Bradley survives mine blast and anti-tank missile strike

30 June, 2023 M2A2 Bradley IFV of the 47th Brigade in Zaporizhzhia, June 2023. Photo credits: Serhii Nuzhnenko The Ukrainian military told about the experience of using M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles transferred by the United States in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

The report was published by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. The transfer of Bradley to Ukraine became known in early January 2023.

100 IFVs entered service with the 47th Mechanized Brigade in June and have since been actively used on the front line. After a month of heavy fighting in the Zaporizhzhia direction, the military told reporters about the strengths of their combat vehicles.

"If we had acted in this theater of hostilities on the [Soviet] BMPs, I can tell you for sure that there would have been no brigade," said Dmytro, a soldier of the 47th Brigade.

According to the military, he already survived the implosion of the vehicle on the anti-tank mine while inside Bradley. After that, the vehicle received a direct hit from the HEAT ammunition on the turret. The vehicle has merely suffered damage to the triplex (observation gear).

As a result of this, none of the crew or soldiers were injured.

Dmytro, a soldier of the 47th Brigade against the background of an M2A2 Bradley, June 2023. Photo credits: Serhii Nuzhnenko

"We have had many times when Bradley was blown up by anti-tank mines. As much as possible with the vehicle, it was just a break in the track and damage to the rollers.

At the same time, the crew and troops stayed unharmed, continuing to land and perform tasks," added Dmytro. "The maximum wound that occurred when detonated on a mine [anti-tank] is a common concussion, not even of moderate severity." Comparing the American infantry fighting vehicle with its Soviet counterparts, the author highlighted a significantly higher level of protection in the Bradley. He also noted the high maintainability of the vehicle, giving an example when, after detonating on a mine, his vehicle returned to service a few days after a quick repair.

Answering the question of journalists about the firepower, the soldier noted that they hadn't yet realized the full potential of the combat vehicle because, during the battles in Zaporizhzhia, their maneuvers were severely constrained by the numerous minefields of the enemy. "The vehicle cannot act confidently in the open area when mine rampages are not fully carried out; this restrains their actions. We now operate in most cases as a means of delivering infantry and fire cover vehicles at the maximum possible distance so that they cannot be hit with anti-tank weapons," said Dmytro.

The military published a video of the use of American vehicles by the soldiers of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, one of which showed the destruction of the Russian IFV by an automatic gun.

Militarnyi also published news about the American IFV, which survived the artillery bombardment and was returned for repairs.

Ahead of her, the crew successfully evacuated after being hit and continued to perform a combat mission.