Difference between revisions of "Pbv 501"

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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was the Swedish designation for the [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1]], acquired from Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union. In defense decisions 92, Sweden wanted to invest a portion of the military funding to mechanized infantry, during this decision they decided to buy 433 vehicles of different BMP-1 models. These {{PAGENAME}} were sent to the Czech Republic to be modified to Swedish standards and would be used until 2010, when the {{PAGENAME}} were sold to the Czech Republic which later sold them to Iraq.
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was the Swedish designation for the [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1]], acquired from Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union. In defense decisions 92, Sweden wanted to invest a portion of the military funding to mechanized infantry, during this decision they decided to buy 433 vehicles of different BMP-1 models. These {{PAGENAME}} were sent to the Czech Republic to be modified to Swedish standards and would be used until 2010, when the {{PAGENAME}} were sold to the Czech Republic which later sold them to Iraq.
  
−
The {{PAGENAME}} was introduced in [[Update "Kings of Battle"]]. Compared to other [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1s]], it lacks the ATGMs most BMP vehicles are equipped with in-game, giving it a limited ability to counter heavier armoured vehicles at distance. However, it is still equipped with its 73 mm [[2A28 (73 mm)|2A28]] gun making it familiar weapon to use for those who are experienced with [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1]] vehicles. Having thin armour makes this vehicle an easy target for tank cannons but also autocannons and heavy machine guns, making it a vehicle better suited for ambush and supporting roles.
+
The {{PAGENAME}} was introduced in [[Update "Kings of Battle"]]. Compared to other [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1s]], it lacks the ATGMs most BMP vehicles are equipped with in-game, decreasing the vehicle's effectiveness at long range. However, it is still equipped with its 73 mm [[2A28 (73 mm)|2A28]] gun, a familiar weapon for those who are experienced with the [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1]]. Its thin armor leaves much to be desired, but its autoloaded gun and good mobility make it a good brawler in close range engagements.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 24: Line 24:
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Hull || 7-12 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19 mm (56°) ''Lower glacis'' || 16 mm (3-18°) ''Top'' <br> 18 + 4 mm ''Bottom'' || 16 mm (12°) ''Top'' <br> 12 mm (48°) ''Bottom'' <br> 12 mm (8-51°) ''Doors'' || 6 mm <br> 5 mm ''Engine exhausts''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Turret || 23 mm (0-53°) ''Turret front'' <br> 33 + 26 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 13-23 mm (24-37°) || 13 mm (23-26°) || 6 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
+
| Cupola || 7 mm || 7 mm || 7 mm || 7 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 52: Line 52:
 
{{main|2A28 (73 mm)}}
 
{{main|2A28 (73 mm)}}
  
−
Just like the BMP-1, the {{PAGENAME}} is armed with the 2A28 main cannon. However, it lacks any sort of ATGM systems compared to the BMP-1, which severely reduces its overall offensive capabilities.
+
Just like the BMP-1, the {{PAGENAME}} is armed with the 2A28 main cannon. However, it lacks an ATGM launcher compared to the BMP-1, which decreases the vehicle's long range engagement capabilities.
  
−
The PG-9 HEAT will primarily be your main shell in combat. Capable of penetrating up to 300 mm of armour, a well placed shot on the enemy tanks will usually result in most critical components being damaged. However, care must be taken as the {{PAGENAME}} lacks any sort of stabilizer, which severely reduces the chances of hitting a target while going full speed.
+
The PG-9 HEAT will be your primary choice of ammunition in combat. Capable of penetrating up to 300 mm of armour, a well placed shot fired at the enemy tanks will usually result in most critical components being damaged if not destroyed. However, care must be taken as the {{PAGENAME}} lacks any sort of stabilizer, which severely reduces the chances of hitting a target while going full speed. The vehicle comes equipped with a cruise control setting of CC BATTLE, however, which keeps the gun stable albeit at a very low (around 3-4kph) moving speed - something that may let you get an accurate shot off in certain situations.
  
−
The OG-9 HE is almost useless at this BR, as most tanks at this have closed rooftops. It should only be used for attacking lightly armoured targets, nothing more.
+
The OG-9 HE is best left ignored. The PG-9 HEAT shell mentioned above has actual armor penetration while the OG-9 does not, and also overpressures light vehicles on a decently placed hit. As open top vehicles start becoming less and less common on the battlefield, OG-9 is simply irrelevant and there is very little reason to take the shell over its HEAT counterpart.
  
−
The cannon is equipped with an auto loader, allowing for consistent 6 second reloads. As this tank lacks any ATGM systems, the turret speed has been improved over the base BMP-1 by a small margin. However, the cannon has a few flaws. First, the ballistic performance of the rounds is mediocre, at 665 m/s for the PG-9 HEAT and 290 m/s for the OG-9 HE, making long range shots all the more difficult to land. Second, the gun depression is limited to only -4°, similar to other Russian tanks in the Swedish Tech Tree. This will make a change of play-style necessary, as most Swedish tanks have good gun depression.
+
The cannon is equipped with an autoloader, allowing for a consistent 6 second reload. As this tank lacks ATGMs, the turret speed compared to the BMP-1 has been slightly improved. However, the cannon has a few shortcomings that may necessitate some player compensation. First off, the ballistic performance of the rounds are fairly mediocre, at 665 m/s for the PG-9 HEAT and 290 m/s for the OG-9 HE, making long range shots a challenge if the player is inexperienced with the gun's ballistics. Second, the gun depression is limited to only -4°, similar to other Russian tanks in the Swedish Tech Tree. This will make a change of play-style necessary, as most Swedish tanks have good gun depression and can frequently use terrain features almost no other nations can utilize.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
Line 111: Line 111:
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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The {{PAGENAME}} is in essence a BMP-1 stripped of its ATGM armament. To some this may seem like an unacceptable downgrade - the 4 missiles the BMP-1 carries have good explosive mass, speed and let the vehicle engage far away targets effectively, and this is a valid point. However, the {{PAGENAME}} makes up for it by having a full 1 BR lower placement than the regular BMP-1, and still retains the 2A38 73mm cannon. The 2A38 is an acquired taste; To those who don't like the low velocity and sometimes middling damage, the gun is a lackluster weapon, while to those who know the ballistics it can be a surprisingly effective cannon with a good reload rate.
 +
 
 +
Most of the Pbv 501's uses will be in urban combat. The vehicle lacks the weaponry to handle long range engagements, and even with good aim at the helm the lacking muzzle velocity and inability to use terrain hamper the vehicle's long range capabilities. At close range, however, these are less of a concern, and the fairly low profile and punchy, moderately fast reloading cannon serve the vehicle well. As the gun isn't an autocannon it has the raw punching power to knock out components more consistently, and the overall damage isn't too bad either. As Sweden's other vehicles generally excel at long range but lack close range advantages like the [[Ikv 91]] or [[VIDAR]], the Pbv 501 can add some valuable brawling capabilities (albeit as a glass cannon) to the lineup.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 120: Line 122:
  
 
* Low silhouette
 
* Low silhouette
−
* HEAT ammunition
+
* Punchy gun with an autoloader
−
* High power-to-weight ratio and quick acceleration
+
* High power-to-weight ratio and quick acceleration
 +
* Excels at urban brawling, something Swedish vehicles generally aren't suited for
 +
* Has access to scouting
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
Line 127: Line 131:
 
* No ATGMs unlike other [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1s]]
 
* No ATGMs unlike other [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1s]]
 
* Thin armour
 
* Thin armour
 +
* Lacking gun depression of -4 compared to the common -10 or more on other contemporary Swedish vehicles
 +
* Poor cannon ballistics
 +
* Sometimes has inconsistent spalling
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
 
 +
=== Development ===
 +
As one of the most ubiquitous infantry fighting vehicles of the Cold War, the Soviet [[BMP-1 (Family)|BMP-1]] remained in service with many ex-Eastern Bloc states after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Several of those ex-Eastern Bloc states, along with their arsenals, approached the Western Bloc. Most notably, following German reunification in 1990, the freshly unified Federal Republic of Germany inherited large weapon and vehicle stocks that used to belong to East Germany (the GDR). This included over a thousand Czechoslovakian-built BMP-1s. A local upgrade programme was carried out to "westernise" those BMPs to NATO standards starting in December 1990. This resulted in the BMP-1A1 Ost, which forfeited its guided missile armament, had toxic asbestos removed from the vehicle, added standard German Army headlights, rear lights, wing mirrors and the typical ''Leitkreuz'' low-light identification markings. 580 BMP-1s were converted to BMP-1A1 Ost standard between 1991 and 1993. 500 of those were sold to Greece in 1994, but the 80 modernised, as well as hundreds of unmodernised ones, remained in German stocks.
 +
 
 +
=== BMP-1 in Sweden ===
 +
Sweden at the time was facing the dilemma of the state-of-the-art [[CV90 (Family)|CV90]] not yet being available in large numbers and the in-service Pbv 302 being significantly outdated. Thus, eager to purchase infantry fighting vehicles at a good price, and Germany providing just that in the form of hundreds of BMP-1s, Sweden approached Germany in early 1994 with the interest of purchasing five vehicles for trial runs. Of those five BMP-1s, one was used in ballistic trials to gauge the protection levels of the vehicle. The others were given Swedish registration numbers and named after famous WWII commanders: 204992 'Patton', 204994 'Monty', 204997 'Rommel', and 204998 'Guderian'. The trials did not last long. It was realised that the BMP-1 was difficult to adapt to Western standards, as the Germans already realised during their BMP-1A1 Ost programme. If Sweden were to purchase BMP-1s, some of which would be in their original state, it was clear that an indigenous upgrade programme would have to be devised. The BMP-1 nonetheless possessed valuable qualities in the eyes of the Swedish Army. It was highly mobile, especially due to its amphibious capabilities, and was considered to equip the ''Norrland'' brigades operating in northern Sweden, specialising in sub-arctic warfare. At the same time, Sweden was looking at the MT-LB multipurpose armoured vehicle, which was destined to equip units in southern Sweden. In June of 1994, Sweden decided to formally purchase 350 BMP-1s and an additional 83 for spare parts. In total, 433 BMP-1s were delivered, comprising 81 BMP-1A1 Ost, 60 BMP-1P with the 9K113 ''Konkurs'' missile, and 292 unupgraded BMP-1s. The cost was minuscule, at 33,000 DM (~=17,000 EUR or 19,000 USD) a piece, or a tenth of the price of a new Bv 206 articulated vehicle. This was because Germany was quite eager to get rid of the BMP-1s due to new military restrictions and to regain the cost of the BMP-1A1 Ost programme. The Swedish Army then contracted repair workshop VOP-026 in the Czech Republic to overhaul the BMPs for Swedish service. Delivery of those modernised BMP-1s would begin in 1996 at twelve a month. In Swedish service, they would become known as the [[Pbv 501]]. They were painted either in green or a bicolour green-black scheme.
 +
 
 +
The core of modifications consisted of small changes in ergonomics and safety standards. First, asbestos would be removed, which was found in the BMP-1 brake and clutch linings. Externally, new NATO standard lighting was fitted, as well as indicators to safely drive on roads. The exhaust pipe was redesigned, and anti-slip patches added to the outside of the vehicle to make it easier for soldiers to climb onto and around. An easy way to identify a Pbv 501 from a BMP-1 is the rectangular box on the left of the turret, which is a protective cap over the outlets and inlets of the ventilation system. Internally, a heating system was added, in addition to a fire detection and extinction system. The batteries were moved and isolated from the crew compartment. Covers were added around the viewports so that dismounts would not get caught or hurt themselves on sharp corners. The small arms holders were modified to hold the standard Swedish Ak-5 assault rifle. As far as concerns the main armament, the autoloader for the 73 mm [[2A28 (73 mm)|2A28]] was removed entirely, as was the mounting rail for the 9M14 ''Malyutka'' guided missile. A safety mechanism was also installed that meant that the 73 mm gun and the 7.62 mm PKT machine gun could not be operated while the hatches were open. These modifications turned the Pbv 501 into arguably the least capable variant of the BMP-1, yet this was not deemed an issue by the Swedish Army. The intent was not to use the BMP-1 in numbers on a future battlefield, but to prepare the units for the operation of a dedicated IFV, namely the vastly more capable [[Strf 9040B|Strf 9040]].
 +
 
 +
=== Service ===
 +
In Swedish service, the vehicles' mobility, while satisfactory, struggled in deeper snow, to the point where it was judged unsuitable to be fielded by the ''Norrland'' brigades. Because of this, the initial plan to equip northern units with Pbv 501 and southern units with the MT-LB (Pbv 401) was reversed, with Pbv 501 now going to the 2nd, 4th and 12th infantry brigades of the Swedish Army in the south of the country. They were used by the following units:
 +
 
 +
* Värmland brigade (IB 2) in Kristinehamn
 +
* Livgrenadjär brigade (IB 4) in Linköping
 +
* Småland brigade (IB 12) in Eksjö
 +
* Halland brigade (IB 16) in Halmstad
 +
* Land Warfare Centre (''Markstridsskolan'') in Borensberg
 +
 
 +
Furthermore, it was also discovered that when firing the 73 mm cannon, a not insignificant amount of nitrocellulose would be discharged into the air, which was deemed potentially harmful to the crew. This seemed to have been an issue mostly with the PG-15V HEAT round. As such, Sweden did not purchase a stockpile of PG-15 HEAT ammunition, meaning that if Pbv 501 were ever to see combat, it would have practically no means at all to combat any form of enemy armour. On the plus side, the vehicle was considered mechanically very reliable. However, if an issue arose, especially in the engine block, its removal and replacement was a tedious process that took about 10 times longer than on the [[Strf 9040B|Strf 9040]]. The radios were also found to be of poor quality, with inferior transmission quality and range compared to Swedish models. In 2005, the decision was taken to retire the Pbv 501. The entire fleet was sold back to a Czech company called EXCALIBUR (who now also owned repair workshop VOP-026) for 30 million SEK (6 million USD). In 2015, EXCALIBUR found a buyer in the form of Iraq with as many as 250 vehicles being estimated to have been bought by Iraq. In April 2022, the German government approved the resale of 56 Pbv 501 from Czechia to Ukraine.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sw_pbv_501 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 149: Line 177:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/pansarbandvagn-501/ (Pbv 501 on Tanks Encyclopedia.com)]
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 
{{Sweden light tanks}}
 
{{Sweden light tanks}}
 +
<references />

Latest revision as of 02:27, 5 September 2024

Pbv 501
sw_pbv_501.png
GarageImage Pbv 501.jpg
Pbv 501
Sweden flag.png Sweden
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.7 6.7 6.7
Class:
Research:71 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:210 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The Pansarbandvagn 501 was the Swedish designation for the BMP-1, acquired from Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union. In defense decisions 92, Sweden wanted to invest a portion of the military funding to mechanized infantry, during this decision they decided to buy 433 vehicles of different BMP-1 models. These Pbv 501 were sent to the Czech Republic to be modified to Swedish standards and would be used until 2010, when the Pbv 501 were sold to the Czech Republic which later sold them to Iraq.

The Pbv 501 was introduced in Update "Kings of Battle". Compared to other BMP-1s, it lacks the ATGMs most BMP vehicles are equipped with in-game, decreasing the vehicle's effectiveness at long range. However, it is still equipped with its 73 mm 2A28 gun, a familiar weapon for those who are experienced with the BMP-1. Its thin armor leaves much to be desired, but its autoloaded gun and good mobility make it a good brawler in close range engagements.

General info

Survivability and armour

ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull19 / 18 / 16
Turret23 / 19 / 13
Crew3 people
Visibility70 %

Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.

Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 7-12 mm (80°) Front glacis
19 mm (56°) Lower glacis 		16 mm (3-18°) Top
18 + 4 mm Bottom 		16 mm (12°) Top
12 mm (48°) Bottom
12 mm (8-51°) Doors 		6 mm
5 mm Engine exhausts
Turret 23 mm (0-53°) Turret front
33 + 26 mm Gun mantlet 		13-23 mm (24-37°) 13 mm (23-26°) 6 mm
Cupola 7 mm 7 mm 7 mm 7 mm

Notes:

Mobility

Amphibious
The design allows you to swim and control movement in the water
Speedforward / back
AB73 / 12 km/h
RB and SB66 / 11 km/h
Number of gears10 forward
2 back
Weight11.9 t
Engine power
AB572 hp
RB and SB300 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB48.1 hp/t
RB and SB25.2 hp/t

Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 73 12 11.9 465 572 39.08 48.07
Realistic 66 11 265 300 22.27 25.21

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 669 → 3 835 Sl icon.png
RB3 260 → 4 684 Sl icon.png
SB4 368 → 6 276 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications61 600 Rp icon.png
102 400 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training61 000 Sl icon.png
Experts210 000 Sl icon.png
Aces890 Ge icon.png
Research Aces570 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
110 / 150 / 200 % Sl icon.png
178 / 178 / 178 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement sw.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
ESS
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 800 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 500 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
210 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

73 mm 2A28 cannon
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition40 rounds
Reload6.0 s
Vertical guidance-4° / 30°
Main article: 2A28 (73 mm)

Just like the BMP-1, the Pbv 501 is armed with the 2A28 main cannon. However, it lacks an ATGM launcher compared to the BMP-1, which decreases the vehicle's long range engagement capabilities.

The PG-9 HEAT will be your primary choice of ammunition in combat. Capable of penetrating up to 300 mm of armour, a well placed shot fired at the enemy tanks will usually result in most critical components being damaged if not destroyed. However, care must be taken as the Pbv 501 lacks any sort of stabilizer, which severely reduces the chances of hitting a target while going full speed. The vehicle comes equipped with a cruise control setting of CC BATTLE, however, which keeps the gun stable albeit at a very low (around 3-4kph) moving speed - something that may let you get an accurate shot off in certain situations.

The OG-9 HE is best left ignored. The PG-9 HEAT shell mentioned above has actual armor penetration while the OG-9 does not, and also overpressures light vehicles on a decently placed hit. As open top vehicles start becoming less and less common on the battlefield, OG-9 is simply irrelevant and there is very little reason to take the shell over its HEAT counterpart.

The cannon is equipped with an autoloader, allowing for a consistent 6 second reload. As this tank lacks ATGMs, the turret speed compared to the BMP-1 has been slightly improved. However, the cannon has a few shortcomings that may necessitate some player compensation. First off, the ballistic performance of the rounds are fairly mediocre, at 665 m/s for the PG-9 HEAT and 290 m/s for the OG-9 HE, making long range shots a challenge if the player is inexperienced with the gun's ballistics. Second, the gun depression is limited to only -4°, similar to other Russian tanks in the Swedish Tech Tree. This will make a change of play-style necessary, as most Swedish tanks have good gun depression and can frequently use terrain features almost no other nations can utilize.

73 mm 2A28 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Autoloader
Arcade 40 -4°/+30° ±180° - 19.0 26.4 32.0 35.4 37.6 6.00
Realistic 11.9 14.0 17.0 18.8 20.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
PG-9 HEAT 300 300 300 300 300 300
OG-9 HE 11 11 11 11 11 11
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
PG-9 HEAT 665 2.6 0 0.01 918.75 65° 72° 77°
OG-9 HE 290 3.7 0.05 0.1 735 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Pbv 501
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
40 1 (+39) No

The single ammunition rack consists of a shell chamber located around the turret basket.

Machine guns

7.62 mm PKT machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity1 000 rounds
Reload8.0 s
Fire rate700 shots/min
Main article: PKT (7.62 mm)

Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.

7.62 mm PKT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,000 (1,000) 700 - -

Usage in battles

The Pbv 501 is in essence a BMP-1 stripped of its ATGM armament. To some this may seem like an unacceptable downgrade - the 4 missiles the BMP-1 carries have good explosive mass, speed and let the vehicle engage far away targets effectively, and this is a valid point. However, the Pbv 501 makes up for it by having a full 1 BR lower placement than the regular BMP-1, and still retains the 2A38 73mm cannon. The 2A38 is an acquired taste; To those who don't like the low velocity and sometimes middling damage, the gun is a lackluster weapon, while to those who know the ballistics it can be a surprisingly effective cannon with a good reload rate.

Most of the Pbv 501's uses will be in urban combat. The vehicle lacks the weaponry to handle long range engagements, and even with good aim at the helm the lacking muzzle velocity and inability to use terrain hamper the vehicle's long range capabilities. At close range, however, these are less of a concern, and the fairly low profile and punchy, moderately fast reloading cannon serve the vehicle well. As the gun isn't an autocannon it has the raw punching power to knock out components more consistently, and the overall damage isn't too bad either. As Sweden's other vehicles generally excel at long range but lack close range advantages like the Ikv 91 or VIDAR, the Pbv 501 can add some valuable brawling capabilities (albeit as a glass cannon) to the lineup.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Low silhouette
  • Punchy gun with an autoloader
  • High power-to-weight ratio and quick acceleration
  • Excels at urban brawling, something Swedish vehicles generally aren't suited for
  • Has access to scouting

Cons:

  • No ATGMs unlike other BMP-1s
  • Thin armour
  • Lacking gun depression of -4 compared to the common -10 or more on other contemporary Swedish vehicles
  • Poor cannon ballistics
  • Sometimes has inconsistent spalling

History

Development

As one of the most ubiquitous infantry fighting vehicles of the Cold War, the Soviet BMP-1 remained in service with many ex-Eastern Bloc states after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Several of those ex-Eastern Bloc states, along with their arsenals, approached the Western Bloc. Most notably, following German reunification in 1990, the freshly unified Federal Republic of Germany inherited large weapon and vehicle stocks that used to belong to East Germany (the GDR). This included over a thousand Czechoslovakian-built BMP-1s. A local upgrade programme was carried out to "westernise" those BMPs to NATO standards starting in December 1990. This resulted in the BMP-1A1 Ost, which forfeited its guided missile armament, had toxic asbestos removed from the vehicle, added standard German Army headlights, rear lights, wing mirrors and the typical Leitkreuz low-light identification markings. 580 BMP-1s were converted to BMP-1A1 Ost standard between 1991 and 1993. 500 of those were sold to Greece in 1994, but the 80 modernised, as well as hundreds of unmodernised ones, remained in German stocks.

BMP-1 in Sweden

Sweden at the time was facing the dilemma of the state-of-the-art CV90 not yet being available in large numbers and the in-service Pbv 302 being significantly outdated. Thus, eager to purchase infantry fighting vehicles at a good price, and Germany providing just that in the form of hundreds of BMP-1s, Sweden approached Germany in early 1994 with the interest of purchasing five vehicles for trial runs. Of those five BMP-1s, one was used in ballistic trials to gauge the protection levels of the vehicle. The others were given Swedish registration numbers and named after famous WWII commanders: 204992 'Patton', 204994 'Monty', 204997 'Rommel', and 204998 'Guderian'. The trials did not last long. It was realised that the BMP-1 was difficult to adapt to Western standards, as the Germans already realised during their BMP-1A1 Ost programme. If Sweden were to purchase BMP-1s, some of which would be in their original state, it was clear that an indigenous upgrade programme would have to be devised. The BMP-1 nonetheless possessed valuable qualities in the eyes of the Swedish Army. It was highly mobile, especially due to its amphibious capabilities, and was considered to equip the Norrland brigades operating in northern Sweden, specialising in sub-arctic warfare. At the same time, Sweden was looking at the MT-LB multipurpose armoured vehicle, which was destined to equip units in southern Sweden. In June of 1994, Sweden decided to formally purchase 350 BMP-1s and an additional 83 for spare parts. In total, 433 BMP-1s were delivered, comprising 81 BMP-1A1 Ost, 60 BMP-1P with the 9K113 Konkurs missile, and 292 unupgraded BMP-1s. The cost was minuscule, at 33,000 DM (~=17,000 EUR or 19,000 USD) a piece, or a tenth of the price of a new Bv 206 articulated vehicle. This was because Germany was quite eager to get rid of the BMP-1s due to new military restrictions and to regain the cost of the BMP-1A1 Ost programme. The Swedish Army then contracted repair workshop VOP-026 in the Czech Republic to overhaul the BMPs for Swedish service. Delivery of those modernised BMP-1s would begin in 1996 at twelve a month. In Swedish service, they would become known as the Pbv 501. They were painted either in green or a bicolour green-black scheme.

The core of modifications consisted of small changes in ergonomics and safety standards. First, asbestos would be removed, which was found in the BMP-1 brake and clutch linings. Externally, new NATO standard lighting was fitted, as well as indicators to safely drive on roads. The exhaust pipe was redesigned, and anti-slip patches added to the outside of the vehicle to make it easier for soldiers to climb onto and around. An easy way to identify a Pbv 501 from a BMP-1 is the rectangular box on the left of the turret, which is a protective cap over the outlets and inlets of the ventilation system. Internally, a heating system was added, in addition to a fire detection and extinction system. The batteries were moved and isolated from the crew compartment. Covers were added around the viewports so that dismounts would not get caught or hurt themselves on sharp corners. The small arms holders were modified to hold the standard Swedish Ak-5 assault rifle. As far as concerns the main armament, the autoloader for the 73 mm 2A28 was removed entirely, as was the mounting rail for the 9M14 Malyutka guided missile. A safety mechanism was also installed that meant that the 73 mm gun and the 7.62 mm PKT machine gun could not be operated while the hatches were open. These modifications turned the Pbv 501 into arguably the least capable variant of the BMP-1, yet this was not deemed an issue by the Swedish Army. The intent was not to use the BMP-1 in numbers on a future battlefield, but to prepare the units for the operation of a dedicated IFV, namely the vastly more capable Strf 9040.

Service

In Swedish service, the vehicles' mobility, while satisfactory, struggled in deeper snow, to the point where it was judged unsuitable to be fielded by the Norrland brigades. Because of this, the initial plan to equip northern units with Pbv 501 and southern units with the MT-LB (Pbv 401) was reversed, with Pbv 501 now going to the 2nd, 4th and 12th infantry brigades of the Swedish Army in the south of the country. They were used by the following units:

  • Värmland brigade (IB 2) in Kristinehamn
  • Livgrenadjär brigade (IB 4) in Linköping
  • Småland brigade (IB 12) in Eksjö
  • Halland brigade (IB 16) in Halmstad
  • Land Warfare Centre (Markstridsskolan) in Borensberg

Furthermore, it was also discovered that when firing the 73 mm cannon, a not insignificant amount of nitrocellulose would be discharged into the air, which was deemed potentially harmful to the crew. This seemed to have been an issue mostly with the PG-15V HEAT round. As such, Sweden did not purchase a stockpile of PG-15 HEAT ammunition, meaning that if Pbv 501 were ever to see combat, it would have practically no means at all to combat any form of enemy armour. On the plus side, the vehicle was considered mechanically very reliable. However, if an issue arose, especially in the engine block, its removal and replacement was a tedious process that took about 10 times longer than on the Strf 9040. The radios were also found to be of poor quality, with inferior transmission quality and range compared to Swedish models. In 2005, the decision was taken to retire the Pbv 501. The entire fleet was sold back to a Czech company called EXCALIBUR (who now also owned repair workshop VOP-026) for 30 million SEK (6 million USD). In 2015, EXCALIBUR found a buyer in the form of Iraq with as many as 250 vehicles being estimated to have been bought by Iraq. In April 2022, the German government approved the resale of 56 Pbv 501 from Czechia to Ukraine.

Media

Skins

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Sweden light tanks
L-60  Strv m/38 · Strv m/39 · Strv m/39 TD · Strv m/40L
Strv m/41  Strv m/41 S-I · Strv m/41 S-II
Ikv 91  Ikv 91 · Ikv 91-105
CV 90  Strf 9040B · Strf 9040C · Strf 9040 BILL
  CV 90105 · CV 90120
Wheeled  Pbil m/40 · U-SH 405
Other  Strv m/31 · Strv 74 · Pbv 501
Finland  Vickers Mk.E · ▄T-26E · BT-42 · ▄PT-76 · CV 9030FIN · CT-CV 105HP
Denmark  CV 9035DK

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