BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1967-94 (New Vanguard) [Paperback]

Steven Zaloga (Author), Peter Sarson (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The BMP represented an important change in mechanised infantry tactics, providing the infantry squad with unprecedented firepower, mobility and protection. With over 55,000 manufactured since 1966, it is also one of the most numerous armoured vehicles ever built. Steven Zaloga examines the development and performance of this radical machine.

From the Publisher

The unrivalled illustrated reference on fighting vehicles, transport and artillery through the ages. Each volume is illustrated throughout, making these books uniquely accessible to history enthusiasts of all ages.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (January 16, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855324334
• ISBN-13: 978-1855324336
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #558,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #20 in	Books > History > Military > Weapons & Warfare > Conventional > Armored Vehicles
  #92 in	Books > History > Military > United States > Operation Desert Storm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good things come in small packages-except Soviet IFVs, May 17, 2001

By	cpt matt (tanktown, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1967-94 (New Vanguard) (Paperback)

Zaloga has been writing about Soviet hardware for many years for many respectable publications. This New Vanguard series is very informative for a book its size, has a lot of detail & pictures that are helpful to modeler and collector as well.

Zaloga captures well why this series of vehicles has not fared well on the battle scene. Its light armor does not do what it is supposed to do-protect its crew. The BMP1 weapons do not do what it they are intended to do- defeat the enemy. Too many blind spots, restrictions on range, poor sights make the early varients of the BMP1 a piece of junk. In my years as a Tank Commander studying this weapon system, crawling around in it and watching it run at various army posts, we never feared it. The BMP2, was a little better, at least fielding a 30mm automatic cannon that would pose a threat to a Bradley. The BMP3 is a very aggressive (desperate?) attempt to mount something for everyone. 30mm cannon, 100mm cannon, missles, this baby's got it all. But the armor is still too light for its crew and too much in a small package? Time will tell on that.

No book this size can please every reader, but I would definately recommend this one to all as a great primer on the IFV produced in greater numbers than any other, the one first mass produced.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars S. Zaloga is not the man to turn to, for an unbiased revew., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1967-94 (New Vanguard) (Paperback)

This book follows in the footsteps of other Zaloga titles, like "T-72", "Tank war-Central front", or just about anything else he has written. Paranoia of Russian weapons has seemed to be hunting Steven, as BMP is a clear reflection of that. The whole book is quite tilted in all aspects, from beginning to the end, he boasts of Western tank designs at the expense of Russian equipment. Illustrations are sharp, however no special variants are displayed in the drawings, just the standard BMP-1, 2, 3's). In other worlds, you want to have good illustrations of this vehicle for modeling purposes, then perhaps the books is what you need( even though frontal and rear color-plate drawings are scarce, 9 of 12 drawings are straight side-views ), however, if you want this book for educational purposes, my recommendation would be to look for a less biased source to get a fair evaluation. -david