Modelling > Land
Western equivalent to the ubiquitous Soviet BRDM-2?
M.A.D:
G'day gents
I'm in the process of formulating my 'Alternative ADF ORBAT', and from time to time will require the assistance/input of the forums vast knowledge please!
What Im asking today is the Western equivalent to the ubiquitous Soviet BRDM-2, in terms of dimensions, weight, capability and simplicity?
I've been reviewing my books and have focused on the Fiat Type 6616 APC/Reconnaissance vehicle.
What does the forum think?
Have you any other suggestions?
P.S. also out of interest, does anyone have any idea of the turret ring size of both the BRDM and Type 6616?
M.A.D
Logan Hartke:
That's something I was looking into myself recently, too, MAD. Short version is...no. There are some close equivalents in different ways, but it kind of depends on what you're looking for.
I'd say the closest equivalent, though, is something like the Cadillac Gage Commando. Similar size, capabilities, and armament, but it was never really designed for the same role. In general, though, dedicated Western recon vehicles were more commonly tracked (M114, Scimitar), less frequently amphibious (Ferret, Panhard AML), and/or far more expensive (Fox, Luchs).
On the plus side, I understand that most brands of straitjacket are easier to get in and out of quickly than the BRDM-2. You'd think that would be important in a recon vehicle, but what do I know?
Personally, I love recon vehicles, especially turreted, well-armed ones. I think they're some of the best looking military vehicles out there, but if I had to be really boring and sensible, I think something like a small, light, cheap, simple, and amphibious wheeled armored vehicle with the room for a couple of dismounts is probably ideal. The BRDM-2 isn't bad (especially for 1962), but I actually think the BRDM-1 was a bit better in concept, it's just that it wasn't suitable for the nuclear battlefield. I don't think the West stumbled upon anything comparable until the Puma 4x4, Otokar Cobra, or VBL (my personal favorite).
Cheers,
Logan
M.A.D:
Thanks for your informative reply and insight Logan!
My retentitiveness re the similarities in size, weight and charictoristics to that of the BRDM-2, will become more relevant when my 'Alternative ADF ORBAT' is eventually posted!
What I can say, is just like the '9K31 Strela (SA-9 'Gaskin'), which had to meet the requirement's of air transportable in a Antonov An-12 'Cub', the Western equivilant needs to be all-up, air transportable by the ubiquitous Locked C-130 Hercules! If you get my drift ;)
So you don't see the Fiat Type 6616 in this league Logan?
M.A.D
Logan Hartke:
It's definitely roughly analogous. It was never widely adopted, though, especially in that role, so I don't know much about how it would have compared. The Western wheeled APCs that also had a recon variant always made me wonder just how mobile they really were. If you wanted to take a little more serious look at it, I'd also calculate the power-to-weight ratio of the recon vehicles you're looking at compared to the BRDM-2 and something like a Fox (which was pretty zippy, just not amphibious).
Cheers,
Logan
apophenia:
M.A.D.: Does your 'Alternative ADF ORBAT' include ASLAV? If so, what about a LAV-2 equivalent to the Piranha 1B 4x4 or Mowag Spy?
The result would be a bit heavier than your OTO Melara tipo 6616 but it would be available a decade earlier (and you'd gain from fleet commonality).
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