FDSP BOV-1 ATGM Vehicle

     Notes: This is a BOV-VP armored personnel carrier fitted with launchers for AT-3 or Maljutka missiles.  These vehicles were very common antitank vehicles in Yugoslavian service and in her splinter republics, as they were cheap and easy to maintain.  The vehicle retains its two firing ports in each side, and

     The driver’s compartment is in the front center, and is surrounded on three sides by large bullet-resistant windows.  He has a hatch above his position, though he doesn’t need to drive much with the hatch open due to the excellent visibility given to him by his windows. The driver has a large, wide-angle vision block on the hatch, which may be replaced by an IR vision block. The commander is to the right, and has no armament of his own, though he has a firing port to the rear of his windshield under the side window. There are three firing ports on each side of the vehicle; instead of simple vision blocks, the troops have small bullet-resistant windows above each firing port.  The rear has a bullet-resistant window, but not a firing port.  The troops enter and leave through a large clamshell door in each side of the troop compartment; each door carries one of the firing ports and window.  On each side of the forward hull is a cluster of three smoke grenade launchers.

     The gunner has a hatch on the center front of the vehicle, and by this hatch is a sight and tracker for the missiles. The gunner must put his head and chest outside the hatch in the roof to use the sight for the missiles, and must stay upright in this hatch during the entire flight of the missiles. Behind the missile launchers is another hatch, used when reloading the missile launchers. The missile launchers are in a large rack on the center roof of the vehicle in a 3x3 configuration, and reload missiles are slid onto the rack from behind.

     The engine is a Deutz F6L413 diesel engine developing 150 horsepower.  This is adequate for the weight of the vehicle.  The driver has a conventional control set, though the transmission is manual.  Steering is power-assisted on the front wheels, though all four wheels are steerable to reduce turn radius. The tires have a central tire pressure regulation system.  Brakes are air-hydraulic with a manual parking brake.  Suspension is 4x4 and of the off-road type, though the ground clearance is rather high and this helps protect against mines.  Suspension is by simple leaf springs, which can lead to a bouncy off-road ride.  The suspension has a locking differential.  Armor is light, and a superstructure extends from the driver/commander’s position to about halfway back.

     The BOV-1 is currently being replaced by variants of the Finnish AMV and Lazar APC, except in Serbian service.

*Floor AV is 2Sp.