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Infantry Fighting Vehicle M2 Bradley^1-10

The M2 Bradley was the United States's infantry fighting vehicle. Its two-man turret was offset to the right to maximize the room in the passenger compartment, which held six dismounts. Two infantrymen sat to the left of the turret, one facing forward and the other to the rear. The infantry squad gained access to the vehicle through a large rear ramp which had an emergency door in the left side. Vision for the troops was through three periscopes placed between the rear ramp and the cargo hatch just behind the turret as well as two periscopes on each side of the hull above the side firing ports. The infantry were provided with firing ports through which they could fire the 5.56mm M231 fully-automatic firing port weapon. The five stowage racks for the TOW missile reloads could also hold Dragon antitank missiles. In order to float, it was necessary to erect the trim vane and a large water barrier around the vehicle. The hull vertical sides and rear armor consisted of two .25" (.64cm) steel plates one inch (2.5cm) apart and 3.5" (8.9cm) away from the aluminum armor. The hull top, bottom, and front consisted of 5083 aluminum armor, and .375" (.953cm) steel armor was added to the front third of the hull bottom to increase mine protection. Two four-tube smoke grenade launchers are mounted on either side of the turret front. The 25mm chain gun could fire single shots, or at rates of 100±25 or 200±25 rounds per minute, and it was equipped with a dual feed mechanism that allowed the gunner to switch between high-explosive (HE) and armor-piercing (AP) ammunition automatically. Two ammunition hoppers provided stowage for the separate types of ready rounds: a 70-round-capacity unit usually filled with AP ammunition and a 230-round space usually reserved for HE. A switch on each ammunition supply told the system if it was loaded with armor-piercing or high-explosive ammunition.

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Infantry Fighting Vehicle M2A1 Bradley^1-10,15

In May 1986 a gas particulate NBC filtration system was introduced to the Bradley in which the commander, gunner, and driver wore masks connected to a central filter in the vehicle. The infantry squad made do with masks and filters built into their own MOPP suits. M2A1 also fired the new TOW 2 missiles, however the original TOW missiles could still be used with the M2A1's launchers. The seventh infantryman was added just behind the center of the turret. When the Bradley was upgraded with both the TOW 2 system and the gas particulate filtration system, it was known as M2A1. The smoke grenades stowed in boxes on the front of the turret were eventually moved into the hull. The turret bustle stowage rack was also redesigned to be more vertical in profile instead of sloping inward with the turret rear. The M2A1 upgrades were retrofitted to many Bradleys produced previously.

The various versions of the TOW missile are as follows: BGM-71A from 1970 was the basic version with a 5" (13cm) diameter warhead and a 3,000m (1.86mi) range. BGM-71B from 1976 extended the range to 3,750m (2.33mi). BGM-71C ITOW (Improved TOW) from 1981 used an improved 5" (13cm) warhead and a 265mm (10.4") long standoff probe which allowed the shaped charge penetrator to assume a more efficient shape before it struck the target. BGM-71D TOW 2 from 1983 had a 6" (15cm) diameter warhead and a 345mm (13.6") long standoff probe, along with a new motor and digital guidance strengthened against countermeasures. BGM-71E TOW 2A from 1987 introduced a precursor charge in the standoff probe to defeat explosive reactive armor. BGM-71F TOW 2B from 1991 was a top-attack weapon using two explosively-formed projectiles that penetrated the roof of armored vehicles. TOW 2B lacked a standoff probe.

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Infantry Fighting Vehicle M2A2 Bradley^1-2,7-12

M2A2 introduced heavier armor to the M2 line. The trim vane was deleted and replaced with steel applique armor. This armor was also added to the hull bottom, and 1.25" (3.18cm) thick steel applique was added to the hull sides and turret front and right side. Fittings on this applique armor allowed for the attachment of passive or explosive reactive armor (ERA) tiles. The armor tiles added ~6,000lbs (~2,700kg) to the vehicle's weight, 13" (33cm) to its width, and another .9psi (.06kg/cm²) to its ground pressure. Spaced laminate armor was installed to the hull rear and spaced laminate track skirts protected the lower hull. The infantry firing ports in the hull sides were covered by the new applique armor, however the two in the rear ramp were retained. The protective cover was omitted from the M240C machine gun and a semicircular shield was attached to the turret rear to add more stowage space as well as act as spaced armor. Kevlar spall liners were added to critical areas. One of the infantrymen in the M2A2, the man seated directly behind the driver, was omitted. With the deletion of that man, the periscope at that position was removed as well. Wire cutters were added in front of the driver's position, and a cover was placed over the periscopes in his hatch. A maintenance stand was stowed on the hull left side. This was used when working on the engine since the M2A2 was built without a trim vane, which had previously provided a handy place to stand. The M2A2 also featured new headlight clusters. M2s and M2A1s were converted to M2A2 standard.

After live firing testing, the seating and stowage arrangements of the Bradley were redrawn. The infantry squad was increased again to seven men, six of which sat facing each other on two 3-man benches in the passenger compartment. The seventh man sat just behind the driver like in the M2 or M2A1 seating arrangements. The Javelin anti-tank missile replaced the earlier Dragon in the M2A2 restow, and five TOWs or three TOWs and two Javelins could be carried.

After Operation Desert Storm, the M2A2 was upgraded again with the addition of an eye-safe carbon dioxide laser rangefinder, global positioning system and compass, combat identification system, missile countermeasure device, and thermal viewer for the driver. The 1,423 -A2 Bradleys brought up to this standard were referred to as -A2ODS.

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Infantry Fighting Vehicle M2A3 Bradley^{1-2,9-10,13-14}

The M2A3 moved into the digital age with a 1553 databus, central processing unit, and information displays for the vehicle commander and squad leader. The M2A3 became compatible with the intervehicular communication system of the M1A2 Abrams tank and AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter. The commander was provided with an independent thermal viewer (CIV), and a new integrated sight unit called the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) allowed automatic gun adjustments, automatic boresighting, and tracking of dual targets. The CIV and integrated sight were both second-generation FLIR systems. The CIV could rotate 360° and elevate from +60° to -22°. The roof was reinforced with titanium armor. An enhanced 25mm gun began serving on the M2A3 with a chrome-lined barrel, larger breech, and improved receiver. M2A3s were converted from M2A2s.

The Bradley Urban Survivability Kit (BUSK) began being fielded thanks to contracts placed in 2008. BUSK upgrades included a hand-held 3-million candlepower spotlight for the commander, mesh protection for the sighting optics, and a "dome tent" of non-conductive material to preclude danger from power line strikes. Provision was also made to mount a remotely-fired 5.56mm M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW) or M231 firing port weapon to the CIV to give the commander an independent suppressive weapon. This mounting kit was known as commander's light automatic weapon (CLAW).

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References

1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999. Reprinted with permission from Bradley, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1999, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
2. Green, Michael, and James D. Brown. M2/M3 Bradley at War. Minneapolis: Zenith Press, 2007.
3. TM 9-2520-270-34 Direct and General Support Maintenance Hydromechanical Crossdrive Transmission HMPT 500 and Transmission Container Assembly (2520-01-105-6449). Washington, DC: Dept. of the Army, 30 Sep 1991.
4. FM 23-1 Bradley Gunnery. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 18 Mar 1996.
5. TM 9-2350-252-10-1 C1 Operator's Manual Fighting Vehicle, Infantry, M2 (2350-01-048-5920) M2A1 (2350-179-1027) and Fighting Vehicle, Cavalry, M3 (2350-01-049-2695) M3A1 (2350-01-179-1028) Hull. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 30 September 1987.
6. TM 9-2350-252-10-2 C6 Operator's Manual Fighting Vehicle, Infantry, M2 (2350-01-048-5920) (EIC: APA) M2A1 (2350-01-179-1027) (EIC: ALE) Fighting Vehicle, Cavalry, M3 (2350-01-049-2695) (EIC: APB) M3A1 (2350-01-179-1028) (EIC: ALF) Turret. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 9 July 1992.
7. Crismon, Fred W. U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
8. Foss, Chris. Modern Tanks. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.
9. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.
10. Federation of American Scientists. "M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (BFVS)." DOD 101. 5 May 2000. 22 Jun 2001 <http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m2.htm>. DOD 101
11. TM 9-2350-284-10-1 C1 Operator's Manual Fighting Vehicle, Infantry M2A2 (2350-01-248-7619) and Fighting Vehicle, Cavalry M3A2 (2350-01-248-7620) Hull. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 14 December 1989.
12. TM 9-2350-284-10-2 C6 Operator's Manual High Survivability Fighting Vehicle, Infantry M2A2 (2350-01-248-7619) and Fighting Vehicle, Cavalry M3A2 (2350-01-248-7620) Turret. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 19 January 1993.
13. Kable. "Bradley M2/M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle, United States of America." Army Technology. 15 May 2016 <http://www.army-technology.com/projects/bradley/>.
14. BAE Systems. "Bradley A3." 2015. 28 May 2017 <http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/download-en-us/20151208124729/1434554726732.pdf>.
15. Cullen, Tony, and Christopher F. Foss, eds. Jane's AFV Retrofit Systems 1994-95. Seventh ed. Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group, Ltd., 1994.

Last updated 20 Mar 2024.
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