BOV-3
Overview
BOV-3
Two Croatian BOV-3 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns seen in 2023.
Source: US Army -
© Public domain
Serbia
Croatia
Description
Introduction
The BOV-3 is a late Cold War era self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of Yugoslav origin. It was developed as mobile short range air defense for mechanized troops. The BOV-3 looks rather iconic with its three 20mm autocannon side-by-side.
Design
The BOV-3 combines two elements already in Yugoslave service: the BOV 4x4 armoured vehicle and 20mm M55 A4 towed anti-aircraft gun. This is the latest model of M55 with a new mount and computerized fire control. The M55 A4 M1 is housed in an angular turret and is otherwise similar to the towed model. Two small walkways allow the crew to walk around the turret to reload the three drum magazines located externally to the turret.
Firepower
Armament of the BOV-3 is a triple mount of HS.804 autocannon. Cyclic rate of fire is 700 rpm per barrel. These autocannon are fed by 60 round drums. Yugoslav ammunition production consisted of API and HEI, both produced with and without tracer. The HEI ammunition uses an impact fuse and has a self-destruct timer. Practical range against near supersonic aircraft is 1.2 km. Maximum effective range against ground targets is 2.5 km.
Fire control
The BOV-3 uses the modernized M55 A4 M1 mount that uses a Galileo J-171 computerized optical sight with automated tracking. This significantly improves its combat effectiveness against faster moving aircraft. The BOV-3 cannot be slaved to external fire control, making this a clear weather system. For use against ground targets there is a 4x optical sight.
Protection
The welded steel hull protects against small arms fire and shell splinters. The same goes for the turret, which has an open roof. The two crew members are partially exposed. Smoke grenade dischargers are fitted, but an NBC system is not.
Mobility
The BOV-3 chassis provides good mobility on roads. The 148 hp diesel engine is lacking a bit of power for a higher speeds off road, but cross country performance is quite reasonable. Maximum speed on road is 94 km/h. The larger turret makes the BOV-3 a bit more top heavy than the baseline armored personnel carrier model. The BOV-3 is not amphibious, but can ford water up to 1.1 m deep.
Users
The BOV-3 was in use with Yugoslavia and actively used in the Yugoslav wars. There it was used sometimes against aircraft, but mostly against ground targets. The BOV-3 was used alongside the M53/59. Both in anti-ground and anti-aircraft use the M53/59 was deemed more effective than the BOV-3 due to its longer effective range and more powerful autocannon. Unlike the towed M55 triple mount is was not exported and used in foreign conflicts. Present day Croatia seems the most active user of the BOV-3.
Details
Media
BOV-3
Serbian gendarmerie BOV-3 seen in the field in 2014. Note the crew in the turret is partially exposed.
Source: Voja1978
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
BOV-3
Croatian BOV-3 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun firing its 20mm autocannon during an exercise in 2022.
Source: US Army
Copyright: Public domain
BOV-3
Croatian BOV-3 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun inspected by US Army personnel during a joint exercise in 2024.
Source: US Army
Copyright: Public domain
BOV-3
A column of Yugoslav army BOV-3 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns on the move in 1991.
Source: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia
Copyright: CC BY 3.0
Related articles
20mm M55
The BOV-3 is armed with a vehicle mounted version of the triple barrel 20mm M55 A4 B1 towed anti-aircraft gun.
M53/59
The BOV-3 was used alongside the M53/59. Both in anti-ground and anti-aircraft use the M53/59 was deemed more effective than the BOV-3.