[LDD MOC] Mech BR-49

[Sunder]

BR-49 was a first mass produced walking combat vehicle. Of course some mechs were used during WWII, but there were no more than 2.000 units at both sides. As for BR-49, 15.000 mechs were produced by USSR and its allies. That is a very reliable CV, simple and cheap. It has no hi-tech electronics or super guns. But it works. Everywhere. Always. Nowadays it may seem outdated. And it is true. However you can find it in any local conflict all over the world. But when BR-49 appeared, it frightened solders as first tanks did. Not because of its appearance but because of its deadly efficiency. This mech is armed with two 37mm autoguns. That is enough to destroy any medium armored vehicle at short distance of city battle. Also it has 7,62mm machinegun. Armor protects pilots from machineguns and low caliber cannons. Also small size(for a mech) allows to hide BR-49 easily. However, the engine isn’t well protected. Also the cockpit is far from being comfortable.

First prototypes were made during WWII, 1944. That day it was called Object-293 or Product-2. It was being developing at the same factory as TSh-34, or Product-1. TSh-34 was the main project, so only a few engineers worked on Product-2. Also workers called it Chair due to its appearance. Chassis appeared to be reliable and fast enough. Stalin saw one of the tests himself and admitted that Object-293 is going to be a good vehicle, but it can’t be produced during the war.

In 1945 the armor was ready. However it failed most of the tests. That’s not surprising, because all armor engineers were working on Product-1. Despite of this, ten experimental vehicles took part in battle in Poland. Armed only with 4 machineguns, they supported infantry at city streets, and did it well. Tests showed that mech needs more powerful weapon and armor.

At the end of war Object-293 was ready. Armor was redesigned. Now it could provide better protection. Also it has got two 20mm guns, which are more suitable for a mech. About 100 units were used during Berlin operation in 1947 and showed themselves as a deadly vehicle. After that Object-293 became a part of Soviet Army as BR-47. Mass production has begun. Then much more vehicles took part in a short war between USA and USSR, called German Crisis in 1948. Those days they had to fight against similar mechs first time. They did it well, but anyway this conflict showed some weak points of BR-47.

After German Crisis BR-49 was born. It was heavier than BR-47 because it had two pilots. It was made to reduce number of duties for each pilot. 37mm guns replaced the old ones. Also some internal systems were redesigned. That was a final “pure” version. After the Korean War USSR started producing new mechs, but different modifications of BR-49 were made by other countries.

BR-49 by Sunder_59, on Flickr

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Tho I do not like Mechs much - cos most of them are just repeating themselves - I have to say this is a fresh new design for me at least, good work + I like how you play with its environment, it really reminds me or better said I have quite a feeling it could be some secret CCCP project from late 80's developed somewhere in Siberia, and also the colorization used look great!

[Isundir]

Really nice four-legged walker designs, they always seem a lot more realistic to me then the more regularly seen two-legged mechs even though I must admit I enjoy those a lot too.

[Sunder]

To be honest, I love two-legged mechs more, but I understand they are not realistic at all.