BT (tank) - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Presentation

Beginnings

The office 72K, attached to the factory of steam engines of Kharkov, already originator of the Tank T-24, was charged, in 1930, to develop a fast tank able to be driven either crawler-mounted, or on wheels, with the example of the prototypes of the M30 tank bought with Walther Christie with the E. - U.. To launch the project, the military engineer N.M. Toskin , from the administration of the mechanization of the army, was detached at the research department. The project was carried out under the name of OBT (experimental tank fast), whose first specimen was assembled in September 1931. After some modifications of detail, the tank was then launched in production under the name of BT-2 and, the November 7th of the same year, three of the first produced tanks ravelled on the Red Place.
The BT-2 somewhat differed from its American model , amongst other things by the turret drawn by A.A.Maloshtanov which embarked a M-30 gun of 37 mm. However because of weak production of this gun, several alternatives transfer the day. They embarked one, two or three machine-guns DT of 7,62 mm, or then a M-30 gun with sometimes a coaxial machine-gun. The wheels also differed, they were of a reduced model. On the other hand, the engine remained Liberty, whose Soviet had bought two thousand specimens. December 6th, N.M. Toskin having been recalled to its organization of supervision, A.O. Firsov was named with the head of the office and began the studies for the improvement of the vehicle. The efforts related especially to the replacement of the American engine, by an equivalent locally produces by engineer A.A. Mikulin, M-5, and the increase in the armament by the assembly of a very new gun 20K of 45 mm. The mass of the armoured tank passed to 11,5 tons and the ammunition embarked to 112. An alternative of command with a radio 71-TKI and a circular antenna above the turret was also developed, its carrying of shell of 45 mm was it of 72. The turret had become two-seater, which carried the crew to three members. In the middle of the year 1933, after 400 exempaires produced, the BT-2 yielded its place to the very new BT-5 on the assembly lines of Kharkov.

Great series

The production of this last, although lasting only less than two years, will reach the total of 2.108 specimens. Many derivatives moreover will be carried out: layer of bridge, amphibian, remote-controlled by radio, equipped with flame thrower. Light modifications will intervene on the turret and the wheels. During this time, the research department did not remain inactive. As of January 1933, using work on the construction of armor-plated case, either by riveting, but by welding, it developed a new model even more powerful, BT-7 . The engine was now a M-17T, resulting from an engine of plane, providing 450 cv, and especially much more reliable than M-5. The preliminary draft envisaged a gun of 76,2 mm, but the first prototype, assembled on May 1st 1934, took again the turret of the BT-5 and its gun of 45 mm. The tests carried out during the summer, having concluded with uselessness from the beforehand assembled coaxial machine-gun, this one was abandoned. The series production started with the beginning of the year 1935. Part of the tanks was equipped with an anti-aircraft machine-gun, assembled on the site of the chief of char.
During the second half-year of 1936, a series of changes of political origin intervened in the life of this tank. Initially, the factory and the office accepted numerical designations, the factory n°183 and office KB-190 and, especially, the chief of the research department, A.O. Firsov was dismissed and replaced by Mikhail I. Koshkin, following the charge to have created a defective gear box on the tank. These defects of transmission were especially due to a bad maintenance and the passion of the crews for the jump of obstacles on board their véhicule.
Work continued despite everything, and a version of the BT-7 appeared the following year. It was equipped with a new more robust box at three speeds and especially with a turret known as semi-conical with tilted sides. The capacity in ammunition passed to 172 shells, and one mounted two projectors to allow the shooting of night. In parallel, left the chains the alternative BT-7A which, adopting the turret of the T-26-4, was armed with one 76,2 mm court of the type KT, as well as models of command equipped to the image with LT-5RT.
The last evolution of the series, BT-7M (designation machines A8) was characterized by the adoption of the new diesel engine V-2 of 500 cv. She was born during the year 1938. On the whole, of 1935 with 1940, 4.965 BT-7 and 790 BT-7M had been produced.

Engagements

The tanks of series BT made it possible the Red Army to forge doctrines of mechanized war, very early in the Thirties. As of 1933, were created mechanized large body including/understanding more than 500 tanks. The stress was laid there on the speed of movement and the attack of the backs of the enemy. However, the use of tanks during the war of Spain, where a hundred BT-5 were sent to the republicans, then the war of winter against the Finland, induirent the Soviet high command in error. These tanks, used in direct support of the infantry and not in their role first of exploitation in the depth of the unfavourable device, behaved in a way than brilliant less. This, combined with political reasons, the armor-plated weapon being the child cherished of the marshal Mikhaïl Toukhatchevski, the great units were dispersed in 1939. They were recreated less than one year after, with the advertisement of German successes in Poland then in France, but were never really ready before the June 22nd 1941.
Tanks BT survivors after the terrible summer continued to be used all along the war, in spite of their great vulnerability due especially to their gasoline tank. Certains BT-7 took part even in the offensive against Mandchourie in 1945.
The only occasion where they shone particularly was the battle Bataille of Halhin Gol, where 6th and 11th armor-plated brigades, buckled the surrounding of the Japanese army opposed to Joukov.

Alternatives

prototype OBT (sometimes called BT-1)
BT-2 first version of series M30 gun of 37 Misters
BT-5 gun 20K of 45 mm, driving local M5
BT-5RT version of command with radio
BT-5A protoype of artillery tank with gun court of 76,2 Misters
BT-5BHM version with a lance flame (10 specimens).
BT-5BHM2 version with smoke-producing generator of screen (3 specimens).
BT7m35 - initial version with cylindrical turret of T26m33 and BT5
BT7m35RT - alternative radio
BT7m37 - new semi-conical turret
BT7m38RT - alternative radio
BT7M - improved version with diesel engine (788 specimens enntre 1938 and 1940).
BT7A - tank artillery with 76,2mm (154 or 156 specimens).

Specifications

external bonds

battlefield.ru
site in English of the manufacturer Morosov

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