How to build a 1:1 scale U.S. Army ‘Fake News’ BMP-2

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

“The vehicles needed a number of redesigns to address these obsolescence issues and known systemic design issues causing failures. One major redesign was the Thermal Sight Unit, which addressed the OSV’s ability to stay competitive and more accurately simulate a foreign force.  There is a new emphasis on these systems because they are 20-years old.”-Justin King, U.S. Army’s Integrated Logistics Support Center

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (Боевая Машина Пехоты)= literally Battle Machine Infantry (not infantry fighting vehicle as many military sites say)

U.S. Army photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

The following pics are from the 2017 Anniston Army Depot, Alabama, re-build of fake BMP-2 armored vehicles.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

It might be apparent that they used old M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC, also including many former hammerhead 113s; M901 TOW and M981 FiST-V) but it turns out they also adapted and modified M2A2 Bradley turrets to fit on the M113 hulls, before covering the whole thing in panels to make them look ‘Russian’.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

To replicate the clam-shell doors on the real BMP they removed the ramp, then built a hull extension box before adding doors.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

U.S. Army sources say the first M113 Opposing-Forces Surrogate Vehicles (OSV) was developed in 1994, with full conversion-production starting in 1996.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

From 2005 to 2019 the Anniston Army Depot overhauled more than 2-hundred of the 335 OSVs in the program.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 02OCT2017.

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

In the above pic notice the side-boxes on the hull.  The one on the driver’s right has vents while the one on the driver’s left does not.  The vents are possibly for the engine’s air intake?

USA photo by Mark Cleghorn, 03OCT2017.

USA photo by Specialist Angel Heraldez, 12AUG2018.

11th ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment) OSV BMP-2s were seen roaming Fort Irwin, California, in August 2018.

USA photo by Sergeant Justin May, 06AUG2018.

 

A Polish company called Red Tank Miniature offers a 1:72 scale resin model of the OSV-BMP-2.  Their website is useless, they have a facebook page.

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