The primary infantry fighting vehicle of the Soviet Army at the time of the military intervention in Afghanistan of late 1979 and early 1980, was the BMP-1 – the first vehicle of this kind in the world to enter service. While earlier armoured personnel carriers were only meant to transport infantry across the battlefield, the IFV had the added advantage of providing the crew and passengers with options to fight from under armour. The hull was lightly armoured and the engine installed in the front, in an attempt to improve protection and create a large compartment for up to eight passengers in the rear. The crew of three had a 2A28 GROM 73mm main gun and a PKT 7.62mm calibre machine gun. Though not shown here, in other theatres most BMP-1s also carried a launch rail above the gun for the Malyutka anti-tank missile, or an attachment point for the Fagot 9K111 (AT-4 Spigot) on top of the turret in the BMP-1P version. The smoke grenade dischargers mounted on the turret rear in this example were a feature of the BMP-1P standard from the later 1970s and were later retrofitted to other models. Together with BTR-60s and BTR-70s, BMP-1s formed the backbone of Soviet motor rifle formations early during the war in Afghanistan. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)