After the end of the war, the first Soviet T-34 tanks were delivered to the Bulgarian army. At the beginning of 1946, the First Tank Brigade was armed with 49 CV 33/35, PzKpfw 35 (t), PzKpfw 38 (t), R-35 vehicles; 57 Pz. IV G, H, J vehicles; 15 Jagdpanzer IV, five StuG 40.
German tank Pz. Kpfw. V Ausf. G "Panther" in the Bulgarian troops (I do not know how he ended up with the Bulgarians). The soldiers wear characteristic Bulgarian Italian-style bustines, and the officer (standing under the gun, akimbo) - no less characteristic Bulgarian cap. This picture can even be dated to 1945-1946 (it all depends on how long after the end of the war the Bulgarians still had German equipment in service). At the end of the 1940s, the Bulgarian army (like the armies of other countries of the socialist camp) was dressed in a Soviet-style uniform.
Immediately after the end of the war, completely worn out Italian tankettes CV 33/35 and French light tanks Renault R35 were decommissioned, the Czechoslovak LT vz. 35 / T-11 and LT vz. 38 held out until the early 50s, so the last order for spare parts for Škoda received them in 1948.
By 1950, only 11 Pz. IV tanks remained in the 1st tank brigade, and the main part consisted of 65 T-34s, received back in 1945. Then 75 German tanks and assault guns were used as pillboxes on the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
The tanks buried in the ground were almost forgotten when in December 2007 Bulgarian police arrested thieves who had stolen a rare model of the tank and were trying to take it to Germany.
In total, the Bulgarians managed to restore 55 units of German equipment, which they put up for auction in May 2008. The price of each tank was several million euros, and a collector from Russia who wished to remain anonymous offered to buy a German Panzer IV tank for 3.2 million dollars.
The total number of T-34-85 in the Bulgarian army is estimated at 398 units, apparently taking into account 120 tanks built in Czechoslovakia and transferred in 1952-1954. After the start of deliveries of T-55 tanks, the obsolete "thirty-fours" were partially dismantled. The towers from them, like the towers of the German tanks Pz. III and Pz. IV, were used in the construction of fortifications on the Bulgarian-Turkish border. It is indicated that during the 1974 Cyprus crisis of such tower installations, on the second line of defense, about 100-170 pieces were delivered.
In total in 1946-1947. The USSR transferred to Bulgaria 398 tanks, 726 guns and mortars, 31 aircraft, 2 torpedo boats, 6 sea hunters, 1 destroyer, three small submarines, 799 vehicles, 360 motorcycles, as well as small arms, ammunition, communications and fuel
The T-34-85 served in Bulgaria for a long time, so in 1968, during the entry of the Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia, a tank battalion of 26 T-34-85 was part of the group of Bulgarian forces.
Bulgarian T-34-85 during the introduction of troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968
The T-34-85 was finally decommissioned in 1992-1995.
T-34-85 at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
In 1947, self-propelled guns SU-76M were delivered to Bulgaria, which served until 1956.
SU-76M at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
It should be noted that Bulgaria was considered the most reliable ally of the USSR and occupied a special place in the Warsaw Pact Organization. There were no Soviet troops in Bulgaria, and it had its own tasks. In case of war, Bulgaria had to act independently on the southern flank against Turkey and Greece.
In 1955, the first armored personnel carriers BTR-40 entered service with the Bulgarian army, in total 150 units were delivered until 1957
In 1956, 100 units of SU-100 anti-tank self-propelled guns were delivered to Bulgaria.
SU-100 at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
From the mid-50s, Soviet T-54 tanks began to be supplied to Bulgaria, and from 1960, T-55 tanks, which became the main tanks of the Bulgarian People's Army (BNA).
T-55 at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
In total, 1,800 T-54 / T-55 units were delivered to Bulgaria from the USSR, of which 1,145 were T-55. All of them were written off in 2004-2009.
T-55AM (Bulgarian designation M 1983) (in service since 1985) at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
Since 1957, wheeled BTR-152s have been supplied to Bulgaria, however, in what quantity, I could not find out.
Bulgarian BTR-152 during the joint Bulgarian-Soviet exercises, held in May 1967 on the territory of Bulgaria
KShM BTR-152U at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
From 1960 to 1963 tracked BTR-50 were delivered to Bulgaria, 700 units were delivered in total. Currently withdrawn from service.
command and staff vehicle BTR-50PU at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
In the period from 1965 to 1967, 150 reconnaissance patrol BRDM-1 were delivered to Bulgaria.
BRDM-1 reconnaissance unit of the Bulgarian contingent during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968
BRDM-1 during a solemn meeting of the Bulgarian troops returning from Czechoslovakia
Then, since 1962, they were replaced by the BRDM-2, a total of 420 BRDM-1/2 were delivered to Bulgaria. In addition, BRDM-2 of the former National People's Army of the GDR were distributed between Poland and Bulgaria.
BRDM-2 at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
The Bulgarian army is still in service with 12 BRDM-2 (50 more units in warehouses), which were in service with the Bulgarian contingent in Iraq.
unloading of the BRDM-2 of the Bulgarian contingent in the port of Umm Qasr, in Iraq
Self-propelled ATGM 9P133 with ATGM "Konkurs" based on BRDM-2 were also delivered to Bulgaria, 24 of them are still in service with the Bulgarian army
Since 1962, Soviet armored personnel carriers BTR-60 began to be supplied to Bulgaria, which became the main vehicle of the Bulgarian infantry. Deliveries continued until 1972, with a total of about 700 vehicles delivered. The first modification delivered was the BTR-60P with an open top case.
BTR-60P at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
It was followed by the BTR-60PA - a modification with a fully enclosed sealed body. On this armored personnel carrier, Bulgarian servicemen participated in the introduction of troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968.
BTR-60PA during a solemn meeting of the Bulgarian troops returning from Czechoslovakia
This was followed by a modification of the BTR-60PB with reinforced armament from a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT in the turret, which became the main Bulgarian armored personnel carrier for many years.
BTR-60PB of the Bulgarian contingent also participated in the Czechoslovak events.
[center] BTR-60PB of the Bulgarian contingent during the events in Czechoslovakia in 1968
100-150 BTR-60PB is still in service with the Bulgarian army (another 100 to 600 are in reserve). About 30 were modernized by Bulgarian specialists. The combat vehicle has a completely redesigned engine compartment. At the request of the customer, a Russian engine made by the Kama Automobile Plant can be installed there. Such an armored personnel carrier receives the designation BTR-60PB MD3. Also, there is a variant with the CUMMINS engine. It is already called the BTR 60 PB-MD1. 8 smoke grenade launchers are installed on the turret with machine guns. Instead of the old sight, a more modern one with improved characteristics was installed. For the convenience of entering and leaving the landing, doors are cut in the sides.
Since the beginning of the 70s, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles have been supplied to Bulgaria, a total of 560 units have been delivered, incl. 100 BMP-1P with a more powerful launcher 9K111 "Fagot" ATGM, and six sets of "smoke screens" 902V, were received from Russia in 1996. Currently, the army of Bulgaria is armed with 20-75 BMP-1P (80 more -100 in reserve).
BMP-1P of the Bulgarian army at the parade in Sofia
Unlike other allies of the USSR, who went directly from the T-54/55 to the T-72, the Bulgarians from 1970 to 1974. was delivered 250 T-62 with a powerful 115-mm cannon.
When the T-62s were decommissioned in the 90s and some of the tanks were converted into armored recovery vehicles, they received the designation TV-62. The towers were removed from the tanks, and in their place were welded backwards, the towers shortened by half from the T-55 and T-55A with the DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun. Also, the machines received winches, and equipment for underwater driving was left on them.
Another interesting example is the transformation of the T-62 into a fire tank. For the first time this option was shown in 2008. A 10-ton tank and a remotely controlled water supply system, as well as a bulldozer blade, were mounted on the tank chassis.
Since 1972, in Bulgaria, at the BETA machine-building plant (now Beta Industry Corp. JSC) in Cherven Bryag, the production of a light armored tractor MT-LB has been launched. Production continued until 1995. According to some reports, a total of 2350 MT-LB were produced. In the bulk, they practically do not differ from the original. But still, some of the cars were released with their own modifications, which brought even greater variety to the wide range of the family.
MT-LB at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
Also, in Bulgaria, the following machines were developed on the basis of MT-LB
- MT-LB AT-I - tracked mine layer
- MT-LB MRHR - radiochemical reconnaissance vehicle
- MT-LB SE - combat medical vehicle
- MT-LB TMH - self-propelled mortar with 82-mm mortar M-37M
- SMM B1.10 "Tundzha" - Bulgarian version with 120-mm mortar mod. 1943, developed in 1981 under the leadership of the chief designer Georgi Imsheriev.
- SMM 74 B1.10 "Tundzha-Sani" - the Bulgarian version, developed in 1981 under the leadership of chief designer Georgi Imsheriev, is distinguished by the use of the 2B11 mortar from the 2S12 "Sani" mortar complex as the main weapon. 50 units of 2S11 were produced under a Soviet license from 1986 to 1987. In total, the Bulgarian army is currently armed with 212 self-propelled mortars "Tundzha"
May 6, 2006. Bulgarian self-propelled mortar "Tundzha" at the military parade in honor of St. George's Day
KShM-R-81 "Dolphin" - command and staff vehicle
R-80 - ground artillery reconnaissance station
Bulgarian MT-LBs were actively exported. So, in the eighties, 800 MT-LB vehicles of Bulgarian production were delivered to Iraq.
Currently in service with the Bulgarian army there are 100-150 (from 600 to 800 in reserve) light armored tractors MT-LB.
Since 1979, the 122-mm self-propelled howitzer 2S1 "Gvozdika" based on the MT-LB has been produced in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian-made 2S1 self-propelled guns entered service with the Soviet army and, apart from the worse workmanship, did not differ in any way from the Soviet 2S1 model. A total of 506 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers were produced in Bulgaria, and together with Soviet deliveries, their number amounted to 686 units.
self-propelled howitzer 2S1 "Carnation" in the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
48 2S1 "Carnation" are still in service with the Bulgarian army (150 more in reserve)
May 6, 2006. 2C1 "Carnation" at the military parade in honor of St. George's Day in Sofia
The armament of the BMP-1, which consisted of a 73-millimeter cannon, machine guns and anti-tank missiles, in some cases did not meet the requirements of the time, so it was decided to develop a new BMP based on the MT-LB, which became the only independently developed Bulgarian combat vehicle. The created BMP received the BMP-23 index and was first shown at the parade in 1984.. The BMP-23 differs significantly from the BMP-1 and is more similar to the BMP-2. The body of the BMP is welded, sealed, allowing to overcome water obstacles by swimming without additional preparation. The control compartment is located in the front, and the transmission units are located in front of it. Behind the control compartment, behind a sealed partition, there is an engine compartment isolated from other rooms. In the middle, there is a combat squad, and in the stern, there is a troop compartment. "Carnation" is a larger vehicle than the BMP-1, and therefore, inside it, it is not as crowded as in the BMP-1. As in the ACS, the control compartment is located across the entire width of the hull, so the driver's and one of the shooters' seats are not one after another, but, respectively, on the left and right. Both places are equipped with hatches and observation devices. The driver's front periscope can be replaced with a passive night vision device. The welded twin turret contains a 23-mm automatic cannon based on the ballistics of the ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun. The gun has a two-plane stabilizer, the ammunition load is 450 rounds (according to other sources - 600 rounds), loaded in belts. Paired with the cannon is a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, for which 2,000 rounds are stored in the fighting compartment. On the roof of the tower there is a launcher for the 9M14M Malyutka ATGM with semi-automatic guidance by wires. The hull is developed on the basis of the car body 2S1 "Gvozdika", but with thicker armor and a more powerful diesel engine. Cast steel armor that can withstand heavy machine gun fire.
The upgraded version of the BMP with smoke grenade launchers on the sides of the turret and the replacement of the ATGM with the 9M111 "Fagot" received the BMP-23A index.
On the basis of the BMP-23, the combat reconnaissance vehicle BRM-23 "Sova" was created, with additional surveillance equipment and a crew of five.
BRM-23 has three versions:
"Owl-1" - with radio station R-130M and telescopic mast
"Owl-2" - with radio station R-143
"Sova-3" - from the ground reconnaissance radar 1RL133 of the portable observation and reconnaissance station PSNR-5 "Credo".
A further development of the BMP-23 was the BMP-30-variant, which differs in the installation of a turret from the Soviet BMP-2 with a 30-mm 2A42 cannon and a 9M111 "Fagot" ATGM.
A total of 115 BMP-23 BMPs were produced, of which about 100 are in service with the Bulgarian army. The BMP-23, like the BRDM-2, was also in service with the Bulgarian military contingent in Iraq.
In 1989, 20 152-mm 2S3 Akatsia self-propelled howitzers were delivered to Bulgaria.
2C3 "Akatsia" in the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
In 1978, the first T-72 tanks arrived in Bulgaria from the USSR.
T-72 at the Bulgarian National Military Museum in Sofia
In 1992 Bulgaria had 334 T-72s, in 1999 100 T-72A and T-72AK were purchased from Russia, stockpiled on Bulgarian territory since Soviet times. Currently, 160 T-72s remain in service with the Bulgarian army (another 150-250 in warehouses).
Bulgarian T-72 tanks in training
Thus, on November 19, 1990, that is, at the time of the signing in Paris of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the BNA was in service: 2,145 tanks (for comparison, Turkey-2 795, Greece-1735), 2 204 AFVs, 2 116 artillery systems of caliber 100 mm or more, 243 combat aircraft, 44 attack helicopters. The same agreement in Bulgaria established the following quota: 1,475 tanks, 2,000 armored combat vehicles, 1,750 artillery systems with a caliber of 100 mm or more, 235 combat aircraft, 67 attack helicopters. On February 25, 1991, the military structures of the Warsaw Pact Organization were abolished, and then in December 1991 the USSR also collapsed.
The Bulgarian rulers who came to power, first of all, at dumping prices, began to sell the weapons and military equipment they had inherited. So in 1993 Bulgaria exported to Angola 29 BMP-1 and 24 T-62 tanks, then in 1999 18 self-propelled howitzers 2S3 "Akatsia". In 1992, 210 Tundzha self-propelled mortars were delivered to Syria. In 1998, 150 T-55 tanks were delivered to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which took part in battles with Albanian gangs in 2001, in 1999, 12 MT-LB and 9 Strela-10 air defense systems. In 1998, the Ethiopians purchased 140 T-55s from the Bulgarians. In 1999, 20 Tundzha self-propelled mortars were delivered to Latvia worldwide. In September 2010, Cambodia received a large batch of armored vehicles purchased from Bulgaria, including 50 T-55 tanks (re-exported from Serbia), 40 BTR-60PB armored personnel carriers and 4 BRDM -2 from the presence of the Bulgarian army. On May 31, 2012, a contract was signed for the supply of 500 MT-LB armored tractors to the Iraqi armed forces.
Thus, today the Bulgarian army is armed with 160 T-72s, the number of which is planned to be reduced to 120; about 200 BMP-1 and BMP-23, of which they plan to leave half; 100-150 BTR-60PB and BTR-60PB-MD-1, 12 BRDM-2, 100-150 MT-LB.
However, new NATO allies hurried up for the Bulgarian military contingent in Afghanistan from the USA, 17 wheeled armored personnel carriers M-1117 and 50 "Hummers" were supplied.
25 Caracal armored vehicles for the Israeli military police.
And that's all, although I think over time the NATO members will hand over their decommissioned weapons to the Bulgarians. Well, as they say: "We'll see …"
