
capability: The BFV can ford up to 3.5 feet of water.
With its water barrier erected, the BFV can swim water
obstacles with currents up to 6.4 kilometers per hour. It
has a maximum speed of 7.25 kilometers per hour while
swimming. Erection of the swim barrier takes about 15
minutes for the M2A1 BFV and about 25 minutes for the M2A2.
The BFV requires an exit bank slope not greater than 17
percent and can fire both its 25-mm and 7.62-mm systems
while swimming, though care must be taken not to hit the
trim vane or water barrier (cannot fire below +7 degrees).
The 25-mm can be fired in any direction while swimming;
however, the turret should not be traversed because it may
upset the balance of the vehicle.
Smoke capability:
The BFV has onboard smoke capability. It has an onboard
smoke generator and two smoke grenade launchers (four tubes
each). The smoke grenade launchers are fired at the same
time, and they produce a dense cloud of smoke around the
vehicle. The launchers are loaded from the outside. Both the
onboard smoke generator and smoke grenade launcher can be
used for obscuring air- or ground-launched guided missiles.
The onboard smoke generator is not effective if the fuel is
JP8, and the temperature is higher than 40 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Limited visibility
capability: Using the integrated sight unit in the
thermal mode, the BC and gunner can detect and engage
targets during any visibility condition, day or night. The
daysight has normal optics. The nightsight uses thermal
imagery that enables the gunner to see through most limited
visibility conditions. This includes darkness, light, smoke,
light foliage, camouflage, light fog, snow, and mist.
Thermal sights should remain on during combat operations.
The driver has excellent
viewing capability using the AN/VVS-2 driver's night viewer.
This viewer is an image intensification device that allows
the driver to see clearly to his front. Therefore, the
driver can handle his vehicle well on the roughest terrain.
Also, during darkness, he can use the viewer to assist the
BC and gunner in sensing rounds fired to the front. It is,
however, prone to whiteout (fadeout) if light is shined
directly at it (for example, spotlights, oncoming
headlights, flashlights, sunlight). When installed, it
obscures the speedometer/odometer. It can be battery powered
(6 hours) or run directly off the vehicle power.
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