Russia defends armored vehicles with wood, despite potential drawbacks

From the outset of the conflict, the Russians exhibited a proclivity towards employing wood as a security measure. During the so-called Kiev phase, they utilized wood for safeguarding truck radiators against small-arms fire. While theoretically, it was designed to enhance the radiator's protection level, it also impeded air flow, causing the engine to overheat.

Instances have been recorded where tanks were covered in wood to masquerade as trucks carrying timber. Some military units employed wooden beams for additional protection of infantry fighting vehicles from the BMP-3 series, the 2S3 Akatsiya howitzers, and presently, we notice the implementation of boards as anti-cumulative covers on BMP-2s.

Using wood as a protective element is sub-optimal because of its low protection efficiency compared to its weight. However, in certain situations, it can prove useful. Boards cannot protect against machine gun fire or automatic cannons, but they can provide some resistance against cumulative warheads.

This is vital in scenarios involving old, single-warhead PG-7VL grenades, which are commonly used on improvised kamikaze drones. While the cumulative stream inherently has a high armour-burning capability, its range is extremely limited. Hence, the detonation of a warhead with a penetration capability of 1.64 feet at a distance of 1.97 feet away from the actual armour can offer effective protection.

In such circumstances, a barrier in front of the true armour is necessary to cause a premature detonation of the warhead. Wood serves as a moderately effective solution despite being inferior to options such as lightweight composite overlays or even bar armour comprised of welded-together fence elements.

The boards displayed in the picture appear too thin to perform their intended function effectively. Practically, they might only add unwarranted weight, negatively impacting the mobility of the BMP-2 and potentially accelerating the wear of suspension components over time.