BMP-23

The BMP-23 (бойна машина на пехотата) is a Bulgarian infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced in the early 1980s. However, it was based on a design from the Bulgarian design bureau from the 1950s, being presented in 1960. Despite its name, the BMP-23 is very different from the BMP-1 and more similar in function to the BMP-2. The hull is based on that of the Soviet 2S1 self-propelled howitzer (also produced by Bulgaria) with thicker armour and a more powerful diesel engine, which is itself based on a stretched MT-LB chassis. Since the 2S1 is a larger vehicle, the troop transport compartment is not as cramped as that of the BMP-1. The armour is cast steel, capable of withstanding heavy machine gun fire. The turret is armed with a 23-mm autocannon 2A14 from the air-defence gun ZU-23-2 with 600 rounds, and initially an ATGM launcher for the 9M14 Malyutka, today with 9K111 Fagot ATGM.

BMP-23
BMP-23 on parade
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Bulgaria
Specifications
Mass	15.2 tonnes
Length	7.28 m
Width	3.05 m
Height	2.53 m
Crew	3 (7-9 passengers)
Armor	>20 mm
Main armament	23 mm automatic cannon 2A14 9K111 ATGM "Fagot"
Secondary armament	7.62 mm machine gun (PKT)
Engine	diesel YaMZ-238N (turbo charged) 315 hp
Power/weight	20.7 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	550 - 600 km
Maximum speed	62 km/h (road)

The BMP-23 was first seen on a parade in 1984. It served with the Bulgarian army in Iraq along with the M1117 Armoured Security Vehicle.