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Soviet Union's BA-64 armored car
Nickname: "Bobik"⁴

BA-64	BA-64	BA-64	BA-64
BA-64	BA-64	BA-64 1942	BA-64 1943
BA-64 Aberdeen Tank Museum	BA-64B at the Reichstag on May 20, 1945

Design

The GAZ works designed the first new armored car of World War II, the BA-64.⁴ It was based on the GAZ 64 Jeep.⁴

Most used Soviet armored car.³ The engine was a copy of the Ford Model "A".³

Some field modifications had the MG replaced by a 14.5 mm PTRD antitank rifle.³

Prototypes

 

Production

Produced at the GAZ works.⁴

• BA-64: 3,500¹
  • 1943: Soviet Arsenals³
  • End of 1941 - early 1942⁴
• BA-64B:
  • 1943⁴
• Total: 9,110⁴

Variants

• BA-64:
• BA-64B: MG was put into a turret.⁴ Based on new GAZ jeep.⁴ Chassis was wider and more reliable.⁴ All welded.⁴ Armor plates were slanted more to deflect shells.⁴ Four wheel drive.⁴
• BA-64 with DShK 1938 MG: Mounted 12.7 mm MG on top of existing open turret. Small number built during 1944.
• BA-64?: Prototype troop carrier.⁴ Could carry six soldiers.⁴
• BA-64?: Command car.⁴ Turret was removed and frames built on top that help a radio and map boards.⁴
• BA-64?: Skiing half track?.⁴ Front wheels replaced with skis.⁴ Rear wheels replaced with Kegresse half track.⁴

Usage

Post World War II

The BA-64 remained in service with the Soviet military until 1956.⁴ Some countries used them even later.⁴

Korean War

Some BA-64s saw combat in the Korean War.⁴

	BA-64	BA-64B
Crew	Commander, driver 21,2,3	24
Physical Characteristics
Weight	5,286 lb 2.4 tons1,2, 2.5 tons3 2,450 kg1	2.3 tons4 2,359 kg4
Length w/gun	12'1, 12' 1"3 3.66 m1, 3.67 m2	12' 4"4 3.67 m4
Length w/o gun
Height	6' 2"1,3, 6' 3" 1.88 m2, 1.89 m1	6' 2"4 1.88 m4
Width	5'3, 5' 6"1 1.52 m2, 1.69 m1	4' 10"4 1.52 m4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	8.25"3
Ground contact length
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	7.62 MG1 7.62 mm DT MG3	0.3" MG4 7.62 mm MG4
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main	1,0703
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	4-121 Front: 122 Side: 122	154
Hull Front, Upper	0.59"@0°3
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper	0.24"@0°3
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	0.16"@0°3
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	0.24"@0°3
Turret Sides	0.24"@0°3
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	GAZ M1 GAZ MM1 Model M13	GAZ MM4
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water3
Cylinders	43	44
Capacity
Net HP	502, 541, 803	544
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Synchromesh3 3 forward, 1 reverse3
Steering	Front wheels3
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline3	Petrol4
Octane
Quantity	23.8 gallons3
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°3 Manual3
Max speed	50 mph1,3 80 kph1,2	50 mph4 80 kph4
Cross country speed
Road radius	280 miles, 217-348 miles1, 372 miles3 350-560 km1	350 miles4 560 km4
Cross country radius
Turning radius
Elevation limits
Fording depth	1' 8"3
Trench crossing
Vertical obstacle
Climbing ability	30° slope3
Suspension (Type)	Semi elliptical leaf spring3
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tires
Track centers/tread
Wheel arrangement	4x43
Wheel centers	57"3

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
3. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
4. World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006

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