When conducting modern amphibious operations, the requirement of “over-the-horizon landing” is becoming prevalent for escort technology. The BMP-3 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle have proven themselves during many years of operation in the Russian and foreign navies as combat vehicles capable of successfully solving such tasks. The BMP-3 (Boevaya Mashina Pekhoty 3, infantry combat vehicle 3) is a Soviet and Russian infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. The vehicle has an unconventional layout. The engine is in the back of the vehicle to the right. The water-jet propulsion unit is single-stage, axial, auger-type.
BMP-3F is a specially designed for operations at sea, with improved seaworthiness and buoyancy, capability to move afloat at sea state 3 and fire with the required accuracy at sea state 2. Compared to the basic model, the vehicle design features changes increasing floatability and vehicle stability: the self-entrenching equipment is omitted, a lightweight anti-surge vane and an air intake tube are introduced; the BMP-3F turret is also protected by anti-surge vanes. Water jet propellers develop a speed of 10 km/h when afloat. The BMP-3F design allows the vehicle to come ashore under rough sea conditions and to tow the same-type vehicle.
And the newest BT-3F armored personnel carrier, created not so long ago at Kurganmashzavod together with the Special Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering, has supplemented this line. BT-3F is an amphibious version based on BMP-3F with the original turret replaced by a smaller remote weapon station with either 7.62, 12.7 or 14.5mm machine gun. BT-3F retains the engine and transmission of the BMP-3. It can accommodate a crew commander, driver, gunner, and 14 troops, and can use optional ERA armor. This version can endure continuous amphibious operation for seven hours with the running engine.
Amphibious combat vehicles BMP-3F infantry fighting vehicle and BT-3F armored personnel carrier are capable of leaving amphibious ships at a distance of 40-60 km from the coast, which significantly reduces the likelihood of massive losses of combat vehicles before and at the time of landing. In tandem, the vehicles provide the marines not only with delivery to the place of the combat mission, but also with fire support. Each has a power reserve on the water for up to 7 hours, including in rough seas up to three points, as well as the ability to go to an unprepared shore.
