BMP 1 killing M1's with it's cannon.

[Flip]

I just had an BMP-1 kill all of my M1's with it's cannon (bugger was hiding behind a hill so couldn't hit that flat turret). I thought he got me with his missiles but upon review it was his 73mm cannon...

I was under the impression that cannon struggled to penetrate a piece of paper, let alone the frontal armor of M1 Abrams.

Just wondering is the BMP-1 cannon stronger than I though and really capable of penetrating the frontal armor of an M1 or was I just unlucky that it penetrated (3 tanks)

[Nikoli Kalishnikov]

Originally posted by Flip:

I just had an BMP-1 kill all of my M1's with it's cannon (bugger was hiding behind a hill so couldn't hit that flat turret). I thought he got me with his missiles but upon review it was his 73mm cannon...

I was under the impression that cannon struggled to penetrate a piece of paper, let alone the frontal armor of M1 Abrams.

Just wondering is the BMP-1 cannon stronger than I though and really capable of penetrating the frontal armor of an M1 or was I just unlucky that it penetrated (3 tanks)

The BMP-1 uses a low velocity heat round, the same round as some Russian recoilless rifles fire. Depending on the round it can achieve 300-400 mm of penetration against steel armor. Given this there are a few weakpoints in the Abrams armor which it can indeed penetrate, however it is unlikely to do so.

So either the BMP-1s ammo is over-performing in the game (possible), or you are incredibly unlucky (also possible)

[strykerpsg]

As stated, the BMP cannon is a low velocity HE round slinger. However, that HE can indeed penetrate the M1's rear and side hull structures, not the turret sides, but definitely the lower hull. So very much a viable defense to use the main gun of the BMP against the Abrams.

[Flip]

Thanks all. So it seems like a classic combination of poor luck and incompetence on my side. Tbh I don't usually take BMP-1's seriouslly except for their missile when I am in an M1. I have been in a BMP-1 that struggles to benetrate an M113 sometimes so didn't think the canon was a threat. I have learned to treat it with respect.

[plc]

I've seen instances of BMP 1's disabling or even killing Abrams with their cannon so they're definitely a threat. At long ranges the AI almost uses them as artillery which can make them a pain to deal with when they are mostly hidden behind terrain.

[xtremist]

If you want to disable the Abrams with the BMP 1 cannon, and there is no way to ambush it from the rear, you should aim to the turret ring, sometimes a few shrapnels reach the crew. From the sides or rear, the "softest" target is the ammunition compartment, or the lower hull behind the trackwheels. Either way, you need a little luck too, because if you can't knock it out with the first 2-3 shots, you are done for.

[Flip]

Aye it was a humbling experience but an important one. The main culprit was myself but good to know that the cannon can actually penetrate.

[plc]

Well, case in point. I swear there is something odd about this BMP, it is borderline impossible to hit and it is freakishly accurate.

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197995615194/screenshot/2231032165312666988/

[Arizona Ranger]

Yeah, BMP-1s are odd and annoying, especially when they turn into artillery and fire over hills with almost perfect accuracy.

[ActionScripter]

Originally posted by plc:

Well, case in point. I swear there is something odd about this BMP, it is borderline impossible to hit and it is freakishly accurate.

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197995615194/screenshot/2231032165312666988/

288 meters. Incredible.

[plc]

Originally posted by Josh:

Originally posted by plc:

Well, case in point. I swear there is something odd about this BMP, it is borderline impossible to hit and it is freakishly accurate.

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197995615194/screenshot/2231032165312666988/

288 meters. Incredible.

I meant the fact that it precisely hit the frontal armor's weak spot.

[Rimbecano]

Originally posted by Flip:

Just wondering is the BMP-1 cannon stronger than I though and really capable of penetrating the frontal armor of an M1 or was I just unlucky that it penetrated (3 tanks)

My most memorable unlucky hit didn't even meaningfully penetrate.

I was in a long range gunnery duel with a T-72. I got hit and lost my engine and a few other items and figured I'd just taken a penetration through the frontal armor.

Then I got to the AAR:

Sabot round grazed the top of the turret and hit the commander's cupola. It bounced off the cupola, lofted back into the air, and landed several km downrange, but spalled the armor on the cupola (or maybe partially penetrated and shot some splinters into the cupola, can't really tell from the detail the AAR gives), and sent shrapnel into the fighting compartment. The shrapnel bounced all around the inside of the tank and hit several critical items, mission-killing the tank, but left the commander completely unscathed, despite having originated within inches of his head.

[YANKEE GO HOME]

Originally posted by plc:

Originally posted by Josh:

288 meters. Incredible.

I meant the fact that it precisely hit the frontal armor's weak spot.

Almost like he's aiming centre of seen mass, like literally every soldier is trained to do.

Turns out you're more likely to hit a weakspot by doing that, than hurling round after round into the aether because you're aiming somewhere WT taught you to 🙃

[ActionScripter]

AI crews have a radius of error when engaging targets, which tightens up the more shots they take on a target in a row. They also have range error and lead error, which are significantly larger at long range or when using primitive equipment.

Just by random chance, you will occasionally get unlucky and have a shot find your turret ring or other weak spots, especially near the center of seen mass where they are aiming.

[plc]

Originally posted by Mcz:

Yeah, BMP-1s are odd and annoying, especially when they turn into artillery and fire over hills with almost perfect accuracy.

Yeah happened to me during a mission. They probably need direct visibility on the target but they can use their guns at very long range.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3091203571
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3091186359
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3091196970

[Jungle Troll]

Originally posted by strykerpsg:

As stated, the BMP cannon is a low velocity HE round slinger. However, that HE can indeed penetrate the M1's rear and side hull structures, not the turret sides, but definitely the lower hull. So very much a viable defense to use the main gun of the BMP against the Abrams.

HEAT not HE