History:

The BRDM is a four-wheel-driven amphibious scout car and appeared for the first time in the spring of 1959. It became quickly the standard light wheeled reconnaissance vehicle in most of the Warsaw Pact armies. It looks a little bit like a mix from the GAZ-46 (MAY) amphibious jeep and the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier. The BRDM is completely amphibious and the mounted troops are protected by its armor. Good cross-country ability is guaranteed by the use of a centralized tire pressure regulation system and through the use of two sets of small belly wheels. These wheels can be lowered to add flotation and assist in crossing gaps.

The BRDM-1 reconnaissance 4X4 vehicle was built in a wide number of variants. Four of these versions are still inservice: the basic BRDM reconnaissance vehicle; the BRDM-rkh radiological-chemical recon-naissance vehicle with marking-flag dispensing devices; the BRDM-U command vehicle which can be identified by its extra radio antennas; and a missile carrier for the AT-1 SNAPPER, AT-2 SWATTER, and AT-3 SAGGER antitank guided missiles. All versions of the BRDM are propelled in the water by a single water jet. Nowadays the BRDM-1 is widely replaced by the newer BRDM-2.