BT tank
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| General Characteristics (BT-5) | |
| Length | 5.7 m |
| Width | 2.1 m |
| Height | 2.2 m |
| Weight | 11.5 tons |
| Speed | 53 km/h (road) - (off-road) |
| Range | 375 km |
| Primary armament | 45 mm gun |
| Secondary armament | one or two 7.62 mm machine guns |
| Power plant | |
| Crew | 3 |
The Bystrokhodniy Tank (Fast Tank), was a series of Soviet light tanks which were produced between 1932 and 1941. It was known by the nickname Betka from its acronym, or the diminutive Betushka.
The BT tanks were 'convertible tanks'. This was a feature designed to reduce wear of the unreliable tank tracks of the 1930s. In about thirty minutes the crew could remove the tracks and engage a chain drive to the road wheels, allowing the tank to travel quickly on roads.
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Production History
In 1931 two turretless experimental M1930 Christie tanks were purchased from the US and delivered to the Kharkov Komintern Locomotive Plant, designated BT-1. Three unarmed BT-2 prototypes were completed in October 1931 and volume production began in 1932. Most BT-2s were equipped with 37 mm gun and one machine gun, but some early examples had three machine guns. The BT-3 and later models were equipped with a 45 mm gun.
Production: 1,884 BT-5s, 5328 BT-7s, 706 BT-8s.
Variants
Germans_and_Soviets_demarcation_BT.jpg
- BT-1 - Christie prototype.
- BT-2 Model 1932 - 37mm gun, M-5 engine (copy of U.S. Liberty engine).
- BT-5- larger cylindrical turret, 45mm gun, ball-mount MG.
- BT-5 Model 1933 - new turret with twin hatches, larger bustle and coaxial MG.
- BT-5PKh - snorkelling variant (prototypes only).
- BT-5A - artillery support version with 76.2mm howitzer (few made).
- BT-5 flamethrower tank - (prototypes only)
- PT-1A - amphibious variant with new hull (few made).
- BT-7 Model 1935 - welded hull, redesigned hull front, new M-17T engine (copy of BMW), enclosed muffler
- BT-7 Model 1937 - new turret with sloping armour
- BT-7TU - command version, with whip antenna instead of earlier horseshoe antenna
- BT-7M - new V-2 diesel engine (based on Hispano-Suiza 12Y aero engine), P-40 AA MG on roof, ball-mounted MG on turret rear
- BT-7A - artillery support version with 76.2mm howitzer
- OP-7 - flame-thrower version with external fuel panniers
- BT-8 - 1939
- BT-42 - Finnish assault gun, captured BT-7s were equipped with British 114mm howitzers.
Specifications
| BT-2 | BT-5 | BT-7 | BT-7A | BT-8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| weight | 10.2 t | 11.5 t | 14 t | 14.5 t | 14.7 t |
| length | 5.58 m | 5.58 m | 5.66 m | 5.66 m | 5.66 m |
| width | 2.23 m | 2.23 m | 2.29 m | 2.29 m | 2.29 m |
| height | 2.20 m | 2.25 m | 2.42 m | 2.52 m | 2.42 m |
| main gun | 37 mm Model 30 | 45 mm Model 32 | 45 mm Model 35 | 76.2 mm Model 27/32 | 45 mm Model 38 |
| main ammo | 96 rds. | 115 rds. | 146 rds. | 50 rds. | 146 rds. |
| machine guns | DT MG | DT MG | DT MG | DT MG ×2 | DT MG ×3 |
| engine type | Liberty 400 hp | M-5 400 hp | M-17T 500 hp | M-17T 500 hp | V-2 450 hp |
| fuel | 400 l | 360 l | 620 l | 620 l | 620+170 l |
| road speed | 100 km/h | 72 km/h | 86 km/h | 86 km/h | 86 km/h |
| road range | 300 km | 200 km | 250 km | 250 km | 700 km |
| tactical range | 100 km | 90 km | 120 km | 120 km | 400 km |
| armour | 6–13 mm | 6–13 mm | 6–13 mm | 6–13 mm | 6–22 mm |
Combat History
Some BT-5s saw action on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, against Japan in 1939, and against Finland during the Winter War (mainly BT-2 and BT-5 models). BT-5s and BT-7s took part in battles of the WWII during 1941. Most of these tanks were then abandoned, destroyed or replaced by more modern T-34 tanks.
References
Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen, Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two, 1984. Arms and Armour Press, London. ISBN 0-85368-606-8
See also
External links
- Henk of Holland (http://henk.fox3000.com/BT.htm)
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